M1 Pro vs M1 Max! MacBook Which Should You Buy?

Get Buying Guide with Detailed Features and Specifications for MacBook Pro M1 Pro Chip And MacBook Pro M1 Max [2021].

Apple has blown everyone’s mind with the launch of the two most powerful chipsets ever made- The M1 Pro and the M1 Max. These chips power the new MacBook Pro, which now comes in two different models- The MacBook Pro M1 Pro and the MacBook Pro M1 Max. 

Let’s have a better look at both of the MacBooks so that you have a better understanding of what to buy for yourself.

On 18th October – 2021, Apple publicized M1 Pro and M1 Max, the following advancement chips for the Mac. Increasing M1’s groundbreaking engineering, M1 Pro offers stunning performance with industry-driving power productivity, while M1 Max takes these capacities higher than ever. 

If you’re wondering which MacBook to buy from the two mentioned above, then you have come to the right place as this article will solve all of your queries regarding the same and give you a clear picture of which device is best for you. To better understand the upgrades and the features of these new devices, let’s talk about their features individually.

MacBook Pro 14 inch Available in M1 Pro Chip only, But MacBook Pro 16 Inch Available in Two Processor Verint – M1 Pro Chip [512 GB & 1 TB Storage] and M1 Pro Max Chip [1 TB Storage]

Specifications M1 Pro vs. M1 Max Of MacBook Pro 2021 16 inch

MacBook Pro M1 Pro

Design- The all-new MacBook M1 Pro comes with a striking modern design consisting of a notch in its display which has a 1080p FaceTime HD camera with a new four-element lens with f/2.0 aperture. The sides of this MacBook are squared off and not tapered, which makes it resemble the older versions of the device; however, this does not affect the device’s weight as it’s pretty comparable to the MacBook M1 in terms of being bulky.

Another major update in the MacBook M1 Pro is its entirely black anodized Backlit Magic Keyboard. This new keyboard gives the MacBook a fresh and unique look and stands out from its previous versions. The side panels of the body consist of MagSafe 3 port, Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, 3.5mm headphone jack, one HDMI port, and an SDXC card slot.

Display- The MacBook M1 pro has a Liquid Retina XDR display. It comes with a significantly major update in its display as the device now has a miniLED screen display and supports a 120Hz ProMotion Adaptive refresh rate. This feature takes the device to an entirely new level by providing better Fps and a smooth experience while editing videos or playing games. For the first time, Apple has integrated the ProMotion feature in their MacBooks since its release in the iPadOS four years ago. The device supports upto 6k video resolution at 60Hz. The device offers 14-inch and 16-inch display options providing the clients with a broader choice range.

M1 Pro Chip- Powerful seems to be a bland word for the new M1 Pro Chip. The CPU in M1 Pro conveys up to 70 percent quicker CPU execution than M1, so undertakings like compiling projects in Xcode are faster than at any other time. M1 Pro provides up to 200GB/s of memory data transmission with the help of up to 32GB of unified memory(RAM). The M1 Pro chip offers an 8-Core CPU with two efficiency cores and six performance cores and a 10-Core CPU with two efficiency and eight performance cores. This chip also provides two different sets of GPU options- a 14-Core GPU and a 16-Core GPU. 

Due to its binning process, Apple was able to provide these fantastic features in this chip. It also comes with a 16-Core neutral engine which enhances its performance sevenfold. The GPU in M1 Pro is up to 2x quicker than M1, allowing the users to glide through the editing process with ease.

Battery and power- The MacBook M1 Pro comes with a 70-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery which powers the device for upto 11 hours of wireless web and 17 hours of Apple TV app movie playback.

The M1 Pro with 8-core CPU comes with 67W USB-C Power Adapter, while the M1 Pro with 10-core CPU tags along with a 96W USB-C Power Adapter. The device also comes with a USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable, which supports charging through MagSafe.

Storage- The 8-Core CPU version of the device comes with a 512GB SSD configurable to 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB. The 10-Core CPU model offers a 1TB SSD that can be configured to 2TB, 4TB, and 4TB storage. The range of storage configurations is quite broad and is pretty suitable for almost all types of users.

