We've tested thousands of laptops at PCMag since PC Labs' founding more than 40 years ago. Naturally, we've reviewed Apple's line of laptops since before MacBooks were even a thing. Our analysts and editors have more than a collective century of experience telling the good laptops—macOS, Windows, ChromeOS, you name it—from the great ones. As with other kinds of laptops, we test all MacBooks for CPU, GPU, display, and battery performance using rigorous, repeatable benchmark tests. We also focus on design, usability, connectivity, and—crucially—value. Our take on Macs? Today, the best MacBook for most people is Apple's 2026 13-inch MacBook Air, now with M5 processing and faster storage. (The new MacBook Neo is also highly compelling for budget-strapped buyers.) We have other thoroughly tested and vetted MacBooks to recommend, too, depending on your needs. Read on for those reviews, a spec comparison, and in-depth MacBook buying advice.
Overview
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![Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026, M5)]()
Best Mainstream MacBook for Most BuyersApple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026, M5)
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![Apple MacBook Neo]()
Best Budget MacBookApple MacBook Neo
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![Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2025, M4)]()
Best Big-Screen MacBook for Most BuyersApple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2025, M4)
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![Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5)]()
Best MacBook for Mobile Content CreatorsApple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5)
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![Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2026, M5 Max)]()
Best MacBook WorkstationApple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2026, M5 Max)
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026, M5)]()
Best Mainstream MacBook for Most BuyersApple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026, M5)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The best MacBook for most people remains Apple's venerable 13-inch MacBook Air. The 2026 Air returns to a $1,099 starting price while adding the M5 processor, twice the base storage (now, 512GB), and faster SSDs across the board. Apple's 10-core M5 chip further advances the Air's AI capabilities while boosting its graphics potential big-time with Neural Accelerators in its eight to 10 GPU cores.
Apart from those internal upgrades, nothing has changed about the MacBook Air this year. You get the same sharp Liquid Retina screen, comfortable keyboard, and top-notch trackpad as before. The 13.6-inch MacBook Air remains Apple's most iconic Mac laptop for a reason.
Who It's For
College students: The MacBook Air is a staple on college campuses. It's a reliable, rigid, and robust everyday laptop with a sturdy build, versatile ports for easy expansion, and a long-lasting battery. Apple's MacBook Air laptops have been known to survive an undergraduate's full tenure and beyond, and nothing suggests the latest 2026 MacBook Air will be any different.
Mainstream Mac fans: This is the MacBook to buy for the everyday Mac devotee who doesn't want to compromise, but also doesn't want to overspend. The MacBook Air won't be slowed down by even relatively intense tasks like photo editing or light gaming, and its power-sipping processor is ready for the forthcoming expansion of Apple Intelligence.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.44 by 12 by 8.5 inches Graphics Processor Apple M5 (10-core) Native Display Resolution 2560 by 1664 Operating System Apple macOS Tahoe Panel Technology LED Processor Apple M5 (10-core) RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 13.6 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 18:04 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 2.7 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026, M5) Review -
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![Apple MacBook Neo]()
Best Budget MacBookApple MacBook Neo
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The new MacBook Neo defied all expectations from Apple in 2026, becoming not only the best budget MacBook but the best budget laptop, period, in an instant. The Neo uses an A18 Pro iPhone-class chip with 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD (in Apple's base model) to excellent effect for the tasks it's designed for. We even pushed it further, particularly in games, and found the Neo at least willing to play ball, in tasks many other budget laptops would simply buckle under. Apple tops it off with an excellent MacBook Air-like build and a Liquid Retina screen, coupled with competitive battery life for an amazing $599 price.
Who It's For
Middle-school and high-school students: Since the MacBook Neo costs just $499 for education buyers, including students, it's a no-brainer for kids in middle school and high school. (Even many college students could likely get by with a Neo.) The laptop's chip is ready for basic schoolwork and even slightly tougher tasks, and it supports Apple Intelligence, which might come in handy.
