Apple’s MacBook Pro M5 Max outperforms desktops for video work, gaming, and local AI tasks

Apple has included the M5 Max CPU in new 14-inch and 16-inch laptops with an 18-core processor, 40-core graphics unit, and up to 128GB of shared memory. As a result, daily tasks become lightning-fast routines and large-scale operations that require a separate tower machine are well managed.

Creators using Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve will notice a big difference right away. Export time for high-resolution 8K RAW footage has been significantly reduced compared to previous chips. Additionally, the system can process 17K Blackmagic RAW clips at a consistent 12-15 frames per second, even when downscaled to 1080p. Lightroom Classic imports and exports batches of high-resolution photos twice as fast as previous versions, and completes these steps quickly with AI-powered denoising and upscaling features. This laptop has the highest Photoshop benchmark ratings on record, often outperforming full-featured desktop systems built with previous Ultra CPUs. Creators using Resolve will also love on-device audio tools that let you create temporary audio tracks in seconds without sending anything to the cloud, and ComfyUI, which lets users create storyboards and animations in seconds directly from text descriptions.

Gamers can expect the same incredibly stable graphical performance in Cyberpunk 2077 without resorting to mods. The highest settings provide a smooth speed of 62 frames per second. At medium detail, the frame rate increases to 88. Other popular titles such as Resident Evil Village and Uso no P run at full resolution and maximum quality, with frame rates exceeding 60 frames per second. In standard tests, graphics performance has improved by 43% compared to the previous generation M3 Max, ensuring smooth gameplay even during long gaming sessions on the new laptop’s screen.

Those working with language models will appreciate M5 Max’s dedicated neural engine and graphics core, which can perform local inference without connecting to the cloud. In previous software, the 17 billion parameter Llama model was generating text at a rate of 12 tokens per second, which is a significant improvement over last year. Users running larger setups with a full 128 GB of memory can run complex workflows in apps like ComfyUI, allowing them to iterate on ideas privately and instantly at the same speed that video effects can be easily achieved, and AI features within editing programs, such as quick object detection and resolution enhancement during post-production, can benefit from the same speed.

Even under heavy loads, battery life lasts comfortably throughout the working day, and the system operates reliably whether connected to a power source or powered by batteries. The screen has 1,600 nits of brightness and covers nearly every color space you need for professional work. Additionally, an optional textured coating reduces reflections without washing out the image. As an added bonus, storage read/write speeds are twice as fast as before, so loading huge project files won’t slow you down, and three Thunderbolt 5 ports for connecting to high-speed external drives or monitors minimize the need for large internal capacity.