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MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max) vs MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max)

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max)1MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch) against MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch)
FigureMacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch)1MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch)2
Price£4,0993Apple UK store£4,3993Apple UK store
ChipM5 MaxchipM5 Maxchip
CPU18-coreCPU18-coreCPU
GPU32-coreGPU32-coreGPU
Memory36GBunified memory, base36GBunified memory, base
Storage2TBstorage, base2TBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to20 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to22 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released11 March 20264ReleasedIn Apple Stores; pre-order from 4 March 2026.11 March 20264ReleasedIn Apple Stores; pre-order from 4 March 2026.
Security updatesNot available5Security updatesNot available5Security updates
Price
The MacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch) is £4,099 on Apple’s UK store; the MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch) is £4,399 on Apple’s UK store.

True to scale

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max) · 312.6 × 221.2 mm footprintMacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) · 355.7 × 248.1 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, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch)1MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch)2
Dimensions15.5 x 312.6 x 221.2 mm16.8 x 355.7 x 248.1 mm
Weight1.62 kg2.15 kg
ColoursSpace Black, SilverSpace Black, Silver
PortsThree Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port, 3.5mm headphone jackThree Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port, 3.5mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt ports33
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 5Thunderbolt 5
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.6No USB-A ports.7
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.8No Touch Bar.9

Display

Display: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch)1MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch)2
Display size14.2 in16.2 in
Resolution3024 x 19643456 x 2234
Pixel density254 ppi254 ppi
Display typeLiquid Retina XDR displayLiquid Retina XDR display
Brightness (SDR, outdoor)1,000 nits101,000 nits11
Peak brightness (HDR)1,600 nits1,600 nits
Refresh rate120 Hz120 Hz
Wide colour (P3)YesYes
Nano-texture optionYesYes

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch)1MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch)2
ChipApple M5 Max chipApple M5 Max chip
Apple siliconYesYes
CPU cores1818
Super cores610611
Performance cores12101211
GPU cores3232
Neural Engine cores1616
Chip optionsM5 Max with 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU, or M5 Max with 18-core CPU and 40-core GPUM5 Max with 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU, or M5 Max with 18-core CPU and 40-core GPU
Memory (base)36GB36GB
Memory (maximum)128GB128GB
Memory options36GB; 48GB, 64GB or 128GB (M5 Max with 40-core GPU)36GB; 48GB, 64GB or 128GB (M5 Max with 40-core GPU)
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents12No, as Apple documents12
Memory bandwidth460 GB/s460 GB/s
Storage (base)2TB2TB
Storage (maximum)8TB8TB
Storage options2TB, 4TB or 8TB2TB, 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 enginesAV1 decode

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch)1MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch)2
Battery capacity72.4 Wh100 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles131,000 cycles13
Video playback (claimed)20 h22 h
Wireless web (claimed)13 h16 h
Included power adapterNo power adapter in the box.8No power adapter in the box.9
Fast chargingYesYes

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch)1MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch)2
Wi-FiWi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth66
EthernetNo Ethernet port.8No Ethernet port.9
External displays (base)44

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch)1MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch)2
Camera12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Camera resolution12 MP12 MP
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 beamforming14Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming15

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch)1MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch)2
Newest macOSmacOS 27 Golden Gate16macOS 27 Golden Gate16
Model identifierMac17,7, Mac17,917Mac17,6, Mac17,817
Model year20262026

Benchmarks

Benchmarks: Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch)1MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch)2
Geekbench 7 (CPU, single-core)3,691183,72719
Geekbench 7 (CPU, multi-core)34,5591835,06519
Geekbench 7 (Metal)194,44018193,49619

Sources

  1. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch) · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch) · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  3. Apple UK store — 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 Max, 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB, 2TB — From £4,099 · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  4. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces MacBook Pro with all-new M5 Pro and M5 Max · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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

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  6. MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max): No USB-A ports. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs. Read 30 Sep 2026

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  7. MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max): No USB-A ports. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs. Read 30 Sep 2026

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  8. MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max): No Touch Bar. No power adapter in the box. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  9. MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max): No Touch Bar. No power adapter in the box. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  10. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  11. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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

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

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  14. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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  15. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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

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

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  18. Geekbench Browser (Primate Labs) — MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Max) · third-party figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  19. Geekbench Browser (Primate Labs) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) · third-party figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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Not published by Apple

MacBook Pro M5 Max (14-inch). 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, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces MacBook Pro with all-new M5 Pro and M5 Max; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model, read 9 Oct 2026.

MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch). Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: storage upgradeable by user, the macOS it shipped with. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs; Identify your MacBook Pro model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces MacBook Pro with all-new M5 Pro and M5 Max, 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 M5 Max (14-inch)? · Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch)?

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