If you ’re wondering which Mac to buy , you ’ve come to the right-hand place . In our Mac buying template , you ’ll notice everything you require to know about the MacBook Air , MacBook Pro , Mac mini , iMac , Mac Pro , and Mac Studio , with expert purchasing advice to help you choose the motorcar ( and configuration ) that ’s right for you .
Apple makes six different types of Mac : MacBook Air , MacBook Pro , Mac mini , iMac , Mac Studio , and Mac Pro , but within each of those categories there are variations in the size of it , spec , and features , so affair can get jolly complicated . That ’s where this guide occur in , help you make the right conclusion so you may find the Mac that play off your motive , whether its the secure economic value for money , the most powerful , the most portable , or a combination of all those thing .
Best Mac 2025
Our top choice of Mac in 2025 is the MacBook Air because it offer a peachy compounding of value for money in a heavyset package that will appeal to the typical Mac user . However , that may not be the best Mac for you if you need the most powerful Mac , in which case we would recommend the MacBook Pro which fetch you all the power you could require in a portable form .
If you do n’t need a laptop computer Mac there are some excellent options in Apple ’s desktop reach , with the Mac Studio providing the best value for money and save thousands compared to a similarly specced Mac laptop . If a low budget option is what you are looking for then seem no further than the Mac mini , which is the cheapest Mac at just $ 599/£599 .
Below we ’ll take you through each Mac currently useable from Apple , to give you an overview of what ’s on offer and what you ’ve got to opt from . We also have additional advice for prefer the best Mac laptop in ourMacBook buying guide .
13-inch MacBook Air, M4 (2025) – Best Mac for most users
What is it?The 11 - inch MacBook Air is Apple ’s most affordable laptop , designed with portability in mind .
What ’s new?Apple insert the M4 version of the MacBook Air in March 2025 . As well as the M4 chip it features an improved television camera , Thunderbolt 4 support , support for 32 GB RAM , and a new Sky Blue color .
Who ’s it for?If you are always on the go , do n’t want to be bogged down by a regular - sizing laptop computer , and take a versatile computer that look good , it ’s a great option at a keen damage . If you desire a larger blind there is a 15 - inch MacBook Air , which we discourse below .
How much does the 13 - inch MacBook Air ( M4 ) cost?The introduction - level 11 - inch M4 MacBook Air costs $ 999/£999 , which is peachy news because in previous year to get the recent chipping you had to pass $ 1,099/£1,099 . There are three configurations and you may make work up - to - order modelling with even more computer memory or storage .
What are the specifications?The specs for the M4 MacBook Air offer an improvement on the late coevals . The MacBook Air now ships with at least 16 GB RAM and we recommend annul older stock with just 8 GB RAM .
What are display specification ?
How do I connect stuff?The M4 MacBook Air models are the first MacBook Air example to support Thunderbolt 4 , which means that they can nowsupport a three-fold monitoring gadget set up . If you want to plug in USB - A devices , you need either a USB - C to USB adapter , like Apple’s$19/£19one , or a USB - C hub that has USB - A ports . See our round - up of thebest USB - C hubs and transcriber .
The MacBook Air has Wi - Fi 6E ( 802.11ax ) for connecting to a mesh . It provides built - in Bluetooth ( 5.3 ) for wirelessly connecting a mouse or other peripherals . If you want to plug in to an ethernet meshwork , you need an adapter .
How fast is it?When we tested the M4 MacBook Air we were impressed by the Geekbench 6.4 results . It was much faster than the M3 MacBook Air and the M4 cow dung even circumvent the M3 Pro in some tests as you could see in ourMac processor bench mark . If you are upgrading from an old Mac – specially if it is one with an Intel chip – you will see a big difference .
Any other considerations?The MacBook Air should be more than fast enough for general - purpose usance . The only issue is that , because it does n’t have a fan , it may slow down during farsighted processing sessions to keep cool . So if you are probable to be video editing or compiling code the MacBook Pro with its buff is a better choice . Also note that ( as with almost all Macs ) it ’s impossible to upgrade the depot or memory after leverage , so you should buy the model with the largest amount of reposition and retentivity you’re able to afford .
Why we recommend the 13 - in MacBook Air : The MacBook Air is a great option for someone who does general - purpose work and moves around a lot , such as a student or a ego - utilize person .
We compare theMacBook Air vs MacBook Proseparately .
Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M4, 2025) – Best value big screen
What is it?The 15 - inch MacBook Air is essentially indistinguishable to the 13 - inch poser above aside from the bigger screen and six - speaker system organization rather than four speaker . Surprisingly , battery living is n’t better on the 15 - inch , despite the bigger battery .
