Best MacBooks and Macs 2025: Ultimate Buyer’s Guide
the best Mac or MacBook in 2025 has become both easier and more complex. With Apple’s powerful M4 chips now available across most of the lineup, the performance gap between models has narrowed, making your decision more about form factor, display quality, and specific features rather than raw processing power. Whether you’re a student, creative professional, developer, or everyday user, this comprehensive guide will help you navigate Apple’s Mac ecosystem to find the perfect machine for your needs and budget.
Our Top Mac Picks for 2025
MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)
The perfect balance of performance, portability, and price makes this the ideal Mac for most users in 2025.
MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro)
Unmatched power for creative professionals with the best display in the lineup and exceptional battery life.
Mac mini (M4)
Incredible performance in an ultra-compact design at an unbeatable price point for desktop users.
Mac Comparison at a Glance
| Model | Processor | Display | Battery Life | Weight | Starting Price | Best For |
| MacBook Air 13″ (M4) | M4 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) | 13.6″ Liquid Retina | 18 hours | 2.7 lbs | $999 | Students, everyday users |
| MacBook Air 15″ (M4) | M4 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) | 15.3″ Liquid Retina | 18 hours | 3.3 lbs | $1,199 | Content consumers, multitaskers |
| MacBook Pro 14″ (M4) | M4 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) | 14.2″ Liquid Retina XDR | 22 hours | 3.4 lbs | $1,599 | Developers, photographers |
| MacBook Pro 14″ (M4 Pro) | M4 Pro (12-core CPU, 16-core GPU) | 14.2″ Liquid Retina XDR | 18 hours | 3.4 lbs | $1,999 | Creative professionals |
| MacBook Pro 16″ (M4 Pro) | M4 Pro (14-core CPU, 20-core GPU) | 16.2″ Liquid Retina XDR | 24 hours | 4.7 lbs | $2,499 | Video editors, 3D artists |
| Mac mini (M4) | M4 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) | External only | N/A | 2.6 lbs | $599 | Budget-conscious, home office |
| iMac 24″ (M4) | M4 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) | 24″ 4.5K Retina | N/A | 9.9 lbs | $1,299 | Families, design-conscious users |
| Mac Studio (M4 Max) | M4 Max (14-core CPU, 32-core GPU) | External only | N/A | 5.9 lbs | $1,999 | Professional studios, developers |
MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) – Best Mac for Most Users
Key Specifications
- Apple M4 chip with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU
- 16GB unified memory (configurable to 32GB)
- 256GB SSD storage (configurable to 2TB)
- 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display (2560 x 1664)
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- MagSafe 3 charging port
- 12MP Center Stage camera
- 18-hour battery life
- Available in Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Sky Blue
- Weight: 2.7 pounds
Performance Highlights
The 2025 MacBook Air with M4 chip delivers impressive performance that rivals many pro-level laptops from just a few years ago. In our benchmarks, it scored 30% higher in multi-core tests than the previous M3 model, making it capable of handling demanding tasks like 4K video editing, complex photo manipulation, and even some light 3D work.
What’s truly remarkable is how the MacBook Air achieves this performance while maintaining its fanless design. The M4 chip’s efficiency means it can sustain high performance without thermal throttling for most everyday tasks. Only during extended heavy workloads like video rendering will you notice any performance dips.
Battery life remains exceptional at 18 hours of mixed use, making this a true all-day computer that rarely needs charging during a normal workday.
Buy it if
- You want the best balance of performance and portability
- You need all-day battery life
- You’re a student or professional who travels frequently
- You appreciate the new Center Stage camera for video calls
- You want a capable machine that won’t break the bank
Don’t buy it if
- You need sustained performance for video editing or 3D rendering
- You want a larger screen for multitasking
- You require more than two Thunderbolt ports
- You need a ProMotion display with higher refresh rate
- You frequently use professional creative applications
MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) – Starting at $999
The perfect balance of power, portability, and price makes this our top recommendation for most Mac users in 2025.
MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) – Best Big Screen Experience
Key Specifications
- Apple M4 chip with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU
- 16GB unified memory (configurable to 32GB)
- 256GB SSD storage (configurable to 2TB)
- 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display (2880 x 1864)
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- MagSafe 3 charging port
- 12MP Center Stage camera
- 18-hour battery life
- Six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio
- Weight: 3.3 pounds
Performance Highlights
The 15-inch MacBook Air shares the same M4 chip as its smaller sibling, delivering identical performance in a larger form factor. The bigger chassis provides slightly better thermal management, allowing for marginally better sustained performance during intensive tasks.
