Key Points
- Our choice for the #1 Best Overall MacBook is the MacBook Air M2 15”.
- All of the other MacBooks on the list are suitable for a variety of purposes and are ideal for everything from studying to work.
- These best MacBooks offer a great combination of lightness and power so you can get everything done on the go.
- With any of these MacBooks, you get a reliable, powerful, accurate, lightweight, and smooth operating experience.
- Choosing the right MacBook for you comes down to specs, size, battery life, and purpose.
There are only two MacBook models but there are plenty of differences in specs and features. When you decide to buy a new MacBook, you have a choice of about 5 similar laptops. The choice itself can be a bit difficult if you don’t know much about technology because the specs can look quite similar.
Below, you’ll find not only the 5 best MacBooks you can buy today but also a guide on what to look for when buying a new MacBook. Let’s break it down!
Just take a look at our roundup of the 5 best MacBooks you can buy today:
- Best Overall: MacBook Air M2 15”
- Best for Professionals: MacBook Pro M2 Max 16”
- Best for Students: MacBook Pro M2 13”
- Best Budget-Friendly: MacBook Air M1 13”
- Best for Portability: MacBook Air M2 13”
#1 Best Overall MacBook: MacBook Air M2 15”
- M2 chip, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and up to 24 GB of unified memory
- 15.3" Liquid Retina display
- 500 nits of brightness, P3 wide color, and support for one billion colors
- 256 GB SSD storage
- 1080p FaceTime HD camera and three-mic array
- Features a fanless design that runs completely silent
The MacBook Air M2 15” is the most powerful model in the Air lineup and it’s a blend of power and lightness — reminiscent of the Air’s design.
In terms of price, it is much cheaper than the MacBook Pro, but in terms of features, it can keep up with the entry-level MacBook Pro models at any time. The Air model is based on Apple’s M2 chip and it has 8 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores. It also has 24GB of unified memory so it can handle even the most demanding tasks with ease.
The 15” model is the perfect size for a large screen without sacrificing the portability of the laptop. Weighing just 3.3 pounds and with up to 18 hours of battery life, the MacBook Air M2 15” is the best MacBook on the market because it packs a little bit of every MacBook laptop into it, making it the most versatile laptop on the market.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It’s equipped with an M2 chip | A model with 512GB storage space is unreasonably pricier |
| Liquid Retina display | |
| Decent and efficient storage space |
Check out the MacBook Air M2 15” on Amazon.
Best for Professionals: MacBook Pro M2 Max 16”
- 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR display
- M2 Max chip
- 12-core CPU, 30-core GPU
- 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD
- Battery life: 18hrs
If you’re looking for an absolute workhorse that comes in the form of a slim and decently light notebook, the MacBook Pro M2 Max 16” is the right pick.
The MacBook Pro M2 Max 16” is the most powerful MacBook laptop on the market and is for those who need as much power as possible. Even though it is the most expensive MacBook, its price tag is justified by Apple’s best chip, the M2 Max. With this chip, the notebook has 12 CPU cores and 30 GPU cores, making it an ideal notebook for video editing, graphic design, 3D modeling, and more.
It’s also the MacBook with the longest battery life, lasting up to 22 hours on a full charge. On top of that, it’s also the largest MacBook with a 16” display that is more than enough for important work on the go without needing an external monitor.
It’s also worth mentioning that it’s the heaviest MacBook on the market, weighing in at 4.7 pounds, but it’s portable enough.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It’s the biggest MacBook model. | It’s very expensive for average laptop users. |
| It features the highest specification among all other MacBook models. | It is a bit heavy at 4.7 lbs. |
| Longest battery life |
Check out the MacBook Pro M2 Max 16” on Amazon.
Best for Students: MacBook Pro M2 13”
- m2 chip
- 13" display
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- Space Gray
The MacBook Pro M2 13” is a compact Pro model that features Apple’s M2 chip and comes at a relatively affordable price, making it an ideal choice for students (and professionals).
The 13″ version of the MacBook Pro M2 features a powerful M2 chip and has 8 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores. This chipset is more than enough to easily take care of demanding work. Weighing about 3 lbs and measuring 13”, you can easily carry the MacBook Pro M2 in a backpack to school or work without it weighing you down.
If you’re into graphic design or video work, you can get the most out of Apple’s M2 chip without spending more money on a better configuration, unless you’re a true professional. With a battery that lasts up to 20 hours on a full charge, reliability is guaranteed.
As with any other MacBook, security is ensured by the Touch ID feature, but it’s important to know that this MacBook Pro comes with a Touch Bar that can help you stay productive with a whole host of additional keyboard shortcuts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great balance of power and portability | Upgrading RAM and storage space to a higher-spec model costs unreasonably more |
| Long battery life is ideal for studying or working remotely | |
| Includes Touch Bar |
Check out the MacBook Pro M2 13” on Amazon.
Best Budget-Friendly: MacBook Air M1 13”
If you’re on a budget and need a reliable laptop that’s ready to go and can still meet various needs, the MacBook Air M1 13” is the ideal laptop.
