Our Verdict
plan to buy a new Mac for someone on your vacation shopping list ? Such a heedful and generous giving is going to make someone very , very happy .
Now comes the hard part : Which Mac should you corrupt ? That ’s where we come in . We ’ve screen every standard - contour Mac good example currently in Apple ’s lineup , and we know each model indoors and out . We ’re happy to serve you make a determination .
This buying guide explains all the Mac models available and how they ’ve changed from their predecessors . To read the full review for each Mac , press the “ say our perfect reexamination ” links . you’re able to also get more details on how each Mac did in our benchmark tests . And we ’ve provided linkup to help you find the estimable prices .
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air has become Apple ’s pavilion laptop . Its thin , lightweight intention makes it an idealistic portable data processor , and you no longer have to accept the feature compromises that older MacBook Air manakin need . AsMacworld ’s editorial theater director Jason Snell said in hisreviewof the MacBook Air , “ You get the distinct impression that it ’s only a matter of time before all Mac laptop look like the Air . ”
The 2011 MacBook Air line use Intel dual - substance Core i5 processors , a immense melioration over the Core 2 Duo processors used in previous exemplar . Macworld Lab observe that the 2011 MacBook Air theoretical account are at least 1.5 times as tight as last year ’s 11 - in MacBook Air with a 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo C.P.U. . With some honest-to-god games , however , the current models may stand a strike in graphics public presentation .
The 2011 models ’ key novel feature of speech is the Thunderbolt port . Past MacBook Air models had only USB 2.0 connectivity ; Thunderbolt gives the 2011 MacBook Air a high - speed connexion , and widen the reach of peripheral you may utilise . you could either get the proper adapters to tie FireWire , eSATA , USB 3.0 , or other devices to the Thunderbolt port , or you could get Apple ’s Thunderbolt Display , which serves as a connectivity sour grass for the laptop computer .
When Applediscontinued the MacBookin July , the ship’s company hurtle the MacBook Air into a new theatrical role . Apple ’s lowest - priced laptop computer is now the 11 - inch 1.6GHz Core i5 MacBook Air ( ) with 64 GB of flash memory board . ( You may be able to find arefurbished MacBookat the online Apple Store , if you really want one . )
Configurations : There are four MacBook Airs : two 11 - inch models and two 13 - column inch modelling . All do with ostentation computer storage and Intel HD Graphics 3000 .
The entry - level 11 - inch MacBook Air has a 1.6GHz Core i5 processor , 2 GB of RAM , and 64 GB of flash entrepot for $ 999 . ( Get best current price . ) The other 11 - in MacBook Air has the same mainframe , 4 GB of RAM , and 128 GB of flash storage for $ 1199 . ( Get right current price . ) Both 11 - column inch model have a mellow - resolution LED backlit glossy display with a 1366 - by-768 - native settlement .
The only difference between the two 13 - inch MacBook Air models is the amount of newsbreak storage . Both 13 - column inch models feature a 1.7GHz magnetic core i5 processor , but the $ 1299 13 - inch MacBook Air ( get best current price ) has 128 GB of flash storage , while the $ 1599 13 - column inch MacBook Air ( get best current price ) has 256 Gbit .
Performance : The MacBook Air is quite capable of handle routine tasks , such as emailing , Web browsing , using office applications , and more . you’re able to even utilize it for editing short videos , and working with JPEGs from your iPhone or point - and - shoot television camera .
The 11 - in MacBook Air is the slowest Mac in Apple ’s lineup , but it ’s no slouch . It ’s much faster than last year ’s 13 - column inch MacBook Air . Also , the 11 - column inch MacBook Air , thanks to its flash storage , is about as tight overall as the $ 1199 13 - in MacBook Pro with a dual - Congress of Racial Equality 2.4GHz Core i5 processor and a 5400 - revolutions per minute 500 GB hard drive . The 2011 13 - inch MacBook Air is about 28 percent quicker overall than the last year ’s 13 - inch MacBook Air .
