Apple M5 Max MacBooks are getting surprisingly close to real gaming PCs
Key summary
YouTuber Andrew Tsai tested MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max across dozens of high‑end PC games.
The M5 Pro and M5 Max can run many demanding games at 1440p or 4K at around 60fps on medium settings.
Cyberpunk 2077 hits about 60fps upscaled to 1440p on the M5 Pro's 20‑core GPU; the M5 Max posts similar results in upscaled 4K.
A graphics‑API hack enables some Vulkan‑only titles; Doom 2016 runs 60fps at native 4K on the M5 Max, while Doom Eternal, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Detroit: Become Human lack Vulkan support.
Compatibility layers and mods expand playable Windows games: Baldur's Gate 3 stays 60fps at max native 4K; Death Stranding 2 boots via a mod (water rendering incorrect) and reaches 60fps upscaled on M5 Max; Helldivers 2 (legacy), Resident Evil 9, Pragmata, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Black Myth Wukong and Kingd also run well.
