I’m always wondering IF I needed the best performance out of my laptops. And it’s so easy to just look at graphs and go, this one is faster. So I bought the M3 Max 14in Macbook Pro with my own money. And here’s how it’s been the last month.

Check out a completely different kind of Robot Vacuum with Matic, this video’s sponsor in the link below:
https://bit.ly/3RUGTZz
Use my code JIMMY100 and get an extra $100 off (a total discount of $580 when you pre-order before 12/31)
A limited amount of Matics are available for pre-order. Each pre-order comes with a FREE 1 year Matic membership and includes unlimited HEPA Bags and Mop Rolls!
#HeyMatic #MaticPartner

Affiliate Links to Products mentioned:
M3 Max Macbook Pro: https://amzn.to/3GPaJZ7

Affiliate links to YouTube gear I use:
Sony a7siii: https://go.magik.ly/ml/1qb8i/
Sony A7c: https://go.magik.ly/ml/1qb8k/
14in M1 Pro MacBook Pro: https://go.magik.ly/ml/1qb83/
Mac Studio: https://go.magik.ly/ml/1qb8o/

Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:18 Physical Features
0:49 The “Secret” M3 Max MacBook Config Has Some Compromises
1:38 Performance
4:54 Everyday Usage
5:25 Too Much Power?
6:06 What MacBook Pro Should You Get?
8:22 Conclusion

The lower end M3 Max MacBook Pro can be had at the default configuration on Apple’s website for $3200.

The M3 Max is the fastest chip you can get in a MacBook, but the Max chip this year is really powerful, and you notice it. But to make that more easily understood I’m gonna show some of these benchmarks I took of it. It’s stupid fast. But at the same time, a single run of cinebench 2024’s multi-core cpu test drains the battery 6%. That’s a roughly 11 minute benchmark. The laptop, when pushed to its limits, does get hot, the fans get audible and the battery drains quickly. But on the other hand, when you treat this laptop like a casual web surfing machine, the battery becomes fantastic, lasting me over a day of usage. This laptop can go from 0 to 100% or 100% to 0% just like that. I really appreciate that it can be a powerhouse of a machine, with fans revving and just chugging power, but at the same time, can be that cute, quiet little computer I like taking everywhere. It really can do both when you need it to. The standout feature of the M3 Max MacBook Pro though, is how well it does in gaming. While Macs typically aren’t great computers for gaming due to a mix of software and hardware. The M3 Max MacBook Pro definitely has the hardware part down. It’s really down to if your game library is supported on Mac OS.

I normally have the M3 Max Macbook pro plugged into an external monitor, connected to an ethernet cable to my NAS, an SD card plugged in to pull video footage off of, and I prepare and edit my content for this youtube channel on this machine. And it does it flawlessly. I never felt a hitch or delay in everything I do. Scrubbing through final cut pro timelines, editing images for youtube thumbnails, having 20-30 different safari tabs open, and leaving spotify running in the background? It does it all great. The M3 Pro 14in MacBook pro handled all this flawlessly the exact same way. And honestly all this power feels very unnecessary for how I use my own laptops.

If I was making a suggestion as to what you do end up buying, I’d suggest you look at the M3 Pro MacBook Pro first. The pro chip used to be the sweet spot for performance. But between the M1 Pro and M3 Pro, the Pro chip lineup hasn’t improved significantly, and the M3 Max has improved significantly. But you have to consider, do you need all this power, if you never touch it? The Pro chip provides a lot of performance for almost everyone’s needs. This M3 Max just takes that performance and makes everything pale in comparison with eye watering numbers. If the M3 Pro is a little out of your price range, I’m a little hesitant on this suggestion because who knows how the used and clearance market will go but consider a Refurb or on clearance M1 Pro or M2 Pro MacBook pro if the price is right. Those get you a significantly better value than the standard M3 Pro if you can get your hands on one, but the longer you wait, the harder those will be to get. If you’re considering the 16in Pro over the 14in variant. It’s all personal preference but you should ask yourself if you travel or go mobile a lot. Because having that extra screen real estate is nice at home, or at my destination, but traveling with the larger body is annoying, making your backpack heavier, harder to get out of your bag, and difficult to use on those cramped airplane seats. But once you’ve sat down and got it out and running, it’s much nicer than the 14in. So definitely trade-offs no matter which one you pick.