High Power Mode Expands to 14-Inch MacBook Pro With M3 Max Chip

Apple has expanded High Power Mode to the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip, according to Six Colors editor-in-chief Jason Snell. The feature was previously only available on the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Max and M2 Max.

High Power Mode Feature 2
"For some tests, I switched the MacBook Pro into High Power Mode, which is now available on both 14- and 16-inch models in the M3 Max configuration," wrote Snell, in his review of the new MacBook Pros. "I didn't actually find it made much of a difference in the tests I was running, but it sure did make the fans kick in at a very loud volume."

In a support document, Apple says High Power Mode allows a MacBook Pro's fans to run at higher speeds, and this additional cooling may allow the system to deliver higher performance for "intensive sustained workloads," such as 8K video color grading.

On macOS Ventura and later, High Power Mode can be enabled in the System Settings app under Battery by clicking on the dropdown menus next to "On battery" or "On power adapter" and selecting the "High Power" option.

9to5Mac was first to report this news.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Caution)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Coming Next Week: Eight Reasons to Upgrade

Thursday September 4, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
We're only days away from Apple's "Awe dropping" fall event scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 9 – and along with the new iPhone 17 series, we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023. By the time the Ultra 3 is unveiled, it will have been two years since the previous model arrived. The intervening period has left plenty of room for...

Top Rated Comments

eropko Avatar
24 months ago

So the key word is it "may" allow the system to deliver higher performance, not that it "will" allow the system to deliver higher performance.
I think you've overlooked the word 'sustained'. It's not about delivering performance it's about trying to keep that performance up for long(er).
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bradman83 Avatar
24 months ago

So guess thermal pressure of M3Max is higher than it was on M1/M2, at least in 14 inch body.

Back on M1Max this mode did nothing.
I would think the opposite - Apple felt the 14" didn't have the thermal management capacity to enable high performance mode on the M1 and M2 generations but does with the M3. Either the M3 Max runs a bit cooler at peak load than its predecessors or Apple improved the internal cooling capacity of the 14". I'm sure once iFixit does a teardown we'll know more.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
eropko Avatar
24 months ago
So guess thermal pressure of M3Max is higher than it was on M1/M2, at least in 14 inch body.

Back on M1Max this mode did nothing.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fuzzball84 Avatar
24 months ago
Imagine enabling an ultra low power mode and getting 30 plus hours on a single charge.

I think more people would find that useful than this high power mode.

Especially if you’re not doing anything demanding.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
24 months ago

"For some tests, I switched the MacBook Pro into High Power Mode, which is now available on both 14- and 16-inch models in the M3 Max configuration," wrote Snell, in his review of the new MacBook Pros. "I didn't actually find it made much of a difference in the tests I was running, but it sure did make the fans kick in at a very loud volume."

In a support document, Apple says High Power Mode allows a MacBook Pro's fans to run at higher speeds, and this additional cooling may allow the system to deliver higher performance for "intensive sustained workloads," such as 8K video color grading.
So the key word is it "may" allow the system to deliver higher performance, not that it "will" allow the system to deliver higher performance.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
24 months ago
Software gimmick vs. [S]reducing the performance cores &[/S] cutting memory bandwidth??? [S]Or does high power mode apply to efficiency cores?[/S]

Edit: misread title to think this mode was added for MBpro with M3 PRO... but it's only about M3 MAX which didn't get the amazing cores downgrade.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)