Based on our testing so far, the Apple M1/M2 line has largely delivered on Apple's promises of better battery life and faster performance. You can also pair a Mac Mini or Mac Studio desktop with the new 27-inch Mac Studio Display.Īlmost all Macs have transitioned to Apple's own M1 and M2 chips: Since late 2020, the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, Mac Studio, 24-inch iMac, 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro now all run either M1, M2, M1 Pro or M1 Max/Ultra chips, which include both CPU and GPU cores. If you need something bigger and don't mind it being tied to a desk: Apple updated its smaller iMac (formerly 21.5 inches, now 24 inches) in 2021, and it now comes in seven color options and runs on the company's M1 processor. Here are some tips on making the 720-pixel cameras in those other Macs look better. Great webcam on the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-inch Air 13-inch MacBook Pro webcam is meh: The jump to a 1,080-pixel resolution camera in the newest MacBooks, as well as the 24-inch iMac, is a game-changer for people sitting in video meetings all day. The TouchBar is (mostly) dead: Despite being announced with great fanfare in 2016, the TouchBar, a slim secondary touchscreen that sits above the keyboard, is now only available on one model, the M2 13-inch MacBook Pro, which retains its dated design, despite having Apple's latest chip. On the other hand, we've also found Apple laptop deals through Best Buy's Student Deals page. If you're a student or teacher, that can mean $100 off a MacBook Air and a free pair of AirPods, plus a 20% discount on the AppleCare Plus extended warranty (which I have mixed feelings about). The big exception to the rule is Apple's education sales, which usually include MacBook deals. Here are some MacBook shopping tips and answers to common questions, as well as our breakdown of which Mac is right for whom.Īpple is still offering education deals on MacBooks: Normally, the Apple Store is (ironically) not the best place to buy an Apple laptop (really, almost any Apple product) because sales are all but nonexistent. The generally intuitive nature of MacOS plays a big part in that, as does the fact that Apple makes both the hardware and software, leading to inherent synergies. The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are known for excellent design, build quality and ease of use. With the new M2 chip, we're now firmly in the second generation of Apple Silicon, and the new M2 MacBook Air is already a favorite, even if it's more expensive than its predecessor. Apple offers MacBooks from $999 all the way up to $3,499, and that's just the default configurations without optional upgrades, which can add thousands more.

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