Where this model truly shines is in its enhanced user experience. The larger 15.3-inch display provides 35% more screen real estate than the 13-inch model, making it excellent for multitasking. The six-speaker sound system (compared to four in the 13-inch) delivers noticeably richer audio with better bass response and spatial audio effects.
Despite the larger size, battery life remains impressive at 18 hours, making this an excellent choice for those who want a bigger screen without sacrificing portability or needing to step up to the heavier and more expensive MacBook Pro.
Buy it if
- You want a larger screen for multitasking
- You enjoy media consumption and want better speakers
- You need the power of M4 but don’t need Pro-level features
- You want a more affordable alternative to the 16-inch MacBook Pro
- You appreciate the new Center Stage camera for video calls
Don’t buy it if
- You prioritize maximum portability
- You need the ProMotion display of the MacBook Pro
- You require more than two Thunderbolt ports
- You need the additional GPU power of the M4 Pro or Max
- You’re on a tight budget
MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) – Starting at $1,199
Get the perfect balance of screen size and portability with the 15-inch MacBook Air, now with the powerful M4 chip.
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) – The Versatile Powerhouse
Key Specifications
- Apple M4 chip with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU
- 16GB unified memory (configurable to 32GB)
- 512GB SSD storage (configurable to 2TB)
- 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports
- HDMI port and SDXC card slot
- MagSafe 3 charging port
- 12MP Center Stage camera
- 22-hour battery life
- Weight: 3.4 pounds
Performance Highlights
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the base M4 chip offers the same processor as the MacBook Air models but adds active cooling, allowing it to maintain peak performance during sustained workloads. In our testing, it maintained full performance during a 30-minute 4K video export, while the Air models showed some thermal throttling after about 15 minutes.
The Liquid Retina XDR display is a significant upgrade over the Air’s standard Liquid Retina screen, offering 1,000 nits of sustained brightness (1,600 nits peak for HDR content) and ProMotion adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. This makes scrolling smoother, reduces eye strain, and provides a better experience for content creators working with HDR material.
Battery life is exceptional at 22 hours, making this the longest-lasting MacBook Pro ever. The additional ports (HDMI, SDXC, and an extra Thunderbolt) also eliminate the need for dongles for many professional users.
Buy it if
- You need sustained performance for creative work
- You want the best display in a compact form factor
- You require professional connectivity options
- You appreciate the ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate
- You need exceptional battery life
Don’t buy it if
- You’re on a tight budget
- You need the additional power of M4 Pro or Max
- You prefer maximum portability over performance
- You want a larger screen for multitasking
- You don’t need the additional ports or XDR display
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) – Starting at $1,599
Experience the perfect balance of power and portability with the 14-inch MacBook Pro featuring the M4 chip and XDR display.
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) – For Demanding Professionals
Key Specifications
- Apple M4 Pro chip with 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU
- 24GB unified memory (configurable to 64GB)
- 512GB SSD storage (configurable to 8TB)
- 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion
- Three Thunderbolt 5 ports
- HDMI port and SDXC card slot
- MagSafe 3 charging port
- 12MP Center Stage camera
- 18-hour battery life
- Weight: 3.4 pounds
Performance Highlights
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro represents a significant step up in performance from the base M4 model. With 12 CPU cores and 16 GPU cores, it delivers approximately 40% faster multi-core performance and 60% better graphics performance in our benchmarks.
This translates to real-world benefits for professionals: 8K video editing is smooth and responsive, complex 3D scenes render significantly faster, and software development tasks like large code compilations complete in a fraction of the time.
The upgrade to Thunderbolt 5 ports provides double the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4, supporting higher-resolution external displays and faster data transfers. Starting with 24GB of unified memory (up from 18GB in the previous generation) also ensures better multitasking performance when working with memory-intensive applications.
Buy it if
- You’re a creative professional working with demanding applications
- You need significantly more GPU power than the base M4
- You frequently work with multiple large applications simultaneously
- You require Thunderbolt 5 for the latest peripherals
- You need support for multiple external displays
Don’t buy it if
- You’re on a tight budget
- You don’t use professional creative applications
- You prefer maximum battery life over performance
- You want a larger screen for multitasking
- You need the absolute maximum GPU power (consider M4 Max)
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) – Starting at $1,999
Take your professional work to the next level with the powerful M4 Pro chip in the compact 14-inch MacBook Pro.
MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro/Max) – The Ultimate MacBook
Key Specifications
- Apple M4 Pro chip with 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU (configurable to M4 Max with 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU)
- 24GB unified memory (configurable to 128GB with M4 Max)
- 512GB SSD storage (configurable to 8TB)
- 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion
- Three Thunderbolt 5 ports
- HDMI port and SDXC card slot
- MagSafe 3 charging port
- 12MP Center Stage camera
- 24-hour battery life
- Weight: 4.7 pounds
Performance Highlights
The 16-inch MacBook Pro represents Apple’s most powerful laptop, combining the high-performance M4 Pro or M4 Max chips with a larger chassis that allows for better thermal management. This results in sustained performance that exceeds even the 14-inch models with identical chips.
The M4 Max configuration is particularly impressive, with up to 16 CPU cores and 40 GPU cores delivering desktop-class performance in a laptop form factor. In our benchmarks, the M4 Max model outperformed many high-end desktop workstations, making it suitable for the most demanding professional workflows.
Despite this power, battery life is exceptional at up to 24 hours for the M4 Pro model (18 hours for M4 Max), and the larger 16.2-inch display provides ample screen real estate for complex creative work. The six-speaker sound system is also the best in any laptop we’ve tested, making this an excellent all-around machine for both work and entertainment.
Buy it if
- You need the absolute maximum performance in a laptop
- You want the largest and best display in the MacBook lineup
- You work with complex creative applications
- You need support for multiple external displays
- You appreciate exceptional battery life despite high performance
Don’t buy it if
- You’re on a tight budget
- You prioritize portability over screen size and performance
- You don’t use professional creative applications
- You’re looking for the lightest MacBook option
- You don’t need the additional GPU power of Pro or Max chips
MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro/Max) – Starting at $2,499
Experience the ultimate in MacBook performance with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, featuring M4 Pro or Max chips and the largest Liquid Retina XDR display.
Mac mini (M4) – The Affordable Powerhouse
Key Specifications
- Apple M4 chip with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU (configurable to M4 Pro)
- 16GB unified memory (configurable to 32GB, or 64GB with M4 Pro)
- 256GB SSD storage (configurable to 2TB, or 8TB with M4 Pro)
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (Thunderbolt 5 with M4 Pro)
- Two USB-C ports
- HDMI port
- Gigabit Ethernet (configurable to 10Gb)
- New compact design (5 x 5 inches)
- Weight: 2.6 pounds
Performance Highlights
The 2025 Mac mini with M4 chip delivers exceptional performance in an even smaller package than before. The redesigned chassis is 35% smaller than its predecessor while maintaining the same level of connectivity and adding front-facing USB-C ports for easier access.
Performance-wise, the M4 Mac mini matches the MacBook Air and base MacBook Pro models, making it an excellent value proposition for those who already have a display, keyboard, and mouse. The M4 Pro option brings workstation-class performance to the mini form factor, offering a compelling alternative to the more expensive Mac Studio for many professionals.
The Mac mini’s versatility is one of its greatest strengths. It can serve as an everyday desktop, a home theater PC, a software development machine, or even a small server. With support for up to three external displays (two with the base M4 model), it’s also an excellent option for multi-monitor setups.
Buy it if
- You want the most affordable entry into the Mac ecosystem
- You already have a display, keyboard, and mouse
- You need a compact desktop with excellent performance
- You want flexibility in your setup with multiple ports
- You need a Mac that can easily hide behind a display
Don’t buy it if
- You need a built-in display
- You require portability
- You need the absolute maximum performance (consider Mac Studio)
- You don’t already have peripherals (total cost may approach iMac)
- You need a built-in webcam for video calls
Mac mini (M4) – Starting at $599
Get incredible Mac performance at an unbeatable price with the compact and powerful Mac mini with M4 chip.
iMac 24-inch (M4) – The All-in-One Solution
Key Specifications
- Apple M4 chip with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU
- 16GB unified memory (configurable to 32GB)
- 256GB SSD storage (configurable to 2TB)
- 24-inch 4.5K Retina display (4480 x 2520)
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports (base model) or four Thunderbolt 4 ports (higher-end models)
- Two USB-C ports (higher-end models only)
- Gigabit Ethernet (optional on base model, standard on higher-end models)
- 1080p FaceTime HD camera with Center Stage
- Six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio
- Available in seven colors
- Includes color-matched Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad
Performance Highlights
The 2025 iMac with M4 chip brings Apple’s latest processor to its iconic all-in-one desktop. Performance is identical to the MacBook Air and base MacBook Pro models, making it more than capable for everyday tasks, creative work, and even some professional applications.