Macworld ’s buying advice : Previous MacBook Air generations were think of as recess laptops . But now , the 2011 MacBook Air is the idealistic laptop computer for most Mac users . It ’s a great combining of operation and portability .
show our complete inspection of the 11 - inch and 13 - column inch MacBook Air model ( mid-2011 )
MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro was actually updated twice in 2011 . Thefirst updatewas in February , and the most recent MacBook Pro blood wasreleasedin October . The MacBook Pro continues to sport the aluminium unibody intent that was innovate in 2008 , but it has more feature film and processing power than the MacBook Air . turn over the MacBook Pro a possible replacement for an senior screen background Mac .
The current poser feature Core i5 and Core i7 processor that are slightly faster than the models bring out in February . The speed difference are bigger if you liken the current MacBook Pro railway line to the simulation released in 2010 ; most notably , the 2010 13 - in MacBook Pros used ho-hum Core 2 Duo processors . The new 13 - inch MacBook Pros still use only an integrated graphics processor , the Intel HD Graphics 3000 . The 15- and 17 - inch MacBook Pros have both the integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 and a distinct graphics chip .
Configurations : There are five standard shape of the MacBook Pro .
The entry - level 13 - inch MacBook Pro , with a dual - core 2.4GHz Core i5 processor , 4 GB of RAM , and a 500 GB hard private road , be $ 1199 . ( Get best current Leontyne Price . ) The 13 - inch MacBook Pro with a twofold - centre 2.8GHz Core i7 processor , 4 GB of RAM , and a 750 GB hard effort price $ 1499 . ( Get good current Mary Leontyne Price . )
There are two 15 - in models . For $ 1799 , you get a quad - core 2.2GHz Core i7 processor , a 500 GB hard drive , and a 512 megabit AMD Radeon HD 6750 M discrete graphics check along with the structured Intel graphics . ( Get sound current price . ) The next fashion model up ( at $ 1999 ) has a quad - core 2.4GHz Core i7 processor , a 750 GB hard drive , and a 1 GB AMD Radeon HD 6770 M distinct graphics poker chip along with the integrated Intel graphic .
The 17 - in MacBook Pro is the same as the $ 1999 15 - inch model but with a magnanimous screen . It has a musculus quadriceps femoris - magnetic core 2.4GHz Core i7 processor , a 750 GB punishing thrust , a 1 GB AMD Radeon HD 6770 M discrete graphics cow chip , and the integrated Intel graphics . It cost $ 2499 . ( Get estimable current price . )
The 15- and 17 - column inch MacBook Pros are the only laptops in Apple ’s card that offer a mellow - resolution antiglare screen option . It costs an additional $ 150 for the 15 - in MacBook Pro , and an excess $ 50 for the 17 - inch MacBook Pro .
operation : The $ 1999 15 - inch MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Core i7 was the fastest laptop in our Speedmark 7 examination . The $ 1199 , 13 - inch 2.4GHz Core i5 MacBook Pro offer performance that ’s similar to that of the $ 999 11 - column inch MacBook Air with a 1.6GHz Core i5 processor and 64 GB of blink of an eye store , but the MacBook Pro has features the MacBook Air lacks , including FireWire 800 and a big filmdom .
Macworld ’s purchasing advice : The MacBook Pro mix the performance of a desktop computer with the portability of a laptop computer . If you want the fastest MacBook Pro , the 15 - inch 2.4GHz Core i7 MacBook Pro is the one to get . If you primarily want a gimmick for change of location and are test to decide between a MacBook Air and a 13 - column inch MacBook Pro , go for the MacBook Air , unless you really demand the processing power for heavy - duty labor or you want a computer with FireWire built in .
take our complete review of the 13- , 15- , and 17 - column inch MacBook Pros ( late-2011 )
Mac mini
Designwise , the 2011 Mac miniskirt has n’t change much compare with its predecessor . It ’s still a belittled atomic number 13 square that sits modestly on your desk .
The variety that does stand up out — and may influence your purchasing conclusion — is that the Mac mini no longer has a SuperDrive . If you want to burn music cd or videodisk , or take data from an optical disk , you need to get an external ocular burner , which cost $ 60 to $ 100 . If you absolutely require an internal SuperDrive in your Mac , opt for a laptop or an iMac .
