2023 MacBook Pro M3 Max: Lightroom Import/Export

2023-12-27 • SEND FEEDBACK •
Related: 2019 iMac 5K, 2019 Mac Pro, 4K and 5K display, Apple 2023 Mac Pro M2 Ultra, Apple MacBook Pro M3, Apple Silicon, GPU, iMac, iMac 5K, laptop, Lightroom, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Macs, Other World Computing, video tech

Please buy your gear at B&H Photo and OWC/MacSales.com using any link from this site.
Consult with Lloyd, to design a complete system for photography or similar including backup and data safety

MPG tested both the 14-inch and 16-inch models Apple 2023 MacBook Pro M3 Max 128GB /4TB, model Z1AU002AK and model Z1AF001AN. See all Apple MacBook Pro M3 Max.

About

2023 MacBook Pro M3 Max

Ever popular Adobe Photoshop Lightroom ("Lightroom") requires that files be imported into its database before they can be worked on.

Import was done with Add (don’t copy) and generate 1:1 previews in parallel, no lookup of location, etc. Time was measured until the preview-generation progress bar disappeared.

Export was high-quality level 90 JPEG at full resolution, with no extra processing involved.

Disk I/O not a factor, the files being on a fast SSD.

If below are out of date: view current Mac wishlist and all current OWC wishlists.

CLICK TO VIEW: Recommended Storage,etc

Recommended MacBook Pro M3 Max Configurations, Accessories

Macs wish list • Deals on Apple

$4899 Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M3 Max, Space Black) IN STOCK in Computers: Apple Macs

$4099 Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M3 Max, Space Black) IN STOCK in Computers: Apple Macs

$7199 Apple 16" MacBook Pro (M3 Max, Space Black) IN STOCK in Computers: Apple Macs

$4399 Apple 16" MacBook Pro (M3 Max, Space Black) IN STOCK in Computers: Apple Macs

$2222 SAVE $200 = 8.0% Dell UltraSharp 32" 6K HDR Video Conferencing Monitor IN STOCK in Computers: Displays

$630 OWC 4TB Express 1M2 USB4 External SSD OUT OF STOCK in Computers: Drives and Storage

$200 OWC 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock (Space Gray) IN STOCK in Computers: Notebook Accessories

Lightroom Import/Export

RAW files 45/60/100/150 megapixels: 100 Fujifilm GFX100, 100 PhaseOneIQ4 150, 100 Nikon D850, 100 Sony A7R IV

The 2023 Mac Pro M2 Ultra easily beats-out the 28-core 2019 Mac Pro for Import, and edges it out on Export as well.

The surprise here is that the 16-inch 2023 MacBook Pro M3 Max takes 53% longer than the Mac Pro M2 Ultra for exporting JPEGs, exactly what one would expect (40 GPU cores vs 60).

The 14" model is consistently quite a bit slower than the 16" model. With the fans running particularly loud and on the 14" models, maybe the GPU is seeing thermal throttling? Clearly the 16-inch model is superior for Lightroom, and this is at a nice cool ambient temperature of 64°F.

The 16-inch 2023 MacBook Pro M3 Max takes only 13% longer for import, impressive given 40 GPU cores vs 60 for the Mac Pro.

2023 MacBook Pro: Lightroom import and export

2023 MacBook Pro M3 Max