What ’s new?The M4 MacBook Air arrived in March 2025 . Like the 11 - inch edition it features an improved camera , bolt of lightning 4 support , support for 32 GB RAM , and a newfangled Sky Blue color .
Who ’s it for?The 15 - in MacBook Air is ideal for anyone who wants a big - blind laptop computer without having to spend a fortune . The 14 - inch and 16 - column inch MacBook Pro models cost considerably more than the 15 - column inch MacBook Air does . It ’s a capital pick for anyone who is always on the go due to its lightweight design .
How much does the 15 - inch MacBook Air ( M4 ) cost?With the foundation of the M4 , Apple reduced the cost of the 15 - inch model to $ 1,199/£1,199 from $ 1,299/£1,299 . There are three configurations and you’re able to produce work up - to - purchase order models with up to 32 GB memory and 2 TB depot .
What are the specifications?The specifications of the 15 - inch M4 MacBook Air are generally the same as the 13 - inch framework , require there is no 8 - nub GPU selection here . You are essentially paying $ 200/£200 more for the bigger filmdom .
How do I connect stuff?The M4 MacBook Air models support Thunderbolt 4 and can nowsupport a dual monitoring equipment gear up up . For USB - A devices you need a USB - C to USB arranger ( Apple sells one for$19/£19 ) , or a USB - speed of light hub with USB - A ports . See our round - up of thebest USB - carbon hubs and transcriber .
There ’s a Wi - Fi 6E ( 802.11ax ) for connecting to a web and Bluetooth 5.3 . If you need to connect to an ethernet internet , you postulate an adapter .
How fast is it?This is the same M4 as found in the 14 - inch MacBook Pro , so you may expect standardised execution . Indeed , in our tests we found the M4 to be quicker in some benchmarks than the M3 Pro .
Any other considerations?The Air does n’t have a fan to keep the information processing system coolheaded , so it may throttle down its speed during long processing sessions , such as video editing or compile codification . If that ’s the kind of work you mean to do , a MacBook Pro would be a better option . Also note that you wo n’t be capable to update RAM or store afterward , so get as much as you may afford .
Why we recommend the 15 - inch MacBook Air : start at $ 1,199/£1,199 , the 15 - inch MacBook Air is a much more affordable Mac laptop than the 14 - inch MacBook Pro , which starts at $ 1,599/£1,599 , so if you desire your CRT screen to be bigger than 13 inches , and you do n’t demand the power of a MacBook Pro for the kind of body of work you do , the 15 - inch MacBook Air is a outstanding alternative .
Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024) – Powerful Mac laptop for the masses
What is it?There are three trenchant type of MacBook Pro , the M4 role model hash out here , and M4 Pro and M4 Max models we will look at separately . Like it ’s more powerful siblings , the M4 MacBook Pro has an HDR ProMotion video display , which the MacBook Air lacks . The MacBook Pro pop the question more larboard than the MacBook Air : HDMI and SDXC slots . The 14 - inch MacBook Pro offer the best stamp battery life of any Mac laptop computer .
What ’s new?In October 2024 Apple updated the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip . Aside from a better fleck , RAM was increased from 8 GB to 16 GB ( and now plump for up to 32 GB ) . There were also camera improvements , thin battery life story improvements , and it win Thunderbolt 4 support .
Who ’s it for?The 14 - in MacBook Pro is for a more demanding user than the MacBook Air . Its main benefit is the design set aside for expert cooling system , which stand for that if you bear on the machine it wo n’t slow down to forefend overheat . However , there are other MacBook Pros available from Apple ( admit a 16 - inch theoretical account ) that bid firm processors , so if you really need a powerful machine one of those might be more suitable – we hash out the M4 Pro and M4 Max models below .
How much does the 14 - inch MacBook Pro ( M4 ) cost?The entry - level 14 - in MacBook Pro start at $ 1,599/£1,599 . There ’s another model available with twice the storage ( 1 TB ) for $ 200/£200 more .
What are the specifications?The specifications of the 14 - in M4 MacBook Pro are similar to those of the M4 MacBook Air .
How do I associate stuff?There are three Thunderbolt 4 ports ( up from just two on the older model ) . These are compatible with USB - C ( if you have wired equipment that are n’t USB - cytosine or are an older version of Thunderbolt , you ’ll need an adapter , we have a separateMacBook Pro Thunderbolt adapter guideto help you decide which ones you ’ll demand ) . The 14 - inch MacBook Pro also comes with an HDMI port for connecting an outside display or projector , and an SDXC Card one-armed bandit for secure in memory lineup from cameras , audio recorders , and other gimmick . The HDMI embrasure also patronage multichannel audio production . The 14 - in MacBook Pro also has Wi - Fi 6E ( 802.11ax ) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity .
How fast is it?The M4 MacBook Pro matches the spec of the M4 MacBook Air , but you may expect more out of the MacBook Pro just because it features a lover for cooling ( the MacBook Air does n’t have the space for this ) . The M4 is an telling potato chip , and in our benchmarks it scored well in some tests than the M3 Pro . However , if you need a really powerful Mac you should bet to the M4 Pro or even the M4 Max .
Any other considerations?As common our advice is to max out the RAM ( aka Unified Memory ) and computer memory when you buy a Mac because you ca n’t update it later on . At least Apple no longer sells an 8 GB version .
Why we recommend the 14 - inch MacBook Pro ( M4):The 14 - column inch MacBook Pro cost $ 1,599/£1,599 , which is much more than the 13 - inch MacBook Air at $ 1,099/£1,099 . However the $ 500/£500 departure is misleading : when compare like for like , the 15 - inch MacBook Air with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD costs $ 200/£200 less than the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro with the same 16 GB memory and 512 GB SSD . For that extra $ 200 you get a machine that is well suitable to processor intensive work .
14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024) – The most compact, portable workstation
What is it?The 14 - in MacBook Pro can also be configured with an M4 Pro or M4 Max silicon chip , which are much more powerful than the stock poker chip in the M4 MacBook Pro . The Pro and Max MacBook Pro can hold up up to 16 - heart and soul CPU , 40 - core GPU , 128 GB remembering and 8 TB storage , for a seriously firm Mac laptop . There ’s a large 16 - in MacBook Pro with similar specs that we discuss below .
What ’s new?The 14 - inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max was introduced in October 2024 . As well as more powerful bit , it brought better bombardment life , 24 GB RAM as stock ( up from 18 GB ) , amend television camera , and Thunderbolt 5 . barrage is up from 18 hours to 22 hours for the M4 Pro ( still 18 hr on the M4 Max ) . A fast charging feature allows the laptop to charge to 50 percent in 30 minutes , but you postulate to have the right power adapter to do this .
Who ’s it for?When Apple called these “ Pro ” laptops , they were n’t jolly . If your work is very demanding processing major power , these laptop are felicitous to handle it . Work in pro - even software all the time ? Get a 14- or 16 - inch MacBook Pro . With either the M4 Pro or M4 Max processor , they ’re the fast laptop Apple has ever created . The 14 - inch MacBook Pro is cheaper than the 16 - in model , so it ’s a more budget - favorable pick , and if you pair it with an exteernal monitor the screen door size is n’t important .
How much does the 14 - inch MacBook Pro cost?There are three conformation start out at $ 1,999/£1,999 . The ultimate option is the M4 Max version with a 14 - magnetic core CPU , 32 - substance GPU , 36 GB retentivity , and 1 TB SSD , which be $ 3,199/£3,199 .
What are the specifications?Here are the standard configurations for the 14 - inch MacBook Pro
How do I plug into stuff?The 14 - inch MacBook Pro has Wi - Fi 6E ( 802.11ax ) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity . There are three Thunderbolt 5 / USB century port wine , an SDXC expansion slot for plugging in storage cards from cameras , audio recorders , and other devices , and an HDMI port for connecting an extraneous display or projector ( the HDMI port supports multichannel audio output ) .
How tight is it?Apple built the 14 - in and 16 - in MacBook Pro model with pro exploiter in brain and it shows in the performance . Now that Apple has introduced the M4 Pro and M4 Max you’re able to enjoy the riotous Mac laptop Apple has ever made , although when it follow to graphics prowess the Max will always beat the Pro . So if you take the fast then you ’ll want to kick upstairs to the M4 Max which beat the M2 Ultra , only the M3 Ultra is faster than the M4 Max .
Any other considerations?Our advice would be that if you are considering the 14 - inch MacBook Pro because you need a powerful Mac then , ignore the $ 1,999/£1,999 model in favour of the $ 2,399/£2,399 model that has more CPU and GPU marrow . If you do n’t need 1 TB storage , salve money by tot up the M4 Pro with 14 - core CPU , and 20 - core GPU as a construct - to - order selection to the $ 1,999/£1,999 model for an additional $ 200/£200 , bringing the price to $ 2,199/£2,199 . Also note that for tight charging you require a 96W adapter .
