How the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max replaced our Mac Pro
It's been almost six months since Apple launched a redesigned pair of MacBook Pros. I've been using the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 Max processor day-in and day-out. It's surprised me at how well it's adapted to my workflow.
The 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max processor
As a refresher, the 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with two processor options, as does the 14-inch. Users can choose between the M1 Pro and the M1 Max SoC on the inside. I chose the latter.
These new chips boast a 10-core CPU with a 16-core Neural Engine, with memory bandwidth increased to 200GB/s on the M1 Pro and 400GB/s on the M1 Max.
Each also incorporates a new Media Engine as part of the SoC design, enabling hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW decoding and encoding. On the M1 Max, the Media Engine has been improved further to include two video encode engines and two ProRes encode and decode engines, making it even better for video production.
All of these improvements are is before the built-in GPU power is taken into account. The M1 Pro is available with the 16-core GPU option only, but the M1 Max starts with a 24-core GPU and rises to a 32-core option -- which is what I've been using here.
The new chips also bring in extra memory options beyond what the M1 supports. Instead of capping at 16GB, the M1 Pro starts at that level of Unified Memory, with an option for 32GB.
On the M1 Max, your starting point is that same 32GB cap, but you can go up to 64GB if you want. The GPU also uses the Unified RAM, making sense to go all-out on memory when configuring it at purchase.
Ages ago, MacBook Pro used to be my go-to machine.
As my workflow evolved, I started leaning more into a desktop solution with an iPad Pro for on-the-go work. I began using the most recent Mac Pro for daily work, with an iPad Pro for specific tasks and on-the-go work. I loved the Mac Pro for its modularity, and I outfitted it with plenty of internal storage options, more RAM, and a new PCI-E GPU as time wore on.
The Mac Pro was great. The iPad Pro is still an invaluable piece of tech, but I got tired of waiting for Apple to bolster iPadOS for what I needed.
For what I'd want to use it for, the iPad's operating system is still hampered by poor external monitor support and no support for Apple's pro applications, such as Final Cut Pro. So we bit the bullet and went all-in on the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
My daily work bounces between copious photo editing, video production, and plenty of writing. The 16-inch MacBook Pro has proven adept at all of these functions in one product.
So, I turned to the 16-inch Mac Pro with the M1 Max full time.
It stacks better with other devices -- but neither we nor Apple recommend that.
HDMI and SD card reader
There's no question that the return of ports has been beneficial. We love the array that Apple has chosen from HDMI to the card reader to plenty of USB-C. Apple could have done with one more Thunderbolt port on the right side, but overall it's a solid selection for your average user.
The HDMI port and SD card reader are underpowered, and in my workflow, I haven't used them since I picked up the machine. Apple chose an HDMI 2.0 port, and the SD card reader falls just short of the promised UHS-II maximum transfer speed.
I'd be happy if they disappeared and were replaced with another Thunderbolt port, but I know why Apple added them.
In daily use, I do use a Thunderbolt 4 dock, but primarily so I don't have to plug and unplug multiple accessories each time I move my Mac. Like we keep driving home, this is Apple's "one cable" idea, with everything connected to the machine with one cable that it's been trying off and on for three decades.
And after months of adjustments, I'm still conflicted about the Touch Bar. Every time I have to enter shipping information onto a site and I have to move from the keyboard to the mouse and choose individual parts of our address, I'm reminded how much easier the touch bar was.
The same goes for opening a recent file in Affinity Photo or jumping to a specific spot on the timeline inside of Final Cut Pro. Its existence was divisive, but it was a shame to see it go for those that used it -- including me.
On my 16-inch MacBook Pro, the 140W GaN power brick can provide 50 percent power in only 30 minutes. This has proved to be exceptionally useful and has me using my Mac away from power more often. I can quickly charge up, then go and work where I please.
This varies amongst our staff. Mike Wuerthele doesn't use it and has no intention of doing so.
As the weather around here keeps improving, I'm excited to get back outside to write and edit in the sun.
The battery life is excellent, lasting hours between charges. Depending on how much video editing I'm doing, I can make it through almost an entire day of work without charging.
