At its Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) in June, Apple introduced updates coming to its numerous working methods, most of which focus by itself model of AI, dubbed Apple Intelligence. MacBooks will get macOS 15, aka Sequoia, that may help Picture Playground, Apple’s picture era instrument, and AI composition options that may rewrite, proofread and summarize textual content in Mail, Notes, Pages and extra. However the AI smarts will solely be accessible to Apple laptops with an M1 chip or newer. So you probably have an older mannequin (pre-2020), or need the most recent chips to get probably the most out of macOS 15, you may want a brand new MacBook. This information will show you how to decide which one makes probably the most sense for you.
After testing each mannequin Apple makes, we expect the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip and 16GB of RAM is the only option for most individuals. However there are undoubtedly causes to think about the cheaper M2 Air and the absolutely featured Professional laptops. We’ve damaged down all of the choices that will help you resolve which is the very best MacBook for you.
Elements to think about when shopping for a MacBook
In comparison with PCs, Apple computer systems are likely to have extra streamlined specs. The corporate has lengthy been recognized for this simplicity, and the M-series “system-on-a-chip” condenses issues even additional. It began with the M1 chip, which has since been retired in all fashions. The M2 and M3 chips may be present in current-generation MacBooks, however the newest Apple silicon, the M4 chip, is simply housed within the new iPad Professional. All M-series chips mix, amongst different applied sciences, the CPU, graphics card and unified reminiscence (RAM). Apple’s Neural Engine is included too, which is a specialised group of processor cores that handles machine studying duties resembling picture evaluation and voice recognition.
Whereas a unified chip means you have got fewer choices to make when choosing a MacBook, there are nonetheless a number of elements to think about, together with specs just like the variety of CPU cores, quantity of RAM, storage capability, display dimension, and, clearly, worth. The end shade could also be a minor consideration, nevertheless it’s value mentioning that the Professional are available in simply two colours (Silver or Area Grey) however the Air provides two further hues (Midnight and Starlight).
CPU cores
At the moment the lowest-specced chip in a MacBook is the M2 within the 13-inch MacBook Air. It comes with an 8-core CPU and both an 8- or 10-core GPU. On the different finish of the spectrum, the M3 Max chip is constructed with as much as a 16-core CPU and a 40-core GPU. Cores are, in essence, smaller processing items that may deal with completely different duties concurrently. Having extra of them interprets to the pc having the ability to run a number of packages and functions without delay, whereas additionally easily processing demanding duties like video modifying and high-level gaming. In brief, extra cores enable for extra superior computing and higher efficiency. But when your processing energy wants fall beneath professional-level gaming and cinematic video and audio modifying, getting the very best variety of cores is probably going overkill — and in any case, extra cores equals increased value and extra energy utilization.
RAM
Your choices for RAM, or in Apple’s terminology, Unified reminiscence, varies relying on the chip you select. The M2 and M3 chips may be paired with 8, 16 or 24GB of RAM. The M3 Professional chip has 18 or 36GB reminiscence choices, whereas probably the most highly effective M3 Max chip helps 48, 64 or a whopping 128GB of RAM.
You’ve probably heard the analogy evaluating reminiscence to the quantity of workspace accessible on a literal desktop floor, whereas storage is the quantity of drawers it’s important to retailer initiatives to work on later. The bigger the worktop floor, the extra initiatives you possibly can work on without delay. The larger the drawers, the extra it can save you for later.
Extra RAM is good for individuals who plan to work in a number of apps without delay. And the extra demanding every program is, the extra RAM shall be required. Additional reminiscence may come in useful when you’re the kind who likes to have infinite numbers of tabs open in your browser. In case your each day workflow doesn’t contain concurrently utilizing an enormous variety of memory-intensive packages, it can save you your self cash and purchase the RAM configuration that you just’re almost certainly to truly use.
For informal customers, 8GB could also be sufficient, nevertheless, when you can afford an improve to 16GB of RAM, we suggest going doing so, as fashionable browsers are usually fairly memory-hungry. Investing in additional RAM now will give your new MacBook an extended lifespan of dependable use. It’s additionally vital to needless to say, not like most PCs, the RAM in current-model MacBooks will not be user-upgradable, so that you’ll need to get what you propose on needing on the outset.
