Hands-On With the New M2 Max MacBook Pro

New 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the latest M2 Pro and ‌M2‌ Max chips are available in Apple retail stores and are already in the hands of customers, and we picked up one of the new ‌M2‌ Max machines to answer all of the questions MacRumors readers considering a purchase might have.


Yesterday, we asked MacRumors fans on Twitter what they wanted to know about the new ‌M2‌ Pro and ‌M2‌ Max MacBook Pro machines, and we got all kinds of questions about whether it's worth the upgrade, how the SSD performs, what RAM choices might be best based on usage needs, how hot it runs, and more.

MacRumors videographer Dan answers all of those questions and more in the video up above, so make sure to watch it. Have another question we didn't cover? Let us know in the comments.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro 14 & 16"
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Top Rated Comments

Nugget Avatar
15 months ago

The M-series MacBook Pros are so thick it's almost comical. I remember the first time I saw one I couldn't believe I was actually looking at the latest Mac laptop. They're as thick as the MacBooks Apple made in the early 2000s.
I know! it's great, isn't it?
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adamw Avatar
15 months ago
Thanks for this informative video, especially dealing with the SSD speed issue between the different models, so customers can buy the right one that they are happy with! Glad you were using the 1TB model, which do not exhibit the SSD slower issue that the 512GB MacBook Pro M2 Pro and 512GB MacBook Max M2 Max models seem to have.

This video may help explain the SSD speed issue for many MacBook Pro M2 Pro models. Very informative. He expresses the frustration that Pros and Creators feel with this nand SSD speed issue in a lighthearted video:

The MacBook M2 Pro SSD Downgrade/Issue? - I'm Frustrated:

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wando64 Avatar
15 months ago

The M-series MacBook Pros are so thick it's almost comical. I remember the first time I saw one I couldn't believe I was actually looking at the latest Mac laptop. They're as thick as the MacBooks Apple made in the early 2000s.
I can only assume you were not yet born in the early 2000.
The iBook G3 and later the G4 where 3.4cm thick.
The 2006 MBP was 2.54cm thick.
The current model is 1.55cm
Even the 2020 MBP is thicker at 1.56cm
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IncreasinglyFrustrated Avatar
15 months ago

So tempted, but I need my Intel VM for things that have no ARM equivalent.
I ran into the same issue. Bought the M2 Max 12/38/96GB (just arrived this morning, woot!) and a 13900K/4090/256GB windows box (arrived 2 days ago). I added a monitor emulator to the win box, stuffed it in the closet, and now I can connect to it via Moonlight. Feels like the world's best version of VMWare.

Both machines together came out considerably less than what I paid for my iMac Pro 5 years ago.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
15 months ago
Thank you for posting a great video. Honest and transparent review! ??

Sometimes it's not just all about the performance and benchmarks. Basically, these are M1S Macbook Pros. Really wish Apple had released the M2 MacBook Pro 14" - 16" in (Midnight).
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macos9rules Avatar
15 months ago
It looks like an amazing laptop. I wonder if it's best to buy a refurbished M1 Pro/Max?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

reset password request iphone

Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests

Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
iPhone Home Screen Gradient Blank Spaces 1

Sources: iOS 18 Lets Apps Be Placed Anywhere on Home Screen Grid

Sunday March 24, 2024 1:33 pm PDT by
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce...
iPad Pro 2024 Landscape Camera Feature

New iPad Pro Again Rumored to Feature Landscape Front-Facing Camera

Monday March 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as "Instant Digital." Instant Digital reiterated the design change earlier today on Weibo with a simple accompanying 2D image. The post reveals that the entire TrueDepth camera array will move to the right side of the device, while the microphone will...
sonoma desktop wwdc

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 With Fix for USB Hub Bug

Monday March 25, 2024 10:10 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 comes three weeks after macOS Sonoma 14.4. The ‌‌‌‌macOS Sonoma‌‌ 14.4‌.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There's also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Purple

iOS 18 Will Finally Bring This Android Feature to iPhone

Monday March 25, 2024 6:42 am PDT by
iOS 18 will allow iPhone users to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid, according to sources familiar with development of the software update. This basic feature has long been available on Android smartphones. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, our sources said that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18....
maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14

Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
apple maps 3d feature

Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
iphone reasons to upgrade

Apple Outlines 'Reasons to Upgrade' Your iPhone on New Website

Monday March 25, 2024 12:53 pm PDT by
Apple today added a "Why Upgrade" section to its website, which is aimed at encouraging customers with older iPhones to upgrade to a newer model. The website allows customers to compare the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max to the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max. Each comparison shows what new features someone with an older...