Apple
MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)
M4 Max · 16.2″ XDR · Up to 128 GB unified
96
/ 100
From $3,499
VS
Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB wins by 2
Apple
Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB
M5 Ultra · 16GB
98
/ 100
From $4,199
Specdex verdict
Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) lands at 96 and Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB at 98. That puts Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) if…
- ✓Outstanding battery under load
- ✓XDR mini-LED display
- ✓Silent sustained performance
Pick Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB if…
- ✓M5 generation perf-per-watt leader
- ✓Larger unified memory ceiling
- ✓Improved ray-tracing iGPU
MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) 96
vs 98 Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB
Score breakdown
MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)
96 cpu 97
gpu 90
display 98
battery 96
portability 88
Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB
98 cpu 98
gpu 96
display 92
battery 96
portability 90
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) | Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M4 Max (16C CPU / 40C GPU) | M5 Ultra |
| RAM | ▲ Up to 128 GB unified | 16GB |
| Storage | Up to 8 TB SSD | — |
| Display | 16.2″ Liquid Retina XDR, 120Hz | — |
| Weight | 2.14 kg | — |
| Battery | 100 Wh | — |
| Ports | 3× TB5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3 | — |
| OS | macOS 15 | macOS 16 |
| Release year | — | 2025 |
MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)
Pros
- +Outstanding battery under load
- +XDR mini-LED display
- +Silent sustained performance
Cons
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited gaming library
- −Ports starboard-heavy
Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB
Pros
- +M5 generation perf-per-watt leader
- +Larger unified memory ceiling
- +Improved ray-tracing iGPU
Cons
- −macOS-only
- −Memory non-upgradable
- −High-end configs expensive
FAQ: MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) vs Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB
Which is better, MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) or Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB? +
Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) worth the price? +
At $3,499, MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in display.
Is Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB worth the price? +
At $4,199, Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in cpu.
Does MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) or Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 16GB last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.