Which Apple laptop computer is best for you?


Should you’re on the lookout for an Apple MacBook, you have come to the best place. On this information, we’ll make it easier to resolve which is finest in your wants.
When searching in your subsequent Apple laptop computer, the very first thing to resolve is which of the 2 strains you need to go down, the professional-focused MacBook Professional or entry-level MacBook Air. From there, you may then begin wanting on the totally different configurations and costs.
We have rounded up all the pieces from the MacBook Air (M1) to the 16-inch MacBook Professional (M2), that can assist you work out what every mannequin provides, how a lot they value, how they are often configured and what their execs and cons are.
Briefly, it is an fascinating and thrilling time to purchase a MacBook. Apple made the transition to its personal processors – Apple Silicon – and away from Intel in 2020, and the units operating the M chips are critically highly effective. The corporate has additionally corrected most of the extensively acknowledged errors it is delivered to the road during the last half-decade, such because the reintroduction of ports.
Learn on to search out out which Apple laptop computer is the one for you.
Greatest Apple MacBook: Abstract
Apple MacBook Air
The MacBook Air (M1) is the most cost effective MacBook obtainable, and a fantastic decide for many on a regular basis customers. It is not essentially the most highly effective mannequin obtainable however it’s compact and extremely transportable. In 2022, Apple up to date the MacBook Air with the MacBook Air (M2) which has a unique design and extra energy. It is usually a contact lighter, with a barely bigger however notched show. The M2 MacBook Air is a incredible gadget with an distinctive battery, but it surely’s additionally costlier than the M1 mannequin, naturally.
Apple MacBook Professional
The MacBook Professional is a extra substantial MacBook in comparison with the MacBook Air and can go well with people who require extra efficiency, equivalent to content material creators and video editors. There are a number of fashions obtainable, together with the MacBook Professional 13-inch with the M2 chip that’s similar to the MacBook Air (M2) when it comes to worth, efficiency and specs, in addition to the newer – and extra highly effective – MacBook Professional 14-inch and MacBook Professional 16-inch, each of which run the M2 Professional or M2 Max chips. There’s additionally the M1 2020 MacBook Professional (13-in), which continues to be obtainable and marks the entry level for the MacBook Professional fashions with Apple Silicon.
Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
Apple / Pocket-lint


Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
Incredible all-rounder
The Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is an outstanding machine with a superb light-weight design, glorious and fluid efficiency and really, little or no (principally nothing) to complain about. If you’re after an all-rounder laptop computer, you’re looking proper at it.
- Tremendous slim and lightweight
- Wonderful efficiency
- Very good battery life
- Speaker efficiency not superb
- No Face ID
- Costlier than earlier fashions
The Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) has a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina show in its 304.1 x 113 x 21.5mm physique. It weighs simply 1.24kg, making it beautiful and transportable, while beneath the hood, you may discover the very highly effective M2 chip. The MacBook Air has a design similar to the MacBook Professional, although with a pair much less ports, providing MagSafe charging, together with two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports and a 3.5mm audio jack.
It guarantees a battery lifetime of as much as 18 hours, although we have managed loads extra hours than that performing varied duties. Its battery life is excellent and whereas the audio system aren’t as highly effective because the MacBook Professional fashions, the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is a really incredible machine general. The bottom mannequin has as much as 8GB of RAM, configurable as much as 16GB or 24GB, whereas there’s 256GB SSD, configurable as much as 512GB, 1TB or 2TB.
Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
Apple / Pocket-lint
Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
Nice worth
Should you’re on the lookout for an excuse to improve and you may’t fairly justify the additional value for the newer Air with its new design and M2 chip, the M1 MacBook Air nonetheless provides glorious efficiency and a fantastic battery life.
- Not a bank-breaker
- Tremendous-fast efficiency
- Wonderful keyboard
- Most reminiscence of 16GB
- Giant bezels a bit of dated
- No Face ID login
The Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is the most cost effective solution to get your palms on a MacBook, and whereas it provides an older design in comparison with the 2022 MacBook Air mannequin, it is nonetheless a fantastic design (should you ignore the big bezels across the show). Talking of shows, there is a 13.3-inch display screen inside its 304 x 212 x 41-161mm physique and the M1 MacBook Air weighs simply 1.29kg, which though makes it heavier than the newer mannequin, it is nonetheless very gentle and transportable.
There are two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, one Thunderbolt 3 port and a 3.5mm audio jack, whereas the battery promise is 15 hours, and it is strong in its efficiency. The M1 chip brings loads of energy too, with 8GB of RAM within the base mannequin, configurable as much as 16GB, and 256GB SSD, configurable as much as 512GB, 1TB or 2TB. College students, lecturers and professionals who do not have task-heavy apps and platforms to work on shall be very effectively catered for with this mannequin.