Broke or first-time Mac fans: Hard-up lovers of Apple's products will be well-served by the MacBook Neo. The Neo was built for shoppers who always buy the starting tier of every Apple product. It's a low-risk prospect: The Neo works very well as a basic laptop, and it has a better feature set and build than most like-priced PC laptops.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 256 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Budget Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.5 by 11.7 by 8.1 inches Graphics Processor Apple A18 Pro (5-core) Native Display Resolution 2408 by 1506 Operating System Apple macOS Panel Technology LED Processor Apple A18 Pro RAM (as Tested) 8 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 13 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 15:35 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 2.7 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 6 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More Apple MacBook Neo Review -
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![Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2025, M4)]()
Best Big-Screen MacBook for Most BuyersApple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2025, M4)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
While we've yet to benchmark the M5 model, last year's 15-inch MacBook Air is still available while supplies last at third-party retailers like Amazon, and it's still fantastic. The M4 processor, while lacking the advanced AI and graphics capabilities, isn't drastically far off from the M5 in basic productivity speeds. Otherwise, save for the M5 model's faster SSD and expanded starting capacity, last year's M4 Air provides a largely identical experience for a little less cash, while you can still grab one.
Who It's For
Mainstream Mac fans who want a bigger screen: The average Mac laptop lover may have grown used to a 13-inch screen over the years, but the 15-inch model expands the screen size considerably without giving up much in portability. It's just as thin as the 13-inch model at only 0.44 inch, and it weighs just about half a pound more.
College students with room to spare: Young adults in college likely have dorm rooms and lecture hall desks with the space to accommodate Apple's larger thin-and-light laptop. We've already established you're not giving up much portability in the exchange, and the M4 model has been seen for far cheaper with the M5 models out in the wild. Win-win.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 256 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Desktop Replacement Dimensions (HWD) 0.45 by 13.4 by 9.4 inches Graphics Processor Apple M4 (10-core) Native Display Resolution 2880 by 1864 Operating System Apple macOS Sequoia Panel Technology LED Processor Apple M4 RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 15.3 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 18:31 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 3.3 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2025, M4) Review -
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![Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5)]()
Best MacBook for Mobile Content CreatorsApple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
When evaluating content-creation laptops, we look at raw tested speeds, screen technologies, and portability. The 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro lives up to all of those expectations. While the excellent MacBook Pro design might be getting up there in years, it's definitely not dated, almost counting as a thin-and-light with potency rivaling some of the most powerful 14-inch laptops in key content-creation tasks. We tagged it with our Editors' Choice award for compact content-creation laptops, making it the best MacBook for mobile creators.
Who It's For
Creators on the go: Apple's M5 14-inch MacBook Pro is the ideal Mac laptop for anyone who works in media or digital design and endures lots of travel or a long commute. If you're always on deadline with creative projects, and you need to work on the go with workstation-grade performance and a studio-level display, the 14-inch Pro is the answer.
Gamers on the side: The MacBook Pro's M5 GPU performs just as well for gaming as for heavy visual and AI work, making it a fit for Mac-loyal gamers. Apple's massive improvements to graphics processing via AI accelerators give the M5 a tremendous visual upgrade. Couple that with multi-frame generation, and the latest MacBook Pro can handle games well enough for the mainstream.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Desktop Replacement Dimensions (HWD) 0.61 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches Graphics Processor Apple M5 (10-core) Native Display Resolution 3024 by 1964 Operating System Apple macOS Tahoe Panel Technology Mini LED Processor Apple M5 (10-core) RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 14.2 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 24:06 Variable Refresh Support ProMotion Weight 3.4 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5) Review -
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![Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2026, M5 Max)]()
Best MacBook WorkstationApple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2026, M5 Max)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
This is the pinnacle of MacBook power: the 18-core M5 Max processor with the top-end 40-core GPU option in a 16-inch fan-cooled chassis. That's complemented by Thunderbolt 5 connectivity and, now, twice-as-fast storage. The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max is the ultimate Mac laptop for elite power users and bleeding-edge digital professionals in fields such as data science, AI development, software engineering, and Hollywood-level content production work. It's also an incredibly long-running laptop, with the same nearly color-perfect screen and relatively portable high-end build as before.
Who It's For
Top-end creative professionals: This is the MacBook for people who work in the cutting edge of media and film production. Creative pros who work for organizations like Pixar and Lionsgate could likely make ample use of the top-end MacBook Pro, for instance, with its profoundly boosted GPU and amped-up storage speeds.
