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Any time you shop for a new laptop, a lot of people are going to tell you the same thing: Get a MacBook.
We don't blame them. The best MacBooks are fantastic laptops, and while they don't afford you the freedom of customization that other brands offer, that's not something everyone will care about. Most of us just want a high-quality laptop that'll get us through work, school, and play with minimal fuss.
Although MacBooks can get a bit pricey — with the latest M4 MacBook Pros reaching into truly frightening territory — they justify the price with Apple's signature design, user-friendly OS, and zippy M-series processors. Plus, you can often find MacBook Air and Pro models on sale (with the cheapest ones priced around $850 to $999).
After testing out Apple's entire lineup of laptops, we're here to help you narrow down the choices and take home the Apple machine of your dreams. So, let's start shopping.
Your first big decision: MacBook Pro vs. Air
With today's current lineup of MacBooks, you really only have two options: The MacBook Pro or the MacBook Air. So, which is right for you?
If you're a creative who regularly pushes your laptop to the limit with demanding video and photo editing applications, you'll want to aim for the Pro. The name of the game with the Pro line is processing power, and the latest iterations are the speediest and most performance-driven yet.
Testing the M1 MacBook Air after its 2020 release.Credit: Zlata Ivleva / Mashable
Testing the super-powered M3 MacBook Pro.Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
If convenience and portability are your top priorities, then the Air will be most suited to you. It's thin and light, and it even comes in a 13-inch option if you'll be lugging it around wherever you go. Plus, ever since the debut of Apple's M Series chips, the MacBook Air has become a pint-sized powerhouse. The most current model utilizes the M3 chip, so you won't be sacrificing all that much in terms of power.
Which generation MacBook is the best?
This will come down to what you're willing to give up in performance, and in some cases, quality. But, whatever you do deem worthy of sacrificing, you'll be paid back in savings. For example, the 2022 model M2 MacBook Air won't come with the latest chip, but you'll still be scoring an impressive laptop that frequently goes on sale for just $849.99. That's compared to the $1,249 price tag of the most recent Air, and the $1,599 asking price of the latest Pro.
A photo from Mashable's test of the M1 MacBook Air.Credit: Zlata Ivleva / Mashable
Testing the M2 MacBook Air.Credit: Molly Flores / Mashable
So, if you've got a lighter budget, don't fret — you can still get a MacBook at an affordable price. Older MacBooks are still very much worthy of your consideration, and they won't cost you nearly as much.
After testing out the latest Apple laptops, we think there are four MacBooks worth buying in 2024. Check out our top picks below, their pros and cons, and who we think would like each model best.
If you've got a decently flexible budget and you prefer the portability of Apple's MacBook Air line, then the new MacBook Air M3 is a huge upgrade from the M1 version (and even the M2). It's undoubtedly the best version of the compact laptop to date. You'll get that thin and light frame, plus plenty of extra power to tackle all of your most demanding tasks. We also appreciate the functionality of the larger screen you'll find in the 15-inch design (all while clocking in much cheaper than a 16-inch MacBook Pro).
Why we picked this:
"As someone who has been using the 15-inch MacBook Air — the one equipped with an M2 chip — it’s long overdue for a performance jump to keep up with increasingly demanding apps," wrote Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon in her review of the just-released M3 Air. During testing, the large bump in processing power showed that it's a justifiable upgrade from the older models, running almost 20 percent faster than the M2 chip of the previous MacBook Air (which just got a permanent price decrease down to $999).
The 2024 Air introduces some new perks as well, including support for up to two external displays (even though the lid needs to be closed for it to work), which is fantastic news for those with an office setup at home. WiFi 6E support is here now, too, and who couldn't use faster internet speeds?
The display, webcam, speakers, and keyboard have all been carried over from the M2 Air, but to us, that's not a knock in any way. All those components were already great, and you know what they say: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The price of the previous generation also made its way to the new Air, which we welcome. If we could make any adjustments, we'd take some more RAM and port diversity.
