Overseas verification media NotebookCheck has reported that the 140W power adapter included with the MacBook Pro (16-inch) equipped with Apple’s top-of-the-line notebook PC, the M5 Max, is unable to provide enough power during high loads. When the CPU and GPU are running at full capacity, the power consumption of the main unit will exceed the supply of the included adapter, and the built-in battery will compensate for the shortage.
The included 140W is insufficient power at high loads.
NotebookCheck conducted a stress test on a MacBook Pro (16-inch) equipped with M5 Max that placed a high load on the CPU and GPU at the same time.
The main measurement results are as follows.
| item | Actual value |
|---|---|
| CPU/GPU power consumption (excluding memory/average) | 70.6 watts |
| Same (momentary maximum) | Approximately 114 watts |
| Power consumption of the entire system (power supply side, maximum) | 150.3 watts |
| Output of included power adapter | 140w |
| Battery decrease during high load | Approximately 12% in 1 hour |
Overall system power consumption, measured on the power side, rose to a maximum of 150.3 watts during testing. The output of the included adapter is 140W, but since the measurement location is different, it cannot be said that there is a simple difference. Still, at least in this test, even when it was plugged in, it wasn’t able to keep up with the supply, and the built-in battery made up for the shortage.
As a result, the remaining battery power decreased by approximately 12% (from 100% to 88%) in one hour during periods of high load. Moreover, this is the number when the performance of the M5 Max has been reduced to reduce heat generation.
No improvement even after changing to 180W power supply
It has been reported that replacing the higher output 180W USB-C power adapter will not increase the power the MacBook Pro draws. Since there is a limit to the amount of power that can be received by the main unit, it seems that the discharge itself cannot be resolved even if you purchase an adapter.
NotebookCheck points out that the smaller 14-inch model had the same issue with a 96W adapter. The media pointed out that Apple has long designed power adapters with less headroom, and the latest specifications mirror the design of the MacBook Pro, which has not changed in a long time. It will be interesting to see how the power and cooling design evolves with the new Mac Studio, which uses the same M5 Max, and the next MacBook Pro, which is said to use organic EL.
Points to note for people who often do high-load work
This value of approximately 12% was measured in a verification stress test that continuously applied maximum load to the CPU and GPU at the same time. It is important to note that the remaining battery power may not decrease at the same pace when exporting videos or playing heavy 3D games, but it is important to note that the remaining battery power may decrease even if it is connected to a power source during heavy usage.
In fact, it is unlikely that the remaining capacity will decrease significantly during daily browsing or document creation, and it is unlikely that many users will experience immediate problems. Still, if you’re going to be doing heavy work for a long time while connected to a power source, it’s a good idea to fill up the battery before you start.
There is no official explanation from Apple as to whether this behavior is normal as expected or a design weakness. NotebookCheck itself cited low power supply capacity and low cooling margin as problems. The focus will likely be on how far this design will be revised with the next MacBook Pro, which is rumored to be organic EL and thinner.
Source: NotebookCheck
Photo: Apple
Source: iPhone Mania
