Since its first launch in 2006, Apple’s MacBook has evolved quite a lot. From the 13-inch MacBook Air to the absolute beast in the form of the MacBook Pro, there is a lot that you should know before making a purchase. Let me walk you through that in detail.
Apple makes one of the best laptops for almost every use case. Whether you are a digital nomad trying to get something that is powerful yet portable, or a creator who needs the best power without compromising on the Apple experience, MacBook can cover your needs.
That said, I will be making it easy for you to get the one that suits your needs the best. So, without further ado, let us dive right into the detail.
The Most Affordable – MacBook Air M1
If you need a laptop (specifically a MacBook) that doesn’t cost your arm and a leg, you should go with this MacBook Air M1.
It was the first M1 chip MacBook that Apple released in 2020, and since then, there has been a whole lineup of M chipset MacBooks, but let me just stay on the M1 for now. It is one of the best and cheapest MacBooks that you can get. You might be able to find cheaper Intel chip MacBooks, but I won’t recommend them.
One of the things I love about this M1 chip MacBook is its power efficiency—it can manage multiple tasks without burning too many battery cells. This makes the MacBook Air M1 ideal for working from cafes, libraries, or anywhere where you have WiFi access. In such a case, having a dependable internet connection – Xfinity internet plans, for instance – ensures that all your files are synced, updated, or backed up once you are back online again.
Apart from being great at battery management, this MacBook is super portable as well. You won’t have any problems using this machine while you are on the go. In fact, I have used it to work from the beach in Miami, and it went well.
The only two downsides of this machine are that it doesn’t offer more than 8 gigs of RAM and 256 gigs of secondary storage. The second problem is its okay-ish 720p camera that struggles to capture more details on video calls, and the videos from it don’t look as professional as I want them to be.
The Most Powerful – MacBook Pro 2024 in 16 inches
If you want the greatest and latest power, the M4 MacBook Pro 2024 is an absolute beast.
Let me start with the specs: it has an M4 chip that comes in either the Max or Pro variant. As for the RAM, it can go up to 32 gigs while the SSD can be topped out at a whopping 8 terabytes. Display-wise, it has a 120Hz screen and a small LED screen to display the necessary information at a glance. Sound? It is spectacular because it is powered by six speakers. There are three USB-C ports, an HDMI port, and a slot for an SD card.
How is it in real life? It is great, but nothing comes without compromise. It isn’t a portable device. It is heavy and it takes up a lot of space in my bag. But performance-wise, it is a master. From editing heavy videos in 4K to developing software, it offers superior performance than most of the laptops out there.
Battery timing is great too, not as great as the M1 chip MacBook Air but it can pretty much last a whole day of work.
As of now, it is the best-performing MacBook, but it might not be able to retain its title as in 2026, the MacBook Pro powered by the M5 chipset, which might be better than this one.
So, if you want the best of the best right now, go with this or wait to get your hands on the latest best.
The Best – MacBook Air 2025 in 13-inch
If you want something that basically ticks almost all the boxes and is a no-nonsense, M4 MacBook is the way to go. It doesn’t have the old problems that existed in the MacBook Air. It is certainly an improved version. How? Let me explain.
It has essentially the same body as that of the older MacBook Air, but it has been improved where it should have been – the video camera has been upgraded to a 12MP sensor that can capture 1080 pixels in videos. Apart from the camera, it has the same 60Hz screen that can get as bright as 500 nits, and the same body with the same ports. It has that renowned Apple MagSafe charging that doesn’t require putting the charger into the body.
As for the power, the M4 chipset is fantastic. It has a 10-core CPU and an option of 8 or 10-core GPUs. I had the 8-core GPU variant, and it was fine for me as I need the CPU more than the GPU. If you need to edit graphics and videos, I suggest getting the 10-core GPU variant.
All in all, it is the best and the easiest choice to recommend when it comes to specifically MacBook. So, go for it if you need an upgrade.
