Questioning which sort of MacBook to purchase? This shopping for information will assist you to determine which Apple laptop computer is greatest for you.
Apple makes two sorts of laptops, the MacBook Air and the MacBook Professional. Inside these two classes of Mac is a variety of capabilities, the hole between the entry-level MacBook Air and the high-end 16in MacBook Professional is huge, however even inside the MacBook Professional class you’ll discover large variations. We’ve got extra data on the variations between the MacBook Air and Professional in one other article.
Whereas there are 5 MacBook Air fashions and 9 MacBook Professional fashions offered as commonplace, in actuality, there are a number of combos should you think about all of the build-to-order choices you could add similar to additional RAM, extra storage, or a sooner processor, with which you’ll construct an much more highly effective Mac, ought to you might want to.
Selecting which of the 14 MacBooks to purchase generally is a robust choice, luckily, we’re right here to assist.
If you happen to’re undecided but if you would like a laptop computer or desktop Mac, you also needs to learn our Mac shopping for information, which covers each MacBooks and Apple’s desktop Macs. We additionally examine all of the MacBook Professional fashions right here: Which MacBook Professional.
There are numerous sections on this article. If you happen to aren’t certain which Mac laptop computer you need then learn on, when you have a obscure thought however are selecting between two comparable fashions, or in case your wants are extra skilled than private, then you definitely would possibly discover the fashions additional down this text extra related. In that case, we recommend that you just leap to the part that’s most related to your wants. See the Desk of Contents above.
MacBook launch dates
One consideration to make when searching for a MacBook is how lately Apple up to date the laptop computer and whether or not it’s prone to be updating it once more quickly. Here’s a fast have a look at when the laptops Apple is promoting had been launched.
- 13-inch MacBook Air (M1): November 2020
- 13-inch MacBook Air (M2): July 2022
- 15-inch MacBook Air (M2): June 2023
- 13-inch MacBook Professional (M2): June 2022 DISCONTINUED in October 2023
- 14-inch MacBook Professional (M3, M3 Professional & M3 Max): October 2023
- 16-inch MacBook Professional (M3 Professional & M3 Max): October 2023
We anticipate that the MacBook Air will probably be up to date to the M3 chip within the spring of 2023.
What occurred to the 13-inch MacBook Professional?
Earlier than we start, there’s a MacBook lacking from the lineup that we must always point out briefly. The 13-inch MacBook Professional is not offered by Apple, however it’ll little doubt be accessible from resellers and Apple’s refurbished retailer for some time but. There have been two commonplace 13-inch MacBook Professional to think about. The one actual distinction is storage right here although:
- M2, 8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 8GB Unified Reminiscence, 256GB SSD Storage: Was $1,299 / £1,349
- M2, 8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 8GB Unified Reminiscence, 512GB SSD Storage: Was $1,499 / £1,549
The 13-inch MacBook Professional has been changed by the M3 model of the 14-inch MacBook Professional, which prices extra, however has a far superior display, higher battery life and plenty of different advantages that we are going to focus on under.
The 13-inch MacBook Professional had a number of benefits over the MacBook Air, higher cooling being of significance to anybody who can be pushing the machine to any extent. The opposite benefit of the 13-inch MacBook Professional is the Contact Bar, which is one thing that some individuals loved, whereas others weren’t satisfied by. If you’d like a Contact Bar you’ll need to snap up one of many final 13-inch MacBook Professional earlier than they run out.
MacBook patrons information
We’ll begin by operating by the completely different MacBooks Apple sells, giving an summary of the professionals and cons of every mannequin, and the explanation why every may be ideally suited to your wants. You’ll additionally be capable to see the perfect costs proper now, so that you just don’t spend greater than you might want to.
We may also have a look at completely different parts and options for every mannequin, so you may make an knowledgeable choice about how a lot RAM, which chip, how large the SSD ought to be and the perfect worth, so that you don’t spend greater than essential.
1. Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
Value When Reviewed:
$1,099 (WAS $1,199)
The MacBook Air is the most cost effective method to get a Mac laptop computer. Beginning at $999/£999 for the older M1 mannequin, or $1,099/£1,149 for the M2 mannequin (diminished in July 2023 from it’s unique $1,199/£1,249).