MagSafe on the 16-inch MacBook Pro
MagSafe has proved safer too, depending on the angle. Since the MagSafe connector is so long, it requires quite a bit of force to dislodge when pulled side to side. If pulled down, it comes free much more quickly.
While I've enjoyed the return of MagSafe, it does mean I'm packing an extra charger. I could still use USB-C as I do on my iPad, but I want the extra speed MagSafe offers. The good news is that there are options, and users can choose for themselves.
It would be great for Apple to finally adopt Wi-Fi 6E. This emerging standard unlocks an additional frequency band. Wi-Fi 6E routers will be able to run on the 6GHz spectrum, which can be helpful in cities or apartment buildings where the spectrum is crowded.
This may be one of the biggest updates to Wi-Fi in some time. Yet Apple hasn't deployed it, nor are there particularly cost-effective wireless access points. A portable Mac would be well-served with this new technology for future-proofing.
I'd also love, though I don't expect, Apple to drop the prices for upgrading storage and memory. Apple charges $400 to go from 16GB to 32GB of unified memory and even $200 to go from 512GB to 1TB of internal storage. Apple's customized options were often expensive, but they're pushing the boundary of acceptable.
The current 16-inch MacBook Pro
There's been talk of Apple adding Face ID to future MacBook Pros, and I could take or leave it. Touch ID is fine, and Face ID would be an easier option for authentication, but I use my Mac in clamshell mode with an external display, making the addition of Face ID moot.
Every Mac, every project, every piece of hardware ever built by any manufacturer is an exercise in compromises. With the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro and the M1 Max on the inside, that list is incredibly short. This machine is fast, sleek, powerful, full of ports, and packs a great battery.
The biggest change I've had to get used to is relying on external storage, rather than internal -- but that's not a new issue for mobile-centric Mac users. As long as I'm cognizant of the architectural differences and fundamental trade-offs between desktop and mobile Macs, the MacBook Pro has met every challenge I've thrown at it.
After months of use, I think Apple has created a near-perfect mobile Mac. But that Mac Studio is calling me.
Detailed step-by-step instructions outlining how to activate the coupon can be found here, with the best MacBook Pro deals at your fingertips 24/7 in our 16-inch MacBook Pro Price Guide.
Read on AppleInsider
The 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max processor
As a refresher, the 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with two processor options, as does the 14-inch. Users can choose between the M1 Pro and the M1 Max SoC on the inside. I chose the latter.
These new chips boast a 10-core CPU with a 16-core Neural Engine, with memory bandwidth increased to 200GB/s on the M1 Pro and 400GB/s on the M1 Max.
Each also incorporates a new Media Engine as part of the SoC design, enabling hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW decoding and encoding. On the M1 Max, the Media Engine has been improved further to include two video encode engines and two ProRes encode and decode engines, making it even better for video production.
All of these improvements are is before the built-in GPU power is taken into account. The M1 Pro is available with the 16-core GPU option only, but the M1 Max starts with a 24-core GPU and rises to a 32-core option -- which is what I've been using here.
The new chips also bring in extra memory options beyond what the M1 supports. Instead of capping at 16GB, the M1 Pro starts at that level of Unified Memory, with an option for 32GB.
On the M1 Max, your starting point is that same 32GB cap, but you can go up to 64GB if you want. The GPU also uses the Unified RAM, making sense to go all-out on memory when configuring it at purchase.
Ages ago, MacBook Pro used to be my go-to machine.
As my workflow evolved, I started leaning more into a desktop solution with an iPad Pro for on-the-go work. I began using the most recent Mac Pro for daily work, with an iPad Pro for specific tasks and on-the-go work. I loved the Mac Pro for its modularity, and I outfitted it with plenty of internal storage options, more RAM, and a new PCI-E GPU as time wore on.
The Mac Pro was great. The iPad Pro is still an invaluable piece of tech, but I got tired of waiting for Apple to bolster iPadOS for what I needed.
For what I'd want to use it for, the iPad's operating system is still hampered by poor external monitor support and no support for Apple's pro applications, such as Final Cut Pro. So we bit the bullet and went all-in on the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
My daily work bounces between copious photo editing, video production, and plenty of writing. The 16-inch MacBook Pro has proven adept at all of these functions in one product.
So, I turned to the 16-inch Mac Pro with the M1 Max full time.
