There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing an Apple laptop. First, the latest MacBook models come with a lot of new features and improvements, so it’s important to make sure you’re getting the best possible machine. Second, be sure to check out the reviews before buying one. Many people have had great experiences with Apple laptops, but there are also some that can be very frustrating. Finally, always be prepared for surprises–the MacBooks come in many different shapes and sizes, so it’s important to choose one that will fit your needs and style.
We’re going to look at every current model of MacBook and help you pick the right MacBook you should buy based on the strengths of each model.
What Do You Need Your MacBook To Do?
So, what are the best MacBooks for you? Here are a few things to consider: your budget, your needs, and your preferred operating system.
Are you a casual user? If so, you may be wondering if your computer is really worth your time and money. Mid-tier users and professional users may have different opinions on whether their computers are worth their time and money. For most people, the answer is probably not. A computer is only worth its time if it can be used for more than basic tasks such as browsing the web or editing HD video. If a computer can’t do these things well, it’s likely not worth its price tag.
If you’re looking for a laptop that can do everything, the MacBook Pro is the one for you. It’s got a powerful Intel Core i7 processor and 8GB of memory, so you can run multiple programs at the same time and access your files quickly. If you’re just looking for a laptop to take with you on your travels, the MacBook Air is perfect. It’s lightweight and has a small footprint, so it won’t take up much space in your luggage. And if you only need a laptop for basic tasks like emailing and browsing the internet, the MacBook is perfect for you. It has an Intel Core m3 processor and 4GB of memory, so it’ll handle most tasks quickly and easily. ..
Current MacBook Models
MacBooks: The most current models as of January 2020
Apple has only released three product lines for the MacBook range at the moment- the new MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro 13” with Touchbar, and the MacBook Pro 16”. ..
We’ve split the 13” model into its two tiers, since they have significant differences and should not be confused with each other. The lower tier has a smaller screen size and is designed for people who are shorter or smaller in stature. The higher tier has a larger screen size and is designed for people who are taller or larger in stature.
Entry-level Users Only: MacBook Air 2019
The MacBook Air is the best-selling laptop in the world, and its 2019 refresh brought a $100 price drop to the recommended retail price. The Air has a different body to the MacBook Pro 13”, sporting a wedge-shaped body that writers are likely to appreciate.
This is the only MacBook model among the 2019 MacBook refreshes, which means that if you need it to do more than browse the web, word processing, spreadsheets and YouTube, you should look elsewhere.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" has a fantastic 13.3" Retina display with TrueTone technology. Something only “Pro” products had in the past. TrueTone adjust the display according to your lighting conditions, to show consistent color temperature. You also get two Thunderbolt ports and TouchID with this model, which is a nice touch in the budget machine.
This is now also the only new MacBook that still has physical function keys, since the new 13” MacBook Pro sports a TouchBar.
The Air is the only MacBook to come in gold, and it’s about 200g lighter than the MacBook Pro 13” with TouchBar. If you’re looking for a powerful and lightweight laptop, the Air is perfect for you.
Who Should Buy the MacBook Air 2019?
The MacBook Air is a great laptop for basic needs. It comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. We don’t recommend paying for more RAM or storage, as the use case doesn’t warrant it. ..
The 2019 Air is not as good of a computer as the 2018 model.
For $200 more, you’ll get two extra CPU cores, a significantly brighter screen, better speakers and a significantly better integrated GPU. If you do feel the Air is enough computer for your needs however, it’s a beautiful and well-made machine and still comes with the macOS experience. ..
Best All-Round Choice: MacBook Pro 13” With Touchbar (1.4Ghz, 2019)
The new MacBook Pro 13" is a great option for people who need a powerful laptop that can handle heavy photo editing, HD video editing and general desktop tasks.
This model has two Thunderbolt ports, just like the Air. It also has a boxier design, but will go and fit almost everywhere the Air does. The performance sacrifices of the Air certainly aren’t worth the marginal extra portability you get. The Pro is ultrabook-class by anyone’s measure.
The quad-core CPU and the Breakaway Puck eGPU make this laptop a desktop powerhouse. Whether for gaming or GPU-dependent applications, the quad-core CPU combined with something like the Breakaway Puck eGPU can really make it a practical option.
The new MacBook Pro has a significantly brighter screen and better color than the Air, which is important to content creators who need accurate photos and videos. This is also the first time that the entry-level Pro comes with the TouchBar and TouchID. Although whether you like the TouchBar is a matter of preference. ..
Who Should Buy The MacBook Pro 13” With TouchBar 2019?
This MacBook is the best one you can buy. The screen is large and the processor is powerful enough to do just about anything. It also has a screen that is incredibly good.
Unless you absolutely need the extra storage space, we don’t recommend spending the extra money on the 256GB storage option over the base 128GB. Since you can buy a very nice USB-C SSD for less money and more capacity instead. Choosing the 16GB RAM option is however a good choice for long video editing projects and serious multitasking. Since neither the RAM nor internal SSD can be upgraded by users, that’s something you have to decide from the outset. ..
