Trying to find the best MacBook for you? This buyer’s guide will help you navigate which Apple laptop fits you best. Ever since Apple started making their own processors a few years ago, the tech company has been making some of the best laptops for a wider range of users.
Whether you’re a casual user or an advanced professional, or if you’re planning to make the switch from Microsoft Windows to macOS, Apple now makes MacBooks that offer more speed and more power in a slim and sleek design with different display sizes in various color options. It may be tricky to figure out the best Apple laptop for yourself, but we’re here to guide you in the right direction.
Below are the best MacBook models to buy in 2023, or you can take a look at some of the best MacBook alternatives for additional options.
The Best MacBooks to Buy Right Now
- MacBook Air (2022) with 13.6-inch display and M2 processor (Best Overall)
- MacBook Air (2020) with 13.3-inch display and M1 processor (Best Budget)
- MacBook Pro (2022) with 13.3-inch display and M2 processor (Best for Multitasking)
- MacBook Pro (2023) with 14.2-inch display and M2 Pro processor (Best for Creative Pros)
- MacBook Pro (2023) with 14.2-inch display and M2 Max processor (Best for Video Editing)
- MacBook Pro (2023) with 16.2-inch display and M2 Pro processor (Best Battery Life)
- MacBook Pro (2023) with 16.2-inch display and M2 Max processor (Best Powerhouse)
Apple MacBook Air (2022)
Best Overall
If you’re looking for a MacBook for casual everyday use, then the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is one of the best laptops from Apple for web browsing, watching YouTube and Netflix, office productivity, and more. This is all thanks to its fast M2 processor, sleek and lightweight design at 2.7 pounds, vivid 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, and long battery life of up to 18 hours per charge. It also comes with two USB-C ports (Thunderbolt 3), a dedicated MagSafe 3 charging port, a headphone jack, and a 1080p HD webcam for pristine video calls.
The laptop starts at $1,199—which is a bit hefty compared to previous models of the MacBook Air—but its new chip set, larger display, and upgraded webcam make it worth the price. It comes in two variants with 256GB and 512GB of SSD (Solid State Drive) storage, and comes in four fun colors—including Silver, Midnight, Space Gray, and Starlight.
Apple MacBook Air (2020)
Best Budget
Looking for a wallet-friendly laptop? Starting at $999 (sometimes as low as $799 when it’s on sale), the MacBook Air (2020) is Apple’s previous model that’s still snappy with the M1 processor built inside.
Don’t let its low price fool you, this laptop is a speedy machine. In fact, it’s the primary laptop for the writer of this article! It features a 13.3-inch Retina display, a thin design, two USB-C ports (used both for charging and peripherals), 8GB of memory with 256GB of SSD storage, and a long up to 18-hour battery life. The laptop also comes in three colors: Space Gray, Gold, and Silver.
If you’re looking for an Apple MacBook for less than $1,000, then it’s right here.
Apple MacBook Pro (2022)
Best for Multitasking
The Apple MacBook Pro (2022) sits at the cross section of power and portability with its M2 processor and lightweight design at just three pounds. It’s ideal for professionals who need to multitask on the fly, especially with its built-in Touch Bar that changes its functions and inputs based on the app that you’re using. While the Touch Bar is divisive among users, it’s still one of the best ways to customize your experience when multitasking and switching between apps. In fact, this MacBook Pro is the only model that includes it.
Apple MacBook Pro (2023)
Best for Creative Pros
Starting at $1,999, the Apple MacBook Pro (2023) is ideal for multitasking and heavy workloads. It features a brilliant 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, M2 Pro processor for fast-switching between loads of different apps, and various ports—including three USB-C (Thunderbolt 4) ports, one HDMI port, one SDXC card reader, one MagSafe 3 port for charging, and headphone jack—for all sorts of peripherals like external hard drives and 4K monitors.
From editing photos and transcoding videos, this MacBook Pro—which comes in two colors: Silver and Space Gray—is a workhorse and fantastic for creative professionals. It just quickly gets the job done again and again with virtually no hiccups.
Apple MacBook Pro (2023)
Best for Video Editing
For video editors who want to be nimble on-the-go, the new Apple MacBook Pro (2023) is the best of the best laptops for video production with its M2 Max processor, a sizable 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, ProMotion settings with refresh rates up to buttery smooth 120Hz, and long-lasting battery life of up to 18 hours per charge.
