Apple has made significant strides with its Mac lineup over the past 18 months. In late 2020, we saw the first Apple Silicon in the M1, while in late 2021, the company released two faster chips for a completely redesigned MacBook Pro.
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The M1 Pro and M1 Max boost performance, furthering Apple's transition from Intel processors to its own Apple Silicon chips. Apple's transition to Apple Silicon is nearly complete, with some Macs still using Intel.
Below we break down Apple's current Mac lineup, as well as details to see which model suits you best.
- Mac Studio
Apple's Mac Studio looks like a larger Mac Mini. The extra height is for the cooling system Apple has built in to keep the inside cool. Speaking of the inside, you can choose between putting M1 Max or the brand new M1 Ultra processor inside the Mac Studio. The M1 Ultra is essentially two M1 Max processors combined to create a computing powerhouse.
The base Mac Studio model costs $1,999 and features an M1 Max processor with a 10-core CPU, 24-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 32GB of memory, and 512GB of storage. X2
For $3,999 you can get the Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra processor that features a 20-core CPU, 48-core GPU, 32-core Neural Engine, 64GB of memory, and 1TB of storage.
If you need plenty of performance and price is not a factor, the Mac Studio is exactly what you want.
2. MacBook Pro
Apple has three different MacBook Pro models, all powered by some form of Apple Silicon. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is powered by the M1 core processor, while you can configure the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro or M1 Max Apple Silicon processor.
The base 13-inch model has a design that includes a TouchBar and lacks an HDMI port or SD card reader. The recently announced MacBook Pros, however, have ditched the TouchBar in favor of dedicated function keys and a Touch ID sensor. The larger MacBook Pro models also feature an HDMI 2.0 port, an SD card reader, and MagSafe has returned.
The M1 Pro and M1 Max deliver everything Apple promised, delivering speed and battery life in a laptop-like package. Apple has also brought back all the connectivity and peripherals users would need.
The base 14-inch model starts at $1,999 and goes up to $5,899 with some add-ons. The 16-inch version starts at $2,499 and goes up to $6,099.
3. Mac Pro
The current Mac Pro was released in June 2019, so its internal hardware is somewhat outdated at this point. For example, all of the USB-C/Thunderbolt ports are Thunderbolt 3, while Apple has almost completed the transition of its Mac lineup to Thunderbolt 4.
Pricing starts at $5,999 for the above specs, but you can max out the Mac Pro for a total cost of $51,948.
The Mac Pro is a niche product for people who need a lot of computing power — even more than what the Mac Studio offers. Someone who does a lot of 3D, CAD, and 4K/8K video editing, for example, will benefit from building a Mac Pro. It provides more memory, a faster processor , or more storage.
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4. Mac Mini
The Mac Mini moved to Apple's M1 processor along with the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in late 2020. However, Apple hasn't completely abandoned the Intel Mac Mini, as the company still sells an Intel-based Mini that starts at $1,099.
This is a big difference in price compared to the M1 Mac Mini which starts at $699, and as with the rest of the M1 vs Intel, the amount of memory on the Mac Mini is less, with the M1 Mac Mini offering a maximum of 16GB of memory, while the Intel processors go up to 64GB.
The Mac Mini is a solid desktop option if you don't need a portable device, and now it's more affordable than ever.
The biggest downside to the Mac Mini is that you'll need to bring your own monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
5. iMac
The iMac no longer offers two size options. After the new Mac Studio and accompanying Studio Display were announced, the 27-inch iMac was removed from the Mac lineup.
This means that there is now only the 24-inch iMac as an option, but it comes in some really interesting colors. The 24-inch iMac has an M1 processor with the same GPU as the MacBook Air. It has plenty of power and is capable of everyday computing. Keep in mind that you can connect an additional display to the iMac to add more screen space.
Apple has developed color-matching keyboards for the new iMac, which have built-in Touch ID sensors. You can log in to your Mac on the included keyboard using your fingerprint. Currently, these keyboards are only available with the new iMac and cannot be purchased separately.
The 24-inch iMac has two Thunderbolt 4 USB 4 ports and two USB 3 ports, and the power adapter now has a built-in Ethernet.
If you're looking for an all-in-one desktop that looks great and has enough power to complete professional-level tasks, then the 24-inch iMac is worth considering.
6. MacBook Air
The design of Apple's MacBook Air hasn't changed much over the years. It's a classic design that's built for portability and now with the M1 processor, and performance.
Apple no longer sells the MacBook Air with an Intel processor, with the main buying choices now based on whether you want the base model that comes with a 7-core GPU or a step up with an 8-core GPU.
In addition to the GPU, you can choose between 8GB or 16GB of memory and increase the storage up to 2TB. You'll get a Touch ID sensor on the keyboard for quickly unlocking your MacBook or any protected apps, like a password manager.
The MacBook Air continues to be the perfect Mac for someone who doesn't do much more than browse the web, do school or work work in Office applications , and/or occasionally edit videos or photos
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There is no doubt that the Mac models we mentioned are excellent and meet every need of users, offering the best features.