We tested out the 15-inch version of the M3 MacBook Air, but the laptop also comes in a 13-inch version that starts at $1,099. So, if you're alright with downsizing, you can save some money. (Just note that this design has two fewer speakers than the bigger one.)
The new M4 MacBook Pro is for the people who want all the top-of-the-line specs with zero compromises. While Qualcomm Snapdragon processors have been catching up (and sometimes beating) Apple's M3 chips recently, the M4 once again puts Apple back on top. With Apple's speediest and most powerful processor to date, the new Pro is game to tackle any task — just be ready to drop $1,599 at the very least. We can't say it's the best value when it comes to MacBooks (that goes to our top pick, the M3 Air), but if you're a professional user who needs the absolute best, then the M4 Pro is certainly the MacBook that can do the most.
Why we picked this:
The M4 version of the MacBook Pro is by far the fastest and most powerful laptop that Apple has released to date, so of course it's on our list. Turns out, it's yet another stunner of a computer, receiving high marks from Mashable Tech Editor, Kimberly Gedeon. She wrote that the M4 Pro is "everything we hoped for and more," highlighting the machine's performance, battery life, and audio as some of the best improvements.
"The M4 chip is a monster that must be haunting Windows PCs' dreams," Gedeon said of the new processor. During her testing period, the MacBook Pro blew the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip out of the water when it came to performance benchmarks, and that's really saying something, because those newer Qualcomm processors are some of the best out there. "The 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro continues to have angelic audio that sounds like it's been tuned by a choir of heavenly beings," Gedeon also wrote, maintaining the high bar that MacBook speakers have set in the past.
The M4 MacBook Pro also received high marks for its battery life, which lasts around 17 hours (the best we've ever seen in a MacBook), and the webcam, which got a nice bump in quality from 1080p to 12 MP. As for negatives, there aren't many. We think the lack of Face ID is a glaring oversight — let's put that notch to use, please — and that the price tag is a little bit high. Still, if you're keen on splurging, we say, "Go for it." If you want something that's a touch more affordable, try the M3 MacBook Pro, which is bound to go on deep sale now that the next iteration is available to the public.
Those who want processing power that's comparable to the M3 MacBook Pro and Air (but want to save some extra cash) will find the M2 MacBook Air to be a match made in heaven. The 13-inch model now starts at $999 — less when it's on sale — and although it's not the "best" MacBook in terms of specs, the complete value of the M2 Air leads us to believe that it's the best MacBook for most people.
Why we picked this:
Apple's 2022 iteration of the MacBook Air is no longer the best version of the laptop that you can get, but it's still a great option if you're looking to save a few hundred dollars. Featuring the still-impressive M2 chip — Apple has since introduced the more powerful M3 chip for both the MacBook Pro and Air — the thin and lightweight laptop is still an absolute workhorse, so don't be fooled by its size. Coming in a 13-inch option, the Air scores high marks in the portability department, making it a great on-the-go machine. Tech Reporter Alex Perry went hands-on with the laptop, and gave it a high score not just for its performance, but also for its stellar battery life and a keyboard that's "to die for."
The 1080p FaceTime camera works surprisingly well in low light, and the four-speaker audio system is ready to go for surround sound and Dolby Atmos. The port options and refresh rate are two things we didn't love about the 2023 Air, but it doesn't bring down the overall value of this fantastic laptop all that much.
Like the just-released M4 MacBook Pro, the 2023 version of the Pro is best suited for creatives who regularly run processor-intensive apps like photo and video editing software — and who want to save $150. Its long battery life and high-quality speakers also make it a solid pick for anyone who likes to listen to music during marathon work sessions. If you're not using power-hungry apps every day, we think your money may be better spent on a MacBook Air. Now that the M4 version of the MacBook Pro is out, you may be able to get a better deal on the M3, so keep an eye out.
