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If you're looking to invest in a new laptop for yourself or as a very generous gift, look no further than the Macbook. From the entry-level MacBook Air all the way to the range-topping MacBook Pro, all of Apple's notebooks today have an elegant design, exceptional craftsmanship, and best-in-class hardware specs and battery life. Every new MacBook that Apple offers rocks a chip that delivers an all-around performance and battery endurance that their PC and Chromebook rivals simply can’t match.
MacBooks have always been stellar products, and they just keep getting better. The tech behemoth kicked off 2023 by refreshing the range-topping 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros with even more powerful M2 Pro and M2 Max chips.
The big-screen Pros joined the thoroughly redesigned MacBook Air and the refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro that arrived in mid-2022 with the Apple M2 chips on board. This means that save for the entry-level, M1-toting MacBook Air, all new MacBooks feature upgraded versions of Apple’s SoC (system-on-chip).
MacBooks pack a top-tier display, an awesome Magic Keyboard with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and a best-in-class trackpad with Force Touch. Powered by macOS, every new MacBook offers an intuitive and secure platform with an abundant selection of apps and many years’ worth of free updates. Every MacBook is also backed by an amazing selection of accessories.
But how do you know which MacBook is best for your needs? We spent weeks testing every member of the MacBook lineup, so we can help you choose the right one for your needs — from the budget-friendly Air to the unstoppable Pro with an M1 Max chip.
What to Consider
Chip
Regardless of your budget and choice, you’ll get a laptop with more graphics, processing power, and everyday speed than any similarly priced alternative without an Apple logo. All Apple chips utilize an advanced 5-nanometer architecture, which allows them to pack billions of transistors into a minuscule bit, meaning its cutting-edge tech is powerful and energy-efficient in equal measure, allowing you to get a full day of use. For comparison, a range-topping Intel laptop chip that utilizes 7-nanometer lithography can't offer the same combination of high power and low energy consumption.
The entry-level MacBook Air and Pro versions are overall perfect for everyday use, school projects, and work. These are the laptops that most upgraders looking for a good all-around laptop should consider. The products are also foolproof gift options for students or anyone else in need of a new MacBook.
If you need more power to breeze through demanding tasks such as editing high-resolution photos and video, you should consider a Macbook with a bigger screen, such as the 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 Pro and M2 Max chip. The last-mentioned bits give them higher memory bandwidth and more GPU cores than their M1 and M2 siblings.
Display
Every MacBook has a sharp Retina display with True Tone technology, ensuring consistently accurate color reproduction in any lighting. There are three screen size options to choose from — a 13-, 14-, or 16-inch display.
Choosing the most portable option will help you decide whether a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro is best for you. In my experience, MacBooks with a 13-inch screen are best for use on the go (e.g., in a coffee shop, a classroom, etc.). The 14-inch MacBook Pro offers a good balance between hardware oomph and portability, while the 16-inch version can deliver a desktop-grade experience anywhere you take it.
It is important to note that the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models have better Liquid Retina XDR displays with mini-LED backlighting and higher maximum brightness. Additionally, these vibrant displays offer ProMotion tech with a higher refresh rate for more fluid interactions.
Other Hardware Bits
Additional specs such as memory and storage capacity and connectivity options (wired and wireless ) are also important to consider. Unlike many PC laptops, MacBooks are not upgradeable, so you’ll have to ensure your pick can meet your needs long after purchasing it.
I recommend that you order a variant with ample RAM and storage. Thankfully, unless you are a heavy multitasker, you will find the 8GB of onboard RAM and 256GB of storage in the entry-level MacBook Air and Pro versions plenty sufficient.
When it comes to wireless connectivity, you should know that, for the time being, Wi-Fi 6 — today’s most futureproof standard — is available on all new MacBooks. Every MacBook iteration has a pair or a quartet of Thunderbolt-compatible USB-C ports, as well as up-to-date Bluetooth 5.0 (and higher) connectivity. The last-mentioned feature guarantees a stable connection with the latest wireless earbuds, headphones, and speakers.
Spending more on your next MacBook will give you more graphics and processing power, more RAM for next-level multitasking, and more storage. Learn more about the best MacBooks available today and find the best one for your needs below.
