Apple 2021 MacBook Pro M1 Max: Travel Machine Faster than even my 28-core Mac Pro

2023-11-24 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Apple, Apple MacBook Pro M1, Apple Silicon, laptop, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Other World Computing

re: 2021 Apple MacBook Pro M1 Max
re: TESTED: Apple 2022 MacBook Pro M2 Max vs Apple MacBook Pro M1 Max
re: TESTED: Apple 2021 MacBook Pro M1 Max — a Stunning Performer That Crushes Intel-Based Macs
re: Got One: Deeply Discounted Apple MacBook Pro M1 Max + Monterey vs Ventura

2021 MacBook Pro M1 Max

[post rerun since this is just such an awesome machine and still at a huge discount]

This is a brief field review... I’ve been evaluating and publishing my recent posts all in the field in my Sprinter van using the 2021 MacBook Pro M1 Max + NEC PA2721Q wide gamut display.

Yes, of course I’d like the 2022 MacBook Pro M2 Max instead because it’s faster. But I saved around $1700 with the previous model. And I have the 2023 MacPro M2 Ultra ordered and coming soon for home use.

Bottom line: this M1 Max powerhouse outperforms my 28-core 2019 Mac Pro on just about everything I do, and leaves the 2019 iMac 5K far behind (iMac 5K was my van travel computer for 3 years). Each and every day I keep remarking to myself: “holy crap this thing is awesome”. I’ve never had that impression of a computer before. Just awesome.

As a bonus, power draw of the laptop plus display in my van idles around 43W, about 1/3 of my former setup. It spikes to ~85W with all-out usage. That greatly extends my battery system.

So if your budget is tight, don’t sweat it out trying to pay for the latest M2 Max or M2 Ultra chip. The M1 Max chip comes at a big savings, in either MacBook Pro M1 or Mac Studio form factor. Get a minimum of 32GB memory (but 64GB strongly preferred for heavy use like mine). A small internal SSD is not ideal (2TB or more is best), but you can easily add a 4TB external one at modest cost.

UPDATE 2023-07-12: the MBP M1 Max proved to be the best machine for my work ever, at home or on the road... only exception was that 64GB proved not quite enough once (very big job) but otherwise superb.

OWC sells a wide variety of both NEW and pre-owned Macs and the selection changes regularly with new batches arriving every few weeks. Right now as i write this, most have sold out, but check back regularly

MacBook Pro Deals and Backup SSD

Macs wish list • Deals on Apple

$320 SAVE $180 = 36.0% Samsung 4TB T7 Shield Portable SSD IN STOCK in Computers: Drives and Storage

$320 SAVE $680 = 68.0% SanDisk 4TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD V2 IN STOCK in Computers: Drives and Storage

Recommended Accessories, Storage,etc

Big Fast Storage wish list • Deals on OWC

$10 SAVE $5 = 33.0% NewerTech USB-C to DisplayPort Adapter for up to 8K Displays in All Other Categories	$80 OWC Thunderbolt Dual DisplayPort Adapter in All Other Categories	$300 OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock in All Other Categories	$60 OWC USB-C Travel Dock E in All Other Categories	$300 OWC 2.0TB OWC Envoy Pro Elektron USB-C Portable NVMe SSD in All Other Categories	$600 OWC 4.0TB OWC Envoy Pro SX Thunderbolt (40Gb/s) Bus-Powered Port… in All Other Categories	$2800 OWC 16.0TB OWC ThunderBlade Thunderbolt (40Gb/s) NVMe RAID SSD E… in All Other Categories
$400 SAVE $30 = 6.0% OWC 18.0TB OWC Mercury Elite Pro External Storage Solution with… in All Other Categories	$1800 OWC 32.0TB OWC ThunderBay 4 Four-Drive Thunderbolt External Stor… in All Other Categories	$130 SAVE $150 = 53.0% OWC 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock with Cable - Space Gray in All Other Categories