- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Review Updates
- Best Laptop
- Best Mid-Range
- Best Budget
- Comparison
- Lineup
- Page Updates
- Conclusion
- Comments
Founded in 1976, Apple is one of the world's largest consumer electronics manufacturers, with instantly recognizable products like the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and MacBook. Apple has a small laptop lineup compared to other brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and ASUS, as they only make high-end, productivity-focused laptops. However, MacBooks are consistently among the most well-built laptops and offer premium user experiences. Since Apple started making laptops with their in-house M-series SoCs, MacBooks are also among the best for performance and battery life.
Updates
- 12/06/2024 Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024) reviewed
- 12/03/2024 Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2024) reviewed
- 05/14/2024 Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) reviewed
- 04/11/2024 Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024) reviewed
- 01/18/2024 Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023) reviewed
Best Apple Laptops
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Best Apple Laptop
School8.9Gaming7.6Multimedia8.6Workstation9.1Business8.6The best MacBook we've tested is the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024). This is the laptop to get if you want the best performance to tackle intensive workloads or the best user experience. It's identical to its M3 predecessor on the outside, so you're still getting an exceptionally sturdy, premium-feeling laptop with a compact and stylish design. It has the same tactile keyboard as previous MacBooks, as well as the same haptic touchpad and full-sounding speakers. You can configure it with an M4, M4, Pro, or M4 Max SoCs; these chips can handle general productivity tasks and even the most demanding workloads imaginable, including 3D graphics, video editing, and AI development. The base RAM configuration has increased on all models, with the base M4 now starting at 16GB, effectively ending the era of 8GB RAM of a supposedly 'Pro' machine.
There are a couple of noteworthy upgrades on this 2024 model. First, its gorgeous 120Hz Mini LED display can now get up to 1000 cd/m² of brightness in SDR (when outdoors or in very well-lit settings), and there's also a new nano-texture display that can further cut glare. Next, there's a new 12 MP camera with Center Stage support, a feature that keeps you centered in the camera frame when you move around. Finally, the USB-C ports on the Pro and Max models now support Thunderbolt 5, allowing for up to 120Gbps data transfer speeds, and the base M4 model gains an additional USB-C port with the same external display support as the Pro models. If you need more screen space and don't mind a larger, more costly device, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2024) is also an excellent choice. It's identical to its 14-inch sibling but with better-sounding speakers.
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Best Mid-Range Apple Laptop
School8.6Gaming5.7Multimedia8.0Workstation7.8Business8.0If you're looking for the best MacBook for light, general productivity tasks, get the M3-equipped Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024). Like our top pick, this thin and light model feels incredibly well-built, sporting a full-aluminum chassis. It has a nice Retina display, a spacious keyboard, and the same amazing haptic touchpad. The speakers sound full and natural, and the webcam is among the best on the market. Performance is excellent; Apple's M3 chip easily handles tasks like web browsing, text processing, video playback, and even some light video editing. The battery lasts around 11 to 12 hours of light use, but it takes a while to charge to full.
The main downside of this laptop is its limited port selection, which comprises two USB-Cs and a MagSafe charging port. Unlike its M2 predecessor, the M3 supports two external displays, but only with the laptop closed. Another drawback, or more precisely, a downgrade from the Pro model above, is the display itself. Although the IPS panel gets bright enough for use in most indoor settings and even outdoors in broad daylight, it isn't Mini LED, so blacks don't look as deep. Also, you won't get as responsive an experience when navigating around the desktop, as the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz. Speaking of display, the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) is a good choice if you want more screen real estate for multitasking and don't mind paying more. It's essentially the same laptop with a larger 15.3-inch display and better-sounding speakers.
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Best Budget Apple Laptop
School8.5Gaming6.5Multimedia7.9Workstation7.8Business8.0The best Apple laptop we've tested in the budget range is the M2 Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022), the predecessor of the M3 model above. Although there's a newer model, Apple still sells the M2 version as a more budget-friendly option, cutting its price by $100 USD. You can even find the base model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for cheaper since Apple has bumped the base RAM configuration up to 16GB. The laptop is almost identical to the M3 model since the changes are mainly internal; you get slightly less performance (though still more than enough for most people with a light workload), Wi-Fi 6 instead of Wi-Fi 6E, and support for one external display instead of two. Other than that, everything else is the same.
If you want to go even cheaper, the older Apple MacBook Air 13 (M1, 2020) is one of the best MacBooks we've tested. It's still available via third-party sellers like Walmart, which is selling its remaining stock of the base model (and open-box options) for as low as $650 USD. It isn't as sleek as the M2 or M3 model design-wise, but it's still a fantastic laptop for anyone needing a thin and light model for general productivity. Its M1 SoC feels just as snappy nearly four years after its release, and the battery life is amazing at around 13 hours of light use. The webcam is a slight downgrade, as it's limited to 720p, and there's no MagSafe charging port, so you'll have to use one of the USB-C ports to charge, leaving you with only one USB-C for a peripheral or external display.
Compared To Other Brands
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Exceptional build quality.
Apple laptops, even the entry-level devices like the MacBook Air, usually feel exceptionally well-built. -
High-quality speakers.
Apple MacBooks typically have excellent speakers, among the best on the market. They usually sound clear, well-balanced, and full. -
Large haptic touchpad.
