Apple offers MacBooks from $999 all the way up to $3,499, and those are just the default configurations. Optional upgrades can add thousands more to the price. With the new M2 chip, we’re now firmly in Apple Silicon’s second generation, and the M2 versions of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are solid performers, even if some models are more expensive than their predecessors.
The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are known for their excellent design, build quality, and ease of use. MacOS, with its intuitive nature, plays a huge part in this, as does the fact that Apple makes the hardware and software, which leads to an inherent synergy.
However, MacBooks aren’t flying off the shelves like they used to be. Data from analysis firm IDC says that Mac sales in the first quarter of 2023 were so Huge drop of 40% From the same period a year ago. Part of that is because a lot of people bought new laptops during COVID-19, and these machines are generally three to five years old, so we’re between upgrade cycles right now.
Still, the current M2 version of the MacBook Airwhich starts at $1,199, gets my vote as the most universally useful laptop most people can buy right now, and I use it almost every day.
Below, we review each MacBook and its strengths and weaknesses, as well as provide some MacBook shopping tips and answers to frequently asked questions.
Apple still offers educational deals on MacBooks: The Apple Store is usually (ironically) not the best place to buy an Apple laptop (really, almost any Apple product) because sales are non-existent. The big exception to the rule is Apple Education discounts, which usually include MacBook deals. On the other hand, we also found deals for Apple laptops Through Best Buy’s Student Deals page.
The Touch Bar is dead (mostly): Apple announced the Touch Bar with great fanfare in 2016, but that secondary touchscreen, which sits above the keyboard, is now only available on one model. You can find it on the MacBook Pro 13-inch M2, which retains its old design, despite having Apple’s latest chip.
a great webcam on the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch Air; The 13-inch MacBook Pro webcam is still hacked: moving to a 1080p camera in the latest MacBooks, as well as the 24-inch iMac, is a game-changer for people who sit in video meetings all day. Only the old-looking 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro retains the old, not-so-great camera. Here are some tips for improving the look of 720p cameras on other Macs.
If you need something bigger and don’t mind strapping it to a desk: Apple has updated the Smaller iMac (previously 21.5-inch, now 24-inch) In 2021, it now comes in seven color options and is powered by the company’s M1 processor. You can also pair a Mac Mini or Mac Studio desktop with the new 27-inch Mac Studio Display.
Almost all Macs have migrated to Apple’s M1 and M2 chips: since late 2020, the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, Mac Studio, 24-inch iMac, 14-inch, and 16-inch MacBook Pro all run either chipset. M1 or M2 (including Pro, Max, and Ultra varieties), which combine CPU and GPU cores into a single package. Based on our testing, the Apple M1 and M2 lines have largely delivered on Apple’s promises of better battery life and faster performance. You can still find the really old Mac Pro desktop with an Intel Xeon chip.
The main question is how to make sure you don’t buy too little MacBook – or too much. What is the best MacBook for your needs? For most people, the 13-inch remains the default, and rightfully so. The 14-inch and 16-inch Pro models are more powerful but in a way that only people who need heavy GPU support will appreciate.
Watch this: MacBook Air M2 vs. MacBook Air M1: Worth the extra $200
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MacBook startup configurations
14-inch MacBook Pro MacBook Pro16-inch MacBook Air (13-inch, M1) MacBook Air (13-inch, M2) 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2) CPU M2 Pro, M2 MaxM2 Pro, or M2 MaxM1M2M2No. Number of GPU Cores 16-19 (M1 Pro), 30 (M1 Max) 19 (M2Pro), 38 (M2 Max) 788 Screen Size (inch) 14.2″ 16.2″ 13.3″ 13.6″ 13.3″ Screen Resolution 3,024 x 1,964 pixels 3,456 x 2,234 pixels 2,560 x 1,600 pixels 2,560 x 1,664 pixels 2,560 x 1,600 pixels Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0802 .11ax Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 Connections Thunderbolt USB-C x3, HDMI, SDXC Card, MagSafe 3Thunderbolt USB-C x3, HDMI, SDXC Card, MagSafe 3Thunderbolt USB-C x2Thunderbolt USB-C x2Thunderbolt USB-C x2 Weight (pounds) ) 3.5 lbs 4.7 lbs 2.8 lbs 2.7 lbs 3.0 lbs Starting price $1,999 $2,499 $999 $1,199 1,299
The best MacBooks of 2023
The 2022 MacBook Air got its biggest update in many years, moving to the M2 chip and adopting a new design. With a MacBook-Pro-like design, larger screen (13.6 inches vs. 13.3 inches), faster M2 chip and a long-awaited upgrade to an HD webcam, it’s now my favorite Mac, with one caveat. At $1,199, the $200 price increase over the MacBook Air’s traditional $999 starting price is disappointing.