True to form
The late 2021 refresh was the first MacBook Pro in five years to see any form of a redesign. The squared-off look returns to the 2008-era MacBook Pro general design ethos, with a modern spin.It stacks better with other devices -- but neither we nor Apple recommend that.
HDMI and SD card reader
There's no question that the return of ports has been beneficial. We love the array that Apple has chosen from HDMI to the card reader to plenty of USB-C. Apple could have done with one more Thunderbolt port on the right side, but overall it's a solid selection for your average user.
The HDMI port and SD card reader are underpowered, and in my workflow, I haven't used them since I picked up the machine. Apple chose an HDMI 2.0 port, and the SD card reader falls just short of the promised UHS-II maximum transfer speed.
I'd be happy if they disappeared and were replaced with another Thunderbolt port, but I know why Apple added them.
In daily use, I do use a Thunderbolt 4 dock, but primarily so I don't have to plug and unplug multiple accessories each time I move my Mac. Like we keep driving home, this is Apple's "one cable" idea, with everything connected to the machine with one cable that it's been trying off and on for three decades.
And after months of adjustments, I'm still conflicted about the Touch Bar. Every time I have to enter shipping information onto a site and I have to move from the keyboard to the mouse and choose individual parts of our address, I'm reminded how much easier the touch bar was.
The same goes for opening a recent file in Affinity Photo or jumping to a specific spot on the timeline inside of Final Cut Pro. Its existence was divisive, but it was a shame to see it go for those that used it -- including me.
Battery and charging
With the latest MacBook Pros, Apple gave users options. They can be charged with USB-C as they have for years, or they can charge via MagSafe. Apple's brought MagSafe back, and it can now fast charge with adequate power.On my 16-inch MacBook Pro, the 140W GaN power brick can provide 50 percent power in only 30 minutes. This has proved to be exceptionally useful and has me using my Mac away from power more often. I can quickly charge up, then go and work where I please.
This varies amongst our staff. Mike Wuerthele doesn't use it and has no intention of doing so.
As the weather around here keeps improving, I'm excited to get back outside to write and edit in the sun.
The battery life is excellent, lasting hours between charges. Depending on how much video editing I'm doing, I can make it through almost an entire day of work without charging.
MagSafe on the 16-inch MacBook Pro
MagSafe has proved safer too, depending on the angle. Since the MagSafe connector is so long, it requires quite a bit of force to dislodge when pulled side to side. If pulled down, it comes free much more quickly.
While I've enjoyed the return of MagSafe, it does mean I'm packing an extra charger. I could still use USB-C as I do on my iPad, but I want the extra speed MagSafe offers. The good news is that there are options, and users can choose for themselves.
What do we want next
Using the current-generation 16-inch MacBook Pro for the last several months has given me perspective on how I'd like to continue to see Apple iterate. Some next-gen features are a given. It's undeniable we'll see new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips -- or other variations -- that will boost the performance further. Other changes aren't so concrete.It would be great for Apple to finally adopt Wi-Fi 6E. This emerging standard unlocks an additional frequency band. Wi-Fi 6E routers will be able to run on the 6GHz spectrum, which can be helpful in cities or apartment buildings where the spectrum is crowded.
This may be one of the biggest updates to Wi-Fi in some time. Yet Apple hasn't deployed it, nor are there particularly cost-effective wireless access points. A portable Mac would be well-served with this new technology for future-proofing.
I'd also love, though I don't expect, Apple to drop the prices for upgrading storage and memory. Apple charges $400 to go from 16GB to 32GB of unified memory and even $200 to go from 512GB to 1TB of internal storage. Apple's customized options were often expensive, but they're pushing the boundary of acceptable.
The current 16-inch MacBook Pro
There's been talk of Apple adding Face ID to future MacBook Pros, and I could take or leave it. Touch ID is fine, and Face ID would be an easier option for authentication, but I use my Mac in clamshell mode with an external display, making the addition of Face ID moot.
Every Mac, every project, every piece of hardware ever built by any manufacturer is an exercise in compromises. With the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro and the M1 Max on the inside, that list is incredibly short. This machine is fast, sleek, powerful, full of ports, and packs a great battery.