AI developers and software engineers: macOS devotees who develop AI models or other products dependent upon them should look to the 16-inch MacBook Pro as their Apple laptop of choice. Likewise, traditional software engineers can take full advantage of the larger MacBook Pro's expanded power profile, thanks to its larger size and substantial M5 Max chip upgrade.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 4 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Desktop Replacement Class Workstation Dimensions (HWD) 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches Graphics Processor Apple M5 Max (40-core) Native Display Resolution 3456 by 2234 Operating System Apple macOS Tahoe Panel Technology Mini LED Processor Apple M5 Max (18-core) RAM (as Tested) 128 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 16.2 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 27:18 Variable Refresh Support ProMotion Weight 4.7 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 6 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 -
Compare Specs
![Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026, M5) [Review]](https://sm.pcmag.com/t/pcmag_uk/review/a/apple-macb/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-2026-m5_su48.640.jpg)
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Best For | Best Mainstream MacBook for Most Buyers | Best Budget MacBook | Best Big-Screen MacBook for Most Buyers | Best MacBook for Mobile Content Creators | Best MacBook Workstation | Best Mainstream MacBook for Most Buyers | Best Budget MacBook | Best Big-Screen MacBook for Most Buyers |
Class | Ultraportable | Budget, Ultraportable | Desktop Replacement | Desktop Replacement | Workstation, Desktop Replacement | Ultraportable | Budget, Ultraportable | Desktop Replacement |
Processor | Apple M5 (10-core) | Apple A18 Pro | Apple M4 | Apple M5 (10-core) | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Apple M5 (10-core) | Apple A18 Pro | Apple M4 |
Processor Speed | ||||||||
RAM (as Tested) | 16 | 8 | 16 | 32 | 128 | 16 | 8 | 16 |
Boot Drive Type | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD |
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 1 | 256 | 256 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 256 | 256 |
Secondary Drive Type | ||||||||
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) | ||||||||
Optical Drive | ||||||||
Screen Size | 13.6 | 13 | 15.3 | 14.2 | 16.2 | 13.6 | 13 | 15.3 |
Native Display Resolution | 2560 by 1664 | 2408 by 1506 | 2880 by 1864 | 3024 by 1964 | 3456 by 2234 | 2560 by 1664 | 2408 by 1506 | 2880 by 1864 |
Touch Screen | ||||||||
Panel Technology | LED | LED | LED | Mini LED | Mini LED | LED | LED | LED |
Variable Refresh Support | None | None | None | ProMotion | ProMotion | None | None | None |
Screen Refresh Rate | 60 | 60 | 60 | 120 | 120 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
Graphics Processor | Apple M5 (10-core) | Apple A18 Pro (5-core) | Apple M4 (10-core) | Apple M5 (10-core) | Apple M5 Max (40-core) | Apple M5 (10-core) | Apple A18 Pro (5-core) | Apple M4 (10-core) |
Graphics Memory | ||||||||
Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Dimensions (HWD) | 0.44 by 12 by 8.5 inches | 0.5 by 11.7 by 8.1 inches | 0.45 by 13.4 by 9.4 inches | 0.61 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches | 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches | 0.44 by 12 by 8.5 inches | 0.5 by 11.7 by 8.1 inches | 0.45 by 13.4 by 9.4 inches |
Weight | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.3 |
Operating System | Apple macOS Tahoe | Apple macOS | Apple macOS Sequoia | Apple macOS Tahoe | Apple macOS Tahoe | Apple macOS Tahoe | Apple macOS | Apple macOS Sequoia |
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 18:04 | 15:35 | 18:31 | 24:06 | 27:18 | 18:04 | 15:35 | 18:31 |
Buying Guide: The Best Apple MacBooks for 2026
The calculus surrounding buying a new MacBook has changed dramatically with the introduction of the MacBook Neo. Let's start your MacBook-buying journey with a tour from the new bottom of Apple's stack back up to the top.
The MacBook Neo: The Ultimate Entry-Level Mac Laptop
This brand-new budget laptop from Apple ($599 for the starter model, or $499 for education buyers) replaces the venerable M1 MacBook Air (or the basic iPad, for some) as the affordable way into Apple's computing platform. It's not only the ultimate budget MacBook, but it's also arguably the best cheap laptop on the market, when considering the whole system.
