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| Apple offers the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops with the Apple M5 Max. |
Let’s be honest: when you think of gaming laptops, the Apple MacBook Pro probably isn’t the first machine that comes to mind. And if you’re dropping serious cash on a 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro equipped with the new M5 Max SoC, you’re likely doing it for video editing, 3D rendering, or software development—not to load up your Steam library.
But here’s the thing: while nobody is buying the M5 Max MacBook Pro specifically for gaming, the raw performance of Apple’s flagship silicon is quietly turning it into one of the most capable portable gaming machines on the market. A new round of testing proves that this laptop doesn’t just run macOS games well—it absolutely crushes Windows titles through emulation.
Windows Games on a Mac? No Problem
YouTuber Andrew Tsai recently put the M5 Max through its paces, testing 20 different Windows games using CrossOver, a compatibility layer that allows Macs to run Windows applications without a traditional virtual machine. The results are nothing short of stunning.
Aside from a few titles that exhibited minor choppiness, the vast majority of the tested games ran flawlessly. We’re not talking about lightweight indie games here. Tsai’s lineup included heavy-hitters like Death Stranding 2, Horizon Forbidden West, and Black Myth: Wukong—the kind of AAA titles that push desktop GPUs to their limits.
You can check out the full video of the testing here:
Watch Andrew Tsai’s M5 Max Gaming Test on YouTube
Benchmarks That Speak for Themselves
So, what does “running well” actually look like on the M5 Max? In Andrew Tsai’s testing, the numbers were impressive enough to raise eyebrows:
- Death Stranding 2: Over 50 FPS at 1440p with medium settings and MetalFX set to “Quality.”
- Wolfenstein: Young Blood: A smooth 60 FPS at full 4K resolution.
- Black Myth: Wukong: More than 50 FPS at 1440p with medium settings and MetalFX scaling at 66%.
- Horizon Forbidden West: Around 50 FPS at 1440p with medium settings and MetalFX “Quality.”
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: Exceeded 60 FPS at 1440p with high settings and MetalFX “Quality.”
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: Hit over 80 FPS at 1440p with high settings and MetalFX “Quality.”
As you can see from these examples, the M5 Max is an absolute beast. It’s essentially brute-forcing its way through complex Windows games—via a translation layer, no less—delivering smooth, playable framerates that rival dedicated gaming rigs.
Native Gaming Is Even Better
Of course, running games natively on macOS is where the M5 Max truly shines. In our earlier performance analysis of the Apple M5 Max, we found that the SoC is capable of running Cyberpunk 2077 at over 60 frames per second using 1440p resolution and ultra settings—without any help from FSR or MetalFX upscaling.
While the library of native AAA macOS games is still relatively small compared to Windows, the power under the hood is there. The M5 Max doesn’t just handle macOS games; it dominates them.
The Emulation Powerhouse You Didn’t Know You Needed
The implications of this go beyond Steam and Epic Games Store. If the M5 Max can emulate Windows games this effectively, it stands to reason that console emulation is also on the table. Fortunately, macOS has a thriving ecosystem of high-quality emulators.
Whether you want to revisit PlayStation 3 classics via RPCS3 or enjoy Nintendo Switch titles using Ryujinx or Hydra, the M5 Max has more than enough headroom to deliver a console-like experience—often at higher resolutions and smoother framerates than the original hardware.
The Bottom Line
The Apple MacBook Pro with the M5 Max was designed for creative professionals, but it’s quickly proving to be a hidden gem for gamers. Whether you’re emulating the latest Windows blockbusters or playing native macOS ports, the performance is undeniably impressive.
If you’re in the market for a laptop that can handle high-end gaming without sacrificing the premium build quality, battery life, and professional-grade features Apple is known for, the MacBook Pro 16 with M5 Max is worth a serious look.
Image Source: nicolepineda on Pixabay
Ready to experience the power for yourself?
You can pick up the Apple MacBook Pro 16 with M5 Max on Amazon:
Buy Now on Amazon