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Ever since Steve Jobs returned to Apple, and made history with the iMac, iPod, and iPhone – Apple has gone from the brink of bankruptcy, to one of the most valuable companies in the world. Their flagship latop – the MacBook – has all but completely redefined how the hip (and even the not-so-hip) work with their computer.
Even with the streamlined product line, there are still an overwhelming amount of customization options out there, and the last thing you want to do is waste your hard-earned money. So we did the research, tested all of the MacBook computers, and aggregated tens of thousands of online reviews. After extensive testing, we were able to find the best MacBook. Here are our top choices, and the best information about each different model.
Our Top Pick
Apple MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is the computer of choice for any serious laptop worker. When you load it up with all the RAM available, and the latest processor and storage space – it simply cannot be beat. With a beautiful retina display, great keyboard, and amazing performance – it is simply unbeatable.
If you don’t need high-end processing power or storage, you may want to save some money and go with a slightly less-expensive model – but we’d still recommend investing a little more, in the best laptop you can afford. It is worth it, in the long run. Could not be more highly recommended.
Other Great Picks
Apple MacBook
The mid-level MacBook – this model is more-than-suitable for most people’s needs. While it doesn’t offer quite the high-end performance and capabilities of the MacBook Pro – it can handle everything except high-level video editing, and some other processor-heavy applications.
It’s a very solid machine, runs amazingly, and has a great display. This is the model we’d recommend for most people looking to save same money – but still requiring a very high-level machine.
Apple MacBook Air
The MacBook Air is the thinnest, lightest, and most portable MacBook – that’s for sure. However, even the bulkiest MacBook model is very portable (and quite thin) – so we only recommend the Air to someone on a very tight budget. For only a little bit more, you can get even greater performance.
If you are using your laptop every day for school or work – this slightly larger investment more than pays for itself, over the long term. That being said – the Air is absolutely perfect for anyone who is on a tight budget, and it’s still light years ahead of most Windows laptops, and Chromebooks.
RAM
There are many different factors to consider when buying a MacBook – but one of the most important is RAM. Short for ‘random access memory’ – RAM is the key differentiator in determining how fast your new laptop will be able to multitask.
Since multitasking has become ubiquitous for office and business work, the wisest choice you can make is to get as much RAM as you can afford. No single factor will improvement your computer’s performance, more than RAM.
Processor
A close second to RAM, processing power is key to the overall speed of your computer. Think of your processor as the main component in powering your computer’s ability to do tasks.
If you are typing in Microsoft Word, higher processing power will mean no delay in anything seen on screen. However, if you’ve ever used an old computer (especially with newer software) – you will know exactly what a lack of processing power feels like.
Lag, slowdown, massive waiting times – you do not want a laptop with low processing power. While it may cost a little bit more upfront to get the most processing power possible – you’ll be glad you made the choice, a few years down the line.
Hard Drive
Back in the day, not having enough hard drive space was a critical problem – it could single-handedly bring your otherwise robust computer to a crawl. These days, do to massive advances in affordable storage, as well as a move to cloud-based storage systems and streaming – hard drive space is rarely an issue.
However, if you are a musician recording to your laptop, or a filmmaker editing video – you’ll want to make sure that you get as much hard drive space as possible. Truthfully, it never hurts to have extra hard drive storage, as everyone can benefit from it.
Ports
A relatively new issue, Apple started removing many ports from their devices over the last 5 years, resulting in some compatibility issues. This is especially true if you are looking to connect older devices.
The truth is, as we continue to move into the future, almost all devices will be wireless. Apple is just merely ahead of the curve on this.
But if you have a lot of older devices, make sure your MacBook either supports all of those connections – or simply invest in the requisite adaptors. They can be purchased for very little money, and will provide a huge amount of ports for you to choose from.
Display
The way your screen looks is crucially important on a laptop – as you’ll be staring at it for hundreds of thousands of hours. MacBooks all have great built-in displays, and the MacBook Pro has the best display of all.
However, unless you are a graphic design freak – you likely won’t notice much difference between the displays on the various MacBook models. We still recommend getting the best display possible though, as in only a few short years, it will seem woefully out of date (that’s how fast the world of computers moves).
Keyboard, Touch ID, And Touchbar
Apple started making big changes to their keyboards back in 2015. Introducing the Touchbar, as well as Touch ID, Apple has tried to revolutionize the way we use our fingers on our laptop.
However, their efforts have been met with a mixed reaction. The newer butterfly-switch keyboard has had some issues, so you may want to opt for an external keyboard if this bothers you – or wait for the scissor-switch keyboard that Apple is reportedly working on.
On the other hand, many love the butterfly-switch keyboard, so you may fall into that camp. In our testing, we also liked that the Touchbar was there, but it is merely a nice-to-have – not a requirement.
