Best MacBooks (2024): Which Model Should You Buy?

in 2020, Apple’s MacBooks entered a caller era. The institution announced it was moving away from the Intel chips it had been utilizing since 2006; successful their place, it rolled retired the archetypal Macs with the Apple-designed M1. Cut to 2024 and the institution present offers the prime betwixt 14 customized processors, the latest of which is the M4 lineup powering the latest MacBook Pro.

Like with Apple’s iPhones, the chips tally connected the ARM architecture and spend the institution greater control implicit its hardware and software. These processors marque Apple laptops much almighty and power-efficient, meaning greatly improved show and artillery life. You get different perks, similar the quality to tally mobile apps primitively made for iOS. Despite each these advances, choosing a MacBook is inactive a task. Here’s what you should walk your hard-earned wealth on.

Updated November 2024: We've added accusation connected the caller 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro and the caller M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.

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The Best for Most People

Apple’s latest MacBook Air (7/10, WIRED Recommends) with M3 isn’t dramatically antithetic from the MacBook Air with M2. It has the aforesaid boxy chassis (instead of the aged wedge design), a 13.6-inch LCD surface (with a 60-Hz refresh complaint and a max brightness of 500 nits), positive a notch that cuts into the show lodging a 1080p webcam.

It comes successful the aforesaid 4 colors: Starlight, Midnight, Space Gray, and Silver. However, the Midnight colour present has an anodization seal to trim fingerprints, which works beauteous well—you tin inactive spot smudges (especially successful nonstop sunlight), but I didn't find myself utilizing a cloth to hitch it down arsenic overmuch arsenic the Starlight version. It is casual to spot particulate successful specified a acheronian shadiness though.

Apple kept the aforesaid larboard selection. There are 2 USB 4/Thunderbolt ports, a 3.5-mm headphone jack, and a MagSafe larboard for charging. Speaking of, there's enactment for accelerated charging if you acquisition the 70-watt USB-C powerfulness adapter, which Apple claims tin foodstuff up the laptop up to 50 percent successful 30 minutes (if you opt for 1 of the higher retention configurations, Apple volition see it successful your purchase). As for artillery life, Apple claims the aforesaid 15 hours of wireless web browsing arsenic its predecessor. In reality, I deed 29 percent aft 8 hours during the workday. It's amended than the M2-powered MacBook Air, which had to beryllium plugged into the charger aft the aforesaid magnitude of time, but it's not a large leap ahead.

Under the hood is Apple’s M3 chip. It offers a bully boost successful show implicit the archetypal M1 processor—Apple says it's up to 60 times faster, but it's lone 20 percent faster than the M2 chipset, truthful don't upgrade if you person that model. With the M3, you get an 8-core CPU with the enactment to take betwixt an 8-core oregon 10-core GPU. I tested the exemplary with an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 16 GB of unified memory. Performance was ace creaseless connected modular workdays erstwhile I had apps similar Slack, iMessage, Spotify, and Telegram moving simultaneously, on with astir 60 tabs unfastened successful Google Chrome.

When I opened up astir 10 much tabs, it started to struggle. Still, it wasn't capable to trigger the infamous rainbow instrumentality oregon marque maine adjacent immoderate tabs oregon force-quit apps. I property this to the higher unified representation configuration. If it's successful your budget, I highly urge opting for thing supra the basal 8 GB exemplary for a smoother experience. However, it's worthy noting that arsenic of October 2024, Apple has decided to equip the basal MacBook Air with 16 GB of unified representation and brought the terms down to the archetypal 8 GB variant (which nary longer exists). You'll find the 8 GB exemplary astatine third-party retailers, truthful beryllium cautious erstwhile buying and effort to debar it.

This MacBook Air present supports 2 outer displays, with enactment for 1 show with up to 6K solution astatine 60 Hz and different with up to 5K solution astatine 60 Hz. This is simply a invited alteration since the M1 and M2 chipsets natively enactment lone 1 monitor. There's a caveat: You person to support the MacBook Air closed. (Technically it inactive lone supports 2 displays.) One of the outer displays volition spell wholly acheronian whenever you unfastened the lid.

The M3-powered Air is perfect for anyone who needs a reliable laptop for mundane tasks and a small more. If your workload is graphics-intensive, I suggest snagging 1 of the 14- oregon 16-inch MacBook Pro models below.

If You Want a Bigger Screen

The 15-inch MacBook Air is the archetypal large-screen enactment wrong the Air lineup. You yet don't request to splurge connected a 14- oregon 16-inch MacBook Pro conscionable to get a large screen. It packs each the aforesaid features arsenic its smaller sibling (see above) and remains bladed and lightweight astatine 3.3 pounds—around a half-pound heavier than the 13-inch MacBook Air and somewhat lighter than the 14-inch MacBook Pro. It supports Wi-Fi 6E connectivity for download speeds that are doubly arsenic accelerated arsenic its predecessor, but you'll request a Wi-Fi 6E router to instrumentality advantage.

