- We tested Apple’s latest MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max for battery life
- While one device performed very well, the other lagged a bit
- We compared the results of our previous evaluations, with interesting results
Apple prides itself on the long battery life of its best MacBooks, and they’ve been getting better ever since the company switched to its own Apple silicon chips. With the recent release of new MacBook Pro models powered by M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, we thought we’d put the devices through their paces to see how well their batteries held up – and the results contain some interesting surprises.
According to benchmark data collected by our own labs (below) – all of which is focused on web browsing longevity – the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro chip is the best-performing Apple laptop in terms of battery life that we’ve reviewed in the M3, M4, and M5 generations. This includes any size and any chip level (like M3 Pro or M5 Max).
Its average battery life of 21 hours, 10 minutes, and 16 seconds far exceeds Apple’s estimate of 14 hours of web browsing and beats last year’s 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chip, which achieved 20 hours, 46 minutes, and 29 seconds. This is great news for anyone looking at new MacBook Pro laptops and considering battery life as a key consideration in their purchasing decision.
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The size of the laptop tested will no doubt have had an effect: put simply, a 16-inch MacBook Pro has more internal space for larger batteries than a 14-inch equivalent. If battery life is a priority, a larger laptop will generally be a better option for you.
|
Model |
Battery Test (Web Browsing in Hours/Minutes, Future Labs) |
Official battery life (web browsing in hours/minutes, Apple) |
|
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5 Max) |
5:58 p.m. |
1:00 p.m. |
|
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro) |
9:10 p.m. |
2:00 p.m. |
|
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5) |
6:00 p.m. |
4:00 p.m. |
The last one is not always the best
The improvements seen in the M5 Pro suggest that Apple is improving the efficiency of its latest chips, as the M5 Pro and M4 Pro scores were recorded in a 16-inch MacBook Pro. This similarity ensures that the focus can be on the chip rather than the space available for the battery cells.
But there have been some interesting deviations, and the latest chips aren’t always the best performers, according to our test results. For example, we also benchmarked the M5 Max chip, this time in a 14-inch MacBook Pro, and its performance was somewhat disappointing.
Average battery life is 17 hours, 58 minutes, and 18 seconds. That’s still ahead of Apple’s 13-hour web browsing figure, but compared to other 14-inch MacBook Pros with similar battery capacity, the M5 Max lags behind the M4 and M5 chips. It did, however, outperform the M3 Pro, which scored 17 hours, 23 minutes and nine seconds.
If you’re considering purchasing a new MacBook Pro, it’s worth researching the battery capacities of the model you’re considering. You can read our full thoughts on the new MacBooks in our updated 14-inch MacBook Pro review.
Generally speaking, a larger laptop will give you more power, and Apple has made progress in terms of the efficiency of its chips. But as the 14-inch MacBook Pro’s M5 Max suggests, newer doesn’t always mean better.
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