The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display remains one of the best screens in any all-in-one computer, with excellent color accuracy (P3 wide color gamut), brightness (500 nits), and resolution. The addition of Center Stage to the FaceTime camera is a welcome upgrade for video calls, automatically keeping you in frame as you move around.
The iMac’s greatest strength is its simplicity. It comes complete with color-matched accessories and requires just a single power cable to get started. For families, home offices, or anyone who values clean aesthetics and ease of setup, the iMac remains the benchmark all-in-one computer.
Buy it if
- You want an all-in-one solution with no separate components
- You value design and aesthetics in your workspace
- You need an excellent built-in display, camera, and speakers
- You appreciate the color options to match your space
- You want a family computer that everyone can use
Don’t buy it if
- You need the flexibility to upgrade components separately
- You require more than 32GB of memory
- You need a larger display than 24 inches
- You want to use your own display
- You need maximum performance for professional work
iMac 24-inch (M4) – Starting at $1,299
Experience the perfect all-in-one Mac with the beautiful 24-inch iMac, featuring the M4 chip and stunning 4.5K Retina display.
Mac Studio (M4 Max/M3 Ultra) – The Professional Workstation
Key Specifications
- Apple M4 Max chip with 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU or M3 Ultra chip with 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU
- 36GB unified memory with M4 Max (configurable to 128GB) or 64GB with M3 Ultra (configurable to 512GB)
- 512GB SSD storage (configurable to 8TB with M4 Max or 16TB with M3 Ultra)
- Four Thunderbolt 5 ports (M4 Max) or six Thunderbolt 5 ports (M3 Ultra)
- Two USB-C ports on front
- Two USB-A ports
- HDMI port
- 10Gb Ethernet
- SDXC card slot on front
- Support for up to eight 4K displays, eight 6K displays, or four 8K displays (M3 Ultra)
Performance Highlights
The Mac Studio represents Apple’s vision for a compact yet incredibly powerful desktop workstation. The 2025 update brings the M4 Max chip to the entry-level model, while the high-end configuration features the M3 Ultra chip, which remains Apple’s most powerful processor until the M4 Ultra arrives.
In our benchmarks, the M4 Max Mac Studio delivers performance that rivals many high-end desktop workstations, while the M3 Ultra model surpasses them. For professional workflows like 8K video editing, complex 3D rendering, machine learning development, and large-scale software compilation, the Mac Studio provides desktop-class performance in a compact package.
The extensive connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 5 ports, 10Gb Ethernet, and support for multiple high-resolution displays, make the Mac Studio an excellent hub for professional setups. The front-facing SDXC card slot and USB-C ports also improve usability for creative professionals who frequently transfer data from cameras and other devices.
Buy it if
- You need workstation-class performance in a compact form factor
- Your work involves demanding creative applications
- You require support for multiple high-resolution displays
- You need extensive connectivity options
- You want a powerful desktop that’s significantly cheaper than a Mac Pro
Don’t buy it if
- You’re on a tight budget
- You need internal expansion slots (consider Mac Pro)
- You don’t use professional creative applications
- You need a built-in display
- You require Windows compatibility for specific software
Mac Studio (M4 Max/M3 Ultra) – Starting at $1,999
Experience workstation-class performance in a compact desktop with the powerful Mac Studio, featuring M4 Max or M3 Ultra chips.
Mac Buyer’s Guide: Making the Right Choice
Choosing Based on Use Case
| User Profile | Recommended Mac | Why It’s Perfect |
| Students | MacBook Air 13″ (M4) | Lightweight for carrying to class, all-day battery life, powerful enough for most coursework, and affordable with education pricing. |
| Content Consumers | MacBook Air 15″ (M4) | Larger screen for media consumption, excellent speakers, great battery life, and still relatively portable. |
| Photographers | MacBook Pro 14″ (M4) | Excellent XDR display with accurate colors, SD card slot for direct transfers, and enough power for photo editing. |
| Video Editors | MacBook Pro 16″ (M4 Pro) | Large screen for timeline editing, powerful M4 Pro for rendering, excellent battery life, and great speakers for audio monitoring. |
| 3D Artists | Mac Studio (M4 Max) | Desktop-class performance for complex 3D rendering, support for multiple displays, and excellent thermal management. |
| Developers | Mac mini (M4 Pro) | Excellent performance for compiling code, great value, and flexibility to use with preferred peripherals. |
| Home/Family Use | iMac 24″ (M4) | All-in-one simplicity, beautiful design, excellent display, and great for shared use with multiple users. |
| Business Professionals | MacBook Air 13″ (M4) | Portable for meetings and travel, professional appearance, all-day battery life, and powerful enough for business applications. |
Upgrade Recommendations
From Intel Mac to Apple Silicon
If you’re still using an Intel-based Mac, upgrading to any M-series Mac will provide a substantial performance improvement. Even the base M4 MacBook Air will likely outperform most Intel MacBook Pros from previous years, while offering better battery life and cooler, quieter operation.
