There isn't one bad MacBook in the lineup right now. They're all fast, well-built, and long-lasting, and among the best laptops you can buy. But that doesn't the one you buy will necessarily end up being the best option for your needs. And by that, I mean getting the most affordable MacBook without losing any performance or features you'd actually benefit from. In other words, the best MacBook for you.
Having reviewed every device in the lineup myself, I offer you the following suggestions based on my real testing and hands-on experience with these MacBooks, one of which should be the perfect match for you.
The best MacBook you can buy
MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)
- Superior build quality
- Elegant aesthetic
- Excellent keyboard and touchpad
- Incredibly thin
- Fast productivity performance
- Class-leading battery life
- Attractive base price
- Nothing notable
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches, 2.7 pounds |
| Processor | Apple M4 (10 core) |
| GPU | 8-core, 10-core |
| RAM | 16GB, 24GB, 32GB (all unified memory) |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Display | 13.6-inch 2560 x 1664 LED IPS display at 60Hz |
| RAM | 16GB, 24GB, 32GB (all unified memory) |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
The MacBook Air has long been one of the best MacBooks you can buy, but with the M4 chip upgrade, it's become one of the best laptops you can buy, period. It's so good, in fact, that we awarded it a full five stars out of five and, try as we might, could barely find anything wrong with it at all.
The latest M4 chip makes the laptop significantly faster, with its single-core performance smoking almost all other laptop rivals, whether they run on macOS or Windows. Its GPU is a step up too, while Apple has also maintained the class-leading battery life that Apple silicon computers have become known for (we saw over 20 hours of juice in some of our tests). And it's all wrapped up in one of the most premium-feeling designs you can buy, with a rock-solid chassis that let you know you've really got your money's worth.
What's even more remarkable is that Apple has actually lowered the price of entry to the M4 MacBook Air. Previously, the company get a previous-generation model around and priced it at $999, while the latest edition came in at $1,099. Now, the M4 MacBook Air will cost you $999, saving you $100 and giving you yet another reason to pull the trigger.
Combined, that all means that the 13-inch MacBook Air with M4 chip is the best MacBook for most people. Unless you've got highly demanding tasks on your plate, it will be the perfect choice and should give you years of strong service.
The best MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4)
- Starts at 16GB of RAM
- Fantastic mini-LED display
- Option for nano-texture glass
- M4 provides great performance
- No 256GB SSD configuration
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 12.31 x 8.71 x 8.71 inches, 3.4 pounds |
| Processor | 10-core |
| GPU | 10-core |
| Display | 14.2-inch XDR mini-LED display (3024 x 1964) |
| RAM | 16GB, 24GB, 32GB |
| Storage | 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB |
When it comes to delivering the best overall MacBook experience, I have to recommend the M4 MacBook Pro 14-inch. There are more powerful versions of the MacBook Pro, and there are certainly more affordable ones. But if you want the premium MacBook experience (and probably don't need the extra performance), look no further than the M4 MacBook Pro.
The model got a number of sweet improvements in this year's update, including the 12-megapixel webcam and option for the nano-texture glass display. And according to my own testing, you're getting a significant bump in single-core CPU and GPU performance.
But the thing that makes it such a solid value is the starting configuration, which now comes with 16GB of RAM. The 8GB starting configuration in 2023's M3 model made it hard to recommend in terms of pricing. But now, this 14-inch MacBook Pro tips the scales against the 15-inch MacBook Air M3, especially with its better screen and broader array of ports. I love that Apple has a MacBook at the middle of its lineup that finally feels worthy of the "Pro" designation without costing an arm and a leg.
The best 15-inch MacBook
MacBook Air 15-inch (M4)
- Excellent build quality
- Gorgeous aesthetic
- Fast productivity performance
- Outstanding battery life
- Superior keyboard and touchpad
- Too few ports
- Lid is a little bendable
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 13.40 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches, 3.3 pounds |
| Processor | Apple M4 (10 core) |
| GPU | 10-core |
| RAM | 16GB, 24GB, 32GB (all unified memory) |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Display | 15.3-inch 2880 x 1864 LED IPS display at 60Hz |
| RAM | 16GB, 24GB, 32GB (all unified memory) |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
The 15-inch MacBook Air has long been in an awkward spot because of its pricing. It's just a small step up from the 15-inch MacBook Air to the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which gives you a lot more power for not a lot less screen. For a lot of people the MacBook Pro will be the better choice.
But that doesn't mean that is true for everyone. For many people, the 15-inch MacBook Air's combination of expansive display and rock-solid lightweight build is a hugely attractive prospect, and those people have a lot to like about the latest update to Apple's largest MacBook Air.
With the introduction of the M4 chip, the 15-inch MacBook Air gets a sizeable power boost over its predecessor, which means you don't have to sacrifice performance when you're working on the go. Its large display is beautiful to behold, and while it lacks some of the finesse touches from the MacBook Pro (like the mini-LED backlighting), it's still a gorgeous option for laptop lovers. And with a larger chassis than its 13-inch counterpart, you also get even longer battery life, making it a portability powerhouse.
You'll need to consider what you need most -- top-of-the-line power or a larger display and greater portability -- before deciding whether you should opt for the 15-inch MacBook Air or the 14-inch MacBook Pro. Whichever you choose, you'll end up with a fantastic laptop.
