All MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models start at 16GB of RAM. MacBooks can smoothly run MacOS and the preinstalled apps with the minimum RAM offered, but doubling the RAM will make your MacBook feel faster and last longer.
The graphics processor handles all the work of driving the screen and generating what gets displayed, as well as speeding up graphics tasks. Apple's M series processors integrate the GPU. The more processing cores the GPU has, the better the graphics performance.
MacBooks have used Apple's own processors since the introduction of the M1 processor in 2020, which marked a huge improvement from previous Intel-based MacBooks in overall performance, efficiency and battery life. Apple has since released M4 and most recently M5 processors, with higher-powered M4 Pro and Max versions of the chips offered in the MacBook Pro machines.
If you'll be taking your MacBook with you to class or work or just down to your local coffee shop most mornings, the 13-inch MacBook Air is the better choice than the heavier Pro models. Unless you need Pro-level performance, we feel the 15-inch Air hits the sweet spot between roomy display and travel ease.
The entry price is $599 for the M1 MacBook Air that was released in 2020. The M4 MacBook Air starts at $999, and the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air starts at $1,199. The M5 MacBook Pro 14 starts at $1,599, while the higher-powered M4 Pro MacBook Pro 14 starts at $1,999. The M4 Pro MacBook Pro 16 starts at $2,499.
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We've been reviewing MacBooks for two decades now -- ever since the very first polycarbonate MacBook appeared in 2006 -- and we covered Apple's PowerBooks and iBooks before that. Apple's current laptop lineup is split between the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, and the differences between the two lines are significant.
The current MacBook Pros are great for those who need higher-level processing and graphics performance for content creation, graphic design, advanced STEM work and gaming. The Air is more of an everyday laptop that favors portability over performance, although it has power to spare and a long battery life, according to our tests. That’s why the MacBook Air is CNET’s pick for the best MacBook for most people.
What is the best overall MacBook?
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