There are 5 commonplace MacBook Air to think about: one 13-inch mannequin with an M1 chip, two 13-inch fashions with M2 chip, and two 15-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip. We’ll be discussing the 15-inch fashions subsequent, first we are going to give attention to the 13-inch fashions.
It’s straightforward to suppose that the most cost effective Mac laptop computer would be the one that’s the greatest worth, however that’s not essentially the case. The M1 MacBook Air (see our M1 MacBook Air assessment) is the most cost effective Mac laptop computer you should buy proper now, however you solely should spend one other $100/£100 to get a far superior machine with M2 chip with an 8âCore GPU fairly than M1 chip with a 7-core GPU. Each fashions provide the identical quantity of storage 256GB and the identical 8GB RAM as commonplace.
With the M2 13-inch MacBook Air you additionally get a model new design with a good larger (13.6-inch vs 13.3-inch) and brighter display (500 vs 400 nits) and extra shade decisions (Midnight, Starlight, House Grey and Silver, fairly than House Gray, Silver and Gold). The design of the brand new mannequin could also be cause sufficient so that you can pay the additional cash. Learn: M1 MacBook Air vs M2 MacBook Air for extra details about the variations.
Again when Apple nonetheless offered the 13-inch MacBook Professional there was a query of whether or not the MacBook Professional can be a greater choice than the MacBook Air. The value distinction wasn’t that nice and the dimensions and weight distinction most likely wasn’t as a lot as you’d anticipate. The Air had loads going for it, the lighter, slimmer case, a much bigger display (13.6-inch vs. 13.3-inch), and a a lot better FaceTime digicam being a number of factors in its favor. However the 13-inch MacBook Professional had an enormous profit in comparison with the Air: the inclusion of a fan as a substitute of counting on an aluminum warmth spreader to attract warmth away.
Though Apple not sells the 13-inch MacBook Professional, that is nonetheless related as a result of the dearth of a fan might properly imply that the MacBook Air struggles when performing extra strenuous duties and the 14-inch MacBook Professional may be a greater choice. As a result of the MacBook Professional has a fan it is ready to hold cool it isn’t essential for the Mac to decelerate to cease overheating in processor-intensive purposes. It’s most likely the important thing distinction between these Mac laptops and the explanation why the Professional is healthier suited to extra demanding purposes. This type of factor might make an enormous distinction to you should you do this form of work. Sadly, the worth distinction between a MacBook Air and MacBook Professional is loads larger than it was earlier than Apple discontinued the 13-inch mannequin.
One other good thing about the MacBook Professional over the Air is longer battery life. The 14-inch MacBook Professional with M3 affords as much as 22 hours in comparison with 18 hours for the 13-inch MacBook Air. We’ll focus on the 14-inch MacBook Professional in additional element under.
The MacBook Air is an efficient selection, particularly now that the entry-level of the MacBook Professional vary is far increased than it was. The primary drawback proper now could be that Apple hasn’t but up to date the MacBook Air to the M3 chip, whereas the 14-inch MacBook Professional is already furnished with one. We anticipate that Apple will quickly replace the MacBook Air with the M3, so should you can wait till the spring or 2024 we suggest you do. If you happen to want extra energy we suggest the MacBook Professional because of the lack of fan within the Air.
Learn our full
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 2022) assessment
2. Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 2023)
Value When Reviewed:
From $1,299
When Apple launched the 15-inch MacBook Air in July 2023 it answered a necessity for anybody who wished a bigger display with out having to fork out $2,000 (on the time) for a 14-inch MacBook Professional. The 15-inch MacBook Air begins at $1,299/£1,399. The 14-inch MacBook Professional now begins at $1,599/£1,699 for the M3 model, which is considerably lower than the $1,999/£2,149 the M2 Professional mannequin offered for. However the 15-inch Air will nonetheless price you $300/£300 much less, so if the one factor that issues is getting an enormous display then it’s an incredible choice.