Storage capability (SSD)
Storage choices vary from 256GB of SSD for the M2 MacBook Air and 8TB of storage for the MacBook Professionals with the M3 Max chip. If you wish to rotate between a protracted roster of recreation titles or maintain numerous high-res movies readily available, you’ll need extra storage. Should you’re largely working with browser- and cloud-based functions, you will get away with a smaller-capacity configuration. That stated, we suggest springing for 512GB of storage or extra, if it’s inside your price range. You’ll rapidly really feel the boundaries of a 256GB machine because it ages because the working system alone takes up an excellent portion of that house. Having 1TB will really feel even roomier and permit for extra knowledge storage over the lifetime of your laptop computer.
When Apple introduced the iPhone 15, the corporate additionally introduced new iCloud+ storage storage plans, with subscriptions that enable as much as 12TB of storage. You could possibly additionally switch information to an exterior storage machine. However when you don’t need to pay for a month-to-month subscription and like the comfort of getting speedy entry to your information, it’s greatest to get the very best quantity of space for storing your price range permits for on the outset.
Display dimension
MacBooks are available in 13-, 14-, 15- and 16-inch sizes. Which may not appear to be an enormous distinction, however, as Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham famous when he reviewed the now-retired 15-inch M2-powered MacBook Air, a bigger display “makes a surprising difference.” That’s especially true if you plan to use your laptop as an all-day productivity machine and won’t be using an external monitor. More space means you can more clearly view side-by-side windows and have a more immersive experience when watching shows or gaming.
But screen size is the main factor influencing weight. The 13-inch MacBook Air M2 weighs 2.7 pounds, whereas the top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro weighs 4.8 pounds. If you plan to travel a lot or swap your work locations regularly, a smaller screen will make life easier in the long run.
All MacBooks feature IPS LCD panels (in-plane switching, liquid crystal display), which Apple markets as Retina displays. The MacBook Air M1 has a Retina display. A Liquid Retina display comes with the M2 MacBook Air and the Liquid Retina XDR display comes with the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros. “Liquid” refers to the way the lighted portion of the display “flows” within the contours of the screen, filling the rounded corners and curving around the camera notch. “XDR” is what Apple calls HDR (high dynamic range).
Compared to most other laptops, MacBook displays are notably bright, sharp and lush. But one feature worth pointing out is another Apple marketing term: ProMotion. It’s the company’s term to describe a screen with a higher, 120Hz refresh rate, which results in smoother scrolling and more fluid-looking graphics. Only the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros offer ProMotion; the other models max out at 60Hz, which is perfectly fine for everyday browsing and typical workdays. But if you want buttery-smooth motion from your display, you’ll have to shell out more money for an upgrade.
Price
When the MacBook Air M3 came out, Apple dropped the price of the base-model, 13-inch, M2-powered Air with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. With a $999 starting price, it’s now the least expensive new MacBook you can get. Alternatively, you can spend up to $7,199 for the 16-inch MacBook Pro M3 Max with 128GB of RAM and 8TB of storage. Chip type, screen size, memory and storage capacity all influence the final price, which is why guides like this can help you determine just what you need (and what you don’t) so you can get the most cost-effective machine for you.
We recommend the MacBook Air M3 for most people, the MacBook Air M2 for students and those on a budget, and the 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pros for professionals. If you have extra money to spare once you’ve picked your machine, we recommend upgrading to at least 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage to make your machine as future-proof as possible.
Finest MacBooks
Picture by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget
Screen size: 13” | Processor: M3 chip, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | Storage capacity (SSD): 256GB | Memory: 8GB | Battery life: Up to 18 hours | Ports: MagSafe 3 charging, 3.5 mm jack, 2 x Thunderbolt/USB4 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Our former pick for the best laptop in this buying guide was the Apple MacBook Air with the M2 chip. The new M3-enabled MacBook Air isn’t a huge change from its predecessor — and that’s a good thing. Our laptop expert Devindra Hardawar reviewed the new MacBook Air and confirmed that the latest MacBook Air builds on everything the M2 got right: it has a great screen and full sound in a thin and lightweight aluminum unibody that feels premium.
With the addition of the M3 chip, the performance is now more impressive, achieving even higher scores in our benchmark testing. There’s also support for Wi-Fi 6E in the new model, plus the Air can now handle two external displays instead of one, but only with the laptop lid closed. You’ll connect the extra screen via one of the two USB-C ports (both of which support the Thunderbolt/USB4 standard). Only the Pro models have an HDMI port.
