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This Year's Top 5 Best MacBooks: Find the Best MacBook for Your Needs

Written by: R2B Store

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Time to read 9 min

Looking for the best MacBook to suit your needs? Apple offers a wide range of MacBook models, from the lightweight MacBook Air and the small Mac mini to the powerful MacBook Pro. Whether you’re a professional working with Final Cut Pro or just looking for a good MacBook for everyday use, there’s a model to suit your needs. With advanced features like Magic Keyboard, Touch ID and the stunning Liquid Retina XDR display, the latest MacBooks offer unparalleled performance.


But which MacBook suits you and which MacBook do you choose? We have tested the best MacBooks to help you make the right choice. In this blog we compare different models, including the MacBook Air and Apple MacBook Pro with powerful chips such as the M3 Pro. Whether you are hesitating between different MacBook models, are looking for the best affordable MacBook or are simply looking for the most advanced model, we will help you choose the MacBook that perfectly suits your needs. Read on and discover which MacBook suits you best!

The 5 Best MacBooks of 2024 highlighted:

1. Best MacBook of 2024: Apple MacBook Air (2024) - 13.6 inch - M3

The 13.6-inch MacBook Air with Retina IPS display and the powerful Apple M3 chip is a great choice for professionals and students, as well as everyday users. With 8GB of RAM and 512GB SSD, this new MacBook Air offers a perfect balance of speed and storage space for working with large files. The Magic Keyboard provides a comfortable and responsive typing experience, while the compact size is ideal for people on the go.


This Apple MacBook Air combines great performance with an excellent price-quality ratio. This makes this MacBook the best of our top 5. For users who need more powerful options, the larger MacBook Pro models or the Mac Studio can be considered.



Great performance

In our tests, we found that the Apple M3 chip delivers fast and fluid performance, even when using heavy applications like Final Cut Pro. This makes it the best MacBook for students and professionals who work with demanding applications. Compared to the previous generation, the M3 Pro offers a significant improvement, making this new MacBook a solid choice in the line of best MacBooks.


Sharp and vivid display
The Retina IPS display with a resolution of 2560 x 1664px is exceptionally bright and sharp. This makes the MacBook ideal for graphic projects or watching your favorite movies and series. Colors are vivid and details are razor sharp, making working with photos, videos and even text a visual pleasure.


Excellent battery life

The battery of this MacBook Air lasts impressively long, with a lifespan that can support up to 18 hours of use. Whether you're on the go or have long workdays, you don't have to worry about charging. This makes it one of the most versatile MacBooks in terms of mobility and performance.

2. Best MacBook for work: Apple Macbook Pro (2023) - 14 inch - M3 Pro

The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch is a powerful laptop, designed for users who are looking for top performance. Equipped with the new M3 Pro chip, this MacBook offers exceptional speed and performance, perfect for heavy software and multitasking. This makes the laptop ideal for work.


The Liquid Retina XDR display delivers breathtaking color and clarity, ideal for graphics professionals. With 1TB of SSD storage and 16GB of RAM, this laptop offers the power and storage you need for most professional tasks. This MacBook Pro is an excellent choice for those looking for the fastest MacBook and need a powerful laptop with optimal performance for their work.


Exceptional performance with the M3 Pro chip

In our tests, we found that the M3 Pro chip achieved impressive speeds, even when running resource-intensive programs like video editing or running multiple virtual machines. This better processor even outperformed other laptops, like the MacBook Air M2, especially in more demanding tasks, making it the best MacBook for users who don’t want to compromise on performance.


Impressive image quality with the Liquid Retina XDR display

The Liquid Retina XDR display offers a visual experience that you won't find on other laptops. The colors are true to life and the brightness is unmatched, especially when viewing media or working with graphics programs. For creative professionals, this is without a doubt one of the best MacBooks in terms of image quality.


Extensive connectivity and ease of use

The MacBook Pro M3 offers advanced connectivity options with multiple Thunderbolt ports, making it easy to connect to external displays and other devices. In our testing, we found the improved Touch Bar to be a useful addition for shortcuts and functions, significantly speeding up your workflow. The backlit keyboard also makes typing comfortable in dimly lit rooms, further enhancing the ease of use.

3. Best MacBook for students: Apple MacBook Air (2022) - 13.6 inch - M2

The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is one of Apple's latest models, equipped with the powerful M2 chip and a 13.6-inch Retina display. This light and portable MacBook offers a perfect balance between performance and comfort, with an impressive battery life and a sleek design.


With 512GB SSD storage and 8GB RAM, this MacBook Air is suitable for both simple tasks and light, intensive work. Thanks to True Tone technology, the screen adapts to the ambient light, which ensures a more comfortable viewing experience. This MacBook is ideal for students looking for a powerful, reliable, yet light laptop.


Powerful performance for tougher tasks
The M2 chip and 8-core GPU provide more than enough power for heavier programs and software. During testing, we were able to run office software without any problems and even multitask without any performance loss. This makes it a cheaper alternative to the heavier MacBook Pro models if you do not have specific professional requirements. However, you should keep in mind that this MacBook does not deliver the same powerful performance as the MacBook Pro models.


