Review Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (Late 2023) Review: M3 Max Domination

[Admin]

The chassis and fundamentals of the M3 MacBook Pro remain the same, but performance sharply increases.

Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (Late 2023) Review: M3 Max Domination : Read more

 

[brandonjclark]

I have a M1 Macbook Pro 16" for work, and I have to admit the whole package is really, really great*. I've been eyeing one for personal use for some time now.

*I'm glad I didn't have to pay for it, though.

The biggest drawback to the whole mac ecosystem is the OS, IMO.

 

[Thunder64]

Why not mention of the cost for CPU upgrades? That CPU is awesome but it adds $700! It also ups you to 48GB of memory though. Upgrade that SSD to 1TB and you're at $4000.

The base price of the M3 Max is actually $3500. Below that you are in M3 Pro territory. I get it it, Apple is expensive. Socked, shocked I tell ya!

 

[TCA_ChinChin]

The M3 max is quite a bit of kit and really impressive, but I'm kinda dissappointed with the M3 and the M3Pro macbook pros. Not as much uplift for the prices as I would have thought. I guess they know what they got just like Nvidia with the RTX 4000 series prices.

 

[bit_user]

Are there really no MS Office or Adobe suite benchmarks that run on it? Those are both available as native apps for Macs and PCs, so it'd be something else to compare them on.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

Is it me, or does the aesthetic let it down a bit? Looks like any bog-standard Dell Latitude or the like. Can take it or leave it.

CPU is nice though.

 

[shawman123]

LOL we seeing review for $7200 system. I think M3 pro reviews base models of 14/16" are more important as majority buy that.

 

[palladin9479]

Gotta get that hype going for the next designer Gucci bag Apple product. That stock price isn't going to raise itself.

 

[g-unit1111]

I have a M1 Macbook Pro 16" for work, and I have to admit the whole package is really, really great*. I've been eyeing one for personal use for some time now.

*I'm glad I didn't have to pay for it, though.

The biggest drawback to the whole mac ecosystem is the OS, IMO.

For someone like me who's been using PCs since the DOS / 486 days, I have found the current Apple operating systems to be extremely irritating to use. Like no, I don't want to sync everything with iTunes. I'm used to Android, where I can just copy stuff to my phone or to my PC and go.

The new MacBook looks nice, especially the M3 CPU, and I'd definitely use one. But I'll always be PC first and foremost.

 

[Giroro]

The M3 MacBook Pro's price seemed pretty fair, until I found out that I can't drive it to work. It doesn't even have wheels.

But seriously, I don't entirely understand how Apple's current business model could possibly be sustainable. They make nearly all their money on their locked-down app store software monopoly. A software store that only runs on their proprietary hardware. So you'd think at some point they'll need to start desperately slashing prices just to start getting some of their hardware back into people's hands.
Maybe their "infinite money forever" software subscription schemes can actually generate that infinite money from a much smaller user base than I originally thought.
Or maybe the PC OEMs are really just that bad at putting together a usable product.

And look, I'm definitely an advocate of buying the laptop "you like" over worrying too much about specs, so long as the specs meet your minimum requirements. But There's a grand canyon sized gap between spending a few hundred dollars for a better monitor/keyboard, and Apple continuing to charge 10x the going rate for memory and storage.

 

[bit_user]

But seriously, I don't entirely understand how Apple's current business model could possibly be sustainable. They make nearly all their money on their locked-down app store software monopoly.

Source?

A software store that only runs on their proprietary hardware. So you'd think at some point they'll need to start desperately slashing prices just to start getting some of their hardware back into people's hands.

Their "secret" is that their entry-level Macs are pretty affordable. The specs are horrible, but the price is low enough that mom & pop can buy one or get one for the kiddo.

It's only when you start to look at upgrades or higher tiers that your eyes start to bleed.

 

[bit_user]

I have found the current Apple operating systems to be extremely irritating to use. Like no, I don't want to sync everything with iTunes. I'm used to Android, where I can just copy stuff to my phone or to my PC and go.

"Welcome to the Hotel California. You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave!"

 

[artk2219]

For someone like me who's been using PCs since the DOS / 486 days, I have found the current Apple operating systems to be extremely irritating to use. Like no, I don't want to sync everything with iTunes. I'm used to Android, where I can just copy stuff to my phone or to my PC and go.

The new MacBook looks nice, especially the M3 CPU, and I'd definitely use one. But I'll always be PC first and foremost.

