Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021)?
5 years old · Runs macOS 27 Golden Gate, the current macOS
Quick look
| Figure | MacBook Pro M1 Max1 | MacBook Pro M5 Max2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,2993launch price | £4,3994Apple UK store |
| Chip | M1 Max5chip | M5 Maxchip |
| CPU | 10-coreCPU | 18-coreCPU |
| GPU | 32-core5GPU | 32-coreGPU |
| Memory | 32GBunified memory, base | 36GBunified memory, base |
| Storage | 1TBstorage, base | 2TBstorage, base |
| Battery life | Up to21 hrsvideo playback, claimed | Up to22 hrsvideo playback, claimed |
| Released | 26 October 20216ReleasedIn select Apple Stores; orderable online from 18 October 2021. | 11 March 20267ReleasedIn Apple Stores; pre-order from 4 March 2026. |
| Security updates | Not available8Security updates | Not available8Security updates |
Software support
- Security updates
- Not available8
- macOS
- macOS 27 Golden Gate, the current macOS
MacBook Pro M1 Max and the MacBook Pro M5 Max
The newest Max-tier Mac in this line that Apple still sells.
Specifications
Body
| Specification | MacBook Pro M1 Max1 | MacBook Pro M5 Max2 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 16.8 x 355.7 x 248.1 mm | 16.8 x 355.7 x 248.1 mm |
| Weight | 2.2 kg | 2.15 kg |
| Colours | Silver, Space Gray | Space Black, Silver |
| Ports | Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port, 3.5 mm headphone jack | Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Thunderbolt ports9 | 3 | 3 |
| Thunderbolt version | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 5 |
| USB-A ports | No USB-A ports.10 | No USB-A ports.11 |
| HDMI | HDMI port | HDMI port |
| SD card slot | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes |
| MagSafe | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID | Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID |
| Touch ID | Yes | Yes |
| Touch Bar | No Touch Bar.12 | No Touch Bar.13 |
Display
| Specification | MacBook Pro M1 Max1 | MacBook Pro M5 Max2 |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 16.2 in | 16.2 in |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 3456 x 2234 |
| Pixel density | 254 ppi | 254 ppi |
| Display type | Liquid Retina XDR display | Liquid Retina XDR display |
| Brightness | 500 nits | Not available14 |
| Brightness (SDR, outdoor) | Not available15 | 1,000 nits16 |
| Peak brightness (HDR) | 1,600 nits | 1,600 nits |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Wide colour (P3) | Yes | Yes |
| Nano-texture option | No nano-texture display option.12 | Yes |
Chip and memory
| Specification | MacBook Pro M1 Max1 | MacBook Pro M5 Max2 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M1 Max chip5 | Apple M5 Max chip |
| Apple silicon | Yes | Yes |
| CPU cores | 10 | 18 |
| Super cores | Not available17 | 616 |
| Performance cores | 8 | 1216 |
| Efficiency cores | 2 | Not available18 |
| GPU cores | 325 | 32 |
| Neural Engine cores | 16 | 16 |
| Chip options | M1 Max with 10-core CPU and 24-core GPU, or M1 Max with 10-core CPU and 32-core GPU | M5 Max with 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU, or M5 Max with 18-core CPU and 40-core GPU |
| Memory (base) | 32GB | 36GB |
| Memory (maximum) | 64GB | 128GB |
| Memory options | 32GB or 64GB | 36GB; 48GB, 64GB or 128GB (M5 Max with 40-core GPU) |
| Memory upgradeable by user | No, as Apple documents19 | No, as Apple documents19 |
| Memory bandwidth | 400 GB/s | 460 GB/s |
| Storage (base) | 1TB | 2TB |
| Storage (maximum) | 8TB | 8TB |
| Storage options | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB or 8TB | 2TB, 4TB or 8TB |
| Media engine | Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAWvideo decode enginetwo video encode enginestwo ProRes encode and decode engines | Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAWvideo decode enginetwo video encode enginestwo ProRes encode and decode enginesAV1 decode |
Battery and power
| Specification | MacBook Pro M1 Max1 | MacBook Pro M5 Max2 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 100 Wh | 100 Wh |
| Rated charge cycles | 1,000 cycles20 | 1,000 cycles20 |
| Video playback (claimed)21 | 21 h | 22 h |
| Wireless web (claimed) | 14 h | 16 h |
| Included power adapter | 140 W | No power adapter in the box.13 |
| Fast charging | Yes | Yes |
Connectivity
| Specification | MacBook Pro M1 Max1 | MacBook Pro M5 Max2 |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 | Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 6 |
| Ethernet | No Ethernet port.12 | No Ethernet port.13 |
