less than 1% battery over 10h then if I'm right.
Would be good to see difference when doing same tasks, like watching some youtube too or something, maybe it would increase.
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Battery life on M1X PRO vs M1X MAX?
- Thread starter Starfyre
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Would be good to see difference when doing same tasks, like watching some youtube too or something, maybe it would increase.
Right. There's some testing in the threads about this, but nothing very conclusive yet.
This is something I’m curious about, i would understand it to be as you said, but the higher consumption could also be maintained for every memory operation, thus scale with higher use. I’m no expert but consider it a bit striking to have these differences at idle use.
Individual memory operations only involve one RAM module, so they don't raise the power consumption of the modules not in use. Apple OS does tend to use more RAM when it's available, so that will use more power sometimes, but it will also be doing more in those cases.
I was just wondering the same. I placed an order for the 16 inch M1 Pro 32gb and M1 Max 32gb as I don't know yet which one to get. I don't really need the GPU except for some gaming, but the price difference is minimal and I keep my laptop around 6 years. But I also like my computer quiet. There is also the memory speed difference. Worst case I will test both and keep the one I prefer.
From what I have seen, it's basically the same according to some, worst or better according to others.Any conclusion ?(after those 10 pages of discussions). M1 Pro and Max have the same battery life or Pro more or Max more ?
From what I have seen, it's basically the same according to some, worst or better according to others.
Some maybe also say it has no battery life at allFrom what I have seen, it's basically the same according to some, worst or better according to others.
It's crazy because, it's not even that hard to test... but I guess ppl don't wanna know the answer and just enjoy their new mac as soon as they get it
To me its not overthinking cause I'm seeing long term. Long term all those batteries will deteriorate, so the better the battery on day one the better. It's also expensive enough that you want to make the right choice for you. The time we spend to make the right call is the price to pay to purchase those machines early. In 6 months from now, all the data will be available.
To sum up there are 3 tests that make sense IMO:
1. A test like the one performed by Linus Tech video is perfect: all computers under same conditions performing a non-performance-demanding task. They just didn't include the MAX in it, otherwise to me it would have been the final answer for me.
2. What we did here with `powermetrics` also would give us a hint. It's hard to compare cause numbers constantly change, so you have to average the values. @Charlesje and I have done and shared it here (thank you @Charlesje!), but we'd need more participants to be able to conclude anything. BTW please @mentalman1369 do this test with your machine!
3. Also, the test in the reddit thread (page 9) would also give good insight. Even tho brightness at 100% is debatable, it would still give a good idea of battery life across models. Even if we dont wait until 0% like OP suggests, even few hours would be enough to tell how many % of battery are consumed per hour.
Btw I have the same model as the reddit thread OP (page 9), and got the same results of around 12/13% per hour.
To me its not overthinking cause I'm seeing long term. Long term all those batteries will deteriorate, so the better the battery on day one the better. It's also expensive enough that you want to make the right choice for you. The time we spend to make the right call is the price to pay to purchase those machines early. In 6 months from now, all the data will be available.
To sum up there are 3 tests that make sense IMO:
1. A test like the one performed by Linus Tech video is perfect: all computers under same conditions performing a non-performance-demanding task. They just didn't include the MAX in it, otherwise to me it would have been the final answer for me.
2. What we did here with `powermetrics` also would give us a hint. It's hard to compare cause numbers constantly change, so you have to average the values. @Charlesje and I have done and shared it here (thank you @Charlesje!), but we'd need more participants to be able to conclude anything. BTW please @mentalman1369 do this test with your machine!
3. Also, the test in the reddit thread (page 9) would also give good insight. Even tho brightness at 100% is debatable, it would still give a good idea of battery life across models. Even if we dont wait until 0% like OP suggests, even few hours would be enough to tell how many % of battery are consumed per hour.
Btw I have the same model as the reddit thread OP (page 9), and got the same results of around 12/13% per hour.
This was really interesting, that the battery and temp were roughly equivalent between the pro and max for cpu intensive only work. Too bad he didn't provide the exact specs , and hopefully someone will eventually do this same test comparing the 32gb 32c vs. 24c max.
I think this and some other powermetrics stats I think I read here say that for cpu intensive work the difference of powering gpus that aren't doing much, whether the laptop is 16, 24, or 32c, doesn't draw power to a noticeable extent.
