Quick spec recap
MacBook Pro 16" 2023 A2780: M2 Pro (10/12-core) or M2 Max (12-core). 16GB–96GB RAM. 512GB–8TB SSD. MagSafe 3 + 3× Thunderbolt 4 + HDMI + SD. ProMotion 120Hz miniLED.
Released January 2023. Larger chassis than 14" allows higher sustained performance.
Issue 1: Heavy thermal load on M2 Max under sustained renders
M2 Max in 16" chassis sustains peak performance longer than 14" — but pushes thermals to fans-loud territory on hour-long renders.
Mitigation: thermal paste replacement at year 3 (PKR 6k–10k) for measurably cooler operation. Replace once around 3 years for optimal performance over 5+ year ownership.
Issue 2: Battery degradation in pro users
Video editors / 3D artists with M2 Max see 82–88% health by year 3. Reference: light users see 92%+ at same age.
Replacement: PKR 35k–48k including top-case (integrated assembly in 16" Pro). Apple-spec battery + BMS pairing.
Issue 3: Hinge stiffness on early units
Few user reports of hinge feeling stiff after 18+ months. Apple's tight hinge tolerance can become very tight with dust/grit accumulating.
Fix: hinge service. AppleForce labour-only PKR 8k–14k. Includes clean + re-grease.
Issue 4: Speaker grille corrosion (Pakistani climate)
Monsoon humidity affects the 6-speaker grilles on 16" Pro after 18+ months. Light tarnish to grille mesh.
Cosmetic fix: gentle clean with dry microfiber. Aggressive corrosion: speaker grille replacement PKR 5k–8k (cosmetic part).
Issue 5: SSD wear on 8K video editors
Heavy video editors writing 100GB+ daily can see SSD wear at 75–80% remaining after 2.5 years.
Mitigation: edit from external Thunderbolt SSD when possible. Internal SSD becomes cache + macOS only.
2026 verdict on A2780
Excellent reliability overall. The 'used 16" Pro M2 Max for video editing' has become the gold-standard tool for many Pakistani pros.
Maintain with thermal paste + battery + clean every 2–3 years. Expect 6–8 years productive life.