Weight And Size
All MacBook laptops are much lighter and smaller than their PC counterparts, and the MacBook Air is (of course) – lightest of all. In fact, the computers are so light, you may need a little bit of time to adjust to their feather weight.
Always travel with your MacBook in a sleeve or case, since they are so light they can be easily dropped. Despite the light weight and small size – there is no decrease in performance or battery life.
Battery Life
No matter which laptop computer you are buying, battery life is critical. We are happy to report that a MacBook will (on average) last an entire 8 hour stretch – all on a single charge.
However, if you are heavily multi-tasking (especially with video) – you may get slightly less battery life than this. The MacBook Air also has even longer battery life, lasting 12+ hours in some testing.
Overall Performance Of Your MacBook
There are two main factors when it comes to overall performance of a MacBook – processing power, and RAM. While other factors will also help determine the overall performance of your machine – these two elements are the most impactful.
While it will cost more to choose the highest level processor and the most RAM – trust us, when we tell you that it’s worth it. In 3 years, when your colleagues either have to buy a new laptop, or they have horrendous speed – you will still be flying high.
Other factors that matter include a graphics card, as well as cache, bus speed, and even more internal elements. However, stay mostly concerned with processing power and RAM – and you’ll have a blazing machine in no time.
How To Connect AirPods To MacBook
AirPods have quickly become the de facto accessory for all iPhone and Apple customers. These wireless earbuds are not only convenient – they offer great sound quality too.
Pairing your AirPods to your MacBook is easy – simply put your AirPods in the charging case, then hold down the status button (until it flashes white). From there, simply go into your system settings, choose Bluetooth, and click on your AirPods.
After initial setup, your AirPods should automatically connect with your MacBook. Any time they are out of the case and within range, they will be selectable as an audio device.
How To Reset MacBook Pro
It is not very difficult to reset a MacBook Pro – but you definitely need to perform some specific steps to make it happen. With your MacBook Pro off, press the power button, while holding down the ‘command’ and ‘R’ keys.
Continue holding down these keys, until the Apple logo appears. Choose ‘disk utility’, from the OS X Utilities list.
Select your hard drive, and then click ‘erase’. That’s it – simply choose your security options for erasure, and you’ve done it.
It should be noted that you should always back up any files you might want to keep, before resetting your MacBook Pro.
How To Reset MacBook Air
Resetting a MacBook air follows the same process as resetting a MacBook Pro – simply refer to that section, in order to erase your MacBook Air. Of course, be sure and back up any important files, before you reset your computer.
How To Right Click On A MacBook
Right-clicking is not much different on a MacBook, than it is on your favorite PC. Simply click on the right side of the trackpad, on the right button of an external mouse, or hold down the ‘control’ key and click normally.
How To Copy And Paste On MacBook
Copy and pasting could not be any easier on a MacBook. Simply use the ‘command’ key, paired with the ‘c’ key for copying, and the ‘v’ key for pasting.
For example, after I highlighted some text, I’d hold down ‘command’ and ‘c’. Next, I’d paste this text in my chosen location, by holding down ‘command’ and ‘v’. That’s it!
How To Clean MacBook Screen
Cleaning a MacBook screen is actually very important. A dirty screen is a bummer, plus it will make all your viewing look sloppy.
Unlike some screens, a MacBook is actually fairly delicate, so you should follow a strict process to properly clean the display.
If you don’t follow the strict instructions, you are very likely to ruin your screen (and trust us, you don’t want to do that). Do not use any other liquid besides water to clean your screen – and even water should be used very sparingly.
With the power of your MacBook off, and the power unplugged, wet a soft lint-free cloth (very sparingly). Gently wipe down your screen, doing so very carefully. You do not want hardly any water on the cloth – as too much will drop into the delicate mechanisms insider your computer – and potentially cause grave damage.
How Much Is A MacBook?
While the price points are always changing for MacBooks, typically the range starts at $1,000 and goes up to $2,400. You can add even more RAM (and additional upgrades) too, so your final price may vary slightly.
Why Should You Get A MacBook?
Put simply – MacBooks are the best laptops on the market (for most people). If you are a hardcore gamer, you may want to get the best gaming laptop instead.
Otherwise, most of us will be extremely happy with the MacBook’s tremendous horsepower, sleek look and light weight – and eye-popping display. With tighter security than PCs, as well as great compatibility with the iPhone and iPad – we can’t recommend a MacBook more highly.
And – spoiler alert – we wrote this entire review on a MacBook Pro. So we may be (only a little) biased!
The Best MacBook
There you have it – our picks for the best MacBook.
MacBooks have incredible speed, sleek design, great performance, and offer an amazing display. Who could ask for anything more, from a laptop?
There are a ton of great gadgets besides MacBooks though, so be sure to check out our other reviews in the computer and electronics sections.