The most powerful MacBook
MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Max)
- Insanely powerful
- Lots of speedy ports
- A gorgeous mini-LED screen
- Great battery life
- Maxed-out configurations
- Large and heavy
- Very, very expensive
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches, 4.7 pounds |
| Processor | 14-core, 16-core |
| GPU | 32-core, 40-core |
| RAM | 36GB, 48GB, 64GB, 96GB, 128GB |
| Storage | 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB |
| Display | 16.2-inch XDR mini-LED (3456 x 2234) |
| RAM | 36GB, 48GB, 64GB, 96GB, 128GB |
| Storage | 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB |
Most people shouldn't buy the M4 Max MacBook Pro 16-inch. It's a very large, very powerful, and very expensive laptop. In fact, if you don't know the specific reason why you need the M4 Max, you can probably get away with the M4 or M4 Pro. But for those creative professionals who really need the fastest device possible, the M4 Max MacBook Pro is incredible.
Of course, it has all the hallmarks of the MacBook Pro that make it such a premium laptop, whether that's the delightful mini-LED screen, the great port selection, or the 12-megapixel webcam. You can also configure the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Max as well, and the only real difference between the two outside of size is the speakers. The 16-inch MacBook Pro has the absolute best speakers on any laptop, especially in terms of providing extra bass to the sound profile.
I tested the M4 Pro version of the MacBook Pro and was incredibly impressed by the performance. The M4 Max takes things even further, of course, going from 20 GPU cores up to 32 or even 40 GPU cores. Opting for 40 cores also opens up the maxed-out configurations, including going up to 128GB of unified memory and 8TB of storage.
The most affordable MacBook
MacBook Air 13-inch (M3)
- Excellent GPU performance
- Compact and beautiful design
- Impeccable build quality
- Battery life is fantastic
- Better multimonitor support
- Limited ports
- M2 might be better value
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches, 2.7 pounds |
| Processor | Apple M3 (8 core) |
| GPU | 8-core, 10-core |
| RAM | 16GB, 24GB (unified memory) |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Display | 13.6-inch 2560 x 1664 LED IPS display at 60Hz |
| RAM | 16GB, 24GB (unified memory) |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
Now that Apple is selling the M4 MacBook Air for $999, it's dropped the M3 model entirely from its lineup. But if you're after a bargain, that could be good news, as third-party retailers have cut its price in order to shift their stock.
But there's really nothing wrong with the M3 MacBook Air. In fact, it thoroughly impressed us when we reviewed it, with its combination of excellent performance, superb battery life and top-notch battery life leaving a lasting impression.
The M4 chip may now be on the scene, but that doesn't mean you should overlook the M3 MacBook Air. If you're not too fussed about having the latest and greatest performance, the M3 model is an excellent choice, particularly if you can get a good deal for it. Windows alternatives still struggle to beat its all-round package, despite it being over a year old at this point. For anyone looking for a lightweight, portable laptop that can hold its own and oozes class, it's still got an awful lot to offer.
What you should consider
What's the best MacBook for photo and video editing?
If you're a professional photo or video editor, you're going to want to consider either the Pro or Max configurations of the MacBook Pro. Not only does the MacBook Pro provide you with the best screen for careful color grading and even HDR support, but the extra GPU performance will drastically speed up tasks like applying edits, rendering, and exporting.
If you're more of a hobbyist, you can no doubt get by with less, though I'd recommend at least trying to pick up something with an M4 chip, which provided a significant uplift in GPU performance over the previous generation.
Should you buy a refurbished MacBook?
There's absolutely nothing wrong with picking up a refurbished MacBook. Apple sells them directly from its own store, and you'll find "renewed" or "refurbished" models in retailers like Amazon or Best Buy as well. Apple even has its own network of “authorized resellers” that often offer revamped laptops. Having this authorized reseller status means the company has access to genuine Apple parts, so you know that any refurbished MacBook it sells is full of high-quality parts rather than cheap knockoffs.
But be careful on pricing. Make sure the discount is significant enough to warrant getting a used device, especially considering the changes that happen between generations of models.
MacBook or iPad?
There's a lot of overlap between MacBooks and iPads these days in terms of price and capabilities. That's especially true when you consider the expensive 13-inch iPad Pro M4. And though you can do many of the things on an iPad that you can on a MacBook, I recommend most people to buy a MacBook Air. It's a more familiar computing environment for accomplishing the types of tasks you buy a laptop for.
Unless you have specific reasons or preferences about iPadOS over macOS, you're bound to run into limitations that cause frustrations if you're using it as your primary work or school device. Each year, iPadOS takes steps toward being a proper laptop replacement, but it's not quite there yet.
How we test
We test every MacBook with the same benchmarks and tests, many of which are the same we use when reviewing Windows laptops. We run a colorimeter on the display to check brightness, color accuracy, and contrast, as well as detailed battery testing to see how quickly it drains in various tasks.
Every score and measurement must be taken in context of where MacBooks have been in the past and how laptops are testing across the aisle in Windows world. We're certainly in a new era here with Apple silicon, but comparisons between MacBooks and Windows laptops have never been more important as the two continue to raise the bar against one another.
We're still working on getting access to as many different configurations as possible, but we've tested many of the important models, including multiple options from the M1, M2, M3, and M4 lines of chips. Having this data is essential as we make comparisons between these models and offer recommendations based on those findings.
Why you should trust us
Digital Trends has been reviewing and testing MacBooks for well over a decade. We have a huge catalogue of laptop and MacBook reviews under our belt, and an endless log of data to sift through.
As an independent outlet, we take the job of evaluating tech products seriously. We don't offer recommendations for products we wouldn't recommend to our own family and friends. When it comes to MacBooks, we want to help you save as much money as possible rather than simply telling you to buy the latest, flashiest thing. That's why you'll find older models on our list of recommendations, and even discussion of refurbished options.