Why we urge the 14 - inch MacBook Pro ( M4 Pro or M4 Max):If you want a laptop computer that can handle any task you throw at it — and you do n’t have a constraining budget — you require a MacBook Pro . The only reason not to buy the 14 - inch M4 Pro or M4 Max MacBook Pro would be if you saw a good deal on the M3 Pro / M3 Max version – we’ve been seeing someexcellent deals and price cutson the old modelling , just remember that there was less RAM in those modelling ( 18 GB rather than 24 GB at the introduction - level ) .
16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024) – Ultimate big screen workstation
What is it?The 16 - column inch MacBook Pro offers a alike curing of specs and configuration options as the 14 - inch MacBook Pro ( above ) , but it has a higher monetary value , a vainglorious sieve , and better battery spirit ( 24 hours , up from 22 hours on the predecessor ) .
What ’s new?The 16 - inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max was introduced in October 2024 . Along with more knock-down chips , it provide better battery life ( up to 24 hour ) , minimum 24 GB read/write memory ( up from 18 GB ) , improved camera , and Thunderbolt 5 .
Who ’s it for?This is Apple ’s large ‘ pro ’ laptop computer and it ’s designed for people who want a portable Mac to do work that ask extreme processing power . You could make unnecessary some money with the 14 - in MacBook Pro , but if you need a big screenland on your laptop computer this is the Mac for you . You ’ll also benefit from longer battery spirit . configure with the M4 Max this is the fastest and most powerful laptop Apple has ever created .
How much does the 16 - inch MacBook Pro cost?There are four standard shape starting at $ 2,499/£2,499 for the 16 - in MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 14 - core CPU , 20 - core GPU and 24 GB RAM , 512 GB SSD . The ultimate option is a $ 3,999/£3,999 M4 Max with 16 - center CPU , 40 - core GPU , 48 GB read/write memory and 1 TB SSD . you may also tot up more RAM and up to 8 TB SSD .
What are the specifications?Here are the received configurations for the 16 - inch MacBook Pro introduced in 2024 .
How do I join stuff?The 16 - inch MacBook Pro has Wi - Fi 6E ( 802.11ax ) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity . There are three Thunderbolt / USB 4 interface that are compatible with USB - C. If you have wire gadget that are n’t USB - nose candy or are an sr. version of Thunderbolt , you ’ll need an arranger . We have a separateMacBook Pro Thunderbolt adapter guideto help you adjudicate which single you ’ll need . Unfortunately , be prepared to crush out a full amount of extra cash . These laptop computer also come with an HDMI 2.0 port for connecting an external showing or projector , and an SDXC wag time slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras , audio recording equipment , and other devices . The HDMI port defend multichannel audio output .
How fast is it?The 16 - column inch MacBook Pro models were build with pro users in mind so you’re able to require excellent performance . Your software will be capable to take full advantage of the CPU ’s multiple core . If you are a professional , you ’ll gain from the M4 Pro . If you want the ultimate Mac , the M4 Max beat the M2 Ultra , only the M3 Ultra in the Mac Studio is faster than the M4 Max .
Any other considerations?Look out fordeals and price cutson the M3 Pro and M3 Max models , but note that there is more RAM in the newer models ( 24 GB up from 18 GB for the entry - level M4 Pro ) .
Why we recommend the 16 - column inch MacBook Pro ( M4 Pro or M4 Max):The 16 - in MacBook Pro is a potent workstation that will meet the needs of the most demanding user .
Mac mini (M4/M4 Pro, 2024) – Small and mighty, the best Mac desktop
What is it?The Mac miniskirt was already Apple ’s pocket-size screen background Mac , but 2024 ’s M4 and M4 Pro model are even minuscule following a redesign that mean it now measure 5 column inch by 5 inch , down from 7.75 inches by 7.75 inches . It offer a nice compounding of velocity and , at just $ 599/£599 , affordability . It ’s more than tight enough for general - use use , in fact , its multi - core speed is so good that if you use a professional app like a picture editor , 3D software , or developer tool , the Mac mini can handle it , no problem .
What ’s Modern ? The Mac mini with M4 and a Mac mini with M4 Pro were introduced in October 2024 . Along with the faster processors Apple redesigned the Mac mini , so it ’s now even smaller .
Who ’s it for?Because of its price and performance , the Mac mini is a great Mac for just about anybody . It makes for an idealistic primary Mac for a home or small bureau . pro on a budget will be satisfied with the Mac mini . If you ’re switching from a PC , you could use your PC ’s keyboard and mouse with the Mac mini . The Mac miniskirt is also idealistic as a secondary Mac in your home , and it can integrate into your domicile entertainment center .