Apple MacBook Professional, 13.3-inch (M2, 2022)
Apple / Pocket-lint
Apple MacBook Professional 13in (M2, 2022)
Contact Bar and efficiency
The MacBook Professional 13-inch (M2, 2022) continues to be an excellent laptop computer, but it surely’s not the perfect worth in Apple’s portfolio. It is after all very highly effective, however we might suggest contemplating the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) as a substitute, or the MacBook Professional 14-inch (M1 Professional, 2021) so that you get some further ports and options.
- Nice efficiency
- Wonderful battery life
- Practical design
- Older design
- Minimal ports
- Contact Bar nonetheless current
The MacBook Professional (M2, 2022) launched alongside the redesigned MacBook Air (M2, 2022) and whereas it did not get a face raise – that includes the identical design because the 2020 MacBook Professional mannequin with Contact Bar and minimal ports – it did get a efficiency increase to the M2 chip, which is great in use. RAM is configurable from 8GB to 24GB, with SSD choices from 256GB to 2TB.
The 156 x 304.1 x 212.4mm physique weighs 1.4kg and includes a 13.3-inch show with 500nits max brightness – fairly a bit lower than the most recent MacBook Professional fashions under. There’s additionally no ProMotion on board, and the FaceTime HD digicam is 720p in comparison with the 1080p sensor on the 2021 MacBook Professional fashions, while additionally providing much less ports. Think about this mannequin in case your finances completely would not permit for the MacBook Professional (M2 Professional, 2021), you actually need the Contact Bar or you really want a fan so the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is not an possibility. It is one of many least expensive MacBook Professional fashions provided by Apple, although it is not the perfect worth.
Apple MacBook Professional, 14-inch (M2 Professional/Max, 2023)
Apple / Pocket-lint
Apple MacBook Professional 14in (M2, 2023)
Wonderful for heavy customers
The 14-inch MacBook Professional leaves little – if something – to be desired. It is an unbelievable laptop computer with extra energy and efficiency than most will ever want or utilise, a incredible construct high quality, an unbelievable show and a fantastic battery life – although not fairly as nice because the MacBook Air (M2, 2022).
- Wonderful efficiency
- Nice battery life
- Strong design
- No Face ID
- Costly
- Probably pointless improve for MacBook Professional (M1 Professional/Max) customers
The 14-inch MacBook Professional (M2 Professional/Max, 2023) is without doubt one of the newest fashions within the Professional lineup, delivering distinctive efficiency, a fantastic design and good battery. Should you’re a heavy obligation consumer and also you need the perfect Apple has to supply, the MacBook Professional (M2 Professional/Max) is strictly that.
The 155 x 312.6 x 221.1mm physique weighs 1.6kg and includes a beautiful 14.2-inch XDR show with a brightness as much as 1600nits and ProMotion. It may be configured with the M2 Professional chip or the M2 Max chip, with the latter providing as much as a 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU, together with as much as 96GB RAM and storage choices as much as 8TB. There’s a lot energy right here, most individuals will battle to check the complete capabilities of the MacBook Professional (M2 Professional/Max, 2023).
Apple MacBook Professional, 16-inch (M2 Professional/Max, 2023)
Apple / Pocket-lint
Apple MacBook Professional 16in (M2, 2023)
Massive show, large efficiency
Just like the smaller 14-inch mannequin, the 16-inch MacBook Professional is an exceptional machine with an enormous quantity of energy, a wonderful design and little or no to be desired. You pay the additional for the bigger show and the bigger battery, however in case you have the money, this laptop computer is not going to disappoint.
- Wonderful efficiency
- Nice battery life
- Strong design
- No Face ID
- Costly
- Probably pointless improve for MacBook Professional (M1 Professional/Max) customers
The 16-inch MacBook Professional (M2 Professional/Max) is just about similar to its smaller 14-inch sibling above, although it after all provides a bigger chassis, bigger display screen and a bigger battery. The 168 x 355.7 x 248.1mm physique weighs 2.1kg, so it is nearly double the burden of the MacBook Air (M2, 2022). There’s an enormous – and glorious – 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR show on board with a notch on the high providing a 1080p digicam and there is a most 1600nits brightness on board too.
Beneath the hood, just like the 14-inch mannequin, there’s the choice of the M2 Professional and M2 Max processors – each of which ship an insane quantity of energy. The M2 Max chip is configurable as much as 12-core CPU and as much as 38-core GPU, together with as much as 96GB RAM and 8TB SSD. You will after all pay the worth for the upgrades, and you will pay a premium for the bigger display screen too however this can be a laptop computer that will not disappoint, even when your pockets will not thanks.
