What Mac should I buy?

Updated March 5 2025. Apple released the M4 MacBook Air and Mac Studio. All of Apple's Macs are a great buy right now and offer a really great M4 family chip (except maybe the Mac Pro desktop, which is outrageously expensive for what it offers; the Mac Studio is almost always faster and better priced).

What's coming up (as of March 5 2025): We will probably not see any new Macs until the fall. At that point, we might see an M5 MacBook Pro. Possible upgrades include WiFi 7, AV1 hardware compression, a cellular modem, or maybe even an OLED display. But there are also rumors that the cellular modem (if that's happening at all) and OLED display might not arrive until the M6 in 2026.

One question I receive from many of my clients is what Mac they should buy. Luckily, Apple's product lineup is very simple compared to most other brands. Basically, it comes down to whether you need a portable computer, a desktop computer, and how much power you need.

How many computers is too many?

In general, I recommend no more than one computer per person. Having multiple computers means more to manage and maintain, and more things that can get out of sync. Maintaining a second computer "just in case" is like having a second car just in case one has to be in the shop. It just means you're going to be in the shop twice as often, and you are going to often end up wanting something you left in the other car.

Desktop or laptop?

Desktop computers give you more bang for the buck. It costs a lot more to cram powerful computing power into something portable.

But... what if you want both? If you want a portable Mac on the go but enjoy having a large luxurious screen at home, I recommend getting a laptop computer and adding a huge monitor, possibly with a mouse and keyboard. You'll come out ahead financially and with less headache compared to two computers. So if you already have a laptop but want a big screen, you can get a fantastic 27” 4K monitor in the $400-500 range. Read my article on the topic for my current recommendation.

Which model?

• Portable
  • MacBook Air - The best computer for most people.
    $999 starting
    This lightweight but still amazingly powerful computer is available in a 13" or 15" screen size. The new M series Macs (M1, M2, M3) are 3x faster or more than their Intel predecessors. If you have ignored the MacBook Air in the past because it was underpowered, that is no longer a concern. Unless you need additional ports or are doing high-end multimedia work the MacBook Air will almost certainly fit the bill. Beginning with the M5 MacBook Air released in March 2025, the MacBook Air now supports dual 6K screens as well as the internal display.
  • MacBook Pro 14" or 16" - This is a computer for media professionals. Reasons for choosing it over the MacBook Air are more ports (1 additional USB-C, HDMI, SD card), better screen color, better speakers, better mic, and better battery life. Though it's considerably bulkier than a MacBook Air and a good amount more expensive. The 14" model is available with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips. The 16" model is only available with M4 Pro or M4 Max. The 16" is basically identical, but it does have a bigger screen (obviously) and better battery life. The 16" model is about $500 more than the 14".

Below is a table comparing the size, weight, and price of the various MacBook models. I show prices with 16 GB of memory and 512 GB of storage so that you can compare more similar computers. I added the 13" Mid-2020 MacBook Pro and 2020 MacBook Air so you can see how the current models stack up against the old Intel processors.

Apple also has a Mac comparison tool to compare the specs of most recent models of macs.

Model	Base Price	Processor Options	Memory Options	Storage Options	Battery life (Apple TV movie playback)	Ports	Weight	Thick	Wide
13.6" MacBook Air M4 8-core	$999	M4 10-core (with 8 or 10-core GPU)	16 GB 24 GB	256 GB 512 GB 1 TB 2 TB	18 hours	MagSafe 3, 2 USB-C, headphone	2.7 lb	0.44"	11.97"
15.3" MacBook Air M4 8-core	$1,199	M4 10-core (with 10-core GPU)	16 GB 24 GB	256 GB 512 GB 1 TB 2 TB	18 hours	MagSafe 3, 2 USB-C, headphone	3.3 lb	0.45"	13.4"
14-inch MacBook Pro (available with M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max)	$1,599		16 GB 24 GB 32 GB 48 GB 64 GB 128 GB (some options depend on chip)	512 GB 1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 8 TB (some options depend on chip)	18-22 hours depending on chip selection	MagSafe 3, 3 Thunderbolt 5 USB-C, headphone, SD, HDMI	3.4-3.6 lb depending on chip selection	0.61"	12.31"
16-inch MacBook Pro (available with M4 Pro, M4 Max)	$2,499		24 GB 36 GB 48 GB 64 GB 128 GB (some options depend on chip)	512 GB 1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 8 TB (some options depend on chip)	21-24 hours depending on chip selection	MagSafe 3, 3 Thunderbolt 5 USB-C, headphone, SD, HDMI	4.7 lb	0.66"	14.01"