Lightweight and portable
The MacBook Air M2 is surprisingly light, making it easy to carry to class or work. Despite its light weight, it performs as well as most MacBooks, and can even be expanded with external displays for a larger workspace. For students on the go, it’s the perfect choice.


MagSafe connector for extra security
The return of the MagSafe connector ensures safe charging for your MacBook. The magnetic connection allows the charging cord to release when pulled, preventing your MacBook from being yanked off the table if someone accidentally drags the cord along. This provides additional peace of mind, especially in busy environments.

4. Best powerful MacBook: Apple Macbook Pro (2023) - 14 inch - M3 Max

The 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Max chip is one of the most powerful laptops currently available. This model is equipped with the advanced M3 Max chip, which includes a 14-core CPU and a 30-core GPU, which delivers exceptional performance. With 36GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, this MacBook Pro offers enough power and speed to run heavy software smoothly. The 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display makes this model not only beautiful but also very portable.


Overall, this MacBook with M3 Max chip is without a doubt the best MacBook pro for users looking for unparalleled power, speed and image quality. This MacBook Pro is therefore ideal for professionals and creatives who place high demands on their hardware.


Impressive performance

In our tests, we found the M3 Max chip to deliver exceptional performance, especially with processing-intensive tasks like 4K video editing or 3D modeling. Thanks to its 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU, the MacBook continues to run smoothly while running heavy software and running multiple processes simultaneously. This makes the M3 Max version particularly suitable for professionals who work with heavy software packages, such as graphic designers, video editors, and content creators.


Unprecedented speed and storage

The 1TB of SSD storage combined with 36GB of RAM provided blazing fast load times and smooth multitasking during our tests. Large files like videos and projects opened effortlessly, without any lag. The spacious SSD also provides enough storage space for large projects and files, which is essential for users who regularly work with large amounts of data. This configuration is a significant improvement over most MacBooks and offers a perfect balance between speed and storage.


Breathtaking display

The 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display offers deep colors, brightness, and contrast. When testing graphics programs and watching videos, the True Tone screen provided true-to-life color reproduction, which is ideal for creative work. This model also supports multiple external displays, which is a big plus for professionals looking for an expansive workspace. The display is clearly one of the most advanced on the market and offers an optimal visual experience.

5. MacBook with the best price/quality ratio: Apple Macbook Air (2020) - 13.3 inch - M1

The 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air with Retina IPS display and M1 chip offers outstanding performance in a thin and light design. Equipped with 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM, this MacBook delivers fast load times and smooth multitasking. The laptop has two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0 for excellent connectivity options.


This model is perfect for those looking for an affordable and powerful MacBook with an excellent price-quality ratio. Thanks to the M1 chip, this MacBook offers a significant performance improvement compared to previous models.


Excellent performance and efficiency

In our tests, we found that the Apple MacBook Air with the M1 chip delivers excellent performance. The faster processor and core GPU keep the system running smoothly and quickly. This makes it the best affordable MacBook for those looking for performance without paying the price of a MacBook Pro 16.


Long battery life

What stands out most is the long battery life of this MacBook. During our tests, the MacBook Air lasted more than 15 hours with average use. This makes this laptop ideal for long working days or lectures. This makes the MacBook Air M2 an excellent choice for students and professionals who are looking for a laptop that lasts all day without having to constantly charge it.


Compatibility with an external screen

In addition, the MacBook Air can work seamlessly with an external screen, allowing you to easily create a larger workspace. This is especially useful for those who need a larger SSD or faster processor and often use multiple programs at the same time. This makes this MacBook an affordable alternative to the more expensive MacBook Pro 14 inch or the Mac Studio.

View frequently asked questions about a MacBook below

How much storage space do I need for my MacBook?

This depends on your usage. For basic tasks like word processing, web browsing, and email, 256GB is often sufficient. If you store a lot of large files like videos or photos, or use heavier programs like video editing software, 512GB or more is recommended. Also consider whether you use an external display and cloud storage, which can save storage space.

What is the difference between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro?

The MacBook Air is lighter and thinner and lacks the Touch Bar, while the MacBook Pro has more powerful performance and better cooling, which is especially useful for heavy applications. The Pro is available with more advanced chips such as the M2 Pro or M3 Max, which is why people are more likely to choose the MacBook Pro for intensive work like video editing. However, the Air is ideal for students and regular users due to its good value for money.

What is the difference between the M1, M2, and M3 chip?

The M1, M2, and M3 chips differ primarily in performance, power efficiency, and architecture. The M1 chip was the first in the Apple Silicon family, and already delivers impressive performance for most everyday tasks and light professional workloads. The M2 chip builds on the M1 with faster CPU and GPU, better memory speed, and improved power efficiency, for improved performance in demanding applications like video editing. The M3 chip delivers even bigger leaps in speed, graphics power, and efficiency, and supports expanded memory and storage, making it ideal for demanding professionals who need the highest performance out of their MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.


What are the advantages of a MacBook over other laptops?

MacBooks offer a number of advantages over other laptops, including long battery life, excellent build quality, and seamless integration with other Apple products. MacBooks also run macOS, which is known for its stability, security, and easy-to-use interface. The new M1, M2, and M3 chips deliver exceptional performance and power efficiency, especially for intensive tasks like video editing and multitasking. MacBooks also feature a sharp Retina display and premium design, making them ideal for both pros and students.

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