The new Apple MacBook Pro 16, powered by the M4 Max chip, solidifies its position as the top laptop for video editing. The M4 Max delivers a 20-30% performance increase across all areas, extending its lead over comparable laptops. This is due to its impressive single-core performance, excellent multi-core results, and superior video processing capabilities, even outperforming the GeForce RTX 4090 laptop.
M4 Max Performance Overview
The M4 Max processor boasts 16 cores (12 performance and 4 efficiency) and delivers outstanding single and multi-core performance. According to Cinebench 2024 benchmarks:
- The M4 Max is only slightly behind the overclocked Intel Core i9-14900HX in the XMG Neo 16 in multi-core performance, despite having significantly lower power consumption.
- It surpasses the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X in multi-core performance.
The shared RAM architecture allows the GPU to access memory efficiently, overcoming the limitations of dedicated video memory on laptops like the RTX 4090.
Real-World Creative Benchmarks
PugetBench benchmarks for creative software show the M4 Max’s capabilities:
- In Photoshop, the M4 Max significantly outperforms competitors, including the ROG Strix Scar 17 with RTX 4090.
- In Premiere Pro, the M4 Max is competitive, even edging out the Scar 17 in the overall score.
- In DaVinci Resolve, which is heavily GPU-dependent, the M4 Max is 12% faster than a Razer Blade 16 equipped with an RTX 4090 and i9-14900HX, despite the GPU performance differences in pure benchmarks
The M4 Max comes with the option for up to 128 GB of RAM and 8 TB of SSD storage for demanding video projects.
The M4 Max SoC is the best choice for users wanting to edit videos on the go. Add to that the very high efficiency, one of the best laptop screens, high-quality sound system and the many ports. - mgtid, technetbook
The MacBook Pro 16 with M4 Max is one of the best multimedia notebooks available at the end of 2024. The M4 Max chip provides immense power and efficiency for video editing workflows, while most users will be satisfied with the more affordable M4 Pro option.