The biggest change I've had to get used to is relying on external storage, rather than internal -- but that's not a new issue for mobile-centric Mac users. As long as I'm cognizant of the architectural differences and fundamental trade-offs between desktop and mobile Macs, the MacBook Pro has met every challenge I've thrown at it.
After months of use, I think Apple has created a near-perfect mobile Mac. But that Mac Studio is calling me.
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Comments
I've made this point repeatedly - the HDMI port is invaluable for people who do a lot of presenting. Virtually every conference room in the country has an HDMI plug to connect to the projector. Almost none of them have USB C. (Truth be told, I think DVI is still more common than USB C in this arena.) For this use, the latest technology isn't necessary, the port is.
For me the MagSafe cable and brick never left the box and I have yet to use anything but the USB C ports. I primarily use the MBP closed as a desktop plugged into to 2 LG UF 5Ks but when on the go and using the MBP as intended, I do miss the TouchBar. I also miss the exterior styling and the weight is not worth the increase in battery life. It's like carrying a led brick.
Hoping the next MBP and Apple Studio Display have 4 x TB4 ports and FaceID. If they do it will be an expensive upgrade year for me
Would go with “are” personally.
Cores/GPU Cores: I read some test results and concluded that not only did I not need the M1 Max, I didn't need more CPU or GPU cores. I do a lot of typing work, email, browsing, basic photo editing, and relatively light video editing (able to be accomplished with iMovie). I do some basic audio work as well. Looking at the early tests, upgrading the processor was just not worth it for me.
Memory: I do work with a lot of applications simultaneously, often with multiple files open in each (two email apps, Word, Excel, multiple folders, many browser tabs, multiple desktops, etc.). 32GB was easily worth the $400 for me.
Storage: My previous MBP (2015 15") had 256GB (it was a crowd-funded donation). In the past I had or upgraded to 512GB. Neither was enough, so I went with the 1TB option for $200 more. This was worth it to me as well, as I frequently store fairly large files (10GB+), at least temporarily (e.g. processing 4K drone video).
Size: This was the biggest debate for me. I've always had the larger screen size...for twenty years, going back to my Pismo PowerBook. I was coming from a 15". I finally looked at cost, portability, and the fact that the bevel was half the size on the new machine. It's taken a bit to get used to, but I think I'm adjusted now.
Overall, it's a great machine. It's far more powerful than my mid-2015 was. Battery life is probably double, though it would be a stretch to get to the advertised life (14 hours!). At maximum brightness and without any attempt to conserve, I get about 5-6 hours. Realistically, I think getting 8-10 hours with some moderate conservation would be realistic. The keyboard and display are fantastic. The only issue I've encountered is my LG super drive does not work (it seems to be known issue without a solution right now).
The screen is superb. I gave my LG Ultrafine monitor to my wife, because the 16-inch real estate is perfect for my current workload. (We've never had a problem with the LG, btw. I see a lot of issues mentioned out there, but we seem to have avoided them.).
Glad to have MagSafe back, but I seem to have to move the cable around a bit to get full contact with the magnet. I was not clamoring for extra ports. Highly unlikely I will ever use the HDMI port. I just mirror to AppleTVs now and then, at home or the rare occasion I'm at the office. I already had an SD dongle, so no great gain there. I would have rather have had four Thunderbolt ports, but I rarely fill more than three.
Now that the Mac Studio has arrived, I see a much smaller market for the Mac Pro. I believe the Apple Silicon Mac Pro will be a 'one-shot and done' product.
I don't understand this obsession to perpetually defer a purchase simply because something new is down the road.
I'm with jdw. And while I rarely need more than one USB-C port, HDMI and SD are both very useful on a regular basis. The §± key however, I never use, so I demand that Apple remove it for my convenience. Only load mouth moaners would say different.
Wi-Fi 6 was barely out (2019) before Wi-Fi 6E (2022) was released. Linksys released Wi-Fi 6E (2021) less than a year after they released Velop Wi-Fi 6 routers (2020). Ask me how I know.
Some say the Wi-Fi 7 will be available EOY 2022. Others say 2023. Most (including Qualcomm) seem to think 2024. So not too far off. Either way Wi-Fi 7 chipsets have been available for testing since 2021. I'm definitely not one to perpetually defer for the next update but having just upgraded to Wi-Fi 6 and having considered jumping to Wi-Fi 6E, I was pleasantly suprised to hear that Wi-Fi 7 wasn't too far off.