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So, so far, what came out of all this? The MAX use more or not?It's crazy because, it's not even that hard to test... but I guess ppl don't wanna know the answer and just enjoy their new mac as soon as they get it
To me its not overthinking cause I'm seeing long term. Long term all those batteries will deteriorate, so the better the battery on day one the better. It's also expensive enough that you want to make the right choice for you. The time we spend to make the right call is the price to pay to purchase those machines early. In 6 months from now, all the data will be available.
To sum up there are 3 tests that make sense IMO:
1. A test like the one performed by Linus Tech video is perfect: all computers under same conditions performing a non-performance-demanding task. They just didn't include the MAX in it, otherwise to me it would have been the final answer for me.
2. What we did here with `powermetrics` also would give us a hint. It's hard to compare cause numbers constantly change, so you have to average the values. @Charlesje and I have done and shared it here (thank you @Charlesje!), but we'd need more participants to be able to conclude anything. BTW please @mentalman1369 do this test with your machine!
3. Also, the test in the reddit thread (page 9) would also give good insight. Even tho brightness at 100% is debatable, it would still give a good idea of battery life across models. Even if we dont wait until 0% like OP suggests, even few hours would be enough to tell how many % of battery are consumed per hour.
Btw I have the same model as the reddit thread OP (page 9), and got the same results of around 12/13% per hour.
So based on the available information I've come across, it appears that the following are likely to be true:
1. The more RAM you get, the more power will be consumed and battery life is worse, whether idling, performing light tasks, or performing heavy tasks
- thus 32GB M1 Pro consumes more power than 16GB M1 Pro
- similarly, 64GB M1 Max consumes more power than 32GB M1 Max
- this RAM capacity difference appears to play a larger role on battery life when reviewers have compared M1 Pro vs M1 Max, than specifically the SoC itself
2. At the same RAM capacity, M1 Max appears to use slightly more power than M1 Pro
- i.e. 32GB M1 Max uses more power than 32GB M1 Pro, but it appears to be a fairly small amount, perhaps 100-200 mW more at idle.
- when under graphics heavy load, M1 Max will probably use significantly more power than M1 Pro, due to more GPU cores, but it is unclear whether under CPU heavy load there will be as large a difference
3. At idle, the GPU power draw is negligible, and similarly under light load appears to be not significantly different between any of the SoCs
I am the first to acknowledge that this is my impression, and some of the data will be imperfect. But it is enlightening seeing:
1 - ~600 mW package power + 200mW DRAM on a 8c/14c/16GB base 14" M1 Pro (https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...st-idle-load-power-draw.2320968/post-30596758) vs
2 - ~800 mW package + 300mW DRAM on my own 10c/16c/32GB M1 Pro (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/battery-life-on-m1x-pro-vs-m1x-max.2317578/post-30620174) vs
3 - ~800 mW package + 400mW DRAM on a 10c/32c/32GB M1 Max (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/battery-life-on-m1x-pro-vs-m1x-max.2317578/post-30622884) vs
4 - ~1500 mW package + 750mW DRAM on a 10c/32c/64GB M1 Max (https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...st-idle-load-power-draw.2320968/post-30551266)
with all 4 machines playing 1080p youtube video in Safari. But of course there is measurement error in there, (particularly the 64GB M1 Max seems very high).
(I have included the DRAM power separately as that seems to vary independently to the other values and does not seem inclusive of the total package power reported by powermetrics)
Great detective work! The RAM impact on power is really interesting.
Just as well I only need 32GB RAM (am am only inclined to pay for this much).... 64GB looks like a real battery hog
Was there any control for factors like screen brightness between those different tests?
@KirkDayne @mentalman1369
Some extra data, as I have cinebench r23 installed on the computer. With the multicore test running I roughly get about 1500 mW dram, 28000 mW cpu and around 5mw gpu power draw in the first minute of the test. Package power floats around 34000-35000 mW. Those values are rather stable.
I don’t know in how far this is useful or indicative for battery life, but at least it provides a standardized setting (not taxing the gpu). If you could try this on a m1 Pro or the 64gb m1 Max…
But we need realworld side by side comparisons to be able to be conclusive (or not). If someone knows the Max Tech guys,…
Some extra data, as I have cinebench r23 installed on the computer. With the multicore test running I roughly get about 1500 mW dram, 28000 mW cpu and around 5mw gpu power draw in the first minute of the test. Package power floats around 34000-35000 mW. Those values are rather stable.