The Neo basically takes a MacBook Air and shrinks it down both in physical size and power, using an Apple A18 Pro iPhone chip to make it an ace at basic computing tasks such as emailing, web browsing, document drafting, and even low-level photo editing. Some features got stripped away in that process (keyboard backlighting, high-speed ports, and certain screen features), but not as many as you might expect.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The laptop's 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage space (you can get 512GB for $100 more, with Touch ID support thrown in) will hamper most tasks more demanding than what we just described, but that's what the MacBooks below are for. The A18 Pro chip also supports Apple Intelligence, which will likely become increasingly important over the next few years.
If you've been sitting on the sidelines, admiring Apple's computers but either unable or unwilling to dive in at their previous prices, the MacBook Neo is the one for you. It's also the most logical upgrade for owners of the M1 MacBook Air who don't want to spend $1,099 for the latest model. Finally, the Neo is a no-brainer for students of almost any grade level who already use computers in class or at home.
The 13-Inch and 15-Inch MacBook Air: The New Apple Midrangers
Apple's midrange laptops are the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs, last redesigned in 2022. That long-running design has served Apple well. It's still a slim, sleek machine that measures just 0.44 inch thick at both screen sizes and weighs only 2.7 or 3.3 pounds at 13 and 15 inches, respectively. The chassis remains otherwise unchanged, with uniform thinness, Apple's improved Magic Keyboard, larger 16:10 screens (adopting the "display notch"), MagSafe charging, and more.
With the veteran 2020 13-inch M1 model finally discontinued with the MacBook Neo's arrival, a MacBook Air is no longer Apple's budget Mac laptop. In fact, Apple has discontinued all older (pre-M5) MacBook Airs at this point.
Apple's latest M5 model abandons the M4's $999 starting price, jumping back to $1,099 for the base model of the 13-inch version. (The 15-inch M5 model, likewise, sees a $100 bump, back to $1,299 for the cheapest configuration.) In the exchange, the laptops gain much faster M5 processors, twice the starting SSD capacity, and, according to Apple, storage that is twice as fast across the board.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)These Air models still feature some of the same features of the M4 models: 16GB of unified memory in the base models, the Center Stage camera, and Apple's True Tone ambient screen color adjustment. In fact, nothing else has changed about the MacBook Air year-over-year.
Like with the MacBook Neo, Apple trims $100 off MacBook Air prices for students and teachers. If you still want an M4 Air on the cheap, though it's been discontinued, you might find it for sale for a while at online retailers like Best Buy, particularly during big sale events. Regardless, supply will inevitably dry up.
Apple's 2026 MacBook Airs keep every advancement from the 2022 13-inch model and update the power profile. Those design advancements include the new 16:10 display, the improved keyboard, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, the MagSafe charging port, and the enhanced Center Stage webcam mentioned earlier.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The MacBook Air is an ideal travel companion at either screen size and, given its sleek styling and Apple's cachet, a bit of a status symbol. The 13-inch version is the Mac laptop we recommend for most people. However, if you're willing to pay more for additional screen space (with not too much impact on portability), Apple has the 15-inch MacBook Air, which it naturally updated alongside the 13-incher.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Apple's now-fourth-generation 15-inch MacBook Air shares many of the same configuration options and power profile as the 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 processing. It has the same 10-core M5 GPU option available to it, and it enjoys the same storage upgrades. The 15-inch Air remains an excellent big-screen alternative to Apple's iconic 13-inch laptop.
14-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Pro: For Pros in the Know
If you are a video editor, photographer, or software developer who might benefit from more computing power, skip the MacBook Air and instead consider a MacBook Pro. The factors to weigh here go beyond the extra screen size and weight. You must also decide whether you need the extra horsepower that the M5 Pro and M5 Max silicon bring over the basic M5 chips.
The 14-Inch MacBook Pro: It's All About Portable Power
The 14-inch MacBook Pro begins at a new $1,699 baseline price with the souped-up M5 chip inside. Along with the processor, which combines 10 CPU cores (four now so-called "super cores" and six efficiency cores) with 10 GPU cores and 16 neural engine cores, the starting model has a 1TB solid-state drive. The same 16GB of unified memory as before anchors this base model. Optional upgrades include up to 32GB of memory and up to a 4TB SSD, either of which naturally hikes the price. The most loaded M5 14-inch MacBook Pro—including Apple's returning $150 nano-texture display option and a beefier charger—costs $3,269.