| External displays (base) | 4 | 4 |
Camera and audio
| Specification | MacBook Pro M1 Max1 | MacBook Pro M5 Max2 |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD camera | 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View |
| Camera resolution | Not available22 | 12 MP |
| Speakers | High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers | High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers |
| Microphones | Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming23 | Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming24 |
Platform
| Specification | MacBook Pro M1 Max1 | MacBook Pro M5 Max2 |
|---|---|---|
| Shipped with | macOS Monterey25 | Not available26 |
| Newest macOS | macOS 27 Golden Gate27 | macOS 27 Golden Gate27 |
| Model identifier | MacBookPro18,1, MacBookPro18,228 | Mac17,6, Mac17,828 |
| Model year | 2021 | 2026 |
The rest of the range at the price
Macs from other lines with a price read from Apple’s UK store, released within a year of the MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch) and priced within a quarter of its £4,399 at Apple’s UK price as read on 2 October 2026, nearest price first. Each links to its side-by-side table, with your MacBook Pro M1 Max (16-inch, 2021) or, where that pair is not one this site indexes, with the MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch).
Trade-in and used prices
- CeX pays, grade A
- £827 cash / £961 voucher31Base configuration
- CeX sells, grade A
- £1,335–£1,40531Base configuration, cheapest of 2 listings linked, out of stock online and in store when read
- The MacBook Pro M5 Max (16-inch) new, less CeX’s cash
- £3,572£4,399 new at Apple’s UK price as read on 2 October 2026, less £827 cash CeX was offering on 3 November 2026 for a grade A MacBook Pro M1 Max (16-inch, 2021) in its base configuration
More
Sources
Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) - Technical Specifications ·
↩Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs ·
↩- ↩
Apple UK store — 16-inch MacBook Pro M5 Max, 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB, 2TB — From £4,399 ·
↩Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) - Technical Specifications ·
↩Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils game-changing MacBook Pro ·
↩Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces MacBook Pro with all-new M5 Pro and M5 Max ·
↩Apple publishes no date for the end of updates, and this site does not guess one.
↩Different Thunderbolt generations. MacBook Pro M1 Max: Thunderbolt 4. MacBook Pro M5 Max: Thunderbolt 5.
↩MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021): No USB-A ports.
↩MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max): No USB-A ports.
↩MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max, 2021): No Touch Bar. No nano-texture display option. No Ethernet port.
↩MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max): No Touch Bar. No power adapter in the box. No Ethernet port.
↩Doesn’t apply: Apple’s one SDR brightness figure is the outdoor one
↩Doesn’t apply: Apple lists no outdoor brightness for this display
↩Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs ·
↩Doesn’t apply: this chip has no super cores
↩Apple lists this chip’s cores as 6 super cores, 12 performance cores, with no efficiency cores
↩Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro: how to remove or install memory ·
↩Apple Support (UK) — Determine battery cycle count for Mac laptops ·
↩Two different Apple tests. MacBook Pro M1 Max: Apple TV app movie playback. MacBook Pro M5 Max: Video streaming.
↩Not published by Apple (Apple states resolution: 1080p FaceTime HD camera)
↩Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) - Technical Specifications ·
↩Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Pro or M5 Max) - Tech Specs ·
↩Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils game-changing MacBook Pro ·
↩Not published by Apple.
↩Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers ·
↩Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model ·
↩Geekbench Browser (Primate Labs) ·
↩Geekbench Browser (Primate Labs) — MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) ·
↩CeX — Trade-in, Grade A, cash ·
↩
Not published by Apple
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.
MacBook Pro M5 Max. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: storage upgradeable by user. 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.
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