Best Overall
Apple MacBook Air with M2 Chip
Key Specs
| Chip | Apple M2 |
|---|---|
| Display | 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with 2,560 x 1,664 pixels |
| Memory | Up to 24GB of RAM, up to 2TB of storage |
| Connectivity | Two Thunderbolt USB-C ports, MagSafe charging connector |
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours |
| Weight | 2.7 pounds |
The all-new MacBook Air with the Apple M2 chip is the best option for most buyers today. It has a fresh new design, a similar silhouette to the range-topping MacBook Pros, futureproof specs, and best-in-class performance and battery life. Starting at $1,199, the notebook is also well-priced, given its power, speed, and battery endurance.
Compared to the MacBook Air with the Apple M1 chip, the latest iteration brings significant power bumps — 18% in CPU and 35% in graphics, to be precise — while retaining the same incredible battery life. The newcomer also packs a bigger, brighter, and sharper Retina display, a higher-resolution FaceTime camera, a MagSafe charging connector, and a more sophisticated four-speaker setup with spatial audio support.
Apple offers the new MacBook Air in midnight, starlight, silver, and space gray finishes. Each color option comes with a matching woven MagSafe cable. Apple’s previous MacBook Air with the M1 chip and iconic wedge design is still a fantastic option if you are shopping on a tighter budget, courtesy of its sub-$1,000 sticker.
A Compact Powerhouse
Apple MacBook Pro with M2 chip (13-inch)
Apple MacBook Pro with M2 chip (13-inch)
Key Specs
| Chip | Apple M2 |
|---|---|
| Display | 13.3-inch Retina display with 2,560 x 1,600 pixels |
| Memory | Up to 24GB of RAM, up to 2TB of storage |
| Connectivity | Two Thunderbolt USB-C ports |
| Battery Life | Up to 20 hours |
| Weight | 3 pounds |
Fresh off an update to the Apple M2 chip, the MacBook Pro with a 13-inch Retina display is the one to get if you need a compact laptop for heavy workload tasks, like editing high-resolution videos and compiling code. The notebook has an active cooling system, which allows it to power through super-demanding tasks more effortlessly than the fanless MacBook Air with the same silicon. Computer chips usually throttle their power upon warming up, hence the importance of onboard fans.
Other than the Apple M2 chip and the performance gains it brings, the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro is identical to the 2020 version with the M1 chip. Available in silver or space gray, the notebook has a keyboard with a Touch Bar, an HD FaceTime camera, and the same physical measures.
If you're torn between this MacBook Pro and the fresher-looking MacBook Air with a bigger screen and a better FaceTime camera, keep in mind that its onboard cooling fans will bring sustained high levels of performance longer. Its battery life is slightly longer, too.
The Ultimate MacBook
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch)
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch)
Key Specs
| Chip | Apple M2 Pro or M2 Max |
|---|---|
| Display | 14.2- or 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion |
| Memory | Up to 96GB of RAM, up to 8TB of storage |
| Connectivity | Three Thunderbolt USB-C ports, HDMI, SDXC card slot, MagSafe charging connector |
| Battery Life | Up to 18 hours (14-inch) and 22 hours (16-inch) |
| Weight | 3.5 and 4.7 pounds |
The updated 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros — Apple’s most capable and versatile laptops to date — are the best for power users looking for best-in-class power, speed, and battery life. Depending on your needs (and budget), you can order them in silver or space gray with the Apple M2 Pro or M2 Max chips — a new generation of silicon with industry-crushing power and energy efficiency.
The big-screen MacBooks bring superior graphics and processing power, more memory with higher bandwidth (a must for high-level multitasking), more immersive speaker setups, and more connectivity options, including a standard HDMI output and an SD card reader. The big-screen MacBook Pros also pack more vibrant mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR displays with much higher maximum brightness and ProMotion tech. The latter brings adaptive refresh rates up to 120 Hz for smoother and speedier interactions.
Compared to the big-screen MacBook Pros they are replacing, the newcomers offer increases in graphics and processing power, support for more RAM, slightly longer battery life, and upgraded wireless and HDMI connectivity. Their design, physical measures, and remaining hardware specs are identical.
Stefan is the senior technology editor for BestProducts.com, where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015. He has more than a decade of experience covering consumer tech products, especially smartphones, tablets, laptops, and audio gear. He was previously the US editor for GSMArena.com; his work can also be found on Popular Mechanics and other Hearst publications.In the rare moments when he’s not playing with a new gadget, Stefan likes to watch live Premier League games or hang out with his cat and rabbit. He’s also an espresso snob.
