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Is the MacBook Pro 16-inch M5 Max worth it?
The 2026 MacBook Pro 16-inch with M5 Max is worth it for creative professionals: 3 critics average 8.7 out of 10, praising the tandem OLED display and battery life but faulting the very high price and a touchscreen that feels half-finished. This page is a consensus of published reviews, not hands-on testing.
What critics loved
The display is the headline. TechRadar called the tandem OLED screen gorgeous, and listed a 16.3-inch panel at 3472 x 2266 with 120Hz ProMotion and 2,000 nits peak brightness. Tom's Hardware went further and called it the best laptop display it has seen. Tom's Guide described the panel as mesmerizing and very bright, noting benchmarks landed just under Apple's roughly 2,000 nit claim.
Battery life impressed two outlets. TechRadar called it incredibly long, with a 100Wh battery rated up to 17 hours of web browsing and up to 24 hours of video streaming. Tom's Guide called it epic, at nearly 17 hours.
The redesign also won praise. All three noted a thinner, lighter body, with Tom's Hardware listing 4.1 lb for the M5 Max model. Speakers got credit from Tom's Guide (punchy) and Tom's Hardware (deep bass). Tom's Hardware also found the Dynamic Island more useful than the old notch, and called performance strong.
Where it falls short
Price is the shared complaint. TechRadar and Tom's Hardware cite $3,399 for the reviewed configuration, and Tom's Guide, which lists $2,899 for its configuration, still calls the machine very pricey.
The touchscreen divides critics. Tom's Guide found touch responsive, while TechRadar said the touch features feel undercooked. Tom's Hardware called touch an option rather than a must-have.
Other gripes are narrower. Tom's Guide noted no performance upgrade over the March MacBook Pros. TechRadar noted there is no M6 chip option. Tom's Hardware pointed out there is still no Face ID.
Who should buy it
Creative professionals who value color-accurate, bright display quality and long battery life are the clear audience. TechRadar framed it as a worthwhile buy for that group. Buyers who already own a March 2026 MacBook Pro, or who care mainly about raw speed or touch input, have less reason to pay the premium, based on Tom's Guide and Tom's Hardware findings.