Why we picked this:
Released in 2023, this MacBook Pro is equipped with the M3 chip, and it's one of the most powerful MacBook models on the market. Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon praised the laptop for its performance and battery life, as it was able to handle heavy usage for around 17 hours. She also noted the display as a highlight, not only for the beauty of the Liquid Retina XDR screen, but also for its size. The 14-inch model is, in our opinion, the perfect median between the MacBook's usual 13-inch and 16-inch options. Gedeon also enjoyed the device's audio system, saying that this MacBook Pro in particular "arguably has the best set of speakers on the laptop market."
Unfortunately, the M3 MacBook Pro is still one of the most expensive MacBooks, so make sure you're ready for the investment before you lock in your choice. But with the release of the M4 MacBook Pro, it'll probably be easier to get the M3 at a discount, which is in important note to keep in mind. The selection of ports is also pretty underwhelming on this model — you'll have to be willing to switch over to a mostly-USB-C setup.
The 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro isn't for everyone — even though at one point in time, it was among the elite. For some, it'll just be too much of a sacrifice to go back so far in the MacBook timeline, but for those who loved the 13-inch Pro and never want to give it up, being able to score a refurb for around $550 is as good a deal as they come.
Why we picked this:
It was a sad day when Apple killed the 13-inch MacBook Pro, but luckily, you can still get one as long as you're fine with buying a refurbished model. "Refurbished" or "renewed" may be dirty words to some, but if you're not that concerned with always having the latest and greatest (and most expensive), it's definitely an option that's worth exploring. Case in point: You can snag a refurbished 13-inch MacBook Pro for under $600 at Amazon.
If you're nostalgic for this now discontinued (but beloved) MacBook Pro model, you'll be happy to know that it's still a halfway decent computer. Now, you'll be going back to a time before the M1 chip existed, so be prepared to give up quite a bit of processing power — although, we're willing to bet that isn't your biggest worry if you're shopping for refurbished MacBook Pros. You'll also take a big hit in battery life and webcam quality. But while MacBooks have since evolved, you'll still get satisfactory performance and a generous amount of storage for regular use. And Butterfly Keyboard haters can rejoice, because this model includes the fan-favorite Magic Keyboard.
The Good
The last of the 13-inch MacBook Pros
Still holds up in performance, at least for regular use
Mashable staff subjected all of the MacBooks on this list to varying degrees of hands-on testing. At minimum, this involved inspecting their build quality and using them for a variety of real-world tasks for several weeks at a time. This included working in different kinds of documents, checking emails, watching videos, taking photos on their webcams, participating in video calls, listening to music (via Spotify), playing games (if possible), and experimenting with any unique software features or use cases they claimed to support.
Additionally, most of the MacBooks featured here were made to run industry-standard benchmark software. We run these benchmarks because they replicate real-world tasks to produce scores we can use to easily compare different laptops' performance. We recently started implementing these benchmarks in our testing, and you can expect to see them in all of our new laptop reviews going forward.
Performance benchmarks
We evaluate a laptop's overall performance by running the appropriate version of Primate Labs' Geekbench 6. (That would be macOS for MacBooks; Windows for Windows laptops, including gaming laptops; and Android for Chromebooks.) This test measures CPU performance in a handful of common tasks, and we record the resulting multi-core score. The higher the score, the better.
Battery life benchmarks
We look to see about 11 to 12 hours of battery life in the MacBooks we test, with 15-plus hours being exceptional, and 9 to 10 hours in the Windows laptops we review, with 12+ hours being ideal. Gaming laptops are a different story: They only need to last at least 2 hours per charge to get our approval, earning extra brownie points for reaching the 4-hour mark. Meanwhile, 8 hours is our baseline for Chromebooks, but 9 to 10 hours is best.
We've assessed laptops' stamina a couple different ways in the past. To standardize our battery life testing methodology, we conduct a video rundown test on MacBook and Windows laptops that involves playing a looped 1080p version of Tears of Steel, a short open-source Blender movie, at 50 percent brightness.