The latest Air maintains the overall design of the previous model, with a uniformly thin profile (the wedge shape is officially gone from Apple’s lineup now that the M1 MacBook Air has been discontinued). Apple claims a long battery life with 18 hours of video playback and 15 hours of web browsing, and we can confirm that you’ll get significantly more than a single workday before you need to grab your charger. In Devindra’s tests, the machine dropped to 40 percent after ten straight hours playing fullscreen 4K video at full brightness.
Apple released both the M3-powered 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air simultaneously. We think the 13-inch model has the best combination of portability and performance. It weighs just 2.7 pounds and easily slips into a bag to take on the road. However, the 15-inch version may be worth it for those who constantly have dozens of windows open at once or dabble in media editing — though editing pros should probably opt for a MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip. The 15-inch model is also ideal for anyone dealing with visual impairment and would like an easier-to-read screen.
As for the screen itself, the 13-inch option has a Liquid Retina display with 2,560 x 1,664 resolution at 224 pixels per inch. That’s exactly the same as the M2 Air — but again, Apple didn’t mess with a good thing, sticking with a great-looking display that’s bright enough to use outside in sunlight. It still doesn’t have ProMotion, which means the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz. If you need that silky-smooth scrolling, you’ll have to bump up to a MacBook Pro.
To get the most out of the new chip, we recommend upgrading to 16GB of RAM. That will enable not just a full day of productivity, it’ll also let you play more serious games. Devindra was able to play both Lies of P in 1080p+ and the director’s cut of Death Stranding with smooth graphics at good resolutions — though he did note that you can’t crank up the graphics settings too high. The speakers are best-in-class and the webcam is great for video conferencing — particularly with Apple’s background blurring and brightness adjustments. Finally, the responsive keyboard and smooth trackpad are the ideal interface for what adds up to be a great computer.
- Lightweight yet sturdy design
- Fast performance from the M3 chip
- Excellent speakers, keyboard and trackpac
- Bright and clear screen
- No USB-C on the right side
- Limited to 60Hz refresh rate
$850 at Amazon
Picture by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget
Processor: M2 chip, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | Storage capacity (SSD): 256GB | Memory: 8GB | Battery life: Up to 18 hours | Ports: MagSafe 3 charging, 3.5 mm jack, 2 x Thunderbolt/USB 4 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
Before the release of the M3-enabled MacBook Air, the MacBook Air M2 was our pick for the best Apple laptop you can buy. Now it’s an extremely capable budget pick starting at $999 — the same list price as the now-retired M1 MacBook Air. In his original M2 Air review, Devindra called it a “near-perfect Mac,” awarding it a high score of 96. This model received a complete refresh in 2022, and since the M3 is largely the same as the M2 from a design perspective, Engadget’s Dan Cooper says that the best thing about the new M3 Air may be the price drop it ushered in for the M2 model.
The M2’s gorgeous 13.6-inch Liquid Retina screen can hit up to 500 nits of brightness, making it easy to use outside. The 60Hz refresh rate doesn’t deliver the butter-smooth scrolling you get on MacBook Pro models, but it’s still lovely. The quad speaker array pumps out great sound, filling a room at max volume without distortion, and the three-mic array does a good job of picking up your voice for video calls. The 1080p webcam is an improvement over previous generations, and it even beats our top Windows laptop, Dell’s XPS 13 Plus, which still sports a 720p camera.
The M2 Air hangs on to its 3.5mm headphone jack and includes two USB-C Thunderbolt ports, for accessories like an external display, plus a MagSafe connector. The battery life is ample, lasting 16 hours and 30 minutes in our rundown test, which should be more than sufficient for a day (or two) of work.
The M2 processor finally gave the Air enough speed to play games, particularly those from Apple Arcade. Streaming and cloud gaming work well through Safari, and you’ll find a handful of compatible titles on Steam. However, if gaming is your main goal, you may want to upgrade to an M3 model, or go outside Apple’s offerings all together as not every AAA release is natively compatible with macOS. Our review unit performed well in benchmark tests, beating the Air M1 and nearly matching the performance of the 13-inch MacBook Pro M2. It’s a fanless system which means it’s quiet, but to keep things cool, the CPU does have to be throttled occasionally.
Overall, it’s an excellent choice for everyday use and can handle most tasks. Of course, if you’re planning on doing intensive video editing, you’ll likely want something more powerful, such as the MacBook Pro M3, but the Air is an affordable, multipurpose, ultraportable laptop.