If the selection is between the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, apart from the larger display there are a number of different variations to think about, together with higher audio capabilities on the bigger mannequin (six audio system, fairly than 4). The entry-level 13-inch MacBook Air begins at $1,099/£1,149, however that mannequin affords solely an eight-core GPU, whereas the entry-level 15-inch Air, which is $200/£250 extra at $1,299/£1,399, affords a 10-core GPU. So as to add that GPU choice to the 13-inch Air might price a further $100/£100. The value hole is so small that it’s undoubtedly value getting the bigger mannequin if you would like a bigger display.
Learn our full
Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 2023) assessment
3. Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional (M3, 2023)
Value When Reviewed:
$1,599
Apple has discontinued the 13-inch MacBook Professional and changed it within the lineup with an M3 model of the 14-inch MacBook Professional (you’ll be able to’t get the M3 within the 16-inch MacBook Professional). This transfer brings many advantages: it’s not simply larger, the 14-inch MacBook’s HDR ProMotion show is considerably higher than the 13-inch mannequin’s, it additionally affords twice the storage, HDMI, SDXC slot, higher battery life, and a more recent design. Thoughts you, the 14-inch mannequin, whereas beginning on the cheaper price of $1,599/£1,699 (versus $1,999/£2,149 for the M2 Professional mannequin), is kind of a bit increased than the $1,299/£1,349 worth that the 13-inch mannequin offered for.
The upper beginning worth for the M3 MacBook Professional additionally means the distinction between the MacBook Air and MacBook Professional is wider than it was. Apple did promote two virtually identically specced machines for a really comparable worth. However now the 14-inch MacBook Professional prices an astonishing $500/£550 greater than the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Air. The MacBook Professional now has a greater display, higher battery life, and different advantages. It’s also a chip era forward, however that’s unlikely to be the case for lengthy and when Apple updates the MacBook Air it’ll make the selection even less complicated. Save your cash and purchase a MacBook Air, however wait till the M3 mannequin arrives since it’ll assist as much as 24GB RAM-speaking of RAM, we don’t suppose the usual 8GB RAM is sufficient!
4. Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional (M3 Professional, 2023)
Value When Reviewed:
$1,999
On the similar time that it launched the M3 14-inch MacBook Professional, Apple additionally launched the M3 Professional and M3 Max. Each the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional might be purchased with numerous configurations of these two chips. You don’t want to purchase a 16-inch MacBook Professional to get the perfect specs.
For these deciding between the 14-inch MacBook Professional and 16-inch mannequin the perfect place to begin is to match like-for-like. The 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU M3 Professional with 18GB unified reminiscence and 1TB SSD 14-inch MacBook Professional prices $2,399/£2,499 in comparison with the just about identically specced 16-inch mannequin with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU M3 Professional with 18GB unified reminiscence and 512GB SSD for $2,499/£2,599. So you’re paying $100/£100 extra to get a bigger display, but in addition forfeiting half the SSD. If you’d like an equal 1TB SSD within the 16-inch that’s an additional $200/£200..
Alternatively, in case you are contemplating spending extra to get the M3 Professional fairly than the M3 in an MacBook Professional, the worth distinction is far larger. The 14-inch MacBook Professional with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU M3, with 8GB Unified Reminiscence and 512GB SSD prices $1,599/£1,699, whereas the 14-inch MacBook Professional with 11-core CPU and 14-core GPU M3 Professional, 18GB Unified Reminiscence and 512GB SSD prices $400/£400 extra at $1,999/£2,099. The leap from M3 to M3 Professional is an costly one, however you’re getting loads to your cash: extra reminiscence, extra cores, basically a extra highly effective machine in each manner.
However should you don’t have that sort of funds then the M3 MacBook Professional has confirmed to be equal to the M2 Professional by way of efficiency when measured by Geekbench 6.
5. Apple 16-inch MacBook Professional (M3 Professional, 2023)
Value When Reviewed:
$2,499
If you happen to actually need that 1TB SSD within the 16-inch MacBook Professional it’ll price you an additional £200/$200. The 1TB model prices £2,599/$2,699. This mannequin basically affords the identical specs because the top-of-the-range 14-inch MacBook Professional for simply £200/$200 extra, which to be honest doesn’t look like a foul deal given the bigger display and elevated battery life.
6. Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional (M3 Max, 2023)
Value When Reviewed:
$3,199
Sticking with the 14-inch mannequin for now, what if you would like an much more highly effective machine. The M3 Max chip will provide that and extra to you, however there’s a excessive worth to pay with the distinction between the usual M3 Professional and M3 Max fashions being $800/£800.
If you’d like extra reminiscence then the M3 Max is the way in which to go although. This isn’t simply because the M3 Max can assist 48GB, 64GB, 96GB and 128GB Unified Reminiscence, whereas the M3 Professional solely affords 18GB or 36GB Unified Reminiscence. The M3 Professional MacBook Professional ships with 18GB reminiscence as commonplace whereas the M3 Max mannequin ships with 36GB reminiscence as commonplace. That 36GB reminiscence, should you added it to the M3 Professional mannequin as a build-to-order choice would price you an additional $400/£400, bringing the worth to $2,799/£2,899, which remains to be $400/£400 lower than the entry-level M3 Max at $3,199/£3,299, however you do get extra 14-core CPU, 30-core GPU fairly than a 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU. So you’re getting loads to your cash should you select the M3 Max.
Examine why one among our editors despatched their M3 Professional again and switched to an M3 Max.
Learn our full
Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional (M3 Max, 2023) assessment
7. Apple 16-inch MacBook Professional (M3 Max, 2023)
Value When Reviewed:
$3,499
The story is far the identical in case you are contemplating the 16-inch MacBook Professional. The leap from M3 Professional to M3 Max should you have a look at the usual choices is $600/£600, however should you had been to up the RAM within the M3 Professional mannequin to 36GB then that will be $400/£400, leaving a distinction of $200/£200 for the 14-core CPU, 30-core GPU (in comparison with the 12-core CPU/18-core GPU of the M3 Professional).
If you happen to want the M3 Max Apple is making the improve worthwhile, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a excessive worth to pay.
Learn our full
Apple 16-inch MacBook Professional (M3 Max, 2023) assessment
Which Apple MacBook: Verdict
So, the selection is fairly clear by way of what you get to your cash:
Shopping for an entry-level M1 MacBook Air for £999/$999 will get you an honest Mac laptop computer for lower than a grand, nevertheless it solely prices $100/£150 extra to get an M2 MacBook Air with a model new design, a much bigger display, and a more recent chip. The one cause to not purchase the M2 MacBook Professional proper now could be that Apple is prone to improve it to the M3 quickly–however when it does so anticipate the M1 mannequin to vanish from the lineup.
The 15-inch MacBook Air shook up the vary when it arrived in July 2023, additionally that includes an M2 chip. It lowered the worth of getting a bigger display on a Mac laptop computer. Even now that worth of entry for the 14-inch MacBook Professional has been lowered the 15-inch MacBook Air remains to be a sexy proposition, however once more, we’d watch for the M3 mannequin to reach.
Now that the 13-inch MacBook Professional has been retired the worth of entry for a MacBook Professional has risen, which is one other level in favour of the MacBook Air. However the 14-inch MacBook Professional is a far superior machine to the previous 13-inch mannequin due to a a lot better display. The M3 chip helps extra reminiscence – and we suggest you get as a lot Unified Reminiscence as you’ll be able to afford as a result of the usual 8GB is just not almost sufficient nowadays.
The value of the M3 Professional fashions is excessive, however these MacBook Professional fashions provide the sort of specs skilled customers, particularly creatives, want, together with assist for as much as 36GB Unified Reminiscence, and extra CPU and GPU cores. If you happen to can afford to stretch to the M3 Max then you’ll get the last word Mac surely, however it’s possible you’ll have to remortgage to afford to.
In terms of the selection between the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional it truly is all all the way down to the display measurement. The 16-inch fashions are costlier, however when you spec them out in such a method to be comparable the worth distinction is basically minor. So if you would like 16-inch display then go for it. Alternatively plug your MacBook into an exterior show when you find yourself at your desk. This being the opposite main good thing about the M3 Professional and M3 Max chips in comparison with the M3–the M3 will solely assist one exterior display whilst you can plug in a number of shows and use them with an M3 Professional or M3 Max MacBook Professional.
For the most recent MacBook Professional reductions, together with discontinued fashions, try our round-up of the Finest MacBook Professional offers.