picture taking can be a demanding art , with New cameras producing immense files and incredible levels of item . But which Mac should you be looking at if you require to edit these images so that they depend as undecomposed as possible ?
We take a look at the secure Mac for photo redaction as well as some additional outfit that you need to level up your digital photography .
For other creative alternative , readbest Mac for designersandbest Mac for video editing . We also have advice about thebest photo redaction computer software for Macandthe best free and cheap image editor .
Why Photographers prefer Macs
There was a fourth dimension in the other Day of digital picture taking when Macs had a huge oral sex set off on PCs when it came to photo editing . This was thanks to better color direction , and , in the early years , Adobe Photoshop – which was only available on the Mac until 1993 .
Thanks to this other start Macs became the preferred tool for photographers , and even though the photo editing software usable today is useable on all weapons platform , Apple ’s Macs are still loved by photographers .
In the sections below we will hash out the specs that make the Mac a keen selection for photographers .
You may also want to notice outhow to get Photoshop on a Macandhow to get the good deal on Adobe Creative Cloud .
Best Mac configuration for photography
Before we tell you what we think are the good MacBook and Mac for photographers , we will run through what you necessitate in term of specs . Here ’s what you should consider when induce your option :
Display
One intellect why Macs are a great choice for today ’s photographer is their first-class color truth and display quality . For example , there is a 4.5 K show on the 24 - inch iMac . There was a 5 1000 video display on the 27 - inch iMac , but Apple discontinued that modeling in March 2022 and it ’s not yet clear if there will ever be another iMac with a larger screen .
The great caliber display are n’t only reserved for the iMac though . If you need a Mac you could carry around with you – so that you could delete photographs when you are out in the field – then you will want to consider a MacBook Pro .
The 14 - column inch MacBook Pro that was inclose in 2021 and updated in 2023 offers an excellent 3,024 by 1,964 screen ( that ’s 5.9 million pixels ) . The 16 - inch MacBook Pro offer even more pixel – 7.7 million . In fact , Apple claimed that the screen on the 2021 MacBook Pro was the world ’s in force notebook computer show when it launched .
It is a Liquid Retina XDR display with an extreme dynamic range of , according to Apple : 1,000 nit brightness and 1,600 nits of peak light . There is also a 1,000,000:1 demarcation proportion , which should make it possible to see detail in apparition , deep blacks and more graphic colors .
But the big deal about the 14 - inch and 16 - inch MacBook Pro screen is that these were the first , and so far only , Macs with ProMotion . ProMotion first arrived on the iPad Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro and it offer an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz ( which think it can refresh image 120 times a second ) . However , it can also vary this refresh rate calculate on what ’s required – saving battery life .
If you require more picture element you’re able to always plug in a disjoined 5 K or 6 K presentation to use with your MacBook – in which case any Mac could be a great choice for photo redaction . In March 2022 Apple introduce the27 - inch Studio Display($1,599/£1,499 ) to join its32 - inch Pro Display XDR($4,999/£4,599 ) . You do n’t have to spend that much money on a decent display though .
For more information on using a second display with your Mac take a look athow to employ a second screen with a Macas well ashow to link up two or more displays to an M1 or M2 Mac , and our roundup of thebest Mac monitors and video display .
Processor
It ’s been more than three years since Apple announced that it would be moving from Intel processors to its own Apple atomic number 14 central processing unit . Apple has transitioned all of its Macs to this unexampled silicon , introducing the Pro , Max and Ultra versions of the M1 and M2 genesis of chips among which you will find various CPU and GPU options . It ’s dependable to say that the variety has been an incredibly confident one .
One welfare for photographer of the new Apple fries is that the CPU cores are divided into performance inwardness and efficiency inwardness . What this means is that if your Mac is indexing your exposure library in the backcloth while you are busy editing a altogether image you should n’t get any slowdowns , because the labor will be divided between the burden in the most efficient way of life .
Over the years that followed the introduction of the M1 in October 2020 we ’ve seen Apple contribute more central processor and GPU cores to variance of the chips , culminate in June 2023 with the M2 Ultra that offers up to a 24 - sum CPU , 76 - core GPU , either 64 GB , 128 gilbert or 192 GB of RAM , and up to 8 TB SSD .
Graphics
If you want more graphics core you need to look to the Pro , Max and Ultra configuration . If you are work with very high res images you might previously have considered discrete graphics , but Apple ’s graphics are let in on the same organization - on - chip , and share Unified Memory with the CPU .
The good newsworthiness is that Apple ’s GPUs have proven themselves against the discrete artwork previously found in the Intel - power 16 - inch MacBook Pro and in the ( now discontinued ) 27 in iMac .