(Credit: Brian Westover)If you want an M5 Pro processor instead, you need at least $2,199 for the 14-inch machine with a 15-core CPU, a 16-core GPU, 24GB of memory, and 1TB of storage. (That's three more CPU cores than before.) Configurations of the 14-incher with the 15-core M5 Pro support up to 48GB of memory and 4TB of storage. The M5 Pro and Max models still also come with three Thunderbolt 5 ports.
You can also configure the 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro chip containing an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU. (That's another $200 above the starting price.) This chip also raises the possible RAM ceiling. A maxed-out model with this particular processor, the nano-texture display, the 64GB maximum of memory it supports, a 4TB SSD, and Apple's bigger charger costs $4,149.
Crave a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the top-shelf M5 Max chip inside? Pony up: It'll cost $3,599 to start. That starter model has an 18-core CPU, a 32-core GPU, 36GB of memory, and a 2TB SSD. A higher-tier M5 Max model with a 40-core GPU and 48GB of memory starts at $4,099. This upper model boosts the laptop's memory and storage limits to 128GB and 8TB, respectively, with a fully loaded configuration topping out at a substantial $6,899.
The 16-Inch MacBook Pro: Go Big and Get to Work
The utmost in Apple silicon power lies within the 16-inch MacBook Pro. With prices ranging from $2,699 to $7,349, it's clear that you have plenty of options to customize your build at purchase.
(Credit: Brian Westover)Apple's $2,499 base unit of its biggest laptop houses the upgraded M5 Pro processor. With 18 CPU cores (6 super cores and 12 performance cores), it's a muscular chip for most office workers and an ace for content-creation and editing pros. The upgraded model still comes with a 20-core GPU and 24GB of memory, plus 1TB of SSD storage (twice as much as before). That's enough power to drive two external monitors at up to 6K resolution.
(Credit: Brian Westover)Stepping up to the more powerful M5 Max processor bumps the price to $3,899. It comes with a similar 18‑core CPU to the M5 Pro but an even mightier 32‑core GPU. The laptop starts with 36GB of unified memory and now has 2TB of SSD storage (also doubled versus the previous generation). This power also allows it to double its maximum display support.
Beyond that, the M5 Max model has a massive graphics upgrade, if you're willing to pay for it: a 40-core GPU instead of "just" 32. This upgrade also unlocks up to 128GB of memory and up to 8TB of SSD storage. Add it all up (and throw in the nano-texture screen), and the top possible model sells for $7,349—somehow, the same as before.
The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops are also obvious choices for professionals who plan to connect peripherals such as external monitors or transfer data via SD cards. Both include a full-size HDMI port and an SD card reader, setting them apart from the USB-C/Thunderbolt 4-only MacBook Air models.
What About Touch-Screen MacBooks?
All current Apple MacBook models lack any form of touch input, following the end of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar, replaced by the 14-inch model during the M3 generation. Touch screens seem to go against Apple's laptop design philosophy, which aims to keep your focus on the keyboard and touchpad.
An Apple iPad or a Windows laptop is your best option for using a digital stylus or for other tasks best suited to touch screens. Fortunately, the trackpads on all Apple laptops are excellent, with oversized glass surfaces and virtual “haptic” feedback instead of a physical click mechanism.
So, Which Apple MacBook Should I Buy?
We hope this rundown has helped you clear up this big purchase decision. These days, Apple seems to release updated Mac laptop models of some flavor twice a year. We're seeing a rhythm with Apple's M-series chip releases: new chips debut in the early-to-mid-year (often now in the iPad, of all places), followed by new MacBook Pros launching before the end of each year. Of late, we've seen the latest M-series chip line finish rolling out on MacBook Air models early the following year.
Now, perhaps we can expect to see new MacBook Neo models every year before spring, too, but we'll have to see in subsequent years if this holds. If you're not sure which MacBook is your thing, also look at our roundup of the best laptops overall—Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS alike—to see how Apple's crew fits in among the other-OS competition.