Apple MacBooks have arguably the best touchpads on the market. They're usually large and smooth and use haptic feedback to simulate clicks, allowing you to click anywhere on the touchpad. -
Distinct lineup.
Apple usually has a small but distinct lineup, making it less confusing for consumers. -
Bright, colorful, and well-calibrated displays.
Apple MacBooks usually have a high-quality display with full DCI P3 coverage and outstanding factory calibration. -
Apple ecosystem.
MacBooks have deep integration with other Apple products, like the iPhone and iPad, adding various features like Continuity Camera, AirDrop, and Sidecar. -
Excellent customer support.
Apple's customer service is among the best in the world. It usually has a physical store in most large cities, making it easy to bring a device in for repair or replacement.
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MacBooks are usually expensive.
MacBooks tend to be expensive because Apple only makes premium products. Their high price tags are also partly due to Apple's incredible after-purchase customer support. -
Not ideal for gaming.
Apple MacBooks aren't ideal for gaming as there aren't many games optimized for macOS running on Apple silicon. Also, while MacBook displays typically perform well in color reproduction, they usually have a slow response time, resulting in visible ghosting. -
No 2-in-1 or touchscreen option.
Apple doesn't make any 2-in-1 convertibles or laptops with a touchscreen. -
Poor serviceability.
Apple laptops usually have soldered memory and storage, making it impossible to upgrade later on.
Apple vs Dell
Dell and Apple are very different in their approach to laptops. Dell makes a significantly larger number of models for various uses and price segments. In contrast, Apple only makes premium productivity laptops. Dell's high-end productivity laptops are often compared to Apple laptops in build quality and user experience. However, unlike Apple, which uses its in-house ARM-based SoC, Dell still uses x86 chips from Intel in its laptops. See our recommendations for the best Dell Laptops.
Apple vs Microsoft
Microsoft and Apple are very similar in some ways but also very different. Both companies only make productivity laptops and control the hardware and software, as they also created the operating system. However, Microsoft tends to have more budget models and experiments with other form factors like 2-in-1 tablets, while Apple only makes clamshell laptops without touch input. Both companies are among the best when it comes to build quality.
Apple vs Lenovo
Apple and Lenovo are very different. Like many other laptop manufacturers, Lenovo produces many laptops, including mobile workstations, ultraportable, gaming laptops, 2-in-1s, and Chromebooks. In contrast, Apple only makes a few models a year and focuses exclusively on productivity laptops. Lenovo also makes a lot of budget models, whereas Apple only makes premium models. Lenovo tends to experiment more with newer form factors and features, like a secondary e-ink display, ultrawide laptops, and dual-screen laptops. See our recommendations for the best Lenovo Laptops.
Apple vs ASUS
ASUS and Apple are quite different. ASUS makes a wide range of Windows and Chrome OS devices at various price points, while Apple only makes premium productivity laptops. Apple laptops usually feel more premium and sturdier build-wise, and they typically provide a better user experience overall, especially in regards to the quality of the touchpad, speakers, and webcam. Like Lenovo, ASUS tends to experiment with new form factors and features, like dual-screen laptops, tablet gaming PCs, touchpads with an integrated numpad function, and more. ASUS laptops are generally more serviceable, allowing users to upgrade the memory and/or storage, though they're less stable on the software side. See our recommendations for the best ASUS laptops.
Apple vs HP
Like the other laptop manufacturers mentioned above, HP produces a significantly wider range of laptops at various price points, including Windows productivity models, gaming models, and Chromebooks. While some of HP's high-end models can compete with Apple in terms of build quality, the majority of their lineup tend to feel cheaper and less sturdy. Also, unlike MacBooks, HP laptops often come with a lot of resource-intensive bloatware that can noticeably affect the performance. HP laptops typically have more configuration options, which can be a good or bad thing, as it lets you configure the laptop to better suit your needs and budget but makes the buying decision more complicated. See our recommendations for the best HP laptops.
Apple is one of the best laptop makers in the world. MacBooks usually feel premium and exceptionally well-built, and they have among the best performance and battery life. As Apple also makes the operating system, MacBooks also have a level of integration with other Apple products that's hard to find on devices from other manufacturers. However, MacBooks are generally expensive and aren't as ideal for gaming.
Recent Updates
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Replaced the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (M3, 2023) with the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024) since the M3 model is discontinued.
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Aug 08, 2024: We've reviewed the article for clarity and accuracy and to ensure our picks represent the best choices.
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Jun 18, 2024: Verified that all picks are valid and available. No change in recommendations.
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May 22, 2024: Minor text changes for clarity. Confirmed that all picks are still available and represent the best option.
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Apr 24, 2024: Replaced the M2 Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022) with the M3 Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024) as the 'Best Mid-Range' pick. Replaced the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M1, 2020) with the M2 Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022) as the 'Best Budget' pick because the M1 version is discontinued.
Conclusion
If you're looking for a productivity laptop, Apple MacBooks are among the best available options, whether you're already in the Apple ecosystem or not. They feel incredibly well-built, have long battery life, and provide a premium user experience. However, if you want more versatility, like a 2-in-1 convertible or a laptop with wider game compatibility, you're better off with a Chromebook or a Windows device.
If you're interested in shopping for some Apple-compatible peripherals, why not check out our recommendations for the best printers for Mac.