Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max)
66.2Performance91.1
74.3Display74.3
77.1Battery99.5
53Portability53.3
1 spec wins — Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max)4 spec wins — Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) wins this laptop face-off, 81.9 to 68.2, pulling ahead mainly in performance (+25) and battery (+22). Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max) still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max)
- Lower launch price: $3,499 vs $3,899
Reasons to pick the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max)
- Stronger performance score: 91 vs 66
- Stronger battery score: 100 vs 77
- 100% higher storage: 2,048 GB vs 1,024 GB
- 49% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 30,057 vs 20,200
- 39% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 4,336 vs 3,120
Display
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 16.2 ″ | 16.2 ″ |
| Panel type | Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) | Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) |
| Resolution | 3456x2234 | 3456x2234 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,600 nits | 1,600 nits |
Performance
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M3 Max (14-core) | Apple M5 Max (18-core) |
| Graphics | Apple M3 Max 30-core GPU | Apple M5 Max 32-core GPU |
| RAM | 36 GB | 36 GB |
| RAM type | LPDDR5 (unified) | LPDDR5X (unified) |
| Storage | 1,024 GB | 2,048 GB+100% |
| Storage type | NVMe SSD | SSD |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,120Top 28% | 4,336+39%Top 2% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 20,200Top 19% | 30,057+49%Top 2% |
Battery
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 100 Wh |
| Web browsing endurance | 13 h | — |
| Charging | 140 W | 140 W |
Design
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 2.16 kg | 2.15 kg |
| Thickness | 16.8 mm | 16.8 mm |
| Material | Aluminum | Recycled Aluminum |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm | 3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 6 |
| Webcam | 1080p FaceTime HD | 12MP Center Stage |
| Biometrics | Touch ID | Touch ID |
Software
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS Sonoma | macOS Tahoe |
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