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I Was Wrong About the 16" M1 Max MacBook Pro! 3 Months Later

9:22 video

I admit it: I was absolutely 100% wrong about the 16-inch MacBook Pro. After testing multiple MacBook Pros, I ended up deciding on the 16-inch M1 Max that I’d had from day one. The reasons aren’t necessarily straightforward or sane, but sanity and rationalization aren’t always key decision factors for me.

What I said before

I got both a 14-inch and 16-inch with the 32-core-GPU M1 Max on launch day and tested them for a full month: performance, portability, screen size, speakers, ports and keys. My conclusion at the time: for my usage (work applications, browsing, general computing and making videos), either could handle it, and performance differences made no difference to me. The 16-inch has the best screen I’ve ever used, but its footprint made me hesitate to take it to the couch; the 14-inch is a great size, but with the M1 Max it ran a little warm in regular use and the fans ran frequently, which bugged me. So I said both were out. What I really wanted was an M1 Pro or even plain M1 MacBook Air with 32 GB of memory, because 16 GB was my limiting factor, and I ordered a 14-inch M1 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 32 GB, 2 TB). I really loved it. So why am I holding a 16-inch? Two reasons.

1. Performance

I can’t justify it logically or monetarily. Most of my time is spent in email, notes, MS Office, browsers, Citrix and remote desktop, plus some video editing (now 10-bit H.265 4:2:2 since I upgraded my cameras). With the regular M1, I saw performance issues with my daily apps and Final Cut Pro open, and I believe RAM was a limit. With the M1 Pro and Max, I’ve seen no delay at all: they run like butter.

CPU benchmarks are identical between the 10-core M1 Pro and 10-core M1 Max because they use the same cores; differences appear in GPU tests (more GPU cores) and in extras: double the video encoders (two vs. one), double the memory bandwidth and more external display support. I don’t benefit from the extra display support (one external display through USB-C or my CalDigit TS3 Plus), but video encoding is about 40% faster on the Max. With only 0 to 4 exports a week, that can’t justify the cost, but I still got an irrational feeling using the M1 Pro that something faster was out there.

As I said in the previous video, the 14-inch with the M1 Max ran about 10 degrees Celsius hotter than the 16-inch, with the fans at a low RPM nearly all the time. Laptops have had fans running constantly for decades, and it’s not a big deal unless they’re loud, but my irrational fear of them pushed me toward the 16-inch.

2. Size

I said size was a liability. What changed: in December, before returning the 16-inch, I took it on a four-day trip (not on the plane, where the iPad mini 6 is the best movie device and a 16-inch won’t fit a tray table). Using it on the couch, at a table and in bed, I got used to the size of everything: the display, the case, the trackpad and the speakers. Without a smaller laptop to switch to, it just started to feel normal.

  • The larger screen gives extra real estate or a bigger editing workspace, and if you want things bigger rather than more, you can change scaling without losing as much space.
  • The larger speakers make a better multimedia experience, especially when watching with someone else.
  • The trackpad is better for multi-finger gestures.
  • It’s about 1.3 pounds heavier than the 14-inch. Some commenters called me a wimp for complaining about weight, but I still say carrying it in a backpack for hours on a travel day causes a bit more fatigue. I just found the display and larger everything so nice to use everywhere: on my lap, at this desk, that desk. It’s slightly unwieldy in some cases, like a tray table, but like most tech there isn’t one perfect device for every situation.

When I got back, I went back to the 14-inch and wasn’t underwhelmed, just “welmed”, and I was a 16-inch convert.

Verdict

This is simply the best laptop I’ve ever used. It has more power than I need. If you’re a PC gamer it may not be the best option, but for professionals whose software takes advantage of Apple silicon, it’s a treat to have a computer that works as fast as you do. The Liquid Retina XDR display makes using it all day more enjoyable; the higher refresh rate is even better on the larger display than on iPhones, HDR looks like looking through glass, and with the six-speaker sound it’s an amazing multimedia experience.

If I did it all over, I’d buy the 16-inch with the M1 Max (32-core GPU), 32 GB and a 2 TB SSD (I have a large NAS for long-term storage), in silver. But I won’t go through that hassle again, so this space gray model with 1 TB will have to do. Are you still struggling to choose between the 14 and 16-inch? This is the time of year I settle on devices, and I recently went through something similar with my iPhone 13 mini.

In this video

  • 0:00 intro
  • 0:53 what previous jerry said
  • 2:08 2 reasons I stuck with the 16”
  • 2:23 performance
  • 5:24 size
  • 8:36 what I really want

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. See my ethics statement.

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