Space Black M3 Max MacBook Pro Review: We Can Game Now?!

The video starts by unpacking the two standout updates of the Space Black MacBook Pro: a new matte black color and the latest M3 family chip. Marques reviews the design, noting that the outside retains Apple’s familiar high-end build, generous port selection, bright display, and the signature notch, while highlighting that the Space Black finish, though darker, behaves more like a very dark gray and still shows fingerprints occasionally. He explains Apple’s claimed anodization process, evaluating real-world fingerprint resistance and overall darkness, ultimately finding the color appealing but not dramatically transformative compared to previous dark tones. The host also inventories the included accessories, pointing out that the black color extends to stickers and MagSafe cable but not the white power brick, which leaves the overall commitment to Space Black feeling partial rather than absolute. Turning to performance, the review moves to the M3 Max with a 40-core GPU and up to 128GB of shared memory, noting a respectable CPU uplift and a GPU that moves the MacBook Pro into an upper mid-range performance tier similar to an RTX 3070 on benchmarks. He stresses that the practical value of this performance depends on real workloads beyond synthetic numbers. In the segment about gaming and graphics, Marques demonstrates macOS Sonoma’s gaming mode, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and mesh shading, showing a game like Lies of P running at 4K with high frame rates and impressive visuals, while acknowledging that many Mac games are still not available or optimized for macOS. The reviewer emphasizes that for most buyers, the decision hinges on workflow needs rather than gaming alone, noting that creative apps like Cinema 4D benefit from the upgraded GPU and acceleration, and predicting broader app support will grow over time. In a candid wrap-up, he shares his personal upgrade decision: after ordering the maxed-out M3 Max, he ultimately cancels, realizing that for his use case the M1 Max remains a better value, especially for users who already own a higher-tier M-series MacBook. He concludes that the M3 Max is an excellent machine with standout display and battery life, but for many users, particularly those with older Macs or different tier specs, the upgrade may not deliver a meaningful difference in daily, professional workloads. The video closes with a balanced takeaway: the new color is nice, the chip is powerful, yet the overall upgrade story depends on where you are in the Mac lineup and what you actually do with the machine.

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