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MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023) vs MacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Max, 2023)

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023)1MacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Max, 2023)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook Pro M3 Max against MacBook Pro M2 Max
FigureMacBook Pro M3 Max1MacBook Pro M2 Max2
Price£3,2993launch price£3,3494launch price
ChipM3 MaxchipM2 Maxchip
CPU14-coreCPU12-coreCPU
GPU30-coreGPU30-coreGPU
Memory36GBunified memory, base32GBunified memory, base
Storage1TBstorage, base1TBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to18 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to18 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released7 November 20235ReleasedIn Apple Stores; orderable online from 30 October 2023.24 January 20236ReleasedIn Apple Stores; orderable online from 17 January 2023.
Security updatesNot available7Security updatesNot available8Security updates
Price
The MacBook Pro M3 Max is £3,299 at launch, per Apple UK Store (archived 31 October 2023); the MacBook Pro M2 Max is £3,349 at launch, per Apple UK Store (archived 28 January 2023).

True to scale

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023) · 312.6 × 221.2 mm footprintMacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Max, 2023) · 312.6 × 221.2 mm footprint

Footprints from above, from Apple’s published dimensions, drawn to one scale and superposed. Corner rounding is our drawing convention, not a measurement.

Specifications

Each figure is from the source marked by its Mac’s name unless it carries its own small number, which links to where that figure was read.

Body

Body: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Max, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M3 Max1MacBook Pro M2 Max2
Dimensions15.5 x 312.6 x 221.2 mm15.5 x 312.6 x 221.2 mm
Weight1.62 kg1.63 kg
ColoursSpace Black, SilverSilver, Space Grey
PortsThree Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port, 3.5mm headphone jackThree Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port, 3.5mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt ports33
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 4Thunderbolt 4
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.9No USB-A ports.10
HDMIHDMI portHDMI port
SD card slotYesYes
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeYesYes
KeyboardBacklit Magic Keyboard with Touch IDBacklit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
Touch IDYesYes
Touch BarNo Touch Bar.11No Touch Bar.12

Display

Display: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Max, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M3 Max1MacBook Pro M2 Max2
Display size14.2 in14.2 in
Resolution3024 x 19643024 x 1964
Pixel density254 ppi254 ppi
Display typeLiquid Retina XDR displayLiquid Retina XDR display
Brightness600 nits500 nits
Peak brightness (HDR)1,600 nits1,600 nits
Refresh rate120 Hz120 Hz
Wide colour (P3)YesYes
Nano-texture optionNo nano-texture display option.11No nano-texture display option.12

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Max, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M3 Max1MacBook Pro M2 Max2
ChipApple M3 Max chipApple M2 Max chip
Apple siliconYesYes
CPU cores1412
Performance cores108
Efficiency cores44
GPU cores3030
Neural Engine cores1616
Chip optionsM3 Max with 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU, or M3 Max with 16-core CPU and 40-core GPUM2 Max with 12-core CPU and 30-core GPU, or M2 Max with 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU
Memory (base)36GB32GB
Memory (maximum)128GB96GB
Memory options36GB or 96GB (14-core CPU); 48GB, 64GB or 128GB (16-core CPU)32GB, 64GB or 96GB (96GB with 38-core GPU)
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents13No, as Apple documents13
Memory bandwidth300 GB/s400 GB/s
Storage (base)1TB1TB
Storage (maximum)8TB8TB
Storage options1TB, 2TB, 4TB or 8TB1TB, 2TB, 4TB or 8TB
Media engineHardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAWvideo decode enginetwo video encode enginestwo ProRes encode and decode enginesAV1 decodeHardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAWvideo decode enginetwo video encode enginestwo ProRes encode and decode engines

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Max, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M3 Max1MacBook Pro M2 Max2
Battery capacity72.4 Wh70 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles141,000 cycles14
Video playback (claimed)18 h18 h
Wireless web (claimed)12 h12 h
Included power adapter96 W96 W
Fast chargingYesYes

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Max, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M3 Max1MacBook Pro M2 Max2
Wi-FiWi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax)Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth5.35.3
EthernetNo Ethernet port.11No Ethernet port.12
External displays (base)44

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Max, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M3 Max1MacBook Pro M2 Max2
Camera1080p FaceTime HD camera1080p FaceTime HD camera
SpeakersHigh-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofersHigh-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers
MicrophonesStudio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming15Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming16

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Max, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M3 Max1MacBook Pro M2 Max2
Newest macOSmacOS 27 Golden Gate17macOS 27 Golden Gate18
Model identifierMac15,6, Mac15,8, Mac15,1019Mac14,5, Mac14,920
Model year20232023

Sources

  1. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Pro or M3 Max, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook Pro M3 Max · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook Pro M2 Max · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  3. Apple UK Store (archived 31 October 2023) — MacBook Pro 14-inch, M3 Max with 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU, 36GB, 1TB, £3,299.00 · third-party figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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  4. Apple UK Store (archived 28 January 2023) — MacBook Pro 14-inch, M2 Max with 12-core CPU and 30-core GPU, 32GB, 1TB, £3,349.00 · third-party figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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  5. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils new MacBook Pro featuring M3 chips · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  6. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  7. Security updates: no end date published. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 2 Oct 2026

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  8. Security updates: no end date published. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 30 Sep 2026

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  9. MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023): No USB-A ports. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Pro or M3 Max, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs. Read 30 Sep 2026

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  10. MacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Max, 2023): No USB-A ports. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023) - Tech Specs. Read 30 Sep 2026

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  11. MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023): No Touch Bar. No nano-texture display option. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Pro or M3 Max, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  12. MacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Max, 2023): No Touch Bar. No nano-texture display option. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  13. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro: how to remove or install memory · Apple’s figure · read 18 Oct 2026

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  14. Apple Support (UK) — Determine battery cycle count for Mac laptops · Apple’s figure · read 15 Oct 2026

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  15. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Pro or M3 Max, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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  16. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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  17. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  18. Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  19. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model · Apple’s figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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  20. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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Not published by Apple

MacBook Pro M3 Max. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: storage upgradeable by user, the macOS it shipped with. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Pro or M3 Max, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils new MacBook Pro featuring M3 chips; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model, read 9 Oct 2026.

MacBook Pro M2 Max. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: storage upgradeable by user, the macOS it shipped with. Geekbench 7: the Mac chart has no entry for this Mac, so no figures are shown (chart read 10 Oct 2026). Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023) - Tech Specs; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model, read 9 Oct 2026.

If you own one of them

Whether to move is a different question from which is better. Each Mac has a page on it: what its successor changes (the newest Mac in its line where Apple sells one, otherwise the Mac this site treats as its replacement, which can be in another line), what it fetches and whether it still gets updates. Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro M3 Max (14-inch, Nov 2023)? · Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro M2 Max (14-inch, 2023)?

The pairs a buyer of either Mac would also weigh. Any two Macs in the catalogue can be compared from the chooser.