Final thoughts
After evaluating a laptop's hands-on performance and benchmark testing results, we make our final recommendations based on whether we think they offer a good overall value for the money. A too-expensive laptop will sometimes get a pass if we think it looks and works so great that it's worth the trouble of finding it on sale.
It bears mentioning that these aren't the only MacBooks we've tried — we're constantly testing and assessing new models across different categories, and many don't make the final cut. With that in mind, you can expect this guide to evolve on a pretty continuous basis. We're always on the lookout for new top contenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
The good news is that there's never really a bad time to buy a MacBook, especially if you're shopping for a previous-generation model with the M2 or M1 chip. Those tend to go on sale consistently at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart for at least $150 off, if not more. Newer MacBook models aren't much harder to find at a discount at the very same retailers depending on the configuration you choose.
But to us, the best time to buy a MacBook is definitely during a big sale event like Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday. That's where you'll get the real bargains on coveted Apple laptops, as well as other Apple devices. You can often find discounts any time a new model is introduced, too — it almost always comes with a price cut to the previous-gen model, which we just saw with the M3 MacBook Air and Pro.
Previous versions of this guide featured the M1 Macbook Air, originally released in 2020. It takes a special laptop to earn our top recommendation four years running. However, with the release of the M3 MacBook Air in 2024, the M1 model has finally been retired. If you can find this laptop in the wild (as of this writing, Walmart still has the M1 in stock), we still recommend buying it, but we've removed it. RIP, legend.
It's all up to your personal preference, but if you're still not sure, consider what you'll be using your MacBook for. Will you be taking it on the go and using it during travel? Then opt for a 13-inch or 14-inch model. If you're going to be doing photo and video editing, or even using it often to watch entertainment, you'll want to go for a 15- or 16-inch MacBook. To us, the smaller MacBook Pro sits at a great median point of 14 inches.
It depends on what apps you'll be running most often, but the newer MacBooks — the M4 Pro, M3 Pro, and M3 Air — will have the best battery life — about 17 to 18 hours per charge. Go back any further, and you'll be sacrificing some juice, no doubt.
If you want your laptop to be able to handle multiple demanding tasks at once, we recommend getting a model with 16GB of RAM. This will cost you a bit more, as MacBooks typically start at 8GB, but you'll notice the difference. When it comes to storage, 256GB is enough for most people, especially if you take advantage of cloud storage options. For professionals that regularly deal with large files, then 512GB is a good starting point.
The latest MacBook Pro with the M4 chip is the most recent Apple laptop release, and it packs in some of the best specs yet, like processing power that's comparable to a Mac desktop and more. With a starting price of $1,599.99, it's actually a pretty good bang for your buck, and we've even started seeing them go on sale at Best Buy.
MacBooks are kind of in a league of their own when it comes to laptop shopping, but if your goal is to buy from a different brand and maintain that MacBook-esque quality, you're actually not completely out of luck.
If you're shopping for a gaming laptop and want something reminiscent of a MacBook, you can definitely narrow your search down to the Razer Blade 14 or Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. The former has some pretty incredible battery life for a gaming laptop, and the latter is a big winner when it comes to display and chassis design.
We have a bunch of other great laptop guides that go beyond Apple's popular array of products. Take a look — we're confident you'll end up finding something you love.
Dylan Haas is a Lead Shopping Reporter for Mashable, where he covers all things gaming, pets, fitness, sleep, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day. Before joining the team at Mashable, Dylan received a B.A. in Communications from Pace University and contributed to publications like Paste Magazine, Bandsintown, and others following a brief stint as a marketing and management assistant in the music industry.
When he's not writing or testing products, you can find Dylan playing lots of video games, working out, spending time with loved ones (especially his dog, Stevie), or watching reality TV. Follow him on X at @iamdylanhaas, or send him an email at [email protected].
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