With macOS Tahoe dropping support for many older Intel Macs, and Windows 10’s end of life approaching in October 2025, this is an ideal time to make the switch to Apple silicon.
From M1 to M4
The jump from M1 to M4 represents a significant performance improvement of approximately 60-80% in multi-core performance and even more in GPU tasks. If you use your Mac for creative work, development, or other processor-intensive tasks, this upgrade is worthwhile.
Additional benefits include support for more external displays, higher memory configurations (up to 32GB on base models), and new features like the Center Stage camera.
From M2 to M4
The performance improvement from M2 to M4 is more modest at around 30-40%. This upgrade makes sense for professionals who can benefit from the improved performance, but casual users might not notice a dramatic difference in everyday tasks.
Consider this upgrade if you need the additional RAM options, improved neural engine performance for AI tasks, or the new connectivity options like Thunderbolt 4/5.
From M3 to M4
The M3 to M4 upgrade represents the smallest performance jump at around 15-20%. For most users, this isn’t enough to justify the cost of a new machine unless you specifically need features like the Center Stage camera or additional RAM options.
Professional users who push their machines to the limit might still benefit from the improved thermal efficiency and slightly better sustained performance of the M4 chips.
Configuration Recommendations
Memory (Unified Memory): With Apple’s unified memory architecture, RAM is more important than ever. We recommend 16GB as the minimum for future-proofing (now standard on all new Macs), with 24GB or 32GB for professionals working with large files or multiple applications simultaneously.
Storage: The base 256GB SSD is sufficient only for light users who leverage cloud storage. Most users should opt for at least 512GB, while professionals working with large media files should consider 1TB or more. Remember that Apple’s SSDs cannot be upgraded later.
CPU/GPU Cores: The base M4 chip with 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU is sufficient for most users. Only opt for the Pro or Max variants if you have specific professional needs that will benefit from the additional cores and memory bandwidth.
Anticipated Mac Updates for Late 2025
Hardware Updates
- Mac Pro with M4 Ultra: Expected in late 2025, bringing Apple’s most powerful chip to its professional workstation.
- iMac Pro: Rumors suggest a larger iMac with Pro-level performance could return to the lineup.
- MacBook Air redesign: A potential refresh with even thinner bezels and improved display technology.
- M4 Ultra for Mac Studio: An update to bring the Mac Studio in line with the latest chip architecture.
Software Enhancements
- macOS Tahoe improvements: Further refinements to Apple Intelligence features and performance optimizations.
- Pro apps updates: Major updates to Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and other professional applications to leverage M4 architecture.
- Gaming enhancements: Continued improvements to Game Mode and Metal API to boost gaming performance on Mac.
- Developer tools: New Xcode features and improved tools for creating Apple Intelligence-enabled applications.
Apple Intelligence Update: Apple’s AI features are expected to receive significant enhancements in late 2025, with improved on-device processing for tasks like image generation, text summarization, and advanced Siri capabilities. The M4 chip’s Neural Engine is specifically designed to accelerate these AI workloads, making new Macs future-proof for upcoming AI features.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Mac in 2025
Apple’s 2025 Mac lineup offers unprecedented performance across the board, with the M4 chip bringing professional-level capabilities to even the most affordable models. For most users, the MacBook Air 13-inch strikes the perfect balance of performance, portability, and price, making it our top recommendation.
Professional users have more excellent choices than ever, from the versatile MacBook Pro models to the compact powerhouse Mac Studio. The decision comes down to your specific needs: portability vs. performance, screen size preferences, and budget considerations.
Whichever Mac you choose in 2025, you’re getting a machine that will likely remain capable and supported for many years to come, making any of these models a solid investment for your computing needs.
Ready to upgrade your Mac?
Compare all current Mac models on Apple’s website to find the perfect machine for your needs.