The new 13" MacBook Pro with a quad-core CPU and eGPU option offers great performance for the price. There is no better bang-for-buck option in the entire modern MacBook stable. ..
The Core i7 CPU in this slightly better model can make a difference in tasks such as video encoding renders. If you are going to use software that will justify having eight software threads, it’s worth considering. However, most people should simply stick with the i5.
Not For Everyone: MacBook Pro 13” with Touchbar (2.4Ghz, 2019)
The MacBook Pro 13” with TouchBar costs a bit more than the entry-level MacBook Pro, but it offers a number of features that are not available on the base model. For example, the TouchBar allows users to interact with their laptops using their hands, which is an important feature for people who work in a lot of hands-on tasks. Additionally, the TouchBar provides a more immersive experience when using macOS Mojave compared to earlier versions of macOS.
The second notable difference is the design. The MacBook now has a more traditional design with a metal frame and a glass lid. This gives it a more premium look and feel, which is likely to appeal to those who are looking for something more expensive.
The MacBook Pro 13” has a 2.4GHz quad-core CPU and a larger base model SSD capacity compared to the entry-level MacBook Pro 13”. It is nice to have 256GB compared to the 128GB SSD of the entry-level MacBook Pro 13”, but external SSDs are much cheaper per gigabyte and more than fast enough for almost everyone.
So, is the extra performance from the upgraded i5 worth the bump in price? In theory, it does seem to be the case. However, this more expensive MacBook had the same chassis and thermal constraints as the cheaper model. Both have similar boost clocks as well and multiple independent benchmarks have shown the two CPUs perform very similarly. Yes, this processor is a little faster, but not enough to warrant the price premium. ..
The new MacBook Pro has an even faster Core i7 option, but our advice remains the same: unless you really need eight threads for your applications, it’s better value to stick with the default CPU.
Who Should Buy The MacBook Pro 13” With TouchBar (2.4Ghz, 2019)?
The $500 premium for the MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt ports is better than the $100 premium for the model without Thunderbolt ports, but it is not necessary to buy additional RAM and storage to increase performance. Only users who are sure that the small difference in performance will be crucial need apply.
The MacBook Pro is a great laptop if you need the most CPU performance. If you don’t need the most CPU performance, then the larger MacBook Pro offerings might be better.
The Best MacBook In History: MacBook Pro 16” (2019)
The 16” MacBook Pro is the best laptop you can buy. It has a powerful processor, a great display, and is very easy to use.
The new MacBook has lost a significant amount of bezel, and uses an LCD panel that is 16 inches in size. The keyboard has also been redesigned, using a different and more robust switch design. This may be coming to all future MacBook models, but for now, other 2019 MacBooks are using a “butterfly” switch design that has proven unreliable in the past. Not so for this MacBook. ..
This MacBook has a TouchBar and TouchID, but it also has a physical “Escape” key. This is something professional users have been quite vocal about.
The 16” model of the MacBook is one of the most important laptops on the market. It has a lot of features that are not found in other laptops, and it is perfect for students, professionals, and anyone who needs a laptop that can handle a lot of work.
The base models sports SIX processor cores with 12 threads thanks to the Core i7 “hyperthreading” feature. The higher-end model has EIGHT cores, with a class-leading Core i9 CPU onboard. Both laptops have 16GB of RAM as standard and 512GB and 1TB of SSD storage respectively.Both laptops have discrete GPUs, with the AMD Radeon Pro 5300M and 5500M respectively showing their stuff. These two cards compare roughly with the GTX 1650 and GTX 1660 Ti from Nvidia. Which makes them good midrange gaming cards and excellent mobile GPUs for professional GPU-accelerated tasks.
Who Should Buy The MacBook Pro 16”?
The first group of people who should seriously consider the 16” machine are those who are looking at the 2.4 Ghz MacBook Pro 13”. True, there’s a $600 difference in price, but if you go for the model with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, the price difference is only $200.
The MacBook Pro 16" is the best option for someone who wants a powerful laptop with a large screen and two extra processor cores. It includes a much larger screen, two extra processor cores, eight additional threads and an exponentially more powerful GPU.
The 16” MacBook is the best laptop for professional work. It’s faster than all but one other laptop in the range, has a lot of grunt, and is only $600 more expensive than the next model.
The Core i9 MacBook Pro is a great value for the money. It has an extra 512GB of storage, two cores and four threads, and a faster GPU.
If your budget can stretch to it, the upgrade is worthwhile and provides some extra future proofing. We would not recommend anyone whose use case doesn’t benefit from eight cores and 16 threads to buy the top end model, but if your budget can stretch to it, the upgrade is worthwhile. ..
Older MacBook Models
The latest MacBook lineup has been plagued by thermal throttling, keyboard reliability and performance issues for the past five years or so.
We do not recommend buying older models used because they would not benefit from Apple’s warranty programs. If you do buy an older model directly from Apple that is new or refurbished, we strongly recommend taking Apple Care in addition to the standard warranty.