Cant say Apple is alone in that mindset, Microsoft is trying to push something similar with Windows 11. Just sign in with your Microsoft account and sync everything from there, its FINE, trust us, just use the Microsoft store for everything, its FINE. Yeah no thanks, keep your hands off my crap, but I feel like its going to be a trend going forward, which is unfortunate. That said Apple takes that and runs with it as far as they can, because you know, its Apple, the most hypocritical 1984 wannabes out there. That said, if you're already tied into their shenanigans, the new M3 looks like a nice upgrade for M1 users that may be looking for an upgrade or replacement.

 

[ButchLugrod]

For someone like me who's been using PCs since the DOS / 486 days, I have found the current Apple operating systems to be extremely irritating to use. Like no, I don't want to sync everything with iTunes. I'm used to Android, where I can just copy stuff to my phone or to my PC and go.

The new MacBook looks nice, especially the M3 CPU, and I'd definitely use one. But I'll always be PC first and foremost.

Sync with iTunes? That hasn't been a requirement since iOS 5 (released in 2011.) I mean, you can still do that if you want to, but there are definitely better methods!

 

[NinoPino]

But seriously, I don't entirely understand how Apple's current business model could possibly be sustainable. They make nearly all their money on their locked-down app store software monopoly. A software store that only runs on their proprietary hardware. So you'd think at some point they'll need to start desperately slashing prices just to start getting some of their hardware back into people's hands.
Maybe their "infinite money forever" software subscription schemes can actually generate that infinite money from a much smaller user base than I originally thought.

A looot of peoples use Apple products and the margins are abysmal.

Or maybe the PC OEMs are really just that bad at putting together a usable product.

I also suspect this. And particularly now that they persist to use Intel furnaces.

 

[NinoPino]

Cant say Apple is alone in that mindset, Microsoft is trying to push something similar with Windows 11. Just sign in with your Microsoft account and sync everything from there, its FINE, trust us, just use the Microsoft store for everything, its FINE. Yeah no thanks, keep your hands off my crap, but I feel like its going to be a trend going forward, which is unfortunate.

Amen.
Microsoft is trying to replicate Apple in so many ways, and is doing a so bad job that if persist on this way can loose a huge part of the personal desktop market. A trend that in my opinion is starter with Windows 8 and is in constant growth.

 

[shady28]

For someone like me who's been using PCs since the DOS / 486 days, I have found the current Apple operating systems to be extremely irritating to use. Like no, I don't want to sync everything with iTunes. I'm used to Android, where I can just copy stuff to my phone or to my PC and go.

The new MacBook looks nice, especially the M3 CPU, and I'd definitely use one. But I'll always be PC first and foremost.

Same. I was a big Mac user through the 2000s, last one I bought was a laptop and 27" iMac in 2011. I wound up going back to Windows for multiple reasons, but of all things file management was as you say really irritating with OS X.

Then there's the value proposition which most speak of. A lot more for your money in the PC space, and if you want high quality build you can find that too - and typically still not hit Apple's price points. The big thing is the $900-$1300 price point IMO. There's nothing there from Apple but the MacBook Air. People can get a full on desktop replacement laptop with a good mobile GPU, useful for any task and far more storage in that price range with PCs.

I hate to say it b/c it gets over-used with the iPhone, but I really think most of the people with MacBooks are just showing off their hipsterism. If you want to show out in PC space, buy an Alienware - even those are a better value, and far more useable. I actually take a lot more note of someone with that alien logo on their laptop these days than someone with an dime-a-dozen Apple logo.

 

[bit_user]

If you want to show out in PC space, buy an Alienware - even those are a better value, and far more useable. I actually take a lot more note of someone with that alien logo on their laptop these days than someone with an dime-a-dozen Apple logo.

I used to take pride in my Thinkpad running Linux, but now Linux on a laptop isn't even a big deal.

For my next laptop, I'll probably take a hard look at Framework, but I tend to get 8 years out of a laptop and probably wouldn't upgrade much more frequently if I could. I don't like a lot of bulk or weight, either, and really hate loud laptops.

The first & last time I flirted with the idea of buying a Mac was in 2004, when I needed a new laptop. OS X seemed like it might be UNIXy-enough for me and the idea of a different CPU ISA (PowerPC) seemed exotic. Then, I saw that the specs I wanted cost about 2x as much as if I bought a Pentium M, and quickly stepped back from the brink, never to return.

BTW, I actually did upgrade the CPU in my Pentium M laptop. It was cool that I could do it, but wasn't really worth the trouble or expense. A slightly bigger deal was when I replaced its HDD with a PATA SSD. By that point, I'd practically stopped using it, though.

 

[g-unit1111]

Same. I was a big Mac user through the 2000s, last one I bought was a laptop and 27" iMac in 2011. I wound up going back to Windows for multiple reasons, but of all things file management was as you say really irritating with OS X.