• Desktop
  • iMac — for most people who need a desktop
    $1,299 starting
    If you need a desktop computer this is almost certainly what that you want to get unless you are a multimedia professional. It comes in a 24" size in multiple colors, and in two basic configurations. One model has two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. For a $200 upcharge, the upgraded model throws in two additional ports (though they are just regular USB-C without Thunderbolt capability, which probably doesn't matter to most), ethernet, and Touch ID.
  • Mac Mini — for those on a budget, those who want to get a monitor that's 30" or larger, or a prosumer who wants an M4 Pro desktop
    $599 starting
    The Mac Mini is popular among those who want an inexpensive entry into the Mac world. The basic model is actually a really good machine, though it does not include a monitor, mouse, or keyboard. But it's extremely versatile. It's popular for hobbyists and for servers where cheap raw computing power is needed. You can get this with an M4 or M4 Pro chip. If you would like a 24" monitor, I would recommend just going with the iMac. Having everything integrated means far less clutter and better reliability. but if you would like a 27" screen or larger you should see my monitor recommendations.
  • Mac Studio — for the multimedia professional
    $1,999 starting
    This is essentially a beefed-up Mac Mini with lots more ports. If you need a powerful desktop computer for high-end graphics and video editing, this is probably the one you want. The basic model includes an M4 Max processor and has options for the M3 Ultra, which can make this computer about twice as fast as the fastest MacBook Pro. Yes, it's weird that the M3 is an upgrade over the M4. But that's because the "Ultra" chip is actually two Max chips fused together. Apple has stated that not every generation of Apple Silicon chip will have the connectors to do this, and the M4 is one of those. But the M3 Ultra is roughly double the speed of the M3 Max. And the M4 Max is roughly 20% faster than the M3 Max. So the M3 is still definitely a speed upgrade.
  • Mac Pro — for the multimedia professional who needs lots of internal expansion
    $6,999 starting
    No home user needs one of these expensive machines for anything but bragging rights. It is identical to the Mac Studio with M2 Ultra, except that it includes lots of expansion: 6 PCIe ports, 2 additional Thunderbolt 4 ports, an additional 10Gb Ethernet, an additional HDMI port, and an additional USB-A port. Considering that a Mac Studio with the exact same processor is $3,999, you'll have to decide if that extra expansion ability is worth an additional $3,000. Be aware that the current model runs an M2 chip which is getting a little older. We might see an M4 model spring 2025.