The MacBook Air M1 13” is the cheapest MacBook laptop you’ll find on the market, but it’s very good and can almost compete with the M2-chip MacBook laptops. It has 8 CPU cores and 7 GPU cores, which still gives it plenty of flexibility for demanding work on the go.
With a battery life of up to 18 hours on a full charge and weighing about 2.8 pounds, it’s a versatile entry-level laptop for those looking to make the switch to Apple. Even though it is an entry-level Apple laptop, it can beat many other Windows laptops.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It has the most affordable price among all MacBook laptops. | Only available in 3 color options |
| Features Apple’s M-chip | |
| Lightweight and very portable |
Check out the MacBook Air M1 13” on Amazon.
Best for Portability: MacBook Air M2 13”
- M2 chip
- 13-inch
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD storage
- Space Gray
The most portable and versatile MacBook laptop is the MacBook Air M2 13” since it features a powerful M2 chip and it integrates the perks of the Air design, weighing only about 2.7 pounds.
Being the lightest MacBook laptop on the market, its specifications place it in the mid-range of Air models and it is equipped with the M2 chip with 8 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores. With a battery life of up to 18 hours on a full charge and a thin design with a 13” screen, portability is the biggest perk of this MacBook.
Combined with a long-lasting battery that lasts 18 hours, the Air M2 13” is a compact and powerful notebook made for on-the-go use.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The lightest MacBook laptop on the market | The smallest screen of all MacBook models |
| Features the M2 chip | |
| Great power-size ratio |
Check out the MacBook Air M2 13” on Amazon.
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How to Pick the Best MacBook: Step-by-Step
Even though all MacBook models look similar, it’s important to pay attention to details.
- Pro vs. Air model
- Size and specifications
- Intended use
- Touch Bar
Let’s break down these factors to help you choose.
Pro vs. Air Model
The Pro models are known as slightly chunkier but much more powerful MacBooks. They’re also the biggest laptop you can get since there’s a 16” version. The Air models are a bit weaker in features, but they’re much more portable. Although you can easily take the MacBook Pro models with you wherever you go, you can save some money with the Air model if you don’t have higher demands.
Size and Specifications
When you’re deciding on a model, what matters the most is the size you want. These days, MacBooks come in 13” to 16” sizes and you can choose the size that best fits your needs. If you don’t need a bigger screen, you can settle for a 13” or 14” model, while 15” and 16” are much larger MacBooks. A larger MacBook is heavier and bulkier to carry around, but a bigger size also comes with better specs and a bigger battery, which translates into longer battery life.
Intended Use
You can figure out which MacBook best fits your needs by thinking about what you want to accomplish by buying a new laptop. If you need a laptop that can handle heavy and demanding software, the Pro model with at least an M2 Pro chip is a good choice. But if you do lighter work and are more concerned with versatility, a MacBook Air model with an M1 chip is more than adequate.
Touch Bar
The Touch Bar is a digital line in place of the top row of keys, which may not be a good fit for some laptop users but is a productivity perk for others. It’s one of those features that costs extra and doesn’t come standard on the latest MacBook models, but you can still get it if you find it a good fit for your needs.
What to Know Before Buying the Best MacBook
The latest models are equipped with Apple’s chipset, referred to as the M1 or the M2, with the M2 coming in the M2 Pro and the M2 Max versions. These chips replaced the Intel processors that Apple relied on for many years. As a result, the latest MacBooks are the most powerful and fastest MacBooks on the market and the investment is worth it because such a chipset improves the power and performance.
Also, there is a minimal price difference between certain models like the Air M1 13” and the Air M2 13”. So, unless you are on a tight budget, it is advisable to spend only $100 or $200 more for a better version of Apple’s chipset.
Using the Best MacBook: What It’s Like
If you’ve never used a MacBook and macOS before, you’ll have to get used to the operating system and the many keyboard shortcuts. But even if you’ve used a MacBook before, you’ll notice a big difference in speed and efficiency thanks to Apple’s new chipset that replaces the previous Intel configurations.
A better Retina display and the redesigned keyboard, which eliminates all the shortcomings and drawbacks of the butterfly keyboard, make MacBook laptops even more user-friendly without having to worry about reliability.
A lighter battery than ever before, yet one that lasts longer, makes the latest MacBook models more versatile and even more suitable for all sorts of needs.
Summary Table
| Rank | MacBook Model | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | MacBook Air M2 15â | M2 chip, 24GB of unified memory, 18 hours of battery life |
| #2 | MacBook Pro M2 Max 16â | M2 Max chip, 22 hours of battery life, 16â display |
| #3 | MacBook Pro M2 13â | M2 chip, 20 hours of battery life, Touch Bar |
| #4 | MacBook Air M1 13â | M1 chip, 18 hours of battery life, lightweight |
| #5 | MacBook Air M2 13â | M2 chip, 18 hours of battery life, lightweight |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©19 STUDIO/Shutterstock.com.