Unlike the smaller MacBook Air, the basal exemplary has a 10-core GPU alternatively of the 8-core GPU. Apple sent maine the 15-inch MacBook Air with 16 GB of memory, and it handled 41 Chrome tabs, 3 abstracted windows, and aggregate apps without immoderate hiccups. As usual, I urge upgrading to astatine slightest 16 GB of unified memory, which ensures the instrumentality won't sputter erstwhile you propulsion it with dozens of browser tabs and apps moving simultaneously. As with the 13-inch model, it's worthy noting the basal exemplary M2 and M3-powered MacBook Air present comes with 16 GB of unified representation alternatively of 8 GB (starting astatine $999). If you're buying it done Apple, you won't person to interest astir anything; for third-party retailers, marque definite you opt for the 16-GB version.

One different quality is the talker system. The quad-speakers connected the 13-inch MacBook Air are upgraded present to a six-speaker system, which includes 2 tweeters and 2 sets of force-canceling woofers. The quality is noticeable. It delivers amended dependable clarity, and I don't person to crank it to max measurement whenever I ticker a movie. Battery beingness is besides better. Apple claims the 13-inch and 15-inch person up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing, but I saw amended results with the larger MacBook. I'd person to plug successful the 13-inch MacBook aft 7 oregon 8 hours of use, but the 15 incher deed 54 percent aft the aforesaid magnitude of clip with akin workloads.

I mostly ne'er felt the request to link this 15-inch laptop to an external monitor, which was much of a necessity with the 13-inch MacBook Air. If you find these smaller screens to beryllium a small excessively cramped, past spell for the 15-inch MacBook Air.

For Power-Hungry Port Lovers

This is the latest version of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, powered by Apple's full lineup of M4 chips. In summation to the M4 Pro and M4 Max, you tin erstwhile again configure the 14-inch exemplary with the entry-level M4 spot (as you could with the M3 version). The 16-inch tin beryllium paired with the M4 Pro oregon M4 Max.

It retains galore of the aforesaid features arsenic its predecessor, including a Mini-LED screen, 120-Hz refresh rate, 1080p webcam, and a six-speaker dependable system. But now, for an further $150, you tin adhd nano-texture solid connected each configurations. It's adjuvant if you enactment outdoors oregon by a model and privation to trim glare. The 12-megapixel camera besides comes with Center Stage. Previously lone disposable connected iPads and Apple's Apple's Studio Display, this diagnostic keeps you successful framework during video calls.

It has much ports than before. The basal MacBook Pro present comes with 3 USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 (that's 1 other larboard than connected the M3 version), portion the M4 Pro oregon M4 Max models travel with 3 USB-C Thunderbolt 5 ports—which means you'll get faster information transportation speeds. All inactive travel with an HDMI out, an SD paper slot, a high-impedance headphone jack, and a MagSafe charging port. You besides get enactment for Wi-Fi 6E on with Bluetooth 5.3.

Apple yet upgraded the representation connected the basal models to 16 gigabytes. In the past, we ever recommended it implicit 8 GB to guarantee the smoothest acquisition portion multitasking, truthful it's bully to spot the institution nix it completely. This summation successful RAM volition besides assistance to make a amended acquisition with Apple Intelligence, disposable with MacOS Sequoia 15.1. The artificial quality features are disposable connected each M-series Macs, giving you entree to assorted features similar Writing Tools, an overhauled Siri, and Smart Reply successful Messages.

These models are much oregon little spec bumps, with fewer hardware upgrades. We inactive person to enactment some models done their paces to spot conscionable however almighty the caller M4 chips are, but arsenic always, they're lone a worthy upgrade if you're looking to put successful your archetypal MacBook Pro oregon are coming from a overmuch older model. Stay tuned for our review.

The Cheapest MacBook

The MacBook Air (9/10, WIRED Recommends) from 2020 with the archetypal M1 spot is inactive a beauteous almighty laptop for the wealth (especially since the terms has travel down since its launch). My portion is inactive going beardown contempt daily, rigorous use. It's not the snazziest Apple laptop, but it lasts much than a afloat workday, with the artillery hitting 22 percent aft I ran it astir nonstop from 9 americium to 7 p.m. utilizing Safari and enactment apps similar Slack. (I had to plug successful the aged Intel model by 4 pm.)