I don’t know in how far this is useful or indicative for battery life, but at least it provides a standardized setting (not taxing the gpu). If you could try this on a m1 Pro or the 64gb m1 Max…
But we need realworld side by side comparisons to be able to be conclusive (or not). If someone knows the Max Tech guys,…
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My understanding (and having played around with the powermetrics command in terminal) is it is only giving readouts of the SoC and RAM, and does not account for the rest of the system (wifi, bluetooth, mini LED, LCD panel, keyboard backlight etc etc). E.g. changing screen brightness does not seem to affect any of the readouts.
I think @Sanpete meant whether the other factors such as screen brightness were noted or matched for each test, not whether their effect is recorder by the power metric tools.
So for the 16" models, I think at this point it's safe to say (and to point out the obvious), that battery life is going to vary from one user to another based on their configuration (including RAM) and individual workflows.
Looking at quit a few tests posted here using the same configurations and apps running (with the same usage simulations), there may be a negligible difference in battery life between the Max and the Pro with light or every day office work. But, the difference in battery life will be larger with more intensive work, but with the bonus that these tasks will be completed faster with the Max.
So if you want that extra built-in power (and faster memory bandwidth) on the go while enjoying great battery life, get the Max as it's baked in whenever you need it, and doesn't seem to hog power (that much) when you don't.
My 16" Max runs very cool and quiet (more so than my M1 Air) - I honestly don't think the fans even turned on since I got it (2 weeks), so don't worry about thermals if you're considering the 16" Max.
I am usually plugged in most of the time so battery life isn't a huge concern for me, but I will post back when I start using this beast (Max/32GB/2TB) as I am on the go.
Looking at quit a few tests posted here using the same configurations and apps running (with the same usage simulations), there may be a negligible difference in battery life between the Max and the Pro with light or every day office work. But, the difference in battery life will be larger with more intensive work, but with the bonus that these tasks will be completed faster with the Max.
So if you want that extra built-in power (and faster memory bandwidth) on the go while enjoying great battery life, get the Max as it's baked in whenever you need it, and doesn't seem to hog power (that much) when you don't.
My 16" Max runs very cool and quiet (more so than my M1 Air) - I honestly don't think the fans even turned on since I got it (2 weeks), so don't worry about thermals if you're considering the 16" Max.
I am usually plugged in most of the time so battery life isn't a huge concern for me, but I will post back when I start using this beast (Max/32GB/2TB) as I am on the go.
Yeah, it occurred to me after I posted it that it probably didn't matter for those particular tests, though.
It’s starting to look like a wash between 24 and 32c max with 32gb, for the 16 inch, in terms of battery and temperature not just for cpu bound tasks but even some gpu bound. That might explain the minor difference in price at least in the US. I think that might be enough reason not to worry about the 32c having any disadvantage or you could simply pocket the difference especially if you wanted some extra capacity as needed when needed.
I was in the exact same situation (same exact model but with 1TB) and after finding out that the Max drains the batterie more than the pro, I decided to return it since I would not need the extra power of the M1 Max. I ended up returning it after 12 days and I ordered a 16" M1 pro with 32GB of ram and 1TB SSD (Initially delivery windows was Dec. 14-23 and it is now Dec. 9-16)
It's a lot of waiting time without the computer, but in the long run I know I will be happier with more battery than the extra power I would probably never need. Especially with all the reviews out there showing the M1 pro more than capable of handling hard tasks.
I would suggest you return the M1 Max to get the M1 Pro... better wait 4-6 weeks to get a laptop you will envoy for (most likely) multiple years.
Do you still have your M1 13"?
It's funny how you both basically came down to the opposite conclusion.
Very funny! I do think there is a difference between the 14" and the 16" when comparing battery life between the Pro and the Max - and I think he was referring to the 14". It may be a bit more noticeable on the 14"? Maybe it's the bigger battery and better thermals on the 16" that narrows the gap a bit.
I can't speak to the 14" as I opted for the 16" (I had both). At the end of the day, there are too many variables between configurations, usage, etc. And personally, I would never return a perfect, cool, and silent running MacBook and risk the chance of getting one with an issue that my (superficial) OCD would pick up on, to gain an hour or so of battery life. But, that's just me.
Haha yeah you’re right, it shows that everyone has different needs and a different opinion based on them. Of course the 16” M1 max will have greater battery life than the 14”. In the end I made my decision based on what I value the most, which is battery life. The m1 pro will be powerfull enough and I purchased the 14” M1 max due to FOMO mostly, I even received it on launch day so it was a hard decision to return it in order to wait a month to get the other one (which arrives mid-december)