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MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023) vs MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021)

MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023)1MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook Pro M2 Max against MacBook Pro M1 Max
FigureMacBook Pro M2 Max1MacBook Pro M1 Max2
Price£3,7493launch price£3,2994launch price
ChipM2 Max5chipM1 Max6chip
CPU12-coreCPU10-coreCPU
GPU38-core5GPU32-core6GPU
Memory32GBunified memory, base32GBunified memory, base
Storage1TBstorage, base1TBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to22 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to21 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released24 January 20237ReleasedIn Apple Stores; orderable online from 17 January 2023.26 October 20218ReleasedIn select Apple Stores; orderable online from 18 October 2021.
Security updatesNot available9Security updatesNot available9Security updates
Price
The MacBook Pro M2 Max is £3,749 at launch, per Apple UK Store (archived 22 January 2023); the MacBook Pro M1 Max is £3,299 at launch, per Apple UK Store (archived 20 October 2021).

True to scale

MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023) · 355.7 × 248.1 mm footprintMacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021) · 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 (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M2 Max1MacBook Pro M1 Max2
Dimensions16.8 x 355.7 x 248.1 mm16.8 x 355.7 x 248.1 mm
Weight2.16 kg2.2 kg
ColoursSilver, Space GreySilver, Space Gray
PortsThree Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) 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, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt ports33
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 4Thunderbolt 4
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.10No USB-A ports.11
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.12No Touch Bar.13

Display

Display: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M2 Max1MacBook Pro M1 Max2
Display size16.2 in16.2 in
Resolution3456 x 22343456 x 2234
Pixel density254 ppi254 ppi
Display typeLiquid Retina XDR displayLiquid Retina XDR display
Brightness500 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.12No nano-texture display option.13

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M2 Max1MacBook Pro M1 Max2
ChipApple M2 Max chip5Apple M1 Max chip6
Apple siliconYesYes
CPU cores1210
Performance cores88
Efficiency cores42
GPU cores385326
Neural Engine cores1616
Chip optionsM2 Max with 12-core CPU and 30-core GPU, or M2 Max with 12-core CPU and 38-core GPUM1 Max with 10-core CPU and 24-core GPU, or M1 Max with 10-core CPU and 32-core GPU
Memory (base)32GB32GB
Memory (maximum)96GB64GB
Memory options32GB, 64GB or 96GB (96GB with 38-core GPU)32GB or 64GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents14No, as Apple documents14
Memory bandwidth400 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 enginesHardware-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 (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M2 Max1MacBook Pro M1 Max2
Battery capacity100 Wh100 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles151,000 cycles15
Video playback (claimed)22 h21 h
Wireless web (claimed)15 h14 h
Included power adapter140 W140 W
Fast chargingYesYes

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M2 Max1MacBook Pro M1 Max2
Wi-FiWi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax)802.11ax Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.35.0
EthernetNo Ethernet port.12No Ethernet port.13
External displays (base)44

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M2 Max1MacBook Pro M1 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 beamforming16Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming17

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M2 Max1MacBook Pro M1 Max2
Shipped withNot available18macOS Monterey19
Newest macOSmacOS 27 Golden Gate20macOS 27 Golden Gate20
Model identifierMac14,6, Mac14,1021MacBookPro18,1, MacBookPro18,222
Model year20232021

Benchmarks

Benchmarks: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M2 Max1MacBook Pro M1 Max2
Geekbench 7 (CPU, single-core)2,490232,21323
Geekbench 7 (CPU, multi-core)17,0342314,16423

Sources

  1. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook Pro M2 Max · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) - Technical Specifications · Default for MacBook Pro M1 Max · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  3. Apple UK Store (archived 22 January 2023) — MacBook Pro 16-inch, M2 Max with 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU, 32GB, 1TB, £3,749.00 · third-party figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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  4. Apple UK Store (archived 20 October 2021) — MacBook Pro 16-inch, M1 Max with 10-core CPU and 32-core GPU, 32GB, 1TB, £3,299.00 · third-party figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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  5. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  6. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) - Technical Specifications · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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

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  8. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils game-changing MacBook Pro · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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

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  10. MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023): No USB-A ports. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023) - Tech Specs. Read 30 Sep 2026

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  11. MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021): No USB-A ports. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) - Technical Specifications. Read 30 Sep 2026

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  12. MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Max, 2023): No Touch Bar. No nano-texture display option. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  13. MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021): No Touch Bar. No nano-texture display option. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) - Technical Specifications. Read 9 Oct 2026

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

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

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

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  17. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) - Technical Specifications · Apple’s figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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  18. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023) - Tech Specs; Identify your MacBook Pro model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  19. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils game-changing MacBook Pro · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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

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

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

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  23. Geekbench Browser (Primate Labs) · third-party figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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Not published by Apple

MacBook Pro M2 Max. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: storage upgradeable by user. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023) - Tech Specs; Identify your MacBook Pro model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max, read 9 Oct 2026.

MacBook Pro M1 Max. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: storage upgradeable by user. Geekbench 7 Metal: the Mac chart row for this Mac does not state its GPU core count, so no Metal score is shown (chart read 10 Oct 2026). Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) - Technical Specifications, 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 M2 Max (16-inch, 2023)? · Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro M1 Max (16-inch, 2021)?

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