Apple ’s Mac card offers a model for every user , which is big because more alternative are always dear for the client . But with that comes a morsel of confusedness as to whether a special Mac model is really a good deal . When research a new Mac leverage it can become dizzying when comparing model and prices . Apple ’s online compare toolcan supporter , but some customers may regain sorting through the unlike spec intimidate – and it does n’t let in pricing .
as luck would have it , there are some clear - cut down choices on which Macs you should avert . There are three model that stand out , not because they ’re bad performers , but because you may get more for your money . Here are the three Macs you should avoid and the Macs you should look at alternatively .
Avoid: M1 MacBook AirGet: M2 MacBook Air
The M1 13 - column inch MacBook Air was introduced in 2020 , so it ’s most three years former . The M2 13 - column inch MacBook Air was unloose last year . Both laptops are presently in Apple ’s MacBook lineup , with the M1 Air offered at $ 999/£999 to make it the most low-priced MacBook . The only problem is , Apple did n’t lower the price , so it ’s just selling an previous Mac for the same cost .
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
But the M2 Air is only $ 100/£150 more and offer a ton more for that extra money . You get :
Unless your budget dead can not go over a grand or you ca n’t get over the mental barrier of the price tag , there ’s no cause to pay more than $ 800 for an M1 MacBook Air .
See our complete comparing of the M1 and M2 MacBook Air .
Avoid: 13-inch MacBook ProGet: 15-inch MacBook Air
Apple offers two laptop that start at $ 1,299 in the U.S. : the 15 - inch MacBook Air and the 13 - in MacBook Pro . ( In the U.K. , these laptops are £ 1,399 and £ 1,349 severally , but my point still hold . ) Since the monetary value is the same , you might tend on Apple ’s naming convention to differentiate between the two . ground on that , the “ pro ” laptop computer would be the MacBook Pro , while the compromised ( a.k.a . the laptop for everyone else ) laptop is the MacBook Air .
Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 2023)
But that ’s not really the casing here . Both laptop computer have the M2 chip , so they have the same performance for most habit cases , admit everyday productivity tasks and capacity creation in iMovie or GarageBand . They both have an 8 - inwardness CPU , 10 - substance GPU , 8 GB of memory , and a 256 GB SSD . They both also have two Thunderbolt port .
I did say , “ for most use cases . ” The MacBook Air does n’t have an internal sports fan while the MacBook Pro does , so if you ’re doing something that ’s CPU intensive ( such as render of a 30 - minute 3D animation ) the Air may slow down a little to maintain a proper operating temperature . But if you ’re doing tasks that demanding , you should be using a 14- or 16 - inch MacBook Pro .
The principal advantage the Air has is its 15.3 - column inch Liquid Retina Display . It ’s two column inch bigger than the Pro ’s Retina video display , which is environ by big , contraband bezel . Of course , the bigger display nominate for a self-aggrandizing laptop computer , and if size is a master factor , then save some money and get the 13 - column inch MacBook Air instead of the 13 - inch MacBook Pro .
The Air also has a better 1080p FaceTime camera , while the Pro has an old 720p tv camera . There ’s also the six - speaker audio system in the Air , which better the Pro ’s stereo speakers . So if you do a caboodle of telecasting conferencing , the Air is a better laptop .
The Pro does have the Touch Bar – it ’s the only MacBook that still has it . When Apple redesign the MacBook Air and the larger MacBook Pro models , the companionship was uncoerced to let down the modest number of masses who love it to address the needs of the legal age . That Touch Bar is the only reason to get the 13 - inch MacBook Pro . But even when it ’s on sales event for $ 100 or $ 150 off , we ’d choose the 15 - in line instead .
See our comparison of the 13 - column inch MacBook Pro and the 15 - inch MacBook Air .
Avoid: Maxxed-out M2 Pro Mac miniGet: Entry-level Mac Studio
The M2 Pro Mac mini is usable in a standard configuration at $ 1,299/£1,399 . you may customize it with a 19 - core GPU ( $ 300/£300 ) and 32 GB of memory ( $ 400/£400 ) , which then bring the price to $ 1,999/£2,099 . But if you actually buy that machine , you ’re making an inexpedient leverage .
The undecomposed leverage is the $ 1,999/£2,099 Mac Studio . It has an M2 Max , which has the same 12 - core mainframe as the M2 Pro Mac miniskirt , but it has a30 - magnetic core GPUinstead . That intend the Mac Studio ’s nontextual matter public presentation zooms past the Mac mini , even though they be the same .
Apple Mac Studio (M2 Max, 2023)
The $ 1,999/£2,099 Mac Studio and the M2 Pro Mac mini both have four Thunderbolt ports , two USB - A port , and HDMI . The Studio has a front - facing SDXC card slot ; the mini does n’t . The Studio also has 10Gb ethernet , while the mini has only Gbit ethernet .
The Studio also has more full-bodied display support , able to drive up to eight 4 grand display , six 6 K video display , or three 8 kB exhibit . The mini can manage a maximum of three display .
deed over , the mini is more than half as magniloquent as the Studio , so it might be a better primed in a single-foot or kiosk . But you ’re pay a lot to address a specific footprint . The skilful affair is if you really want a Mac mini , it be given to go on sale for often than the Studio , so you ’re likely to save $ 100 or so , which make the terms much easier to bury . But if you ’re bribe at an Apple Store , get the Studio before springing for Mac mini upgrades .
translate a complete explanation of why the Mac Studio is a good deal than the M2 Pro Mac mini .