How much does the Mac mini cost?There are three standard configurations starting at $ 599/£599 for the Mac mini M4 . At the top of the range is an M4 Pro Mac mini with a 12 - nub CPU , 16 - heart and soul GPU , 24 GB unified memory , and 512 GB SSD which costs $ 1,399/£1,399 . The price is about $ 1,000/£1,000 less for a similarly specced MacBook Pro , although , in each case , the MacBook has a vainglorious SSD .
What are the specifications?Apple sells three Mac miniskirt models .
The Mac mini does not include a exhibit , keyboard , or mouse , so you ’ll have to ply your own , or you could customize your order to include these devices as extra - price options .
How do I join stuff?Like Apple ’s other Macs , the Mac miniskirt has Wi - Fi and Bluetooth . The M4 - base Mac minis have three Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 ports , while the M4 Pro - based Mac miniskirt has three Thunderbolt 5 ports . All Mac minis also offer an additional two USB - C port , an HDMI 2.0 port , a earphone diddlyshit , and a Gb ethernet port wine . They no longer proffer USB - A ports . Toconnect a showing , you could expend the HDMI embrasure or a Thunderbolt port . You might have to buy an adapter if your presentation does n’t have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt .
How fast is it?The M4 - based Mac minis are very truehearted , and offer the dear operation - to - price ratio of any Mac that Apple offer . The Mac mini with M4 Pro offers the same 12 - substance CPU and 16 - heart GPU , 24 GB memory board , and 512 GB storage that is found in the M4 Pro MacBook Pro for $ 1,399 rather than $ 1,999 which represented a huge saving and a big fashion to get a powerful Mac without spending a fate .
Any other considerations?The Mac mini , since it does n’t include a blind , also does n’t have a camera , so you will require a freestanding webcam for conference cry . There is also no mike mix .
Why we urge the Mac mini ( M4):The Mac miniskirt is an splendid machine for most Mac users — young or experienced , professional or general consumer . Plus the price is excellent : if you ’re on a budget , it ’s a great choice , specially if you already have a spare keyboard , mouse , and presentation .
Read our fullM4 Pro Mac mini revue
Mac Studio (M4 Max, 2025) – A powerful desktop Mac
What is it?The Mac Studio is the perfect via media , offering the ultimate in power for less money . It ’s a background Mac that offers the workstation - quality french fries of the MacBook Pro for a fraction of the price . All it lack are the Mac Pro ’s expansion options .
What ’s new?In 2025 Mac Studio gained an M4 Max and M3 Ultra option . This was a bound from the M2 Max and M2 Ultra in the predecessor . There is n’t a M4 Ultra option ( Apple may be reserving this for the Mac Pro ) .
Who ’s it for?The Mac Studio with M4 Max is for the user who wants a lot of processing power in a desktop Mac for a steal price . It is the flash way to get M4 Max chip – the equivalent MacBook Pro cost $ 3,199/£3,199 , albeit with 1 TB alternatively of 512 GB reposition , while the Mac Studio starts at $ 1,999/£1,999 . That ’s a huge $ 1,200 saltation between machine , and even if you spent the extra $ 200 on storage you ’d still have a fortune of money left over .
How much does the Mac Studio cost?There are two stock configurations , an M4 Max and M3 Ultra ( we ’ll calculate at the Ultra below ) . Prices start at $ 1,999/£2,099 for the Mac Studio M4 Max with 32 - nucleus GPU and 512 GB SSD . There are also build - to - order option for the M4 Max that include a 40 - core GPU , up to 128 GB Unified Memory , and 8 TB SSD .
What are the specifications?The Mac Studio uses either the M4 Max or M3 Ultra processors . The received configuration for the M4 Max is :
The memory bandwidth of the M4 Max is 546GB / s compare to 400GB / s in the M2 Max modeling .
How do I connect stuff?The M4 Max Mac Studio has the following ports :
The Mac Studio does not let in a display , keyboard , or mouse , so you ’ll have to put up your own , or you could tailor-make your order to include these gadget as extra - cost pick . To connect to a mesh , you may use the built - in ethernet porthole , or you may use Wi - Fi , which comes standard . To connect a video display , you could use the HDMI 2.0 embrasure or a Thunderbolt port . You might have to buy an adapter if your display does n’t have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt . you could link up to eight 4 kelvin displays , eight 6 K displays or four 8 1000 displays thanks to Thunderbolt 5 on the 2025 model .
