MacBook M1 Pro o M1 Max: Which should i buy?

Apple Silicon-powered MacBooks keep getting more powerful and impressive, but how much power do you really need? If you don't know which MacBook Pro is best for you, we will help you make a choice a little easier.

How are the M1 Pro and M1 Max similar?

The main differences in the M1 Pro and M1 Max chipsets come down to two things: graphics capabilities and maximum amount of memory. If you know what you need 64 GB of unified memory, you can stop reading right now and go for the M1 Max, since it is the only one of the two chips that supports it. (The M1 Pro can only reach 32 GB of unified memory).

For everyone else, it's a bit more complex. Both the M1 Pro and M1 Max have up to 10 CPU cores and a neural engine 16 cores. Both also support hardware acceleration for media codecs, including H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW.

These chips are more powerful than the processor 2021 M1, which was able to handle 4K video workflows on its own. With the extra power, both the M1 Pro and M1 Max will provide more than enough power for standard video editing tasks.

How is the M1 Max different from the M1 Pro?

The M1 Max doesn't just add more cores to the M1 Pro and calls it a day, but significantly increases the number. The M1 Pro has an upper limit of 16 GPU cores, while the M1 Max doubles that number with up to 32 GPU cores.

Memory bandwidth is also doubled, and the M1 Max offers up to 400 GB / s in front of 200 GB / s del M1 Pro. As memory increases, also increases the cost of moving items within that memory, so this increase in memory bandwidth will be more noticeable with heavy duty 2D or 3D video jobs.

Talking about video, the M1 Max doubles another number here. The M1 Pro has a single encoding engine / ProRes decoding and other video encoding engine. The M1 Max ups this up to two encoding engines / ProRes decoding and two video encoding engines.

Who needs the M1 Max?

The way the M1 Pro and M1 Max work means there is no downside to opting for the M1 Max other than the price.. It will not negatively affect battery extension if you use the M1 Max for light web browsing instead of the M1 Pro. Instead, it just won't use all the energy you paid for.

When it's time to start working on heavy duty audio or video projects, that's where the extra power will come in handy. Even then, the M1 Pro is likely the best option for most people.

If you are editing 4K video, the M1 Pro or M1 Max will probably handle everything you need. Multiple video encoding engines are the kind of feature most of us don't have to worry about. These are the features that truly make these laptops suitable for professional users., but they also have an identical price.

Having said this, if you work with motion graphics, 3D or other heavy duty, choose the M1 Max and rest assured knowing you couldn't have a better Apple laptop, At least for the moment.

On the other hand, that memory bandwidth of 400 GB / s not too far from what the PlayStation offers 5 by sony, so it is possible that we will see developers create games or applications to make use of that power in the future.

¿MacBook the 14 O 16 inches?

It wasn't that long ago that the largest MacBook Pro was the computer to “true professionals”, while the smallest was the version “light”. With the M1 Pro and M1 Max, that is no longer the case.

You can get the M1 Max and Unified Memory from 64 GB in 14 inches O MacBook Pro de 16 inches, along with all the storage you want. As for pure graphics performance, is boosting more pixels with the screen of 16 inches, but these chips are capable of handling multiple 4K displays +, so that's not a big consideration.

Do you even need a MacBook Pro?

As of October 2021, you can't go wrong buying a Mac laptop. Now that Apple is fully focused on Apple Silicon, you don't need to worry about your computer looking hopelessly out of date in a year.

One important question to ask yourself is whether you need a MacBook Pro. Wanting one is a totally different story. Even the base model MacBook Air is a pretty capable computer at this point., especially if you are doing typical office work in it. If you want something a little more sophisticated than a MacBook Air, you can still get a less expensive one MacBook Pro de 13 inch with M1 chip, what's more.

If you are doing great video or audio editing, a MacBook Pro is a suitable tool for the job, especially if you are using Final Cut Pro, Logic or other native Apple Silicon applications. One note is that you probably don't want to go for the 13 inches, which is dated at this time. Whether you use 14 inches or 16 inches, you are likely to be delighted with the results.

In the meantime, if you need help selecting the right Apple laptop for you, take a look at our roundup of the best MacBooks you can buy.