Apple is rumored to announce a major MacBook lineup change next week, potentially including a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen OLED display. Until then, the previous-generation 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s M5 Max chip is available at its lowest reported price: $3,499 for a configuration with 36 GB of memory and 2 TB of storage.
A record-low price for the M5 Max MacBook Pro
The 16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro is currently available from Amazon for $3,499, a 20 percent discount. That price is $400 lower than it was a few days ago and $150 below the lowest price previously recorded for this configuration.
The MacBook lineup was priced higher in June, making the current discount particularly notable.
High-end performance for demanding workloads
The fully configured MacBook Pro is aimed at content creators, media professionals, engineers and people working with artificial intelligence. The M5 Max represents a substantial upgrade over both the M4 Max and the M5 Pro, with GPU performance the source describes as unprecedented for a MacBook.
It can also handle AAA games more smoothly than any Mac other than the new Mac Studio. In testing, Cyberpunk 2077 averaged more than 60 frames per second at the Ultra preset without relying on upscaling.
For intensive AI workloads, a 64 GB or 128 GB configuration is recommended. Those models are not sold through third-party retailers such as Amazon, however. Buyers who need that much memory must purchase directly from Apple, where the prices are considerably higher. The 36 GB model currently available is still powerful enough for on-device AI and is positioned as a strong option for video editors, designers, musicians and engineers.
What to expect from next week’s announcement
It may be worth waiting to see what Apple announces, but there is no guarantee that the current discount will remain available. The rumored new MacBooks are expected to use the same chip options as the current MacBook Pro, meaning the M5 Pro and M5 Max could return. If performance is the main priority, buying the discounted M5 Max model could therefore save a significant amount of money.
Beyond performance, the MacBook Pro is known for its speakers, display, build quality, trackpad and keyboard. The source notes that, despite testing dozens of new laptops each year, including the recently tested Surface Laptop Ultra, few competitors come close in these areas.
Source: www.wired.com