We reported previously that Apple confirmed that the 16-inch MacBook Pro models equipped with an M1 Max chip have a new High power mode that maximizes performance for intensive, sustained workloads.
Apple has provided us with a document that explains how users can enable High Power Mode in System Preferences for a 16-inch MacBook Pro running macOS Monterey. Apple claims that High Power Mode will give users "extreme performance" when they perform tasks such as color grading 8K ProRes videos.
Although it's not clear how High Power Mode will work, we should take a closer look next week as the MacBook Pro reviews are posted. We know from code-level references to High Power Mode found in the macOS Monterey beta by Steve Moser that it "will optimize performance to better assist resource-intensive tasks" but "may cause louder fan noise."
Apple confirmed that High Power Mode was only available for 16-inch MacBook Pro models equipped with an M1 Max chip. We assume the feature is not available for any 14-inch MacBook Pro models, or any M1 Pro-equipped models.
Filipe Espsito, 9to5Mac, was the first to find references to High Power Mode last month in macOS Monterey beta.
Two configurations of the 16 inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max chips are available. One with a 10-core CPU, a 24-core GPU, and one with a 10 core CPU and a 32 CPU GPU. This level of performance starts at $3,099 Customers will start receiving the new MacBook Pro models on Tuesday, October 26th.