So of course Linksys etc. will continue offering WiFi 6E. But I don't see consumers jumping on-board with Wi-Fi 7 so close. Apple supports Wi-Fi 6 but I don't see them jumping to Wi-Fi 6E unless chipset manufactures push them with availability and discount and if the ROI is there for work to support and test it. Instead, I would think with Wi-Fi 7 so close to release and with chipset available for testing that Apple will put it's efforts toward Wi-Fi 7 and skip Wi-Fi 6E and continue using Wi-Fi 6 in the interim. IoT devices are still stuck on 2.4 GHz and WAP2. Let not even start talking about WAP3, for which, support is practically non-existent. So when I said industry, I was referring more to device manufactures, Apple, IBM, Leveno, etc. and not companies like Linksys.
There is a caveat also, this new tech will only be available in countries that have authorized use for the 6GHz band, same as WiFi 6E. Major countries that have allowed the use of WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 are Canada, the US, UK, and Brazil.
Everyone, keeps saying how they don't need to worry about dongles.
Well facts are...
Those of us that needed legacy ports already own the dongles.
To get the legacy ports Apple had to increase the thickness of the MBP.
So what, only a mm here or there. Well once that decision was made, why not increase the battery size and brag about battery life? Well, wait a minute isn't the ASi more efficient. It must be b/c my fans aren't running to cool the stupidly hot Intel chip anymore. So do I really need a bigger battery? Probably not.
So in the end we have legacy ports, a larger battery that may or may not be needed, a less stylish case but most importantly we have a FRIGGING heavy aluminum brick that is WAY TOO HEAVY and the weight reminds me of the legacy Mac PowerBooks.
We've gone backward and not in a good way.
When you are a for-profit business, even if your name is Apple, you must ponder what SELLS and makes users HAPPY, not merely ponder what you want people to use. In the distant past, I will admit that Apple seemed to know what I wanted and needed most of the time; but after the death of Jobs, that slowly changed. The MBP was filled with ports originally. It was amazing. Some of that tech passed away and some of it most Mac users haven't missed, but some of it is still needed today. Heck, even after all these years, USB-A is still mainstream and USB-C is still fighting to become the next big thing!
Giving a lot of people what they've been asking for isn't "a step backward" at all, especially if it paves the wave for improvements to the SD card slot in subsequent models, like SD Express, which is pretty amazing. And even though I don't use it, they should update the HDMI port too in the M2 edition MBP. Having SD & HDMI internal is a huge help because (a) we don't need a dongle, and (b) we don't need to worry about losing a dongle. So it's more than just the need to add a dongle. Dongles can and do get LOST, and once lost, if you need it in the field, you've got a big problem. Having it all onboard eliminates that worry, and since I am in the market for a 16" size notebook, there is physical room for all of those fabulous ports and more.
People who hate so-called "legacy" ports should flock to the MacBook Air. It's quite powerful, and the M2 version is coming. Since those people love dongles and hate ports, it's a simple matter of adding a hub that has lots of ports for lots of dongles. It's a dongle lover's paradise Mac!
So this is why folks like myself aren't entire satisfied with having "one more TB port" instead of the SD and HDMI ports on the MacBook "Pro." And again, I say this as someone who doesn't use HDMI! But I support those folks because they support me when it comes to the SD.
I think we Mac lovers need to support each other, rather than tear each other down. When Apple restores something that makes a lot of Mac users happy, that's something to be happy about, even if that thing doesn't necessarily benefit you as you'd hoped. But if you are rejoicing because a Mac has fewer features and you then bash people who legitimately moan about the feature loss, that isn't a good thing. It's more of a selfish thing. Just as people and animals are extremely diverse on planet earth, so should our computers. They need to be packed with all manner of goodies to please more of us, not just please the minimalists.
I am so happy Apple finally listened to a diverse number of Mac users. It's really heart-warming and I want to see it continue. That especially holds true because I've sent a lot of feedback to Apple over the years, not just a handful of my gripes in this forum. Apple is listening to people and making their pro products feature rich. That's a Good Thing and a true Step Forward.