So game dev here. I use a lot of programs, and really felt nervous about moving to an arm based architecture in order to get my work done. Apple has come a long way. I tried to keep using Windows for my dev work. I frankly got tired of a few things: 1. Windows and Unity freaking out over SSD Security and blocking programs from working (have had to redo per folder security many times). 2. Random software breaking and simply not working until a full restart. 3. Driver updates interrupting me in the middle of work with a black screen. 4. Ads everywhere. I had to google search to find how to turn them off in the settings. With this laptop, I think that the GPU speed, plus raytracing, plus basically the fastest cpu out there, I was ready to switch. I was not disappointed. I set up all my environments, tested and set up my VM, and tried to work. I have really increased the amount of work done each day because I don't have to waste time fixing Window's problems. Serious, if you have never had a Mac, and are happy with Windows, DO NOT TRY a MacBook. You will find out just how much broken software you have become used to. It's sad. It will never be the same. This MacBook: 1. Great battery life. No worries about it dying in the middle of a project. 2. Screen is smooth, and the blacks are almost OLED level black. None of that $3k Windows Laptop Backlight bleed (Really Asus???). 3. Mac Speakers and Mic are on another level. The Laptop's mic can substitute for an actual stand alone mic in a pinch with noise isolation on. I do it all the time. 4. Even pushing hard, with the fans at full blast, the fan noise is gentle almost. I have gotten it to push hard in some games here and there. 5. Mac OS is way more stable. And I like that it's consistent across the board UI wise. Dark Mode is actually Dark Mode throughout. This Mac is actually worth the price imho. It get's out of the way so you can focus on the things you need to focus on. You don't worry about it. I love that about my Mac. If you don't buy this specifically for gaming, and want a solid computer, this is it. You can get away with gaming, but they are not there yet. Crossover and VM's tackle most of the issues, but anti cheat simply doesn't work on ARM, not even Windows ARM. So be aware of that. It chews through Unity and VSC projects like butter.

Bought this as the only true upgrade from my M1 Pro for Logic music production. Before settling on the Max, also tried two M3 Pro variations and one M2 Pro. Those were great, but just a sideways step in performance from the M1 Pro. Also, M3 Max is the only 14" stock config at BestBuy with 36gb ram. Pluses: +decent battery life for light tasks +exceptional performance +easy to clean the smudges (space black) +no fan noise during everyday tasks +great screen and speakers Minuses: -battery drains quickly when pushed, and noticeably worse than M3 Pro/M2 Pro overall -Will get warm, but not hot -theoretically better in some workflows but hard to notice the difference -unclear value for money -a smidge heavier than the other M3 14" pros Overall, this is a great machine, but so are the other 14" Macbook Pros. I'm not convinced there is value since even this entry level max is hundreds of dollars above the others, but luckily BestBuy offered an awesome deal when stacking the rewards on top of it--making this purchase just a touch less painful.

I spent a long time deciding between the Pro and Max chip. In the end I went with the M3 Max chip. I didn't like the heat or Fan noise in the M3 Max chip, but you get basically double the performance and if you use the computer in Low power mode -- no fan noise or heat and it is still faster that than the Pro Chip. So for an open box M3 Max chip, it's $400-500 more and you also get twice the memory. So far I'm very happy with my purchase. I couldn't even run blender on my 2019 Intel MacBook.

Love it! Plays and scrubs through DaVinci Resolve timelines extremely smoothly, and is even able to play back some complex Fusion compositions and advanced color grades in real time. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for a ultra-portable, high-powered creative workstation. When doing complex renders, if the CPU/GPU are being pushed to the max, the fans will come on, and are quite noticeable, but as someone who works mostly in post production, this isn’t much of an issue. Display is amazing as well, but pure white on a black background will see a slight glow. Battery life is great, don’t have to think about my battery being charged most of the time.

This MacBook Pro has lived up to my expectations in every way. It's a reliable machine that handles all my daily tasks, like social media, paying bills, and general browsing, effortlessly. What really impresses me is how well it performs when I push it harder. Whether it's managing my homework or tackling complex coding projects, the MacBook Pro doesn't miss a beat. The performance is smooth, the battery life is solid, and the build quality is top-notch—everything you'd expect from Apple. If you're looking for a dependable laptop that balances everyday use with more demanding workloads, I highly recommend the MacBook Pro. It's worth the investment!