Apple's laptops have long been held up as a gold standard for portable computers. MacBooks were the first to bring technologies like aluminum unibody construction, super-sharp IPS screens, backlit. Apple - 27' iMac® with Retina 5K display (Latest Model) - Intel Core i5 (3.1GHz) - 8GB Memory. Apple - MacBook Air 13.3' Refurbished Laptop - Intel Core i5 (I5-8210Y) Processor - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD (2019 Model) - Space Gray Model: 5VFJ2LL/A SKU: 6421404. Product Title Apple MacBook Air 11.6-Inch laptop(1.6 GHz Intel i5, 128 GB SSD, Integrated Intel HD Graphics 6000, Mac OS X Yosemite) - MJVM2LL/A (Manufacture Refurbished) Average Rating: ( 4.8 ) out of 5 stars 24 ratings, based on 24 reviews.

Apple laptops aren't cheap, so it's important that you consider your MacBook options carefully before parting with your cash.

We take a look at the key differences between the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro ranges, so you can be confident that you're buying the right Mac for you.

See also:See all of our best laptops| Answer three questions to find the best laptop for you|Best Windows 10 laptops|Best laptops for students

Which MacBook should I buy?

Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020)

If you've got a big budget, you might have your eyes on a MacBook Pro. These are the most expensive Apple laptops around, and the latest model has a unique Touch Bar. This feature lives right above the keyboard, and it's a mini touchscreen that will display changing information, depending on what you're doing. If you're editing home videos in Final Cut, for example, the Touch Bar will turn into a mini timeline that lets you quickly navigate through your clips. If you're interested in the top-of-the-range model, see our review of the Apple MacBook Pro 2018 with Touch Bar.

Apple 15-inch MacBook Pro

This Apple is at the very top of the tree in terms of power, size and price. Putting the Pro moniker to good use, this six-core laptop is designed for the most power-hungry tasks such as video editing and computer-aided design. It will surely be overkill for anybody who doesn't do those tasks on a daily basis, though. This model has now been superseded by the 16-inch model, which we have not yet tested.

Apple Macbook Air 2020

This is the latest version of Apple's popular 13-inch laptop, which starts at under £1,000 for a model with an Intel Core i3 processor. We've testded the mid-range Core i5 model. It has a high resolution screen and a very attractive design, although keep in mind that the processor is a slower form of Core i5 than the one you'll find in the MacBook Pro.

Last updated: July 2020

See our full collection of MacBook reviews to see how else these models differ.

Mac vs Windows vs Chromebooks

MacOS, Windows 10 and ChromeOS all have their own strengths and weaknesses. MacOS is buttery smooth and is the go-to operating system for many creative industries, but it also requires you to shell out a huge amount of money on a premium Apple device.

MacBooks run smoothly and can keep viruses at bay, but they aren't cheap.

Windows, meanwhile is available on a huge range of devices from ultra-budget to super-premium and, for many, is still the operating system they know best. But it's not without its downsides: Windows 10 updates are still a major sticking point for many people, and the fact that Windows 10 doesn't run particularly smoothly on very cheap laptops.

That's where ChromeOS comes in. This operating system is little more than a fancy web browser, with web apps that work best when connected to the internet. There's a range of budget devices available, and a few premium options as well. There's no faffing with huge updates and since everything is in a browser, there shouldn't be any problems with programs crashing either.

See how MacOS stacks up against its rivals in ourMac vs Windows and Chromebookadvice guide.

What do I need to know about MacOS?

MacOS (formerly known as Mac OSX) is extra useful for people who own iPads and iPhones, with a host of clever features that lets you share and work on files seamlessly on all your devices. You can also make and receive calls on your computer; no need to reach for the phone any more. There's also the Siri voice assistant that'll let you ask questions, set reminders and issue other commands with just your voice.

The latest version of MacOS is called Catalina, which launched in Autumn 2019. This update added a host of new features, including the ability to run iPad apps on your MacBook, which will be handy for when you start a task on your tablet and then move over to your laptop. It also heavily redesigned several key Mac apps including iTunes, which has been split up into three separate programs for music, films and TV, and podcasts. Reminders, Notes and Photos have been overhauled, and you can now also use your iPad as a second screen for your MacBook. And, as ever, MacOS is arguably the best operating system to choose if you already own an iPhone; things sync and work together more seamlessly than other combinations of phones and laptops.

Need more help picking thebest laptopfor you? See our full range oflaptop reviews.