The MacBook Air surpasses the Pro models it emulates in one important respect — it adds new colors to gray and silver, with a new gold-like starlight and dark midnight finish. Midnight, which appears in a matte black finish, reminds me of The old matte black polycarbonate MacBooks In the mid-2000s, which I’ve always thought was a sharp look.
We have a lot of different MacBook models, prices, and specifications to keep track of. To sum it up, the main reasons why you should prefer the new M2 Air over the previous M1 model are:
A slimmer, more modern design with new colors Upgraded Full HD webcam Bigger and brighter screen (13.6” vs. 13.3”) Faster M2 processor
Read our full review of the MacBook Air M2.
This model has been surpassed, but not replaced, by the new M2 MacBook Air. Since it remains Apple’s only $999 laptop, it still deserves a spot on this list.
For many years, this Apple laptop has been everyone’s favorite laptop. It was reasonably priced, slim, light and built like a tank. It can last for years and takes a lot of bumps and falls. For any college student or coffee shop creative type, you’ll get $999.
You only get two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, but that’s enough for most people, as long as you can get a USB-C dongle.
The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops, like the new M2 MacBook Air, have better screens, faster processors, and more ports. The Pro models also have HDMI and SD card slots.
Read our full review of the MacBook Air M1.
Apple update 2023 for its flagship macbook pro The 16-inch line follows the company’s usual MO. It offers a modest update from the significantly redesigned 2021 model; In particular, upgrades to the latest generation of M2 processorsAnd Wi-Fi 6E And HDMI 2.1which means support for displays up to 8K, 60Hz, 4K, 240Hz, and variable refresh rates.
We gave it our Editors’ Choice award for its mix of old and new. It’s a powerful Mac for creation and development.
Read our full review of the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Compared to the 13-inch Pro, the screen size here jumps from 13.3 to 14.2 inches. This is what Apple calls the Liquid Retina XDR display, and it’s basically a small LED display, like in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. It also has the same HDMI, SD, and MagSafe ports as the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the same 1080 webcam.
We recently tested the 14-inch Pro in 2021, but performance and configuration options remain broadly similar to the 16-inch M2 MacBook Pro, which we tested and reviewed in 2023.
If you’re a college student, coffee shop writer, or other regular laptop user, it’s a huge premium to pay for a better screen, better webcam, and more ports. It can be like buying a sports car just to drive around the city. Bringing up video meetings on the web all day, every day, you might be able to make a good case, but the new M2 Air also solves that problem.
Read our full review of the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
This new 2022 version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro looks exactly like the 13-inch MacBook Pro it was a part of Apple’s first wave of Macs with the M1 chip late 2020. Same body, same camera, same limited ports, same Touch Bar. Yes, this is still the last stock Apple Touch Bar, a clever but underutilized second screen.
And that’s exactly that system: the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro, with the initial M1 chip replaced by the new M2 chip. This makes it Apple’s most powerful 13-inch laptop, and it beats out the similar new M2 MacBook Air because its active cooling allows it to operate at higher temperatures.
This means that it is unlikely to be your best choice for a MacBook. But there are a few reasons why you might still want a 13-inch MacBook Pro instead of the new MacBook Air or the 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro. we The most obvious reasons are explained here They include:
Last chance to get a MacBook with Touch Bar The smallest MacBook with the longest battery life (at least until we test the new Air) Platform continuity for your business or creative store
Read our full review of the 13-inch MacBook Pro M2.
Which MacBook should I buy?
my TL; DR’s advice is as follows.
If you need a MacBook for everyday work, schoolwork, web browsing, movies, and light creativity, go with the M2 MacBook Air. For most people, this is all the MacBook they need. The new design and camera are great, as is the larger screen, but the older $999 MacBook Air is still great if you don’t want to spend the extra $200 on the M2 version. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is still a tough sell. More expensive than the Air but essentially the same performance and the same Apple M2 chip. It’s also the last Touch Bar hideout. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is one of the high-end creatives you’ve been waiting for. The video editor and creative pros I’ve talked to have flocked to it, usually with the M2 Max’s high-end chip. The 14-inch MacBook Pro can do almost everything in a 16-inch case, but in a smaller package. It’s either an excellent laptop or a work tool for creative types who need something more portable.
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