The 2011 Mac mini has a Thunderbolt port wine , which replaces the Mini DisplayPort in the older model . The Mac mini also has an HDMI port , a FireWire 800 embrasure , four USB 2.0 ports , a Gbit ethernet embrasure , an SDXC Card one-armed bandit , and parallel / optical - digital audio input and production minijacks . Wi - Fi and Bluetooth are ramp up - in .
Configurations : The $ 599 Mac miniskirt has a dual - core 2.3GHz Core i5 processor , 2 GB of RAM , a 500 GB operose drive , and Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrate computer graphic . ( Get near current terms . ) The $ 799 Mac miniskirt has a dual - core 2.5GHz Core i5 C.P.U. , 4 GB of RAM , a 500 GB grueling cause , and AMD Radeon HD 6630 M discrete graphic . ( Get good current terms . ) You supply your own keyboard , mouse , and show .
Performance : In 2010 , Apple released only one nonserver Mac mini good example , which had a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor , 2 GB of RAM , a 320 GB hard drive , and Nvidia GeForce 320 M integrated art . The 2011 Mac minis are importantly faster than the older model : The $ 599 Mac mini is 32 pct faster , and the $ 799 Mac mini is 61 percent faster .
The Mac miniskirt still lag signifcantly behind the iMacs , but for general - purpose utilization and editing of restrained - sizing picture , the Mac miniskirt will do fine .
Macworld ’s buying advice : The Mac miniskirt continues to be a nice , low-priced computer for new Mac users and shopper on a budget . It has enough power for everyone except professional who postulate top execution . Be sure to shop around for an external disc burner if you really need an optical effort .
take our arrant critical review of the $ 599 and $ 799 Mac mini ( mid-2011 )
iMac
Apple has n’t commute the design of its aluminum all - in - one screen background computer for a few years now , because it ’s a design that works . It elegantly fit the constituent and exhibit into an iconic conformation .
The company updated the melody in May with new processors and graphics chip . The iMacs are usable with 21.5- and 27 - inch widescreen 16:9 displays .
The iMac comes with Apple ’s Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse , but if you order online from the Apple Store , you may change over the keyboard to a pumped version with a numerical computer keyboard , and switch the mouse to an Apple Mouse or a Magic Trackpad , for no extra fee . you may choose for both a Magic Mouse and a Magic Trackpad for $ 69 .
All iMacs come standard with 4 GB of RAM , a SuperDrive , Wi - Fi , Bluetooth , gigabit ethernet , a FaceTime HD camera , four USB 2.0 ports , a FireWire 800 larboard , an SDXC add-in slot , audio frequency in and out jacks , and built - in speakers . A Thunderbolt port is also include .
shape : There are two 21.5 - column inch iMacs . The first 21.5 - inch iMac has a quad - core 2.5GHz Core i5 processor , a 500 GB difficult driving , and a 512 megabyte AMD Radeon HD 6750 M graphics card for $ 1199 . ( Get best current price . ) The 2d 21.5 - column inch iMac has a quadriceps femoris - core 2.7GHz Core i5 processor , a 1 TB hard drive , and a 512 megabyte AMD Radeon HD 6770 M graphic card for $ 1499 . ( Get best current price . ) Each 21.5 - inch iMac has one Thunderbolt interface .
There are two 27 - column inch iMacs . The 27 - in model with a quadriceps femoris - core 2.7GHz Core i5 CPU , a 1 TB hard drive , and a 512 MB AMD Radeon HD 6770 M art card costs $ 1699 . ( Get best current cost . ) Then there ’s a 27 - inch iMac with a quad - core 3.1GHz Core i5 processor , a 1 TB severe driving , and a 1 GB AMD Radeon HD 6970 M graphic carte du jour ; it be $ 1999 . ( Get best current toll . ) Each of the 27 - column inch iMacs fall with two Thunderbolt larboard .
functioning : The four 2011 iMacs are considerably faster than the systems they interchange . The $ 1199 21.5 - inch iMac was near 24 percentage quicker overall than last year ’s entry - level 21.5 - inch iMac , which had a dual - nub 3.06GHz Core i3 CPU . The $ 1699 27 - column inch iMac was 25 percent faster overall than last class ’s 27 - inch iMac with a threefold - core 3.2GHz Core i3 processor . The $ 1999 27 - inch iMac was 16 percent quicker than the previous high - end standard - configuration iMac : a 27 - inch quadriceps femoris - centre 2.8GHz Core i5 model .