Then there's the value proposition which most speak of. A lot more for your money in the PC space, and if you want high quality build you can find that too - and typically still not hit Apple's price points. The big thing is the $900-$1300 price point IMO. There's nothing there from Apple but the MacBook Air. People can get a full on desktop replacement laptop with a good mobile GPU, useful for any task and far more storage in that price range with PCs.

I hate to say it b/c it gets over-used with the iPhone, but I really think most of the people with MacBooks are just showing off their hipsterism. If you want to show out in PC space, buy an Alienware - even those are a better value, and far more useable. I actually take a lot more note of someone with that alien logo on their laptop these days than someone with an dime-a-dozen Apple logo.

Yeah I agree with pretty much everything you're saying. I've used the current model Macbook Air and it's a pretty decent laptop for the price, but also for the price you can get way better, with a much less frustrating operating system.

Though one thing I will disagree on is Alienware. If I'm going to splurge that much on a prebuilt, I'd go for Falcon Northwest, NZXT, Corsair or Maingear. Or build my own system. Alienware is basically just glorified Dell.

 

[thestryker]

I think to an extent apple has been a victim of its own success and the incrimental upgrades are why the Mac division was down in sales. The lower end models are where the most reasonable prices are, but these have also seen the least improvement across the board.

Hopefully they'll make some actual architectural changes next go around and maybe do some platform innovation while they're at it.

The performance on this laptop is great, but the price is equally outlandish.

 

[shady28]

Though one thing I will disagree on is Alienware. If I'm going to splurge that much on a prebuilt, I'd go for Falcon Northwest, NZXT, Corsair or Maingear. Or build my own system. Alienware is basically just glorified Dell.

Right, I probably wouldn't get Alienware myself either. However, for someone looking for 'street cred' brand name recognition on their PC for whatever reason, most average people know what Alienware is vs the others. A lot of that is because of this guy :

 

[vinay2070]

I think Apple is urging reviewers to review the MAX first because the PRO sux and they know it. I think most people who are on M1 Pro/Max or M2 Pro/Max looking at upgrading to M3 Pro can just skip it. As a dev, I need more CPU cores not GPU cores.

 

[sjkpublic]

Not only is the price heavy but so is the laptop. 4.8 lbs configured? And I thought laptops were getting lighter ...

 

[snemarch]

Not only is the price heavy but so is the laptop. 4.8 lbs configured? And I thought laptops were getting lighter ...

Yeah, even my work laptop – a 16" M2 Pro – is *super* clunky. It's a great workhorse, but it's heavy to carry around.

I don't particularly like macOS, and I find the hardware to be overpriced (especially here in Denmark) – but the systems are great for development work; I can mostly ignore the parts of macOS I don't like, since I spend 99% of my time between an IDE, text editor, a couple of web browsers and a terminal (kitty + zsh + zimfw). I wish the hardware were more open rather than being outright hostile to alternate operating systems, but with Homebrew I have most of the stuff I like from Linux, with a system that just... works.

And I hate to admit it, my home 13" M2 Air is the most enjoyable laptop I've ever had. Super lightweight, entirely silent, never runs hot, wonderful battery life, and decent performance. If only it had open hardware and a non-insane pricetag...

 

[palladin9479]

The M3 MacBook Pro's price seemed pretty fair, until I found out that I can't drive it to work. It doesn't even have wheels.

But seriously, I don't entirely understand how Apple's current business model could possibly be sustainable. They make nearly all their money on their locked-down app store software monopoly. A software store that only runs on their proprietary hardware. So you'd think at some point they'll need to start desperately slashing prices just to start getting some of their hardware back into people's hands.
Maybe their "infinite money forever" software subscription schemes can actually generate that infinite money from a much smaller user base than I originally thought.
Or maybe the PC OEMs are really just that bad at putting together a usable product.

And look, I'm definitely an advocate of buying the laptop "you like" over worrying too much about specs, so long as the specs meet your minimum requirements. But There's a grand canyon sized gap between spending a few hundred dollars for a better monitor/keyboard, and Apple continuing to charge 10x the going rate for memory and storage.

It's because Apple isn't using an OEM PC or even Tech company business model, they are using the business model adopted by luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Channel, Rolex and such. Market a high quality product as a luxury status symbol, then charge obscene prices for the privilege of owning that status symbol. All Apple products, including their Mac Personal Computers, have ridiculous profit margins built in. They then push the concept that to join the cool kids club, you have to buy their latest product. If you don't keep up then you'll be kicked out of that cool kids club.

Basically Apple doesn't compete on price or performance, they compete on perceived exclusivity and brand status. The members of that exclusive group absolutely love to proclaim membership and how great it is, which is why I mock them incessantly. We can talk the merits of tech all day and be fine, but "my logo is better then your logo" is a ridiculous position.