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MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) vs MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023)

MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max)1MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook Pro M5 Max against MacBook Pro M3 Max
FigureMacBook Pro M5 Max1MacBook Pro M3 Max2
Price£4,3993Apple UK store£3,5994launch price
ChipM5 MaxchipM3 Maxchip
CPU18-coreCPU14-coreCPU
GPU32-coreGPU30-coreGPU
Memory36GBunified memory, base36GBunified memory, base
Storage2TBstorage, base1TBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to22 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to22 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released11 March 20265ReleasedIn Apple Stores; pre-order from 4 March 2026.7 November 20236ReleasedIn Apple Stores; orderable online from 30 October 2023.
Security updatesNot available7Security updatesNot available8Security updates
Price
The MacBook Pro M5 Max is £4,399 on Apple’s UK store; the MacBook Pro M3 Max is £3,599 at launch, per Apple UK Store (archived 31 October 2023).

True to scale

MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) · 355.7 × 248.1 mm footprintMacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023) · 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, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max1MacBook Pro M3 Max2
Dimensions16.8 x 355.7 x 248.1 mm16.8 x 355.7 x 248.1 mm
Weight2.15 kg2.16 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 4 (USB‑C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port, 3.5mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt ports933
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 5Thunderbolt 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, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max1MacBook Pro M3 Max2
Display size16.2 in16.2 in
Resolution3456 x 22343456 x 2234
Pixel density254 ppi254 ppi
Display typeLiquid Retina XDR displayLiquid Retina XDR display
BrightnessNot available14600 nits
Brightness (SDR, outdoor)1,000 nits15Not available16
Peak brightness (HDR)1,600 nits1,600 nits
Refresh rate120 Hz120 Hz
Wide colour (P3)YesYes
Nano-texture optionYesNo nano-texture display option.13

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max1MacBook Pro M3 Max2
ChipApple M5 Max chipApple M3 Max chip
Apple siliconYesYes
CPU cores1814
Super cores615Not available17
Performance cores121510
Efficiency coresNot available184
GPU cores3230
Neural Engine cores1616
Chip optionsM5 Max with 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU, or M5 Max with 18-core CPU and 40-core GPUM3 Max with 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU, or M3 Max with 16-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 or 96GB (14-core CPU); 48GB, 64GB or 128GB (16-core CPU)
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents19No, as Apple documents19
Memory bandwidth460 GB/s300 GB/s
Storage (base)2TB1TB
Storage (maximum)8TB8TB
Storage options2TB, 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 enginesAV1 decode

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max1MacBook Pro M3 Max2
Battery capacity100 Wh100 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles201,000 cycles20
Video playback (claimed)2122 h22 h
Wireless web (claimed)16 h15 h
Included power adapterNo power adapter in the box.12140 W
Fast chargingYesYes

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max1MacBook Pro M3 Max2
Wi-FiWi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth65.3
EthernetNo Ethernet port.12No Ethernet port.13
External displays (base)44

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max1MacBook Pro M3 Max2
Camera12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View1080p FaceTime HD camera
Camera resolution12 MPNot available22
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 beamforming23Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming24

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max1MacBook Pro M3 Max2
Newest macOSmacOS 27 Golden Gate25macOS 27 Golden Gate26
Model identifierMac17,6, Mac17,827Mac15,7, Mac15,9, Mac15,1127
Model year20262023

Benchmarks

Benchmarks: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) against Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M5 Max1MacBook Pro M3 Max2
Geekbench 7 (CPU, single-core)3,727282,81729
Geekbench 7 (CPU, multi-core)35,0652822,08729
Geekbench 7 (Metal)193,49628131,00829

Sources

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

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook Pro M3 Max · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  3. Apple UK store — 16-inch MacBook Pro M5 Max, 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB, 2TB — From £4,399 · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  4. Apple UK Store (archived 31 October 2023) — MacBook Pro 16-inch, M3 Max with 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU, 36GB, 1TB, £3,599.00 · third-party figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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

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

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

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  9. Different Thunderbolt generations. MacBook Pro M5 Max: Thunderbolt 5. MacBook Pro M3 Max: Thunderbolt 4.

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  10. 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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  11. MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023): No USB-A ports. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs. Read 30 Sep 2026

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  12. 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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  13. MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023): No Touch Bar. No nano-texture display option. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  14. Doesn’t apply: Apple’s one SDR brightness figure is the outdoor one

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  15. 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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  16. Doesn’t apply: Apple lists no outdoor brightness for this display

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  17. Doesn’t apply: this chip has no super cores

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  18. Apple lists this chip’s cores as 6 super cores, 12 performance cores, with no efficiency cores

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

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

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  21. Two different Apple tests. MacBook Pro M5 Max: Video streaming. MacBook Pro M3 Max: Apple TV app movie playback.

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  22. Not published by Apple (Apple states resolution: 1080p FaceTime HD camera)

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

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

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

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

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

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  29. Geekbench Browser (Primate Labs) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Max, Nov 2023) · third-party figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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Not published by Apple

MacBook Pro M5 Max. 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.

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 (16-inch, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs; Identify your MacBook Pro model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils new MacBook Pro featuring M3 chips, 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 (16-inch)? · Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro M3 Max (16-inch, Nov 2023)?

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