This laptop comes with a wide range of ports for video editing, including three USB-C ports (Thunderbolt 4), one HDMI port, one MagSafe 3 charging port, one SDXC card reader for fast uploads from camera-to-laptop, and a headphone jack. Just think of it as a portable video editing suite that fits in a backpack.
Meanwhile, the MacBook Pro (2023) also comes in two colors: silver and Space Gray.
Apple MacBook Pro (2023)
Best Battery Life
If battery life is the most important thing, then the Apple MacBook Pro (2023) with M2 Pro processor is for you. Not only does it come with a vibrant 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and multiple ports for productivity—including three USB-C ports (Thunderbolt 4), one HDMI port, one MagSafe 3 charging port, one SDXC card reader, and a headphone jack—it also features up to a whopping 22 hours of battery life to get you through the workday and then some. That’s nearly a full day of use per charge.
If you really want to pull an all-nighter, this Apple laptop has you covered. It comes in two colors: Silver and Space Gray.
Apple MacBook Pro (2023)
Best Powerhouse
Want the ultimate MacBook? The Apple MacBook Pro (2023)—with its massive 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, powerful M2 Max processor, and 32GB of memory and 1TB of SSD storage—can handle just about anything you can throw at it. In fact, it’s so powerful that it can support three monitors with 6K resolution at 60Hz each (via USB-C) and another monitor with 4K resolution at 144Hz (via HDMI). That’s up to four external displays at the same time.
However, this beast of a laptop doesn’t come cheap. It starts at $3,350, but for Apple’s most high-octane and fastest MacBook, it could be something to consider for just the sheer power of it. The MacBook Pro comes in two colors: Silver and Space Gray.
What to Look for in an Apple MacBook
Although it’s a bit overwhelming to pick the best Apple MacBook, using one is pretty much the same across models. One of the best things about the laptop is that they all run the most current version of macOS (right now, it’s macOS Ventura). This means each model will run as smoothly and elegantly as possible with the latest security updates. However, there are certain key differences that make selecting the best MacBook for you a little tough to figure out. Here’s what to look for in a MacBook in 2023.
First and foremost, you should really think about what you’re going to use the MacBook for. If you want a MacBook for video editing or photo editing, then go with the MacBook Pro (2023) for its power and larger display. If you’re a writer, then go with the MacBook Air (2022) for its speed and portability. If you’re on a budget, then go with the MacBook Air (2020) for its low price.
Processing Power
You really get into the weeds when it comes to processing power. Apple offers four different chipsets in their MacBooks: M1, M2, M2 Pro, and M2 Max. Released in 2020, the M1 chip is the tech company’s first chipset that’s designed in-house. It’s speedy and efficient, but it’s still a few years old. The next generation chip is the M2, which is faster and zippier. If you want a step up in power, the tech company also has the M2 Pro and M2 Max chipsets, which are reserved for the 2023 MacBook Pro models. These chips are more powerful with an extended battery life of up to 22 hours.
Size
Additionally, size matters when it comes to the MacBook. Apple offers two sizes for the MacBook Air—a 13.3-inch display for the older MacBook Air and a slightly larger 13.6-inch “notch-style” display (which is similar to the Apple iPhone 14) for the newer Air model. As for the MacBook Pros, there are three options: 13.3-inch, 14.2-inch, and 16.2-inch displays—the latter two are also “notch-style.”
Price
In terms of pricing, MacBooks start at $999 (sometimes as low as $799, if it’s on sale) with the M1 MacBook Air (2020) and can go all the way up to a whopping $6,499 with the M2 Max MacBook Pro (2023) for a model with a 16.2-inch display, 96GB of memory, and 8TB of SSD storage.
The most important thing to look out for when picking a MacBook is how you’re going to use it. For most people, the MacBook Air (2022) is the best choice because it features a modern and lightweight design, the current M2 processor, a webcam with sharp and crisp picture quality, and a long battery life. If you want more power, then step up to the MacBook Pro (2023). But whichever MacBook you pick up, you’ll have a great user experience—thanks to the latest macOS Ventura software.
Are MacBooks Good for Gaming?
The main draw of a MacBook is that they are excellent laptops for work and productivity. So while you can play some games on a Mac, that doesn't mean that they were built for gaming. Despite the raw power many of these laptops possess, they are not yet the best options for gaming. Check out our guide to the best gaming laptop for better options.
source https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-macbooks-to-buy