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Uni students can save on the new 13‑inch MacBook Pro in our Education Store.*Shop education pricing

27-inch modeliMac

MacBook Air

13-inch modelMacBook Pro

Which Mac notebook is right for you?

• 13.3-inch Retina display¹
• Up to quad-core Intel Core i7 processor
• Up to 16GB of memory
• Up to 2TB of storage²
• Up to 11 hours of battery life³
• Touch ID
• Backlit Magic Keyboard

• 13.3-inch Retina display¹
• Up to quad-core Intel Core i7 processor
• Up to 32GB of memory
• Up to 4TB of storage²
• Up to 10 hours of battery life³
• Touch Bar and Touch ID
• Backlit Magic Keyboard

• 16-inch Retina display¹
• Up to 8-core Intel Core i9 processor
• Up to 64GB of memory
• Up to 8TB of storage²
• Up to 11 hours of battery life³
• Touch Bar and Touch ID
• Backlit Magic Keyboard

macOS Big Sur

Doing it all,
in all-new ways.

Free delivery

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macOS Catalina

The power of Mac.
Taken further.

Dedicated apps for music, TV and podcasts. Smart new features like Sidecar. Powerful technologies for developers. And your favourite iPad apps, now on Mac.

macOS

macOS is the operating system that powers every Mac. It lets you do things you simply can’t with other computers. That’s because it’s designed specifically for the hardware it runs on — and vice versa.

iCloud

Apple Mac Desktop Computers Best Buy

iCloud safely and securely stores your photos, videos, documents, messages, music, apps and more — and keeps them updated across all your devices. So you always have access to what you want, wherever you want it.

Built-in Apps

Powerful creativity and productivity tools live inside every Mac — apps that help you explore, connect and work more efficiently.

Keep your growing library organised and accessible. Perfect your images and create beautiful gifts for sharing. And with iCloud Photos, you can store a lifetime’s worth of photos and videos in the cloud.

Tell stories like never before. A simple design and intuitive editing features make it easy to create beautiful 4K movies and Hollywood-style trailers.

The easiest way to create great-sounding songs on your Mac. With an intuitive interface and access to a complete sound library, it’s never been easier to learn, play, record and share music like a pro.

This powerful word processor gives you everything you need to create documents that look beautiful. And read beautifully. It lets you work seamlessly between Mac, iOS and iPadOS devices. And work effortlessly with people who use Microsoft Word.

Create sophisticated spreadsheets with dramatic interactive charts, tables and images that paint a revealing picture of your data. Work seamlessly between Mac, iOS and iPadOS devices. And work effortlessly with people who use Microsoft Excel.

Bring your ideas to life with beautiful presentations. Employ powerful tools and dazzling effects that keep your audience engaged. Work seamlessly between macOS, iOS and iPadOS devices. And work effortlessly with people who use Microsoft PowerPoint.

Safari has innovative features that let you enjoy more of the web. In even more ways. Built-in privacy features help protect your information and keep your Mac secure. An updated start page helps you easily and quickly save, find and share your favourite sites. And Siri suggestions surface bookmarks, links from your Reading List, iCloud tabs, links you receive in Messages and more.

Pro Apps

For professionals ready to push their creativity, these industry-leading apps offer maximum control over editing, processing and output of music and film.

Logic Pro puts a complete recording and MIDI production studio on your Mac, with everything you need to write, record, edit and mix like never before. And with a huge collection of full-featured plug-ins along with thousands of sounds and loops, you’ll have everything you need to go from first inspiration to final master, no matter what kind of music you want to create.

Take your Mac to the stage with a full-screen interface optimised for live performance, flexible hardware control, and a massive collection of plug-ins and sounds that are fully compatible with Logic Pro X.

Built to meet the needs of today’s creative editors, Final Cut Pro offers revolutionary video editing, powerful media organisation and incredible performance optimised for Mac computers and macOS Catalina.

Motion is a powerful motion graphics tool that makes it easy to create cinematic 2D and 3D titles, fluid transitions and realistic effects in real time.

Add power and flexibility for exporting projects from Final Cut Pro. Customise output settings, work faster with distributed encoding and easily package your film for the iTunes Store.

The Mac App Store features rich editorial content and great apps for Mac. Explore the Mac App Store

Apple One

Bundle four Apple services.
And enjoy more for less.

Apple TV Plus

Get one year of Apple TV+
on us when you buy
an eligible Mac.⁴

• Try it for free4

Apple Arcade

Get three months of Apple Arcade on us
when you buy an eligible Mac.⁵

• Try it for free5

Mac for Education

Power to make big things happen in the classroom.

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