How tight is it?The M4 Max is a fast chip and the Mac Studio with M4 Max is a herculean Mac at a very competitive price spot . If you want something even quicker you need to look to the Mac Studio with M3 Ultra ( below ) .
Any other considerations?The main disadvantage is that the Mac Studio relies on outside connexion for expandability . If you want a pro - unwavering Mac with the ability to swap enlargement wit you should face at Apple silicon - based Mac Pro below .
Why we recommend the Mac Studio ( M4 Max):The Mac Studio is idealistic for users who use processor- and artwork - intensive apps , such as media product , software package development , artwork software system , and more . If you find yourself spending a lot of time watching onward motion ginmill while you shape , you ’ll benefit from the power of the Mac Studio . Read : Why Mac professionals should switch to a Mac Studio . The Mac Studio is the sodding compromise , offering the ultimate in power for less money . It ’s a screen background Mac that offers the workstation - character splintering of the MacBook Pro for a fraction of the price . It ’s more powerful ( and more expensive ) than the Mac mini , but lacks the Mac Pro ’s expanding upon option .
Apple 24-inch iMac (M4, 2024) – A style icon for receptions and living rooms
What is it?The iMac is what Apple is famous for , although the current design is as far removed from the original as you . can get . It ’s the Mac to have in a living way or an office reception – somewhere you’re able to show it off .
What ’s new?In October 2024 Apple introduced the M4 variation of the 24 - in iMac . Little has change since the redesign of 2021 , which represent the first major update in more than a decade , with a clean intent and a choice of seven bright colors ( slightly light shades for 2024 ) .
Who ’s it for?The iMac is great for both novices and require users . It can handle general - purpose and laboured - duty tasks every bit well , although those after a replacement for a 27 - inch IMac or iMac Pro might desire to wait to see if the rumorediMac Proever materializes , or adjudicate for a Mac mini Pro ( above ) or Mac Studio ( below ) . It ’s ideal for someone who needs to buy a ended computer setup ( keyboard , mouse or trackpad , and showing ) and want to maximize workspace efficiency . The 24 - inch iMac is a aim icon that will look great in any place .
How much does the iMac cost?When the M4 iMac Apple send away damage outside the U.S. The three stock configuration start at $ 1,299/£1,299 for the entry - level framework , $ 1,499/£1,499 for the mid - range , and $ 1,699/£1,699 for the top of the range .
What are the specifications?The 24 - inch iMac uses Apple ’s M4 chip , the same M4 that features in the 14 - inch MacBook Pro , but in each case , there is half the store and the price is $ 100 less . There are several contour useable as well as build - to - order options :
What are the video display specifications?The 24 - inch 4.5 K Retina display has 11.3 million pixels and supports the P3 wide color gamut , over a billion coloring material , 500 nit of cleverness , and True Tone . Apple process the display with an anti - reflective covering to help with readability . The display has n’t changed since the M1 model launched .
How do I connect stuff?The $ 1,299 24 - inch iMac 24 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports that also work with USB - hundred equipment . The $ 1,499 and $ 1,699 iMacs have four Thunderbolt 4 ports ( the previous generation had two Thunderbolt / USB 4 and two USB 3 ports ) . If you have a USB - A twist , you need to buy an adapter , such as Apple ’s ( $ 19/£19 ) . If you have multiple USB - A devices and other items , consider aThunderbolt hub . The 24 - in iMac also has a phone jack on the side .
Wi - Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are work up - in . Apple does n’t put a gigabit ethernet embrasure on the 24 - inch iMac — rather , it ’s on the big businessman adapter . But that ethernet - equipped power transcriber comes standard with the $ 1,499 and $ 1,699 models . It’snotincluded with the $ 1,299 manakin , but you could select it as an alternative at the point of purchase — and yes , that means you ’ll have to make up extra for it .
How tight is it?:Since the 24 - in iMac has the same M4 as the entryway - level 14 - inch MacBook Pro , its amphetamine is very interchangeable . That intend it ’s tight . It ’s get all the f number oecumenical consumers need , and it can manage pro covering with no job . However , the $ 1,299 model has only one devotee inside its body , while the $ 1,499 and $ 1,699 models have two fans . That means the luxuriously - priced models do a better Book of Job of keep the internals coolheaded . The $ 1,299 modeling may demand to retard down its performance on heavy - duty project in monastic order to maintain a proper temperature .
Any other considerations?We sense that the iMac price is high equate to the specs on offer , but we do admire the blueprint . We are keep out for a adult silver screen .
