We have just reviewed the latest MacBook Pro 16 with the new M4 Max SoC. Despite criticisms such as the high prices (especially for upgrades), limited performance under simultaneous CPU/GPU load and certain aspects such as the lack of maintenance options, the new M4 Max is an impressive processor. First off, the raw processor performance: in addition to extremely high single-core performance, which we also know from all other chips of the current M4 generation, the M4 Max raises the bar a good deal higher in terms of multi-core performance. With a total of 16 cores (12x performance + 4 efficiency), it is one of the fastest mobile processors ever. In our Cinebench 2024 benchmark, the new M4 Max is only slightly surpassed by another mobile processor, the overclocked and water-cooled Intel Core i9-14900HX in the XMG Neo 16, despite the significantly lower power consumption of the M4 Max. Here you have to switch to current desktop CPUs such as the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or AMD's Ryzen 9950X to extract even more multi-core performance (but not single-core). The Ryzen 9 9900X, however, falls behind the M4 Max.
Geekbench 6.3: Multi-Core | Single-Core
Blender: v3.3 Classroom CPU
Cinebench 2024 / CPU Multi Core | |
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K | |
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X | |
SCHENKER XMG Neo 16 (Early 24) (v6.92.6600, Overboost, Oasis) | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max (High Performance) | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2024 M4 Pro | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max | |
SCHENKER XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 24) | |
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI | |
Dell XPS 16 9640 | |
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 21KV001SGE |
Cinebench 2024 / CPU Single Core | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2024 M4 Pro | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max | |
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | |
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X | |
SCHENKER XMG Neo 16 (Early 24) (v6.92.6600, Overboost, Oasis) | |
SCHENKER XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 24) | |
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X | |
Dell XPS 16 9640 | |
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 21KV001SGE |
Geekbench 6.3 / Multi-Core | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2024 M4 Pro | |
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (6.2.1) | |
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (6.2.1) | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max | |
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X (6.2.1) | |
SCHENKER XMG Neo 16 (Early 24) (6.2.1, Overboost, Oasis) | |
SCHENKER XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 24) (6.2.1) | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X | |
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI (6.2.1) | |
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9 16IMH9 (6.2.1) | |
Dell XPS 16 9640 (6.2.1) | |
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 21KV001SGE (6.2.1) |
Geekbench 6.3 / Single-Core | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2024 M4 Pro | |
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X (6.2.1) | |
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (6.2.1) | |
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (6.2.1) | |
SCHENKER XMG Neo 16 (Early 24) (6.2.1, Overboost, Oasis) | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X | |
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI (6.2.1) | |
SCHENKER XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 24) (6.2.1) | |
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9 16IMH9 (6.2.1) | |
Dell XPS 16 9640 (6.2.1) | |
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 21KV001SGE (6.2.1) |
Blender / v3.3 Classroom CPU | |
Dell XPS 16 9640 (3.3.3) | |
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 21KV001SGE (3.3.3) | |
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9 16IMH9 (3.3.3) | |
SCHENKER XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 24) (3.3.3) | |
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI (3.3.3) | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
SCHENKER XMG Neo 16 (Early 24) (3.3.3, Overboost, Oasis) | |
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X (3.3.3) | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X (3.3.3) | |
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (3.3.3) | |
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (3.3.3) |
Geekbench 6.3: Multi-Core | Single-Core
Blender: v3.3 Classroom CPU
* ... smaller is better
In terms of raw GPU performance, the new M4 Max GPU with 40 cores is slightly weaker, but there is still a noticeable increase in speed compared to the old M3 Max GPU. Additionally, the MacBook offers the advantage of shared RAM, as the GPU is also able access it. Even the video memory of the RTX 4090 Laptop is limited to 16 GB, which is eventually reaches its limits in large projects, thereby affecting performance.
In addition to the raw GPU benchmarks, where the number of cross-platform tests is still limited, we also ran the PugetBench benchmarks for creative programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve on the MacBook and some other Windows test devices, as there has also been a native benchmark version for macOS and Apple's own processors for some time.
Processor performance also plays a role in the Adobe tests and in Photoshop, where the M4 Max is clearly ahead of the Scar 17 with the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop. In Premiere Pro, the difference is minimal and the Scar 17 is ahead in two of four sub-tests, but the MacBook has the advantage in the overall score. DaVinci Resolve, which our editorial team also uses for video editing of YouTube reviews, is much more dependent on GPU performance. Although the M4 Max GPU actually clearly falls behind the RTX 4090 Laptop in terms of pure performance, the new M4 Max SoC is 12% ahead of the Razer Blade 16 with its Core i9-14900HX and RTX 4090 Laptop.
Photoshop PugetBench | |
Overall Score 1.01 | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2024 M4 Pro | |
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X | |
Tuxedo Gemini 17 Gen3 AMD | |
General Score | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2024 M4 Pro | |
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X | |
Tuxedo Gemini 17 Gen3 AMD | |
Filter Score 1.01 | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2024 M4 Pro | |
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X | |
Tuxedo Gemini 17 Gen3 AMD |
Premiere Pro PugetBench | |
Overall Score 1.1 | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X | |
Tuxedo Gemini 17 Gen3 AMD | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2024 M4 Pro | |
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 | |
LongGOP 1.1 | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X | |
Tuxedo Gemini 17 Gen3 AMD | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2024 M4 Pro | |
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 | |
Intraframe 1.1 | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2024 M4 Pro | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X | |
Tuxedo Gemini 17 Gen3 AMD | |
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 | |
RAW 1.1 | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X | |
Tuxedo Gemini 17 Gen3 AMD | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2024 M4 Pro | |
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 | |
GPU Effects 1.1 | |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PYV-LL053X | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
Tuxedo Gemini 17 Gen3 AMD | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2024 M4 Pro | |
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 |
DaVinci Resolve PugetBench - Extended Score 1.1 | |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | |
Razer Blade 16 2024, RTX 4090 | |
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 GA605WI | |
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9 16IMH9 |
The tide may turn again in just a few weeks with the new RTX 5000 generation from Nvidia. AMD Strix Halo will also be another competitor that can access all of the RAM. But as things stand, the M4 Max SoC is the best choice for users wanting to edit videos on the go. Add to that the very high efficiency, one of the best laptop screens, high-quality sound system and the many ports. The M4 Max model can also be ordered with up to 128 GB of RAM and an enormous 8 TB of SSD storage. The extra cost may bring tears to your eyes, but at least these options are available.
In sum, the MacBook Pro 16 is one of the best multimedia notebooks on the market at the end of 2024. The performance of the M4 Max is enormous, although most users will also be completely satisfied with the significantly cheaper M4 Pro. All further information on the two processors in the MacBook Pro 16 (including extensive benchmarks and measured values) is available in our detailed test reports: