Wondering which character of MacBook to purchase ? This buying guide will help you decide which Apple laptop is best for you .
Apple makes two types of laptops , the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro . Within those two categories of Mac is a broad kitchen range of capability , the gap between the entry - point MacBook Air and the high - end 16 - inch MacBook Pro is vast , but even within the MacBook Pro category , you will notice immense differences . We have more information on thedifferences between the MacBook Air and Proin another clause .
While there are six MacBook gentle wind model and ten MacBook Pro models sell as standard configurations , in reality , there are multiple combinations if you factor in all the work up - to - order options that you’re able to add such as supernumerary RAM , more storage , or a faster processor , with which you’re able to establish an even more powerful Mac , should you need to . take which MacBook to buy can be a tough conclusion , luckily , we are here to serve .
If you ’re not certain yet if you desire a laptop computer or desktop Mac , you should also read ourMac purchasing guide , which covers both MacBooks and Apple ’s desktop Macs . We also compare all the MacBook Pro models here : Which MacBook Pro ? We also volunteer advice about how much storage , RAM , and cores inHow much MacBook computer storage , read/write memory and graphics do you really call for ?
There are various sections in this article . If you are n’t trusted which Mac laptop you need , then read on , if you have a dim estimation but are choosing between two similar models , or if your needs are more professional than personal , then you might find the models further down this article more relevant . In that case , we suggest that you parachute to the division about the MacBook that is most relevant to your needs . See the Table of Contents above .
MacBook release dates
One consideration to make when shopping for a MacBook is how recently Apple updated the laptop computer and whether it is probable to be updating it again . Here is a quick look at when the laptops Apple sells were eject .
MacBook buyers guide
quick to find the MacBook that suits you ? We ’ll set about by running through the different MacBooks Apple sell , giving an overview of the pro and confidence trick of each model , and reasonableness why each might be ideally suited to your needs . You ’ll also be able to see the best prices right now , so that you do n’t drop more than you need to .
We will also look at dissimilar components and feature for each model , so you may make an informed decision about how much RAM , which chip , how grownup the SSD should be and the best price , so you do n’t drop more than necessary .
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M4, 2025)
The MacBook Air is the cheapest manner to get a Mac laptop , starting at $ 999/£999 for a 13 - inch M4 model . Two other stock shape are useable for $ 1,199/£1,199 and $ 1,399/£1,399 . You get Apple ’s latest Air design and a 13.6 - inch screen with 500 nits of smartness , and Midnight , Starlight , Sky Blue , and eloquent color choices .
While the M4 Air and the 14 - inch M4 MacBook Pro have the same M4 micro chip , the deficiency of a rooter in the MacBook Air may mean it slows down to avoid overheating when perform more strenuous undertaking . The 14 - inch MacBook Pro , on the other hand , has fighting cooling , so it does n’t need to slow down to stop overheat in CPU - intensive applications . It ’s likely the primal difference between these Mac laptops and the rationality why the Pro is well suited to more demanding applications programme .
Another welfare of the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro over the tune is tenacious battery life . The 14 - inch MacBook Pro with M4 offers up to 22 hours compared to 18 time of day for the 13 - inch MacBook Air .
However , the MacBook Air is a dear choice , particularly with the entrance - level MacBook Pro starting at $ 1,599/£1,599 . For $ 999/£999 , the M4 Air is a marvellous budget option .
Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M4, 2025)
When Apple first inaugurate the 15 - inch MacBook Air in July 2023 , it answered a need for anyone who wanted a prominent projection screen without having to pay hundreds more for a 14 - column inch MacBook Pro . The 15 - column inch M4 MacBook Air starts at $ 1,199/£1,199 . The 14 - column inch MacBook Pro starts at $ 1,599/£1,599 , which is more expensive than the Air ( although updating the line to the 512 GB SSD offered by the entrance - level Pro will add another $ 200/£200 , so the price gap is n’t as wide as it seems . ) But even compared to a cheaper Pro , the 15 - inch Air is still a rattling option for buyers looking for a large - screen laptop for less .
If the option is between the 13 - inch and 15 - inch MacBook Air , other than the bigger filmdom , there are a few differences to consider . Most notably , the larger manakin has salutary audio recording with a six - speaker sound system with force-out - cancelling woofer . Also , the entry - tier 13 - column inch M4 MacBook Air for $ 999/£999 offers an eight - core GPU , while the entry - layer 15 - column inch Air , which is $ 200/£200 more at $ 1,199/£1,199 , offers a 10 - nucleus GPU . To get the same GPU selection in the 13 - inch Air you ’d need to give an extra $ 200/£200 , which also doubles the memory board to 512 GB . The price gap is so small that we believe it ’s deserving getting the 15 - inch model unless you want a smaller screen .
Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024)
Back in 2023 , Apple discontinue the 13 - in MacBook Pro and replace it in the lineup with a immoral M - series version of the 14 - inch MacBook Pro ( you ca n’t get the base M - series chip in the 16 - inch MacBook Pro ) . This move brings many benefit : the 14 - column inch MacBook ’s HDR ProMotion show is significantly better than the 13 - inch model ’s was . It also offers twice the entrepot , HDMI , SDXC slot , serious battery life , and a newer blueprint . bear in mind you , the damage of the 14 - inch poser , $ 1,599/£1,599 ( down from £ 1,699 in 2023 ) , is quite a bit higher than the $ 1,299/£1,349 Leontyne Price that the 13 - inch exemplar sold for .
The high starting price for the M4 MacBook Pro also intend the difference between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro is wide than it was . Apple used to betray two almost identically speced machines for a very similar price , but now the 14 - inch MacBook Pro ( $ 1,599/£1,599 ) costs an astonishing $ 600/£600 more than the entering - level 13 - inch M4 MacBook Air ( $ 999/£999 ) and $ 500/£500 more than the 15 - in M4 MacBook Air ( $ 1,099/£1,099 ) . So if budget is what is important to you , preserve your money and bribe a MacBook Air .
If your option is between a 15 - in M4 MacBook Air with 16 GB Unified Memory , 512 GB SSD and 10 - core GPU ( $ 1,399/£1,499 ) and the 14 - inch M4 MacBook Pro with the same 16 GB Unified Memory , 512 GB SSD and 10 - kernel GPU ( $ 1,599/£1,599 ) , you should definitely devote the extra $ 100/£100 to get the MacBook Pro with its newer M4 chip and effective operation .
Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 2024)
At the same time that it introduced the M4 14 - column inch MacBook Pro , Apple also introduced the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips . Both the 14 - inch and 16 - inch MacBook Pro can be buy with various constellation of those two chips .
For those decide between the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro and 16 - inch model the best position to start is to compare like - for - like . The 14 - sum CPU , 20 - core GPU M4 Pro with 24 GB unified store and 1 TB SSD 14 - in MacBook Pro be $ 2,399/£2,399 compared to the almost identically spec’d 16 - inch example with 14 - essence CPU , 20 - core GPU M4 Pro with 24 GB interconnected remembering and 512 GB SSD for $ 2,499/£2,499 . So you are ante up $ 100/£100 more to get a large screen , but also forfeit half the SSD . If you desire an equivalent 1 TB SSD in the 16 - column inch that ’s an extra $ 200/£200 .
On the other hand , if you are deliberate spending more to get the M4 Pro rather than the M4 in a MacBook Pro , the price deviation is much corking . The 14 - inch M4 MacBook Pro with 10 - core C.P.U. and 10 - marrow GPU , 16 GB coordinated memory , and 512 GB SSD costs $ 1,599/£1,599 , while the 14 - inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro with 12 - core CPU and 16 - center GPU , 24 GB merged memory , and 512 GB SSD costs $ 400/£400 more at $ 1,999/£1,999 .
The parachuting from M4 to M4 Pro is an expensive one , but you are getting a lot for your money : more memory , more core , and fundamentally a more muscular machine in every way .
Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 2024)
The entry - level 16 - inch MacBook Pro essentially provide the same eyeglasses ( 14 - essence CPU , 20 - core GPU , 24 GB memory ) as the top - of - the - range 14 - inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro for just £ 100/$100 more , $ 2,399/£2,399 vs $ 2,499/£2,499 which to be fair does n’t seem like a bad passel have the larger screen door and increased barrage life .
The other big difference of opinion though is that the 14 - inch MacBook in inquiry come with a 1 TB SSD , while the 16 - inch role model only declare oneself 512 sarin . If you really want that 1 TB SSD in the 16 - column inch MacBook Pro it will cost you an extra £ 200/$200 . So that ’s really a departure of £ 300/$300 if you want the bigger screen and battery .
Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max, 2024)
If you want more memory then the M4 Max is the way to go though . This is not just because the M4 Max can support 36 GB , 48 GB , 64 GB and 128 GB unified memory , while the M4 Pro only offers 24 GB or 48 gigabyte . However , the M4 Max with a 14 - core C.P.U. and 32 - core GPU is available only with 36 GB of unified retentiveness and has no memory upgrade options . You have to get the M4 Max with a 16 - core CPU , 40 - core GPU , and received 48 GB unified computer storage ( an additional $ 300/£300 ) in decree to upgrade to 64 GB or 128 GB of memory .
Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max, 2024)
The story is much the same if you are considering the 16 - column inch MacBook Pro . The leap from M4 Pro to M4 Max if you see at the standard options is $ 600/£600 , If you postulate the M4 Max Apple is make the upgrade worthwhile , but it ’s still a high price to pay . The high - end 16 - column inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro come with 48 GB of RAM and has no RAM upgrades available . You have to upgrade to an M4 Max to get more Aries the Ram .
Best MacBook 2025: Verdict
The choice is pretty clear in terms of what you get for your money :
buy an entranceway - level M4 MacBook Air for $ 999/£999 will get you an first-class Mac laptop for less than a grand , but it only cost $ 200/£200 more to get the 15 - inch mannikin .
The 15 - inch MacBook Air shake up the range when that sieve sizing arrived in July 2023 . With it , Apple lowered the price of getting a large screen on a Mac laptop computer . Even with the 14 - inch MacBook Pro , the 15 - inch MacBook Air is still an attractive suggestion , but remember that the 14 - inch MacBook Pro has a new M4 flake .
The price of the M4 Pro and Max MacBook Pro model is gamy , but these modelling propose the variety of spec professional user , specially creatives , need , including support for more random access memory , and more CPU and GPU cores . If you could afford to stretch to the M4 Max you will get the ultimate Mac without a doubtfulness , but you need to be willing to make a significant investment .
The alternative between the 14 - inch and 16 - inch MacBook Pro is all down to the concealment size . The 16 - column inch example are more expensive , but once you spec them out in such a way to be like the price difference is pocket-size . The giving departure is between the Pro and Max mainframe . Other than upper , MacBooks with Max central processor canconnect up to four outside displays(three over Thunderbolt and one over HDMI ) , while all M4 models now let two outside display in addition to the laptop computer screen . ( There are workarounds if you need to connect more screen ) .
For the belated MacBook Pro and MacBook Air discount rate , including discontinued models , check out our beat - up of theBest MacBook Pro dealsandBest MacBook Air deals .
What happened to the 13-inch MacBook Pro?
Let ’s address one model you might be wondering about . The 13 - in MacBook Pro is no longer sell by Apple , but it will no doubt be available from resellers and Apple ’s refurbished store for a while . There were two stock 13 - inch MacBook Pro to consider . The only real remainder is storage :
The 13 - inch MacBook Pro was supercede by the basis M - series 14 - inch MacBook Pro , which is the chintzy MacBook Pro but costs more than the 13 - column inch model . It does have a far superior screen , better battery aliveness , and many other benefits . The other difference was that the 13 - inch MacBook Pro featured the Touch Bar , which is something that some people bask , whileothers did n’t .
For grease one’s palms advice on thebest Windows laptop , see our babe site PCWorld .