Model	Base Price	Chip Options	Memory Options	Storage Options	Ports	Internal Expansion
iMac	$1,299	•M4 8-core •M4 10-core	16 GB 24 GB 32 GB (requires 10-core model)	256 GB 512 GB 1 TB 2 TB (requires 10-core model)	•2 Thunderbolt 4 ports (8-core model) or 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports (10-core model) •headphone jack •gigabit ethernet (optional on 8-core model, standard on 10-core)	None
Mac Mini	$599	•M4 10-core •M4 Pro 12-core	16 GB 24 GB 32 GB 48 GB 64 GB (some options depend on chip)	256 GB 512 GB 1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 8 TB (some options depend on chip)	•3 Thunderbolt 5 ports + 2 USB-C ports •HDMI •Gigabit ethernet (option for 10Gb) •headphone jack	None
Mac Studio with M4 Max	$1,999	•M4 Max 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU •M4 Max 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU	36 GB 48 GB 64 GB 128 GB (options depend on chip)	512 GB 1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 8 TB	•4 Thunderbolt 4 ports + 2 USB-C ports with M2 Max; 6 Thunderbolt 4 ports with M2 Ultra •2 USB-A ports •HDMI •10Gb ethernet •headphone jack •SD	None
Mac Studio with M3 Ultra	$3,999	•M3 Ultra 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU •M3 Ultra 32-core CPU, 80-core GPU	96 GB 256 GB 512 GB (options depend on chip)	1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 8 TB 16 TB	•4 Thunderbolt 4 ports + 2 USB-C ports with M2 Max; 6 Thunderbolt 4 ports with M2 Ultra •2 USB-A ports •HDMI •10Gb ethernet •headphone jack •SD	None
Mac Pro	$6999	M2 Ultra	64 GB 128 GB 192 GB	1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 8 TB	•8 Thunderbolt 4 ports •2 USB-A •2 HDMI •2 10Gb ethernet •headphone jack	2 x16 slots 4 x8 slots 1 USB-A 2 SATA

What configuration?

Getting your Mac configured properly upfront is far more important today than it was in the past. Macs now are rarely upgradeable, so in most cases, if you want to upgrade your memory or storage your only option is to replace the computer. While this does sound like it's all a negative, this does make the computers faster because the parts are closer to each other, more reliable because there are fewer contact points, and smaller because there are no connectors needed. The memory and storage are both built into the chip.

Processor or Chip. Beginning in late 2020, Apple began releasing processors dubbed "Apple Silicon". Sometimes you will see this written as the specific chip such as M1, M2, or M3. These processors are phenomenal, with many Macs getting 5x or more speed than their Intel predecessors. If you are a basic user (web, documents, personal photos) the lower-end options are usually good enough, but I always recommend getting the latest generation available.

• Generation: this is designated as M followed by a number. The higher the number, the more recent the technology is, and the better it performs. A higher number also means it has more capabilities such as a newer generation of Thunderbolt, WiFi, or Bluetooth, or the ability to process newer media formats. And it means it will last longer before becoming obsolete. I almost always recommend getting the latest chip model for whatever Mac you are buying so it will last you the longest time.
• Class: this is designated as nothing (for example, simply M4), Pro, Max, or Ultra, which each of these offering increasing performance. The standard model is just fine for home users or for light multimedia work. This is a bit of a generalization, but pro photographers should consider a Pro chip, videographers should consider a Pro or Max chip, and extremely high-end professional setups where waiting for processing can cost you money should look at the Ultra.
• CPU Cores: This is the number of Central Procesing Units in the chip, which are used for general processing and number crunching. The higher the number, the faster your computer is with general tasks.
• GPU Cores: this is the number of Graphics Processing Units in the chip, which are used for image filters, processing and compressing video, and for playing video games. If you don't care about those things going fast then you don't need to take this into consideration.
• Neural Engine Cores: these are the processors on the chip that run AI. Even though AI the current buzzword, Apple has been using AI in their computers and devices for years for things like voice analysis and face recognition. The more of these you have the faster your computer can run AI tasks.

This table shows you what's called the "Geekbench Multi-Core Score" for several popular Intel Macs and several M-series chips. Basically, double the score means double the speed. These only measure CPU speed and not GPU (graphics processor) speed, disk speed, or internet speed. It's simply raw number crunching. Yes, the current M4 MacBook Air really is faster than the 2019 Mac Pro desktop tower! For the M-series you will not see specific Mac models these chips are identical across all Macs; an M4 MacBook Air will perform exactly the same as an M4 MacBook Pro.