If you exclude the $ 4999 12 - substance Mac Pro , the $ 1999 iMac grade as the fastest standard - conformation Mac . In fact , all of the iMacs except for the $ 1199 model contend very well on performance when equate to the Mac Pro .
Macworld ’s purchasing advice : The $ 1199 21.5 - inch 2.5GHz nub i5 iMac offers the most bash for the buck . If you want top functioning , then go for the $ 1999 27 - inch 3.1GHz Core i5 iMac . In fact , if you desire a information processing system for arduous - tariff processing work , consider an iMac over a Mac Pro . The only difference between the $ 1499 iMac and the $ 1699 iMac is screen sizing ; they have the same components .
Read our all over recap of the 21.5- and 27 - inch iMacs ( mid-2011 )
Mac Pro
Oh , the Mac Pro . Apple has n’t update this workstation since August 2010.Rumorhas it that Apple may hold on make the tower Mac . But for now , it ’s still uncommitted , and it ’s still a firm computer for the most demanding users .
The entry - stratum Mac Pro feature a quad - core C.P.U. , while the top shape has 12 processing CORE . In between is a Mac Pro model with eight processing cores . All the standard - configuration models feature a 1 TB ATI Radeon HD 5770 artwork card , a 1 TB heavy ride , four hard - drive bays , four PCI Express expanding upon card slot , four FireWire 800 ports , five USB 2.0 ports , two independent gigabit ethernet port , Wi - Fi , Bluetooth , and audio in / out jacks . The Mac Pro is the only Mac that is not equipped with Thunderbolt .
contour : The first Mac Pro has a quad - core 2.8GHz Xeon Nehalem processor and 3 GB of RAM . It cost $ 2499 . ( Get good current price . ) The 2nd Mac Pro has two musculus quadriceps femoris - center 2.4GHz Xeon Westmere processors and 6 GB of random-access memory for $ 3499 . ( Get best current price . ) The third Mac Pro example has two six - core 2.66GHz Xeon Westmere mainframe ( for a total of 12 substance ) and 6 GB of RAM for $ 4999 .
The Mac Pro has a ton of build - to - lodge options . you could add more RAM — up to the 16 GB limit for each Mac Pro . Apple sate only one of the four toilsome - drive bays with the standard configurations , but gives you the alternative to add more hard drives or solid - State Department thrust , and even to configure them as a foray . you’re able to also bring a second SuperDrive and upgrade the art card . A complete list of options is useable on theMac Pro expert specifications webpage .
functioning : The Mac Pros excel when running software that takes avantage of multiple processing core , such as high - end video - editing programs , 3D graphics applications , image editors , professional audio recording package , and so on .
But with world-wide , mundane tasks ( emailing , WWW browse , and run office lotion ) , the Mac Pro performs on a par with the iMac . In our benchmarking run , the $ 1999 27 - inch iMac with a quadriceps femoris - center 3.1GHz Core i5 central processor in reality outpace both the $ 2499 and the $ 3499 Mac Pros overall ; however , when running applications programme designed to use multiple cores , those two Mac Pros were faster than the $ 1999 iMac .
Macworld ’s buying advice : The Mac Pro is idealistic for the most demanding user , one who uses high - end applications and wants ironware expandability . Yes , the political machine are expensive , but they ’re well worth it for professionals , and they ’ll still be very usable four or five years from now . If you do n’t need expandability but still need fastness , consider a 27 - inch iMac with a quad - core 3.1GHz Core i5 processor .
take our complete review of the musculus quadriceps femoris - core and eight - core Mac Pros
scan our concluded review of the 12 - core Mac Pro
