Apple M1 Pro and Max review: CPU and GPU improvements offer an unparalleled combination of raw performance, unique acceleration, and power efficiency

AnandTech 2021-10-26 Andrei Frumusanu

Context & Ripple Effects

Apple’s M1 Pro and M1 Max review validates the step outlined in Apple’s M1 Pro and M1 Max launch, which paired faster CPU performance with substantially expanded graphics and memory capacity. It also extends the performance trajectory identified in the earlier A14 single-thread analysis, where Apple’s chip design was already positioned as a serious challenge to x86 incumbents.

The review matters because it assesses the combined CPU, GPU, and power-efficiency proposition rather than treating those attributes as separate upgrades. That combination establishes M1 Pro and Max as the higher-end expression of Apple’s in-house silicon strategy.

First-order effects

Mac buyers seeking higher CPU and GPU throughput gain Apple-designed options with the review’s reported combination of raw performance, specialized acceleration, and power efficiency.
Apple’s M1 Pro and M1 Max move the company’s Mac silicon lineup beyond the original M1, including configurations with up to 32GB and 64GB of memory, respectively.

Second-order effects

x86 incumbents face a more demanding competitive benchmark: Apple’s earlier A14 gains had already suggested M1 would be formidable, and the Pro and Max review strengthens that comparison at the higher end of the Mac range.
Apple gains a clearer foundation for scaling its design across performance tiers; the subsequent M1 Ultra design combined two M1 Max dies into a single chip.

Third-order effects

If Apple sustains CPU, GPU, and efficiency gains in one architecture, high-performance PCs increasingly compete on tightly integrated silicon systems rather than on CPU performance alone.
The later M4 Max and M5 Pro and M5 Max generation indicate that Apple’s pro-chip roadmap continues to differentiate through larger CPU, GPU, memory, and acceleration capabilities.

The trend: Apple is turning its Mac transition into a multigeneration push for integrated, heterogeneous compute across increasingly high-performance tiers.

