If you’re looking for an Apple MacBook, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll help you decide which is best for your needs.

When hunting for your next Apple laptop, the first thing to decide is which of the two lines you want to go down, the professional-focused MacBook Pro or entry-level MacBook Air. From there, you can then start looking at the different configurations and prices.

We’ve rounded up everything from the MacBook Air (M1) to the 16-inch MacBook Pro (M2), to help you work out what each model offers, how much they cost, how they can be configured and what their pros and cons are.

In short, it’s an interesting and exciting time to buy a MacBook. Apple made the transition to its own processors – Apple Silicon – and away from Intel in 2020, and the devices running the M chips are seriously powerful. The company has also corrected many of the widely acknowledged mistakes it’s brought to the line over the last half-decade, such as the reintroduction of ports.

Read on to find out which Apple laptop is the one for you.

Best Apple MacBook: Summary

Apple MacBook Air

The MacBook Air (M1) is the cheapest MacBook available, and a great pick for most everyday users. It’s not the most powerful model available but it is compact and highly portable. In 2022, Apple updated the MacBook Air with the MacBook Air (M2) which has a different design and more power. It is also a touch lighter, with a slightly larger but notched display. The M2 MacBook Air is a fantastic device with an exceptional battery, but it’s also more expensive than the M1 model, naturally.

Apple MacBook Pro

The MacBook Pro is a more substantial MacBook compared to the MacBook Air and will suit those that require more performance, such as content creators and video editors. There are several models available, including the MacBook Pro 13-inch with the M2 chip that is very similar to the MacBook Air (M2) in terms of price, performance and specs, as well as the more recent – and more powerful – MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 16-inch, both of which run the M2 Pro or M2 Max chips. There’s also the M1 2020 MacBook Pro (13-in), which is still available and marks the entry point for the MacBook Pro models with Apple Silicon.

Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

The Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) has a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display in its 304.1 x 113 x 21.5mm body. It weighs just 1.24kg, making it lovely and portable, whilst under the hood, you’ll find the very powerful M2 chip. The MacBook Air has a design very similar to the MacBook Pro, though with a couple less ports, offering MagSafe charging, along with two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports and a 3.5mm audio jack.

It promises a battery life of up to 18 hours, though we’ve managed plenty more hours than that performing various tasks. Its battery life is superb and while the speakers aren’t as powerful as the MacBook Pro models, the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is a truly fantastic machine overall. The base model has up to 8GB of RAM, configurable up to 16GB or 24GB, while there’s 256GB SSD, configurable up to 512GB, 1TB or 2TB.

Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

The Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is the cheapest way to get your hands on a MacBook, and while it offers an older design compared to the 2022 MacBook Air model, it’s still a great design (if you ignore the large bezels around the display). Speaking of displays, there’s a 13.3-inch screen within its 304 x 212 x 41-161mm body and the M1 MacBook Air weighs just 1.29kg, which although makes it heavier than the newer model, it’s still very light and portable.

There are two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, one Thunderbolt 3 port and a 3.5mm audio jack, while the battery promise is 15 hours, and it’s solid in its performance. The M1 chip brings plenty of power too, with 8GB of RAM in the base model, configurable up to 16GB, and 256GB SSD, configurable up to 512GB, 1TB or 2TB. Students, teachers and professionals who don’t have task-heavy apps and platforms to work on will be very well catered for with this model.

Apple MacBook Pro, 13.3-inch (M2, 2022)

The MacBook Pro (M2, 2022) launched alongside the redesigned MacBook Air (M2, 2022) and while it didn’t get a face lift – featuring the same design as the 2020 MacBook Pro model with Touch Bar and minimal ports – it did get a performance boost to the M2 chip, which is excellent in use. RAM is configurable from 8GB to 24GB, with SSD options from 256GB to 2TB.

The 156 x 304.1 x 212.4mm body weighs 1.4kg and features a 13.3-inch display with 500nits max brightness – quite a bit less than the latest MacBook Pro models below. There’s also no ProMotion on board, and the FaceTime HD camera is 720p compared to the 1080p sensor on the 2021 MacBook Pro models, whilst also offering less ports. Consider this model if your budget absolutely doesn’t allow for the MacBook Pro (M2 Pro, 2021), you really want the Touch Bar or you really need a fan so the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) isn’t an option. It’s one of the cheapest MacBook Pro models offered by Apple, though it’s not the best value.

Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M2 Pro/Max, 2023)

The 14-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro/Max, 2023) is one of the latest models in the Pro lineup, delivering exceptional performance, a great design and brilliant battery. If you’re a heavy duty user and you want the best Apple has to offer, the MacBook Pro (M2 Pro/Max) is exactly that.

The 155 x 312.6 x 221.1mm body weighs 1.6kg and features a stunning 14.2-inch XDR display with a brightness up to 1600nits and ProMotion. It can be configured with the M2 Pro chip or the M2 Max chip, with the latter offering up to a 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU, along with up to 96GB RAM and storage options up to 8TB. There’s so much power here, most people will struggle to test the full capabilities of the MacBook Pro (M2 Pro/Max, 2023).

Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M2 Pro/Max, 2023)

The 16-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro/Max) is pretty much identical to its smaller 14-inch sibling above, though it of course offers a larger chassis, larger screen and a larger battery. The 168 x 355.7 x 248.1mm body weighs 2.1kg, so it’s almost double the weight of the MacBook Air (M2, 2022). There’s a huge – and excellent – 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display on board with a notch at the top offering a 1080p camera and there’s a maximum 1600nits brightness on board too.

Under the hood, like the 14-inch model, there’s the option of the M2 Pro and M2 Max processors – both of which deliver an insane amount of power. The M2 Max chip is configurable up to 12-core CPU and up to 38-core GPU, along with up to 96GB RAM and 8TB SSD. You’ll of course pay the price for the upgrades, and you’ll pay a premium for the larger screen too but this is a laptop that won’t disappoint, even if your wallet won’t thank you.

Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M1 Pro/Max, 2021)

The MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1 Pro/Max, 2021) model might be a couple of years old and succeeded by the MacBook Pro 14-inch (m2 Pro/Max, 2023) models but it’s still well worthy of consideration. The M1 Pro and M1 Max chips offering a maximum 10-core CPU and 32-core GPU are very powerful and deliver sterling performance, even two years on, while you get a very similar design to the 2023 models, which means ports! There’s an SDXC slot, HDMI port, MagSafe charging and three USB-C ports.

The 155 x 312.6 x 221.2mm body weighs 1.5kg and it features a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion. There’s a lovely super slim bezel around the screen with a notch at the top, housing an upgraded 1080p FaceTime HD camera. The M1 Max chip can be configured with a maximum of 64GB RAM, with storage ranging between 512GB to a whopping 8TB, but, as you would expect, the price tag very quickly starts to rise with these upgrades.

Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M1 Pro/Max, 2021)

You’re getting pretty much an identical package to the 14-inch MacBook Pro model detailed above here in the MacBook Pro 16-inch (M2 Pro/Max, 2021), except for an improved battery life and a larger display, with a 16.2-inch screen on board here. The body is larger too at 168 x 355.7 x 248.1mm – and heavier at 2.1kg – but you get the same design and ports as the smaller model.

Both the M1 Pro chip and M1 Max chip deliver excellent performance, despite no longer being the latest, and like the 14-inch model, there’s the same choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB (only with M1 Max) RAM, as well as the choice to go all the way from a 512GB SSD to an 8TB option. You’ll of course pay more for the larger display and battery compared to the 14-inch model, but if want plenty of power and a big screen but the 2023 models are just too much, this is an excellent option.

Apple MacBook Pro, 13-inch (M1, 2020)

The issue for this MacBook Pro (M1, 2020) is that it costs around the same as the MacBook Air (M2, 2022), which is more powerful and a really great option, whilst also offering less ports than the 2021 MacBook Pro models and an inferior display. There’s a 13.3-inch screen within the 156 x 304.1 x 212mm body that weighs 1.4kg and you’ll find just two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack so you’ll be needing some adapters.

Like the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022), this machine retains Apple’s Touch Bar, though it takes a slight step down in performance, with the M1 chip under the hood in place of the M2. The onboard SSD can be upgraded anywhere from the standard 256GB up to 2TB, though RAM is capped at 16GB. The 2020 MacBook Pro is still a great machine – particularly, for those who want a laptop for mixed professional use and occasional personal use – but we would recommend considering the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) unless you really need a fan.