Review: MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Max)

The M5 Max is a monster performer. Gaming is surprisingly smooth, and on-device AI speeds up. The display, keyboard, ports, and speakers remain top-of-class.

The MacBook Pro is in its awkward era. It’s the fifth generation of this MacBook Pro, which initially launched to critical acclaim in 2021. The design has matured in certain ways, but it’s also stagnated, letting the competition get closer and closer to catching up.

If the reports end up being true, next year's MacBook Pros will be a more dramatic reinvention, sporting an assortment of new features including a touchscreen, a tandem OLED display, a thinner chassis, and who else knows what else. I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to wait and see what's next. But I can also say with confidence that the M5 Max is ridiculously powerful, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro remains the ...