Discussion

@andysomerfield Andy Somerfield on x
So, with the upcoming delivery of new #M1Pro and #M1Max hardware to customers next week, I thought I'd spend a couple of days talking about how @affinitybyserif Photo uses GPUs, how our benchmark works and what we should reasonably expect from this new hardware :) https://twitter…
@tldtoday @tldtoday on x
😮 GB5 Metal Performance M1 Max MBP 16" - 68,184 i9 5K iMac w/5700XT - 58,919 Also, the MacBook Pro was on battery.
@fukuemon3 @fukuemon3 on x
M1 Max MacBook Pro 到着 #MacBookPro2021 #M1Max https://twitter.com/...
@htfiii Henry Ferlauto on x
@reckless Probably more of a macOS question but is it any better at working with multiple displays? I have an M1 MBP (which only supports one external display) & just like my Intel iMac, the Dock randomly decides to relocate itself. How many externals do they each support?
@pierce David Pierce on x
I will not spend $2,000 on a new MacBook Pro when I have a perfectly good laptop I will not spend $2,000 on a new MacBook Pro when I have a perfectly good laptop I will not spend $2,000 on a new MacBook Pro when I have a perfectly good laptop I will not spend $2,000 on a new M ht…
@cixliv CIX.eth on x
@Scobleizer @AlexStLouis10 I'll give you 100% that Apple is winning the chip game which is more than half the battle of creating good XR hardware. I'll give you that
@kevinctofel Kevin C. Tofel on x
As you'd expect, a detailed and insightful overview of the Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max from AnandTech. No doubt this SOC is redonkulously powerful yet power efficient. If I was a full-time developer (I'm not: I'm a CS student) or videographer, I'd be drooling https://www.anandtech.co…
@rainofterra Terra Field on x
I don't think I've been as excited for a new computer as I am for the new MacBook Pro (14") in a long time. This feels like one of “those” pieces of tech like the Celeron 300A or the PowerBook G4 12" where I'll still be talking about it decades later 🤓
@rajamagdich Tim R. on x
@TechKafa @tldtoday Well this is entirely up to developers, not Apple. Macs were always capable of running games well but developers never had the intention to release games on MacOS. An even more powerful GPU probably won't change that
@demozabel Abel Demoz on x
I think the design of the new MacBook Pro makes it look thicker than it actually is. The 14-inch is as thin as the 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro, and the 16-inch is significantly thinner than the 2015 15-inch MacBook Pro.
@ozskier @ozskier on x
Holy crap. “The chips here aren't only able to outclass any competitor laptop design, but also competes against the best desktop systems out there, you'd have to bring out server-class hardware to get ahead of the M1 Max - it's just generally absurd.” https://www.anandtech.com/..…
@mcoley Michael Coley on x
@reckless Appreciated your context on the fast charging on the 14 inch. Is it worth it to get the more expensive charger on the base 14 model so that it'll fast charge over magsafe, or is the USB C fast charging the same/good enough benefit?
@lightsleeper Jay Robinson on x
@fmanjoo I've used MacBooks Pro as primary moneymaker for 5-6 year spans, then handed them down. I always spec them up for that reason. The cost for the one I'm on now is under $2.50 a day and falling. Though that new processor might make me hand it down ahead of schedule...
@rucola_neko @rucola_neko on x
てことで無事発売日 ; に新型MacBook Pro 16インチ届きましたー新旧並べると新型は ; 林檎が大き ; くなってる ; のに気付い ; たあと底面にMacBook Proって刻印がつくよう ; になったん ; だね #MacBookPro2021 #MacBookPro16 https://twitter.com/...
@fpiednoel François on x
Apple core is very good too. They did the opposite of Intel, intel puts a GPU in its CPU, but apple has put a CPU into a GPU ... The smart part of the apple architecture is the cache hierarchy that is good enough to filter the memory requests to the LPDDR5 controller.
@reckless Nilay Patel on x
@mcoley Definitely worth it, it's only $20. Also the other end of the MagSafe cable is... usb c!
@kelseyhightower Kelsey Hightower on x
Now I want to port Kubernetes The Hard Way to a 14" MacBook Pro M1 Max. I bet I can run the whole thing using VMware Fusion while adding additional sections for Prometheus and Vault.
@techkafa @techkafa on x
@tldtoday They killed CPU market and now they are after GPU market. Next year, we will be playing AAA tittles with M2Pro line.
@fpiednoel François on x
Looking for the #M1Max bandwidth on this graph? Don't ! it is more than twice the Xeon Icelake top end monster ... I repeat, just to be sure, the #M1Max Macbook laptop has twice the bandwidth of the strongest Icelake Xeon ... https://twitter.com/...
@stammy Paul Stamatiou on x
this may be almost as important for me as the performance benefits of the new M1 chips.. as someone whose 16" MBP fan is very often on blast with xcode & figma connected to my XDR https://www.youtube.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@tapbot_paul Paul Haddad on x
@ccgus Well its no worse, which is a big improvement from previous upgrades. I just can't think of any improvements.
@ccgus Gus Mueller on x
@tapbot_paul It would take me a little while to nail that down I think. I just prefer it to Big Sur - something feels better about it.
@loudestnoise David Cintron on x
Updated to macOS Monterey and so far nothing has broken and/or isn't working. This is good! Excited to play with Shortcuts on macOS now too. Several of the ones from iOS just work. Focus modes are all synced and that's, well just nice! https://twitter.com/...
@tapbot_paul Paul Haddad on x
@ccgus How do you figure better? I can hardly tell the difference between the two.
@ccgus Gus Mueller on x
My MacOS Monterey Review: Eh, it's not bad! Better than Big Sur, and I haven't noticed anything breaking yet...
@sogonsec @sogonsec on x
Time to play the game of “what apps aren't compatible with macOS Monterey” to see what I need to update manually. GPGMail for macOS Mail 15 plugin needs updated and VirtualBox driver.
@adders Adam Tinworth on x
MacOS Monterey is a weirdly bland update — having been using it for a couple of hours, you could have easily persuaded me that the install failed and that I was still in Big Sur.

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