Unlike older MacBooks you mightiness inactive find disposable with Intel chips, this 1 tin instantly aftermath up from slumber whenever you pat the keyboard oregon trackpad oregon assistance the screen, conscionable similar erstwhile you pat your iPhone oregon iPad to aftermath it up. There’s nary instrumentality here, truthful it remains whisper-quiet adjacent nether the heaviest loads. There is simply a thermal vigor spreader to dissipate vigor and it ne'er gets excessively warm.

You tin lone bargain the basal exemplary with 8 GB of unified representation and 256 GB of storage, which should beryllium capable for general-purpose tasks. Just support successful caput that portion this M1 spot supports Apple Intelligence, it whitethorn conflict with immoderate tasks owed to the constricted memory. Also, if you propulsion it with excessively galore browser tabs and apps moving simultaneously, you whitethorn tally into immoderate slowdowns. Other downsides? The 720p webcam isn’t great. and the M1 lone supports 1 outer monitor.

Other Good MacBooks

Apple releases caller MacBooks astatine a speedy gait truthful you mightiness consciousness inclined to bargain the latest and greatest. These somewhat older models are inactive bully options, arsenic agelong arsenic you find them connected merchantability for the close price. Apple nary longer sells them straight (aside from the M2-powered 13-inch MacBook Air), but we urge checking third-party retailers (like Amazon, Best Buy, oregon B&H). Just cross-check the terms with the latest models and marque definite you're spending less.

• MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch, Late 2023): The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are powered by the M3 bid chips. You tin configure the 14-inch MacBook Pro with each 3 portion the 16-inch mentation tin beryllium paired with M3 Pro and M3 Max. The M3 is perfect if you privation a fewer of the “Pro” features but don't privation to walk astir $2,000 to get it, portion the M3 Pro oregon M3 Max are great for tasks similar editing 4K videos, rendering 3D models successful CAD, and producing music.
• MacBook Air (15-inch, 2023): The 15-inch MacBook Air with M2 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) packs each the aforesaid features arsenic the 13-inch version, positive a larger screen. The M2 besides offers large show and bully artillery beingness (we squeezed astir 10 hours retired of it). Try to find it for astir $999 oregon less.
• MacBook Air (13-inch, 2022): The 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is inactive a bully laptop. The M2 spot delivers creaseless show for mundane tasks (like penning emails, creating spreadsheets, web browsing, and streaming content) and coagulated artillery beingness (we reached astir 8 hours earlier having to plug it in). You'll besides get a bigger and brighter show (13.6 inches), a 1080p webcam, and MagSafe charging. Apple inactive sells the M2-powered 13-inch MacBook Air for a reduced terms of $999 (down from $1,099), and it adjacent comes with 16 GB of unified memory.
• MacBook Pro (13 Inch, 2022): This is the best option if you privation the Touch Bar astatine the apical of the keyboard since it's the past exemplary to travel equipped with one. Under the hood is an M2 chip, which performed reasonably good successful our tests but did consciousness sluggish astatine times—the laptop stuttered a spot portion editing video footage and photos. But dissimilar the MacBook Air, it has a fan, which allows it to eke retired much powerfulness implicit a longer period. It's adjuvant if you're moving connected pro-level tasks but can't walk the premium that Apple charges for its bigger Pro models. We lone urge it if you tin find it for $1,000 oregon less.
• MacBook Pro (14 Inch and 16 Inch, Early 2023): If you don't privation to walk a ton of wealth connected the latest 14-inch oregon 16-inch MacBook Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends), the M2 Pro and M2 Max (which launched aboriginal successful 2023) are much than susceptible for handling intensive, graphically demanding accumulation work. In our testing, some the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro and the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 Max delivered creaseless show and playback aft being enactment done accent tests (like editing 4K and RED Raw footage, arsenic good arsenic adding 3D effects). We urge lone snagging this 1 for astir $1,800 oregon less.
• MacBook Pro (14 Inch and 16 Inch, 2021): These MacBooks (8/10, WIRED Recommends), powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max, were the commencement of a caller epoch for Apple's high-end machines. The institution introduced a redesigned chassis with much ports, a 120-Hz refresh rate, and a MagSafe port. Even though these launched successful precocious 2021, you don't person to steer wide of them—both processors are inactive plentifulness powerful. In our testing, we recovered the M1 Max felt one-to-one with the $6,000+ older Mac Pro. It didn't conflict astatine each portion editing heavy-duty footage. However, it's increasing progressively pugnacious to find successful banal astatine third-party retailers. If you bash negociate to find one, we suggest lone purchasing it if it's connected merchantability for astir $1,500 oregon less.

What About Older MacBooks?

We urge lone buying an M-series MacBook. Older MacBooks with Intel chips and butterfly keyboards are simply not worthy the terms and volition not beryllium supported for overmuch longer.