Apple’s MacBook family has grown to serve Apple fans ranging from casual users to content-creating power pros. With similar specs and exterior styling across both the Air and the Pro models, deciding which one is best for you largely comes down to which size screen you need and how much processing power your typical computing tasks require.
This is especially true because all of Apple’s latest MacBooks are now on its M3 line of processors, with the latest MacBook Air models making the generation complete. This sent the last of the M1 MacBook Air stock to the land of remainder-retail deals, and the still-robust M2 model has filled its seat at Apple’s longstanding $999 pricing starting point.
Below are our choices for the best MacBooks in 2024 for five key user classes. Each laptop has gone through the full PCMag testing process, and following our picks is a detailed buyer’s guide that answers common questions.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2024, M3)
Best Mainstream MacBook for Most Buyers
Bottom Line:
The 2024 Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch shoehorns more performance into its slim chassis, and amps up the external-monitor support and gaming capability. It holds its own as the best ultraportable Mac.
PROS
- Impressive blend of portability and power
- Capable graphics performance
- Slim, lightweight all-metal design
- Expanded support for external displays
- Speedy and versatile Thunderbolt 4 ports
- All-day battery goes and goes
CONS
- Distracting camera notch
- Lower peak display brightness than expected
- Limited monitor support when laptop is open
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Ultraportable |
| Processor | Apple M3 |
| RAM (as Tested) | 16 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Screen Size | 13.6 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 2560 by 1664 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | IPS |
| Variable Refresh Support | None |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Apple M3 (10-core) |
| Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.44 by 11.97 by 8.46 inches |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs |
| Operating System | Apple macOS Sonoma |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 21:38 |
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Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2024, M3)
Best Big-Screen MacBook for Most Buyers
Bottom Line:
With Intel laptops hot on its tail, the second-generation 15-inch MacBook Air is all about its M3 processor update. It hits new performance highs while maintaining a winning design.
PROS
- M3 processor brings marked improvements
- New support for two external displays
- Thin and light, despite its footprint
- Same competitive price as first generation
CONS
- No changes to design
- Too few ports for its size
- Running two external displays requires lid to be shut
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Desktop Replacement |
| Processor | Apple M3 |
| RAM (as Tested) | 16 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Screen Size | 15.3 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 2880 by 1864 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | IPS |
| Variable Refresh Support | None |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Apple M3 (10-core) |
| Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.45 by 13.4 by 9.4 inches |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs |
| Operating System | Apple macOS |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) |
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Apple MacBook Air (2022, M2)
Best Budget MacBook
Bottom Line:
The 2022 version of Apple’s MacBook Air gets a fresh look and the more powerful M2 processor, making it Apple’s best ultraportable laptop yet.
PROS
- Stunning, slim design
- Larger, more vibrant 13.6-inch display
- Multiple color options
- M2 chip delivers excellent performance
CONS
- Shorter battery life than 2020 M1 MacBook Air
- Camera notch encroaches on display panel
- Limited to two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports (though mitigated, in part, by MagSafe connector)
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Ultraportable |
| Processor | Apple M2 |
| RAM (as Tested) | 16 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 1 TB |
| Screen Size | 13.6 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 2560 by 1664 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | IPS |
| Variable Refresh Support | None |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Apple M2 |
| Wireless Networking | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.44 by 11.97 by 8.46 inches |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs |
| Operating System | Apple macOS |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 12:55 |
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Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2023, M3 Pro)
Best MacBook for Mobile Content Creators
Bottom Line:
Apple’s 2023 14-inch MacBook Pro strikes a winning balance between premium design and M3 Pro-powered performance, for a compact mobile workstation that trounces similarly priced Windows machines.
PROS
- Leading M3 Pro performance
- Astonishing 30-hour battery life
- Snappy keyboard and excellent trackpad
- Many helpful connections
- Premium all-metal construction
- New finish and color options
CONS
- Too heavy for easy portability
- Configuration prices balloon quickly
- No touch screen
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Workstation |
| Processor | Apple M3 Pro |
| RAM (as Tested) | 18 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Screen Size | 14.2 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 3024 by 1964 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | Mini LED |
| Variable Refresh Support | ProMotion |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Apple M3 Pro (14-core) |
| Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.61 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs |
| Operating System | Apple macOS |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 30:27 |
Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2023, M3 Max)
Best MacBook for Professional Creative Work
Bottom Line:
Apple’s 2023 16-inch MacBook Pro is a fully loaded laptop that goes from premium consumer desktop replacement to elite professional workstation with the M3 Max chip.
PROS
- Fiery M3 Max processor
- Beautiful Liquid Retina XDR display
- Ample configuration options
- Abundant ports and connectivity
- Superb battery life
CONS
- Expensive, particularly for higher configurations
- Inconsistent GPU performance in testing
- No touch screen
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Workstation, Desktop Replacement |
| Processor | Apple M3 Max |
| RAM (as Tested) | 128 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 8 TB |
| Screen Size | 16.2 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 3456 by 2234 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | Mini LED |
| Variable Refresh Support | ProMotion |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Apple M3 Max (40-core GPU) |
| Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches |
| Weight | 4.8 lbs |
| Operating System | Apple macOS |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 27:53 |
Buying Guide: The Best Apple MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Laptops for 2024
The 13-Inch and 15-Inch MacBook Airs
Apple’s smallest laptop is the 13-inch version of the MacBook Air, last redesigned for 2022 and the same design retained in the 2024 version. It’s a slim, sleek machine that measures just 0.44 inch across and weighs just 2.7 pounds. The latest version of the 13-inch MacBook Air heavily adopts the newest MacBook Pro design, with uniform thinness, an improved Magic Keyboard, a larger 16:10 screen (thanks to the display notch), MagSafe charging, and more.