For $999 you get the M2 chip with an 8-Core GPU, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. We did notice better performance when the RAM was upped to 16GB, but if you’re trying to keep things under $1,000, the base model is still plenty capable for everyday productivity. You can also look into a refurbished model, which you can buy directly from Apple with a year-long warranty.
The 15-inch MacBook Air M2 is no longer officially part of Apple’s lineup, but many retailers still have some backstock of the larger model, and again, taking advantage of refurbished offers is a good way to go in this case. In his review, Engadget’s Nate Ingraham said the extra couple inches on the 15-inch screen made a surprising difference.
- Bright and colorful screen
- Clear and full sound
- Thin and light design
- Speedy performance for everyday use
- Refresh rate only 60Hz
- Webcam image is drab
$799 at Amazon
Picture by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget
Processor: M3 chip, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU | Storage capacity (SSD): 512GB | Memory: 16GB | Battery life: Up to 22 hours | Ports: MagSafe 3 charging, 3.5 mm jack, 2 x Thunderbolt/USB 4, HDMI, SDXC slot | Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
During a late-night, pre-Halloween event, Apple revealed its new M3 chip along with the new MacBook Pros that would house it. They also officially discontinued the 13-inch touch bar Pro. There’s a new base model 14-inch MacBook Pro with 8GB of memory, 512GB of storage and the standard M3 chip (the M2 generation was only available with the M2 Pro or M2 Max chips). It sells for $1,599, making it the most affordable 14-inch Pro model yet.
Unfortunately we don’t recommend you grab that one. You’ll at least want to spring for a model with 16GB of RAM to get the most out of your new M3 machine. Beyond that, it’s hard to go wrong with these new computers. As Devindra points out in his MacBook Pro M3 review, these new chips are “incredibly efficient and powerful” and the laptops themselves are as “elegant as ever.”
For multimedia professionals, we recommend bumping up to the M3 Pro chip with an 11-core CPU and 14-core GPU. You can grab one with a 14-inch screen, 18GB of memory and 512GB of SSD for $1,999. If you’ve got demanding video and/or audio projects with big timelines, you may want to jump up to the 16-inch M3 Max MacBook Pro with a 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU. That configuration will run you $3,499 paired up with 36GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. For something in between those two picks, you could go for the 14-inch M3 Pro with a 12-core CPU and 18-core GPU paired with 18GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It combines the speed of the M3 Pro chip, without the higher price of the Max chip, running you a more palatable $2,399.
Apart from the chips, the hardware on the M3 MacBook Pros remains largely the same. You still get a bright and vibrant MiniLED Liquid Retina XDR display with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and animations.
The crisp, punchy sound from the six-speaker array is better than what most laptops can deliver and the built-in mics are great for video calls. It has the same array of ports as the M2 Pros, including an SD card slot, headphone jack, HDMI port and three Thunderbolt 4 sockets plus the MagSafe charging port.
As for battery life, our rundown tests outperformed Apple’s listed estimates by a couple hours, getting 24 and a half hours on the 14-inch model and 20 more minutes than that with the 16-inch Pro. In real-world use, it took two days before needing to hook the laptops back up to the grid.
- Good selection of ports
- Nearly 24-hour battery life
- Crisp and bright display
- Powerfully fast M3 chips
- Expensive
- 8GB of RAM on base model isn’t enough
$1,699 at Amazon
MacBook FAQs
What’s the difference between MacBook Air and Pro?
The MacBook Air comes with a standard M3 or M2 chip. MacBook Pro models have the option of more powerful M3 Pro or M3 Max chips. The Pro has a higher resolution screen with a higher peak brightness that supports XDR (extreme dynamic range). The battery life on most Pro models is longer than on the Air models. Pro models also have more ports and more speakers. In short, the MacBook Air is aimed at everyday users looking for good productivity and entertainment capabilities, while Pro models are aimed at professionals who need a high-performance computer.
What is the distinction between macOS and Home windows?
MacOS is the working system developed by Apple and utilized in all of its desktop and laptop computer computer systems. It will probably solely be present in {hardware} made by Apple together with MacBooks and iMacs. Microsoft’s Home windows working system may be discovered within the firm’s personal Floor laptops in addition to computer systems made by a big selection of producers, like Acer, Asus, Dell and Razer.