Why we recommend the iMac ( M4):The iMac was greatly improved when Apple introduced the 24 - column inch model back in 2021 , from the design to the showing to its performance . But , we hope rumors that Apple may launch aniMac Pro modelare on-key . If you are buying one the sweet spot is the $ 1,499/£1,499 model , which gets you more ports , Touch ID , and ethernet .
Mac Studio (M3 Ultra, 2025) – The ultimate desktop Mac right now
What is it?There is a form of Mac Studio that , like the Mac Pro , prevail on Apple ’s Ultra chips . The Ultra chip immix four of the standard M - serial publication chips on one die for a super firm and ultra hefty system . Note that the Mac Studio features an M3 Ultra , not an M4 Ultra , and the M3 Ultra is faster and more powerful than the M4 Max .
What ’s new?In March 2025 Apple updated the Mac Studio to run on an M3 Ultra chip . The surprising matter about this is that Apple did n’t jump flat to the M4 Ultra . No doubt Apple has a rationality to choose to trade an M3 Ultra Mac Studio rather than an M4 Ultra Mac Studio ( probably it does n’t want it to overshadow the Mac Pro when that model get the M4 Ultra ) . The M3 Ultra is the fastest Mac C.P.U. Apple makes ( until the M4 Ultra get at least ) .
Who ’s it for?The Mac Studio with M3 Ultra is for the user who wants the maximum processing power . It lack the expansion options of the Mac Pro , but it fetch all the power ordinarily reserved for the ultimate Mac in a little and cheaper software .
How much does the Mac Studio cost?The Mac Studio M3 Ultra with 28 - core CPU , 60 - core GPU , 32 - Core Neural Engine and 1 TB SSD be $ 3,999/£4,199 . There are also build - to - parliamentary law option that include a 32 - core CPU , 80 - core GPU , up to 512 GB Unified Memory , and 16 TB SSD . Fully maxed out a Mac Studio would be $ 14,099/£14,299 .
What are the specifications?The Mac Studio with Me Ultra processor offers these specification :
The computer memory bandwidth of the M3 Ultra is 819GB / s equate to 800GB / s in the M2 Ultra model .
The Mac Studio does not let in a display , keyboard , or mouse , so you ’ll have to supply your own , or you may customize your purchase order to include these devices as extra - cost options .
How do I connect stuff?The Mac Studio has the following ports :
To connect to a meshing , you’re able to apply the built - in ethernet port , or you’re able to utilize Wi - Fi , which come standard .
To connect a video display , you may use the HDMI 2.0 port or a Thunderbolt port . You might have to buy an adapter if your display does n’t have either HDMI or a embrasure that can connect to Thunderbolt . you could relate up to eight 4 thousand presentation , eight 6 kilobyte displays , or four 8 K display to the M2 Ultra .
How fast is it?The M3 Ultra Mac Studio is the fastest Mac Apple sell as of March 2025 and it does so at a very competitory price point . However , when the M4 Ultra get in in the Mac Pro that will take the hint . We ’ll be testing the M3 Ultra as soon as we can get our hand on the new Mac Studio .
Any other considerations?Sharing the same chip as the Mac Pro made the Mac Studio the obvious choice for anyone who wanted a powerful Mac without having to remortgage their house . Now that the Mac Studio runs on an M3 Ultra while the Mac Pro still only offers the M2 Ultra ( for now ) the Mac Studio is the fastest ever Mac . Those who might have choose the Mac Pro may opt alternatively for the Mac Studio , it ’s one disadvantage being that it lacks the Mac Pro ’s expanding upon options .
Why we recommend the Mac Studio M3 Ultra : The Mac Studio with M3 Ultra is ideal for users who practice processor- and art - intensive apps , such as medium production , package evolution , art software , and more . If you find yourself spending a band of prison term look on forward motion bar while you work , you ’ll benefit from the baron of the Mac Studio .
The only ground not to purchase is if you need to wait to see what the Mac Pro with M4 Ultra offers , when , if ever , Apple found it .
Apple Mac Pro (M2 Ultra, 2023) – The monster Mac
Note : This model has n’t been updated since 2023 . An update is expected at some prison term in 2025.See : M4 Ultra Mac Pro rumors .
What is it?The Mac Pro is Apple ’s workstation . It ’s design for professional who require a powerful and whippy machine . Apple took its time to update the Mac Pro with its own silicon , but in June 2023 , three and a one-half geezerhood after the premature update , the companionship ultimately came up with the goods . We are now waiting for Apple up update it from the M2 Ultra to the M4 Ultra .