Computer / Chip	Geekbench Multi-Core Score
iMac 27" 2019 Intel Core i5-8500	5,200
Mac Pro (Late 2019) Intel Xeon W-3235	9,800
13.3" 2020 MacBook Air Core i3 Intel	1,800
13.3" Mid-2020 MacBook Pro Core i5 Intel	4,500
M1 8-core	8,300
M1 Pro 8-core	10,300
M2 8-core	9,700
M2 Pro 12-core	14,200
M2 Max 12-core	14,500
M2 Ultra 24-core	21,000
M3 8-core	11,500
M3 Pro 11-core	14,300
M3 Max 14-core	19,200
M3 Ultra	TBD
M4 10-core	15,000
M4 Pro 12-core	20,000
M4 Max 16-core	25,600

Memory or RAM. Basic users who just need their computer for the web, documents, and consumer-grade photos and videos can go with the standard 16 GB of memory. If you are a media professional or if you are syncing enormous document libraries with Dropbox or OneDrive, you may want to consider more. Memory isn't storage. It has nothing to do with how many files your computer can handle. For more on the difference, I wrote a blog post about that.

Storage capacity. If you don't know how much storage you need, my general rule of thumb is to get something with at least twice as much storage as you are currently using. That will give you room to grow over the next 5 to 10 years of life that you can expect from your Mac. To see how much storage you are using go to the Apple menu > About this Mac > Storage (macOS 12 and earlier) or Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage (macOS 13 and later). If you want help cleaning up your storage in case a lot of that is junk, you can read my blog post about that or you can book an appointment with me. Sometimes a cleanup can reduce storage enough to knock a couple hundred off the cost of your new computer.

In macOS 12 or lower you can see I'm using roughly 375 GB (844 minus 469), so that means I should get a computer that has at least 750 GB (375 x 2).

In macOS 13 or higher it shows that I am using 792 GB of storage. Unless I can reduce the storage usage, my next computer should probably be at least 1,584 GB, or about 1.5 TB. Most Macs go from 1 TB to 2 TB so I might want to consider cleaning up instead.

AppleCare+. I'm always on the fence about recommending AppleCare+. It often makes sense to get it for a portable computer which is more prone to physical damage. Maybe you are a klutz or you are worried the kids are going to damage it. But it's really up to you. In addition to extending the warranty from 1 year to 3, it's also insurance for accidental damage (with a deductible of course). And now you have the option of extending it beyond 3 years, though month-to-month is more expensive.

How long can I expect a Mac to last?

It's hard to predict when your computer might become obsolete or when it might start breaking down. And sometimes you just get lucky or unlucky. But in general you can expect a Mac to last between 6 and 10 years.

If your Mac is a major tool for your income, it's normal to upgrade near the beginning of that range or sometimes even earlier. If you're a casual home user you can usually make it toward the end of that range.

What determines a Mac's lifespan?

There are typically three different reasons a Mac has to be put out to pasture:

• Apple has stopped releasing security patches. This typically happens after around 8 to 11 years. Once your Mac has dropped off of the major annual upgrades (usually 6 to 9 years) you get two more years of security patches. At that point, if a problem is found with that software your computer could be compromised if it's connected to the internet. There is evidence that since Apple is now developing its own chips rather than relying on security updates from Intel, we might start seeing longer support, but we won't know that for sure until about 2031 when the first Apple Silicon Macs pass the decade mark.
• Your needs have outgrown the computer. It could be that you're using the computer in a more demanding way as you learn more about it and find more ways for it to help you. Or it could be that newer cameras, websites, and software are just pushing it harder and bogging it down more than a few years ago. This is the reason I sometimes suggest adding a few upgrades when you first purchase it. Adding extra memory can help your computer last you an extra 2 or 3 years. You might not need those upgrades right now but you might in five years.
• The computer starts physically breaking down. This could be obvious things like a broken screen or hinges, or it could be more invisible things like liquid damage, air pollutant buildup, fractures in the soldering, or chips that are corroding or just starting to degrade. Sometimes this is just due to physical age, sometimes it can be due to humidity, vibration, or smoky environments, but mostly just luck.

