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Title: The best MacBook for 2024: Which Apple laptop should you buy?

Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:00:36 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/be...

At its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, Apple announced
updates coming to its various operating systems, most of which focus on its
own version of AI, dubbed Apple Intelligence. MacBooks will get macOS 15, aka
Sequoia, that will support Image Playground, AppleΓÇÖs image generation tool,
and AI composition features that can rewrite, proofread and summarize text in
Mail, Notes, Pages and more. But the AI smarts will only be available to
Apple laptops with an M1 chip or newer. So if you have an older model (pre-
2020), or want the latest chips to get the most out of macOS 15, you might
want a new MacBook. This guide will help you pick which one makes the most
sense for you.

After testing every model Apple makes, we think the 13-inch MacBook Air with
the M3 chip and 16GB of RAM is the best choice for most people. But there are
definitely reasons to consider the cheaper M2 Air and the fully featured Pro
laptops. WeΓÇÖve broken down all the options to help you decide which is the
best MacBook for you.

Factors to consider when buying a MacBook

Compared to PCs, Apple computers tend to have more streamlined
specifications. The company has long been known for this simplicity, and the
M-series ΓÇ£system-on-a-chipΓÇ¥ condenses things even further. It started
with the M1 chip, which has since been retired in all models. The M2 and M3
chips can be found in current-generation MacBooks, but the latest Apple
silicon, the M4 chip, is only housed in the new iPad Pro. All M-series chips
combine, among other technologies, the CPU, graphics card and unified memory
(RAM). AppleΓÇÖs Neural Engine is included too, which is a specialized group
of processor cores that handles machine learning tasks such as image analysis
and voice recognition.

While a unified chip means you have fewer decisions to make when picking a
MacBook, there are still a few factors to consider, including specs like the
number of CPU cores, amount of RAM, storage capacity, screen size, and,
obviously, price. The finish color may be a minor consideration, but it's
worth pointing out that the Pro come in just two colors (Silver or Space
Gray) but the Air adds two additional hues (Midnight and Starlight).

CPU cores

Currently the lowest-specced chip in a MacBook is the M2 in the 13-inch
MacBook Air. It comes with an 8-core CPU and either an 8- or 10-core GPU. At
the other end of the spectrum, the M3 Max chip is built with up to a 16-core
CPU and a 40-core GPU. Cores are, in essence, smaller processing units that
can handle different tasks simultaneously. Having more of them translates to
the computer being able to run multiple programs and applications at once,
while also smoothly processing demanding tasks like video editing and high-
level gaming. In short, more cores allow for more advanced computing and
better performance. But if your processing power needs fall below
professional-level gaming and cinematic video and audio editing, getting the
highest number of cores is likely overkill ΓÇö and after all, more cores
equals higher cost and more power usage.

RAM

Your options for RAM, or in AppleΓÇÖs terminology, Unified memory, varies
depending on the chip you choose. The M2 and M3 chips can be paired with 8,
16 or 24GB of RAM. The M3 Pro chip has 18 or 36GB memory options, while the
most powerful M3 Max chip supports 48, 64 or a whopping 128GB of RAM.

YouΓÇÖve likely heard the analogy comparing memory to the amount of workspace
available on a literal desktop surface, whereas storage is the amount of
drawers you have to store projects to work on later. The larger the worktop
surface, the more projects you can work on at once. The bigger the drawers,
the more you can save for later.

More RAM is ideal for people who plan to work in multiple apps at once. And
the more demanding each program is, the more RAM will be required. Extra
memory can also come in handy if youΓÇÖre the type who likes to have infinite
numbers of tabs open on your browser. If your daily workflow doesnΓÇÖt
involve simultaneously using a vast number of memory-intensive programs, you
can save yourself money and buy the RAM configuration that youΓÇÖre most
likely to actually use.

For casual users, 8GB may be enough, however, if you can afford an upgrade to
16GB of RAM, we recommend going doing so, as modern browsers tend to be
pretty memory-hungry. Investing in more RAM now will give your new MacBook a
longer lifespan of reliable use. ItΓÇÖs also important to keep in mind that,
unlike most PCs, the RAM in current-model MacBooks is not user-upgradable, so
youΓÇÖll want to get what you plan on needing at the outset.

Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget Storage capacity (SSD)

Storage options range from 256GB of SSD for the M2 MacBook Air and 8TB of
storage for the MacBook Pros with the M3 Max chip. If you want to rotate
between a long roster of game titles or keep lots of high-res videos on hand,
youΓÇÖll want more storage. If youΓÇÖre mostly working with browser- and
cloud-based applications, you can get away with a smaller-capacity
configuration. That said, we recommend springing for 512GB of storage or
more, if itΓÇÖs within your budget. YouΓÇÖll quickly feel the limits of a
256GB machine as it ages since the operating system alone takes up a good
portion of that space. Having 1TB will feel even roomier and allow for more
data storage over the life of your laptop.

When Apple announced the iPhone 15, the company also announced new iCloud+
storage storage plans, with subscriptions that allow up to 12TB of storage.
You could also transfer files to an external storage device. But if you
donΓÇÖt want to pay for a monthly subscription and prefer the convenience of
having immediate access to your files, itΓÇÖs best to get the highest amount
of storage space your budget allows for at the outset.

Screen size

MacBooks come in 13-, 14-, 15- and 16-inch sizes. That might not seem like a
huge difference, but, as EngadgetΓÇÖs Nathan Ingraham noted when he reviewed
the now-retired 15-inch M2-powered MacBook Air, a larger screen "makes a
surprising difference.ΓÇ¥ ThatΓÇÖs especially true if you plan to use your
laptop as an all-day productivity machine and wonΓÇÖt be using an external
monitor. More space means you can more clearly view side-by-side windows and
have a more immersive experience when watching shows or gaming.

But screen size is the main factor influencing weight. The 13-inch MacBook
Air M2 weighs 2.7 pounds, whereas the top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro weighs 4.8
pounds. If you plan to travel a lot or swap your work locations regularly, a
smaller screen will make life easier in the long run.

All MacBooks feature IPS LCD panels (in-plane switching, liquid crystal
display), which Apple markets as Retina displays. The MacBook Air M1 has a
Retina display. A Liquid Retina display comes with the M2 MacBook Air and the
Liquid Retina XDR display comes with the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
ΓÇ£LiquidΓÇ¥ refers to the way the lighted portion of the display ΓÇ£flowsΓÇ¥
within the contours of the screen, filling the rounded corners and curving
around the camera notch. ΓÇ£XDRΓÇ¥ is what Apple calls HDR (high dynamic
range).

Compared to most other laptops, MacBook displays are notably bright, sharp
and lush. But one feature worth pointing out is another Apple marketing term:
ProMotion. ItΓÇÖs the companyΓÇÖs term to describe a screen with a higher,
120Hz refresh rate, which results in smoother scrolling and more fluid-
looking graphics. Only the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros offer ProMotion; the
other models max out at 60Hz, which is perfectly fine for everyday browsing
and typical workdays. But if you want buttery-smooth motion from your
display, youΓÇÖll have to shell out more money for an upgrade.

Price

When the MacBook Air M3 came out, Apple dropped the price of the base-model,
13-inch, M2-powered Air with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. With a $999
starting price, itΓÇÖs now the least expensive new MacBook you can get.
Alternatively, you can spend up to $7,199 for the 16-inch MacBook Pro M3 Max
with 128GB of RAM and 8TB of storage. Chip type, screen size, memory and
storage capacity all influence the final price, which is why guides like this
can help you determine just what you need (and what you donΓÇÖt) so you can
get the most cost-effective machine for you.

We recommend the MacBook Air M3 for most people, the MacBook Air M2 for
students and those on a budget, and the 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pros for
professionals. If you have extra money to spare once youΓÇÖve picked your
machine, we recommend upgrading to at least 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage
to make your machine as future-proof as possible.

Best MacBooks

MacBook FAQs What's the difference between MacBook Air and Pro?

The MacBook Air comes with a standard M3 or M2 chip. MacBook Pro models have
the option of more powerful M3 Pro or M3 Max chips. The Pro has a higher
resolution screen with a higher peak brightness that supports XDR (extreme
dynamic range). The battery life on most Pro models is longer than on the Air
models. Pro models also have more ports and more speakers. In short, the
MacBook Air is aimed at everyday users looking for good productivity and
entertainment capabilities, while Pro models are aimed at professionals who
need a high-performance computer.

What's the difference between macOS and Windows?

MacOS is the operating system developed by Apple and used in all of its
desktop and laptop computers. It can only be found in hardware made by Apple
including MacBooks and iMacs. MicrosoftΓÇÖs Windows operating system can be
found in the companyΓÇÖs own Surface laptops as well as computers made by a
wide array of manufacturers, like Acer, Asus, Dell and Razer.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/be...
140032524.html?src=rss

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