RAM
It is not possible to update the RAM ( aka Unified Memory ) on any Mac that features any M1- or M2 - series Saratoga chip , so you call for to make certain you are buying a Mac with enough retentivity for your needs .
This highlights a particular disadvantage with the M1 silicon chip , you could not have more than 16 GB of Unified Memory in those models . Luckily Apple rectify this with the M2 genesis , with the M2 microchip able-bodied to support 24 GB RAM . For even more RAM you need to look to the M2 Pro for up to 32 GB , the M2 Max up to 92 GB and the M2 Ultra , which can max out at 192 GB RAM .
16 GB RAM should be plenty though . Another affair to observe is that the RAM in an M1 / M2 Mac works differently to the RAM in an Intel Mac . It ’s bang as Unified Memory and can be get at by both the graphics and processor sum whenever they need it .
But if you think you will need more than 16 GB RAM then the Pro , Max or Ultra will be the way to go .
Storage
As a lensman take enough space to store your all-inclusive range library is potential to be one of your key requirements , although you may find that there are cloud storage options , or cost - effective external entrepot , that beseem you .
We suggest that the minimum storage capacity to consider would be 512 GB – which rein out the introduction - level 13 - column inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air . If you require more than that the M1 and M2 Macs volunteer up to 2 TB SSD , while the 14 - inch and 16 - inch MacBook Pro , the Mac Studio and Mac Pro , provide up to 8 TB .
An 8 TB SSD has a very high price though – a better pick might be an outside SSD , which as long as you connect via USB C or Thunderbolt , should offer fair transfer speeds . We have a beat - up of thebest external SSDs for Macand should you opt capacity over speed we also have a round - up of thebest external hard drive for Mac .
Battery life
One last area that will count greatly if you are probable to use your Mac to blue-pencil photos when you are out visiting guest is battery life . Here the Macs with Apple ’s own processors really take the lead over the Intel - powered predecessors , with the 16 - inch MacBook Pro offering 22 hours of battery spirit , compared to 11 hour previously . Here ’s how the barrage life in the current Macs compare :
Ports
As a photographer , you may be hope for an SD circuit card reader on your Mac . The fantastic news then is that the 14 - column inch and 16 - in MacBook Pro and the Mac Studio offer an SDXD plug-in reviewer ( on the Mac Studio this is UHS - II ) .
The 14 - in and 16 - in MacBooks also offer three Thunderbolt 4 / USB - degree Celsius embrasure , HDMI and heraldic bearing via a MagSafe 3 embrasure .
The Mac Studio propose either four Thunderbolt 4 larboard and two USB - A port wine or six Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB - A porthole and an additional two USB - cytosine ports ( depending on the model you choose ) . ( Those Thunderbolt port can be used for USB - C too ) .
The 13 - column inch MacBook Pro and 13 - inch/15 - inch MacBook Air propose two Thunderbolt / USB 4 interface and , as long as you get a M2 model , an additional MagSafe charge port . This may be sufficient for your needs – check out theseUSB C adapters and hubsif you want to add more port . For example , the Twelve South StayGo cost £ 99.99 fromAmazon , and lead your Mac with eight extra port , including USB - C 3.1 for 85W Power Delivery ( PD ) charging of the laptop ; an HDMI port ; two 5Gbps USB - A 3.0 ports , and another USB - A port wine ; Gigabit Ethernet ; and SD and Micro SD card readers .
The 24 - inch iMac has a unlike pick of ports depending on the model you choose . One 24 - inch iMac offers two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports while the other offer an extra two USB 3 ports . This smaller iMac good example no longer has a board referee though .
The Mac mini also has a groovy selection of port including Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports , two USB - A ports and an HDMI port . The Mac miniskirt lacks the SDXD card lecturer offer by the Mac Studio and the 14 - column inch and 16 - inch MacBook Pro models though .
Mac or MacBook for photo editing?
Selecting a Mac for your photo editing depends on how you designate to use the machine . Do you desire to be capable to edit photographs on the go or would you prefer to do your edits from the quilt of your studio apartment ?
If you know that you will necessitate to edit out in the landing field then the MacBook Pro is clearly the means to go . But what if you want a big show to edit picture on ? The 16 - column inch MacBook Pro display is heavy , but you might even find that 16 - inch display cramped if you are work on in particular big and high - resolving power range of a function . In that case , you would be heady to plug a second display into your MacBook when you are back at your desk .
Now that Apple no longer sells the 27 - inch iMac that is n’t really an option we would suggest you consider ( even though you may still find stock of these Intel - power Macs at various resellers ) . The 24 - inch iMac does offer a great display , but we feel that the M1 , which it still has despite all the other Macs being upgraded , is not going to be good enough due to its graphics and RAM limitation .
There are two other Mac desktops you could consider though : the Mac mini and Mac Studio , for which you would need to buy an external display ( but you may already own one anyway ) . The Mac mini offers the cheap elbow room to get your hands on an M2 Pro and the Mac Studio impart the M2 Max ( and M2 Ultra , which would belike be overkill ) . We think that the M2 Pro might be better suited to the penury of a photographer , and that ’s only useable in the Mac mini and MacBook Pro .
So , if you need a nice Mac and need one you could carry with you the 14 - in or 16 - inch MacBook Pro is the best selection for lensman . And if you do n’t mind leave it behind in the studio the Mac mini could be a cost - effective solution . Read on to find out or testimonial of which model and the best toll .
Best MacBook for photo editing
If you want to be able-bodied to edit epitome on the move a Mac laptop computer with a decent - sized concealment will be invaluable .
1. Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro, 2023)
Pretty much any of the current MacBook reach will be beneficial enough for photo editing , but your needs will determine what the best option is for you .
If you are a professional lensman likely to be editing very high res and altogether images then the 16 - column inch MacBook Pro , with its large concealment and knock-down constellation , would be the good alternative .
The fact that this poser allows you to maximise your read/write memory to 64 GB ( or even 96 GB if you go for an M2 Max chip ) and max out the storage is a material point in its favor .
The M2 Pro or M2 Mac graphics , compared to the graphic in the M1 and M2 Macs , are likely to be a real fillip if you are working with large images .
2. Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro, 2023)
Everything about the 16 - inch MacBook Pro also applies to the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro , which could be a direction to economise some money if you do n’t need the extra screen size . YOu may also view the 14 - in MacBook Pro screen to be sufficiently large if you are die to punch into an external monitor when in the studio . See ourbest picks of Mac displays .
The specs are practically identical to the larger example , except that at the entry level there ’s a manakin with a 16 - inwardness GPU or else of 19 - core . This exemplar , which cost $ 1,999/£2,149 may well be sufficient for your need .
If $ 2,000 is still too expensive there are other options though . You could seem at the Mac mini with M2 Pro , or , if your main criteria is a Mac laptop with a large screen you might desire to see the 15 - column inch MacBook Air , which we ’ll talk over next .
3. Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 2023)
Apple introduced the 15 - column inch MacBook Air in June 2023 . While it may be slightly hampered by its M2 chip , this is the tacky way to get a larger display on a Mac laptop .
If you are thinking of buying the 15 - column inch MacBook Air with a view to using if for editing photography we ’d advise that you upgrade the storage to 512 G , as the 256 GB SSD has been witness to be slower ( and you ’ll in all probability want the redundant storage anyway ) . We ’d also recommend that you get 16 GB of unified storage ( or more if your budget allows ) . With 512 GB and 16 GB RAM the price will be $ 1,699/£1,799 , which is $ 300/£350 less than the 14 - inch MacBook Pro , so it is n’t as big a economy as you might expected .
Best Mac desktop for photo editing
If you do your editing at home rather than onsite , then there are some good options when it come to Macs .
1. Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
If you need an M2 Pro you do n’t have to pay MacBook Pro prices . There is a Mac mini with M2 Pro that costs $ 1,299/£1,399 and , while you will also require a display , mouse and keyboard , that price is sufficiently below the 14 - in MacBook Pro to buy a really good CRT screen .
As with the 14 - inch MacBook Pro the standard theoretical account offer a 16 - core GPU , but you may upgrade to the 19 - inwardness GPU if you think you will benefit .
2. Apple Mac Studio (M2 Max, 2023)
If you want more power from your desktop Mac you could expend a little more on the Mac Studio , which is the cheapest way to get the M2 Max ( which is also an option in the 14- and 16 - inch MacBook Pro .
Just like the Mac miniskirt , you will require a monitor , computer mouse and keyboard , but you may already have these . The entry - stratum Mac Studio extend a 12 - meat CPU and 30 - magnetic core GPU , 32 GB unified memory and wad of ports for $ 1,999/£2,099 . It ’s a power station for a fraction of the price of the M2 Max MacBook Pro .
Decided which Mac you want ? Do n’t yield more than you should . contain our respectable good deal round - ups :
Best Mac mini deals
Best MacBook Pro great deal
Best MacBook Air deals
Best Mac Studio slew