MacBook Pro M1 Max

Design- The design of the M1 Pro and M1 Max is the same. The M1 Max also has a notch display with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera and a black Backlit Magic keyboard. In terms of weight, both the M1 Pro and M1 Max weigh the same- 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg). Everything on the outside is the same as the M1 Pro in terms of design and weight.

Display- The M1 Pro beats the older versions of MacBooks in terms of its display. The Liquid Retina XDR display supports a 120Hz ProMotion Adaptive refresh rate and has a miniLed display. You can watch videos at upto 6K resolution at a 60 Hz refresh rate, making the videos and pictures look sharp and more realistic. However, the M1 Max offers only a 16-inch display variant and does not have a 14-inch variant.

M1 Max Chip- One of the most influential and astonishing chips ever made is the M1 Max Chip. The CPU M1 Max conveys up to 70 percent quicker CPU execution than M1, so undertakings like compiling projects in Xcode are faster than at any other time. The GPU in M1 Max is up to an astounding 4x faster than M1 and is 2x quicker than the M1 Pro Chip. This chip even beats the M1 Pro in terms of power efficiency and performance. This chip is dedicated solely to the professionals involved in designing, video editing, filmmaking, and gaming. Professionals can also use it for heavy processes which a standard chip will not be able to handle.

The M1 Max chip offers a 10-Core CPU with eight performance cores, two efficiency cores, and a 16-Core neutral engine for better processing. When we talk about the best GPUs available in the market, we think of a mobile RTX 3080 GPU, but this chip offers a 32-Core GPU, making the mobile RTX 3080 look like a toy in front of it. The M1 Max also has a 24-Core GPU variant that outperforms the M1 pro chip by a considerable margin, permitting professional users to fly through the most demanding graphic work processes.

The M1 Max offers an excellent 400GB/s memory bandwidth data transmission speed using 32 GB of Unified Memory(RAM), which can be configured to 64 GB. All of this combined makes this the best chipset available in the market at present.

Battery and power- The MacBook M1 Max comes with a 100-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery which powers the device for upto 14 hours of wireless web and 21 hours of Apple TV app movie playback.

The device supports fast charging using its 140W USB-C Power Adapter and has a USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable, which permits the device’s charging through the MagSafe port.

Storage- The MacBook M1 Max comes with a fantastic storage capacity of 1Tb SSD storage which is configurable to 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB. With this much storage, you’ll never go out of space and can harbor a beautiful collection of videos, photographs, and other files in this device.

MacBook Pro M1 Pro vs. M1 Max: What You Should Buy

So now the real question arises, should you buy the MacBook M1 Pro or the MacBook M1 Max? Let’s counter this question in this section.

For MBP M1 Pro Buyer:-

Suppose you are looking for a laptop that offers you good processing speed, outstanding performance, and a decent amount of storage along with an excellent display resolution but is not willing to pay a considerable amount of money. In that case, you should go for the MacBook Pro M1 Pro. This device is best suited for professionals working in an office, designers of different fields, and gamers.

For MBP M1 Max Buyer:-

So, if you are a professional filmmaker or video editor and want a device that can handle your heavy and bulky software with ease, then the MacBook Pro M1 Max is the right choice for you. This device offers the best in class processing speed, fantastic performance, ample storage, and a beautiful display that will bring out even the minute details of the videos and pictures for precise and sound editing. This device is suitable for people who do live-streaming on various platforms, and there are enough features to handle a load of your streams easily.

Since we have given you an in-depth comparison and details of the two most powerful devices out there- The MacBook Pro M1 Pro and the MacBook Pro M1 Max, we hope the doubts in your mind regarding which product to buy must have been cleared. We assure you that, with these devices, you’ll never be disappointed with the performance, speed, and picture quality.

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Karly Wood

Karly Wood, a Wellington-based journalist, excels in covering Apple and tech trends. With a diverse background in public safety, government, and education reporting, her insights bridge multiple disciplines, offering readers a well-rounded perspective on today's technological advancements. Contact Her Team:- [email protected] [OR] [email protected]

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