The MacBook Air line is also Apple’s cheapest, now starting with the 2022 model (M2 processor) at $899 for students and teachers or $999 for the general public. It’s marked down often, too, so this MacBook Air model might have even bigger appeal and staying power than the M1 model that it has replaced at Apple’s sub-$1,000 price floor.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Apple’s 2024 version of the 13-inch MacBook Air keeps every advancement from the 2022 model and refines it with more power inside. Those advancements include the new 16:10 display, the improved keyboard, the MagSafe charging port, and the improved FaceTime webcam. Plus, the new M3 processor measurably improves performance over the M2 model while maintaining a lengthy battery life.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
The MacBook Air is an ideal travel companion, and, given its sleek styling and Apple’s cachet, a bit of a status symbol. It’s the Mac laptop we recommend for most people. But since you’ll spend at least $999 on it, you’ll want to make sure to look at the other, larger Apple portables that provide more connectivity and—in some cases—more computing power.
Bigger than the 13-incher is the now second-generation 15-inch MacBook Air, updated this year with the M3 processor in the same frame and again with more two GPU cores than the 13-inch options in its base model (10 total). This model again starts at $1,299, which nets you the 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, 8GB of unified memory, and a 256GB SSD. The port arrangement does not change here, unfortunately, but the sharp 1080p FaceTime webcam carries over. Each component upgrade from there (SSD, memory) generally costs another $200 per step upward, save for the largest storage options. For more about how the two models compare, read our article detailing the 15-inch MacBook Air vs. the 13-inch MacBook Air.
14-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Pro: For Pros in the Know
If you are a video editor, photographer, or software developer who might benefit from more computing power, you should skip the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the MacBook Airs, and instead consider either the 14-inch or the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The factors to consider here are more than just the extra screen inches and additional weight. You also need to decide whether you need the extra horsepower that the new M3 line of Apple Mac processors can provide over the M2 series. The name of the game here is GPU gains, with up to 40 cores now available in the M3 Max, not to mention hardware-accelerated ray-tracing support and mesh rendering for the first time.
The line begins with an M3-equipped 14-inch model for a $1,599 baseline, the only configuration with a plain M3 rather than M3 Pro or M3 Max chip. Along with the chip, which combines eight CPU cores (four performance and four efficiency cores) with 10 GPU cores and 16 neural engine cores, the laptop has a 512GB solid-state drive and 8GB of unified memory. Optional upgrades include 16GB or 24GB of RAM and a 1TB or 2TB SSD, any of which naturally hikes up the price; the most loaded M3 14-inch MacBook Pro costs $2,599.
If you want an M3 Pro processor instead, you need at least $1,999 for a 14-inch machine with an 11-core CPU, a 14-core GPU, 18GB of memory, and 512GB of storage. The M3 Pro chip brings expanded capacity across the board, supporting up to 36GB of memory and 4GB of storage (for a ceiling of $3,599) and adding another Thunderbolt 4 port.
Finally, if you crave a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the almighty M3 Max chip inside, that’ll be $3,199 to start, with a 14-core CPU, a 30-core GPU, 36GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. You’ll also find an M3 Max version with a 40-core GPU starting at $3,699. This model boosts the laptop’s memory and storage limits to 128GB and 8TB, respectively, with a fully loaded configuration topping out at a princely $6,899.
(Credit: Tom Brant)
With a price ranging between $2,499 and $7,199, it’s obvious that you have plenty of options for customizing your 16-inch MacBook Pro build at purchase. The most basic model, selling for $2,499, is outfitted with an M3 Pro processor, Apple’s middle child in the M3 processor family. With 12 CPU cores (six performance cores and six efficiency cores), it’s a capable system for most office workers, and the stock model comes with an 18-core GPU, 18GB of memory, 512GB of SSD storage, and enough power to drive dual external monitors at up to 6K resolution and as fast as 60Hz.
Stepping up to the more powerful M3 Max processor bumps the price to $3,299, and it comes with a more powerful 14‑core CPU, and a beefy 30‑core GPU, and it starts with 36GB of Unified Memory and 512GB of SSD storage.
However, this can be upgraded considerably (as seen in our review unit) with options for a more powerful 16-core M3 Max chip and 40-core GPU, up to 128GB of memory, and your choice of 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB of SSD storage. Add it all up, and the top possible model sells for $7,199.
The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops are also obvious choices for professionals who plan to connect peripherals like external monitors or transfer data using SD cards. Both include a full-size HDMI port and an SD card reader, setting them apart from the USB-C/Thunderbolt-only MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro.
What About Touch-Screen MacBooks?
All Apple MacBook models lack any form of touch input, following (at long last) the end of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar, replaced by the new M3 14-inch model. Touch screens seem to go against Apple’s laptop design philosophy, looking to keep focus on the keyboard and touchpad experience instead.
An Apple iPad or a Windows laptop is your best alternative for using a digital stylus or other tasks best suited to touch screens. Fortunately, the trackpads on all Apple laptops are excellent, with oversize glass surfaces and virtual “haptic” feedback instead of a physical click mechanism.
So, Which Apple MacBook Should I Buy?
Apple frequently releases new Mac laptop models and updates old ones. We saw an unprecedented amount of Macs last year and two new MacBook Air models already this year, so while now is a safe time to buy a Mac, anticipate new models sometime next year if the past few years are anything to go by. And, if you’re not sure if a MacBook Air or Pro is your thing, also take a look at our roundup of the best laptops overall—Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS alike. Below is a recap of our picks for the best Apple MacBooks to buy right now.
