With the recent release of the M4 processor, Apple's sprawling lineup of laptops is harder than ever to differentiate. Luckily, we've gone hands-on with all of Apple's latest MacBooks, from the light and portable MacBook Air to the powerhouse MacBook Pro. Taking into account memory, portability, features and value, we broke down the pros, cons, and ideal use cases across Apple's laptops.
Informed by a combination of benchmarking programs, performance testing, and everyday use, we tested Apple's latest MacBooks to measure battery life, visual quality, performance, and practical use in everyday settings.
What's the best MacBook right now?
The 15-inch MacBook Air M4 is the best all-around laptop for the majority of users. The 15-inch display is just the right size, it's lightweight enough to commute with, and the upgraded M4 Air processor is fast and battery-efficient. The best part? The M4 MacBook Air comes with more memory for less, with a 10-core CPU on the low end and a 32GB configuration on the high end. This amount of memory was previously unavailable on a MacBook Air, but now, the laptop that set the standard for ultraportables is more powerful than ever.
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Show less View now at Amazon View now at Best Buy Before Apple announced the MacBook Air M4 in early 2025, rumors abounded on what new features it would come with. As the last of Apple's core line of devices to get the latest M4 chip, the MacBook Air is an incremental upgrade to the M3, more of a refinement and improvement than an earth-shattering new release. And that's a good thing. The 15-inch MacBook Air M4 is our pick for the best all-around MacBook for the majority of users for its versatility, lightweight form factor, and powerful suite of features. The 15-inch display is just the right size to be portable yet still feel premium and spacious, and now supports two external monitors while the lid is open. Review: Apple MacBook Air M4 (15-inch) review During my testing of the M4, I got over 14 hours of battery life with the device running a 4K video at half brightness, which is about where I expected it to be and about the same as last year's MacBook Air M3. That translates to a full day at the office, even with video calls. And speaking of, they look great with the crisp and clear 12MP Center Stage webcam with 1080p HD video recording. Basically, if you are unsure what kind of MacBook to get, we recommend this one. Unless you need to push the limits of performance with a premium processor, the MacBook Air M4 is a capable MacBook for everyone, especially since the upgraded unified memory makes it look a little more like a MacBook Pro. MacBook Air M4 (15-inch) specs: Display size: 15.3-inch | Display type: Liquid Retina XDR | Resolution: 2880 x 1864 pixels | Unified Memory: 16GB-32GB | Storage: Up to 2TB | CPU: 10-core M4 | Battery life: Up to 18 hours Pros Light and portable
More memory for lower starting price
Supports two monitors with the lid open Cons No nano-texture display option
Both USB ports on the same side MacBook Air M4 (15-inch) Best MacBook overall Before Apple announced the MacBook Air M4 in early 2025, rumors abounded on what new features it would come with. As the last of Apple's core line of devices to get the latest M4 chip, the MacBook Air is an incremental upgrade to the M3, more of a refinement and improvement than an earth-shattering new release. And that's a good thing. The 15-inch MacBook Air M4 is our pick for the best all-around MacBook for the majority of users for its versatility, lightweight form factor, and powerful suite of features. The 15-inch display is just the right size to be portable yet still feel premium and spacious, and now supports two external monitors while the lid is open. Review: Apple MacBook Air M4 (15-inch) review During my testing of the M4, I got over 14 hours of battery life with the device running a 4K video at half brightness, which is about where I expected it to be and about the same as last year's MacBook Air M3. That translates to a full day at the office, even with video calls. And speaking of, they look great with the crisp and clear 12MP Center Stage webcam with 1080p HD video recording. Basically, if you are unsure what kind of MacBook to get, we recommend this one. Unless you need to push the limits of performance with a premium processor, the MacBook Air M4 is a capable MacBook for everyone, especially since the upgraded unified memory makes it look a little more like a MacBook Pro. MacBook Air M4 (15-inch) specs: Display size: 15.3-inch | Display type: Liquid Retina XDR | Resolution: 2880 x 1864 pixels | Unified Memory: 16GB-32GB | Storage: Up to 2TB | CPU: 10-core M4 | Battery life: Up to 18 hours Read More Show Expert Take Show less
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