MacBook Pro M5 Max Delivers Blazing Performance That Finally Makes M1 Upgrades Worth It
Apple's latest 16-inch powerhouse starts at $3,899 with double the storage and enough speed gains to tempt 2021 MacBook Pro owners
After years of incremental updates, Apple's 2026 MacBook Pro 16-inch with M5 Max finally delivers the kind of performance leap that makes upgrading from older models genuinely compelling—especially if you're still rocking a 2021 machine.
The Verge's latest testing puts the new MacBook Pro M5 Max head-to-head against four-and-a-half-year-old MacBook Pro M1 Pro and MacBook Pro M1 Max models, and the results are impressive enough to make those 2021 buyers finally reach for their wallets.
What Makes the M5 Max Special
The MacBook Pro 16-inch M5 Max starts at $3,899—a $400 increase over last year's MacBook Pro M4 Max—but you're getting significantly more for that premium. The base M5 Max configuration now includes 2TB of storage (double the previous generation), 36GB of RAM, and an 18-core CPU paired with a 32-core GPU.
For power users willing to go all-out, the maxed-out MacBook Pro M5 Max tested by The Verge packs a 40-core GPU, 128GB of RAM, 4TB of storage, and Apple's Nano-texture anti-glare display for $6,149. That's serious workstation territory, but the performance backs up the price tag.
The M1 Upgrade Question Finally Has an Answer
Here's the key insight from The Verge's testing: if you bought a MacBook Pro M1 Pro or MacBook Pro M1 Max in 2021, this is the first generation where upgrading makes genuine sense for most users. The M5 Max delivers double-capacity memory bandwidth compared to the MacBook Pro M5 Pro, enabling faster data transfer between CPU and RAM—crucial for video editing, 3D rendering, and other creative workflows.
The storage improvements alone are noteworthy. Apple claims twice-as-fast storage performance, and when combined with Wi-Fi 7 support, file transfers and cloud syncing should feel noticeably snappier than older models.
Who Should Buy (And Who Should Wait)
The MacBook Pro M5 Max makes the most sense for creative professionals who've been pushing their M1-era machines to the limit. Video editors working with 8K footage, 3D artists rendering complex scenes, and developers compiling large codebases will see the biggest benefits from the increased GPU cores and memory bandwidth.
For lighter users, the MacBook Pro M5 Pro at $2,699 offers an 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage—still a substantial upgrade over M1 models without the Max's premium pricing.
If you're using a MacBook Pro M3 or MacBook Pro M4, this probably isn't your upgrade cycle unless you specifically need the additional GPU power or RAM capacity.
The Familiar Excellence Continues
As The Verge notes, most of their previous MacBook Pro reviews still apply here—Apple hasn't messed with the winning formula. You're still getting the same excellent 16-inch display, solid keyboard and trackpad, comprehensive port selection, and industry-leading battery life that made previous generations so compelling.
The MacBook Pro M5 Max remains "the best" in the creator laptop space, continuing Apple's dominance since the M-series transition began in 2021. For professionals who've been waiting for the right moment to upgrade their trusty M1 machines, that moment has finally arrived.
Sources
Some links may be affiliate links. See our privacy policy for details.