Apple MacBook Professional, 14-inch (M1 Professional/Max, 2021)
Apple / Pocket-lint
Apple MacBook Professional 14in (M1, 2021)
Wonderful efficiency
It is now not the most recent mannequin however this MacBook Professional nonetheless has loads to offer. It is not a tool that is merely there to take pleasure in browsing the online or writing the odd doc although, this can be a machine that desires to be pushed to the restrict – and might deal with the restrict too.
- M1 Professional/Max processor energy are immense
- Ports are again – together with SD card slot and HDMI
- 14.2-inch display screen with ProMotion 120Hz appears nice
- Heavy
- Costly whenever you begin upgrading RAM and SSD
- No Face ID
The MacBook Professional 14-inch (M1 Professional/Max, 2021) mannequin is perhaps a few years previous and succeeded by the MacBook Professional 14-inch (m2 Professional/Max, 2023) fashions but it surely’s nonetheless effectively worthy of consideration. The M1 Professional and M1 Max chips providing a most 10-core CPU and 32-core GPU are very highly effective and ship sterling efficiency, even two years on, whilst you get a really comparable design to the 2023 fashions, which implies ports! There’s an SDXC slot, HDMI port, MagSafe charging and three USB-C ports.
The 155 x 312.6 x 221.2mm physique weighs 1.5kg and it includes a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR show with ProMotion. There is a beautiful tremendous slim bezel across the display screen with a notch on the high, housing an upgraded 1080p FaceTime HD digicam. The M1 Max chip will be configured with a most of 64GB RAM, with storage ranging between 512GB to a whopping 8TB, however, as you’d anticipate, the worth tag in a short time begins to rise with these upgrades.
Apple MacBook Professional, 16-inch (M1 Professional/Max, 2021)
Apple / Pocket-lint
Apple MacBook Professional 16in (M1, 2021)
Massive show and efficiency
Like its 14-inch sibling, this can be a MacBook Professional for heavy skilled customers that may’t justify the price of the 2023’s M2 Professional and M2 Max fashions however nonetheless need an exceptionally succesful machine, and on this case, one with an even bigger show and battery.
- M1 Professional/Max processor energy are immense
- Ports are again – together with SD card slot and HDMI
- 16.2-inch display screen with ProMotion 120Hz appears nice
- Very heavy
- Costly whenever you begin upgrading RAM and SSD
- No Face ID
You are getting just about an similar package deal to the 14-inch MacBook Professional mannequin detailed above right here within the MacBook Professional 16-inch (M2 Professional/Max, 2021), aside from an improved battery life and a bigger show, with a 16.2-inch display screen on board right here. The physique is bigger too at 168 x 355.7 x 248.1mm – and heavier at 2.1kg – however you get the identical design and ports because the smaller mannequin.
Each the M1 Professional chip and M1 Max chip ship glorious efficiency, regardless of now not being the most recent, and just like the 14-inch mannequin, there’s the identical alternative of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB (solely with M1 Max) RAM, in addition to the selection to go all the way in which from a 512GB SSD to an 8TB possibility. You will after all pay extra for the bigger show and battery in comparison with the 14-inch mannequin, but when need loads of energy and an enormous display screen however the 2023 fashions are simply an excessive amount of, this is a wonderful possibility.
Apple MacBook Professional, 13-inch (M1, 2020)
Apple / Pocket-lint
Apple MacBook Professional 13-inch (M1, 2020)
Entry level to MacBook Professional
The MacBook Professional (M1, 2020) is a couple of years previous now but it surely nonetheless runs the Apple M1 chip, which delivers good efficiency and this mannequin due to this fact represents the entry level for these focused on a MacBook Professional operating Apple Silicon. If you cannot justify the additional for the MacBook Professional (M2, 2022) then this laptop computer will ship, however you may need to critically think about the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) as a substitute,
- Nice display screen
- Quick and highly effective
- Wonderful battery
- No Face ID
- Design a bit of drained
- Minimal ports
The difficulty for this MacBook Professional (M1, 2020) is that it prices across the similar because the MacBook Air (M2, 2022), which is extra highly effective and a extremely nice possibility, while additionally providing much less ports than the 2021 MacBook Professional fashions and an inferior show. There is a 13.3-inch display screen inside the 156 x 304.1 x 212mm physique that weighs 1.4kg and you will find simply two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, together with a 3.5mm headphone jack so you may be needing some adapters.
Just like the MacBook Professional 13-inch (M2, 2022), this machine retains Apple’s Contact Bar, although it takes a slight step down in efficiency, with the M1 chip beneath the hood rather than the M2. The onboard SSD will be upgraded anyplace from the usual 256GB as much as 2TB, although RAM is capped at 16GB. The 2020 MacBook Professional continues to be a fantastic machine – notably, for many who desire a laptop computer for combined skilled use and occasional private use – however we’d suggest contemplating the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) until you really want a fan.