Do I need any accessories?

Generally, I do not recommend any of Apple's accessories such as chargers or adapters. They are usually overpriced and Apple doesn't have a very good track record at making cables that are reliable. The good news is that the new computers all use USB-C which is an industry standard, so for the first time ever, notebook chargers are universal, which is the tradeoff we get for no longer having MagSafe. Forget to pack your Apple charger? You can grab a new Dell or Acer charger and use that!

For cables, I almost always recommend Anker. They are extremely durable and a great value.

For chargers, I usually recommend Anker, Aukey, or Satechi. Some of my favorite configurations have two or more ports so that you can simultaneously charge your Mac and your iPhone. Or your Mac and iPad. Or your Mac and an Android.

For USB-C adapters and hubs, I often recommend Anker, Aukey, Satechi, or Plugable. They each have many different configurations that are good for different needs. But if you have a modern monitor it probably has a hub built-in already.

Sometimes what works better than a USB-C adapter is to replace the entire cable itself with a cable with USB-C on one end and the connector you need on the other. Especially when it comes to external hard drives. They usually run around $7 to $10 and fewer connections mean fewer points of failure.

For thumb drives, most manufacturers now make dual plug drives that can connect to either the old USB-A or the new USB-C. The Sandisk Ultra Dual Drive Go is a great option that's available in many sizes and colors. But please be careful with thumb drives. They are notoriously unreliable and there are no good diagnostic tools for them. They may just suddenly open some files slowly and then they don't open things at all. Thumb drives are like writing things down on cocktail napkins: they are great if you just need to do something quick or get some information to someone, but they should never be part of your file storage or backup plan. Your data is much safer on your computer or in the cloud.

When should I buy a Mac?

Of course, if you need to buy a new Mac now go ahead and buy it. But if you have the luxury of choosing when, I normally recommend getting one when it has recently been released rather than right before a new one comes out. Sometimes holding off for a month or two means getting a computer that will last a year or two longer. Knowing when Apple will release a new model can be tricky. Most computers get updated about once a year, but sometimes they go two or more years between updates. It's not like cars or iPhones where a new model is predictably released annually. To check where we are in the update cycle visit the MacRumors Buyer's Guide. They have an easy-to-understand table that shows each model of Mac, when the last release was, and how regularly they are updated. As well as a list of recent rumors about upcoming updates.

Where should I buy my Mac?

The first place people think of to buy a Mac is from the Apple Store. But Apple rarely offers the best prices. There are a lot of third-party resellers who are Apple-authorized, so you get the same warranty as if you bought directly from Apple.

• Apple Refurbished Store can be a great place to look if you're interested in a previous year's model or a model that has been available for a while. They all come with new bodies, new batteries, and the same warranty as a brand-new Mac. I buy from there myself when I'm not needing a just-released model. Inventory changes constantly and often times the configuration you want isn't available, but it's worth checking.
• B&H Photo & Video keeps many custom configurations in stock so it's often the fastest way to get a model with some upgrade options. They also sometimes offer really good deals for several hundred off retail price. Be careful to check the year in the description because they do sell previous models. Though if a previous model is what you're after they often offer steep discounts.
• Micro Center is a small chain of computer stores with a few locations around the country. They often have great prices, but they don't usually have custom configurations.
• Best Buy often has great prices if they have what you're looking for. Though be careful as they oftentimes will sell items that are several years old for a small or no discount and will rarely indicate that it's a previous model. You have to look it up by model number which can be confusing. Also, be wary of their open-box items. Sometimes people returned the computer for a reason.
• Amazon sometimes has fantastic prices. Though because their website is enormous I find that their labeling is often inaccurate. Sometimes they will label a prior model iPad as the "current model", for example. Amazon rarely offers many configurations of a Mac, sometimes just one or two variations. If they carry the one you want then great! Or sometimes they will carry an upgraded model that has more storage than you were planning to get for the same price as a lower configuration from a competitor.