Who ’s it for?The Mac Pro is designed for professional who work with practical app that use as many processing cores as potential — video - redaction lotion , picture - redaction software , 3D broadcast , audio editing , software developers , and the like .
How much does the Mac Pro cost?The Mac Pro commence at $ 6,999/£7,199 ( which is up from the premature generation ’s starting price of $ 5,999/£5,499 ) . That ’s for the Tower adaptation , there is also a Rack mount version that starts at $ 7,499/£7,699 . Those are the starting prices , you could choose various configuration options , such as the 76 - marrow GPU and the 192 GB co-ordinated memory and 8 TB storage – just as with the Mac Studio . A fully specced out Mac Pro Tower costs $ 11,799/£11,999 .
What are the specifications?The specification on offering are identical to the Mac Studio with M2 Ultra :
How do I connect stuff?Mac Pro has the following ports :
To link up a showing , you may use the HDMI 2.0 embrasure or the Thunderbolt ports . You might have to buy an adapter if your video display does n’t have either HDMI or a port that can link to Thunderbolt . you could colligate up to eight 4 K displays , six 6 one thousand displays , or three 8 K displays .
To connect external devices , the Mac Pro has six Thunderbolt 4 / USB - degree Celsius ports , two USB - A ports , two HDMI ports , and dual 10Gb Ethernet . But the existent draw for creative pro will be the seven full - distance PCI Express gen 4 slot , one of which come with an Apple I / group O card set up .
How fast is it?When it announced the exemplar , Apple said the 2023 Mac Pro was up to 3x quicker than the premature - generation Intel - base model . It was impressive at the time , but the M2 Ultra has been superceeded by the M4 Max in our test , and now that Apple has update the Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra you may look even good functioning from that model , which has the benefit of be much less .
Apple says the M2 Ultra Mac Pro can plan an “ unprecedented 22 streams of 8 honey oil ProRes picture . ” Just imagine what the new Mac Pro M4 Ultra will be subject of .
Macworld ’s buying advice : The Mac Pro provides the processing ability that the most demanding users need . We ’re talking about production environment , like TV and audio transcription studios , animation houses , and package developer . If you feel like you could never have enough power , you ’re probably the professional the Mac Pro is direct at . But if you do n’t need the expandability then the Mac Studio will in all likelihood be adequate .
If you ’re more of a “ prosumer ” than a professional — someone who is an expert Mac user , but does n’t use eminent - end apps — the Mac Pro is overkill . You ’re probably not going to be able to take vantage of what the Mac Pro has to offer .
Our recommendation is to expect until June 2025 for the longsighted delinquent M4 Ultra .
For buy advice on thebest Windows laptops , see our baby website PCWorld .
Q&A: All your questions answered in our Mac Buying Guide
Should I upgrade from my Intel Mac?
We are now more than four years into Apple ’s transition from Intel processors to its own atomic number 14 that includes CPU , GPU , and unified memory . The transition get down with the introduction of the M1 in November 2020 . Since June 2023 every Mac Apple sells uses Apple ’s own cow dung rather than Intel processor .
If you ’ve yet to upgrade your Intel Mac to one power by Apple ’s atomic number 14 what are you wait for ? If you are concerned that a must - have app does n’t run on an M - series Mac , consider find a new app because the performance gains are tremendous .
Another salutary reason to refresh your Intel Mac is that it is unconvincing to be supported by Apple for much longer in condition of security updates . With the arriver of macOS Sequoia , the turn of supported Intel Macs is fewer than ever , and although Apple will be patronage Sonoma with protection updates for a span more years , and Ventura for another class , only a few of the most recent Intel Macs still be fend for in a year or so . Read : The Intel Macs that can die hard macOS Sequoia .
Where can I get the best price for a new Mac?
If you ’re simply look for a great offering , see ourMacBook Pro deals , MacBook Air pile , iMac deals , Mac Studio plenty , andMac mini dealspages which are on a regular basis updated .
What specs do I really need?
For more information to help you decide which Mac to bribe see ourMac C.P.U. comparison where we compare Apple silicon and Intel . We also offer advice about how much storage , RAM , and core group inHow much MacBook RAM , SSD , GPU , and CPU do you really need .
When were the Macs last updated?
The iMac , Mac mini and MacBook Pro were all last update in October 2024 . The MacBook Air was last update in March 2025 , as was the Mac Studio . The only Mac that has n’t been updated in the retiring twosome of class is the Mac Pro .
