The most excellent MacBook may vary depending on the user, but in 2022, Apple’s laptop lineup has a terrific option for almost everyone. With the switch to its ARM-based M1 CPU in 2020, Apple ushered in a new era for its laptops and hasn’t let up since. The whole MacBook line has seen significant performance and battery life improvements thanks to Apple’s in-house SoC. Apple has you covered with the M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M2, regardless of your needs. The redesigned MacBook Pro 2022 variants are anticipated to launch next month and are slated to compete with the M2 MacBook Air and Pro as some of the best laptops this year. While you still won’t want to use an Apple laptop as your gaming laptop, they are a fantastic option for almost every other use case, such as work or student laptops.

Which MacBook is the best?

The MacBook Air with M1 is still the best MacBook for most people despite transforming its once weak notebook into one of the quickest thin-and-lights on the market. It gives that well-known design a turbocharged boost with industry-record performance and all-day battery life. The M1 processor improves speed and endurance and introduces iOS and iPadOS apps to Mac for the first time.

The M1 model is still available for the reasonable price of $999, and keep a watch on our best MacBook deals page as it is frequently discovered for much less. The M1 model was not phased out after the introduction of the M2 MacBook Air. The updated MacBook Air M2 offers slightly more performance-hungry portable MacBook enthusiasts another option if you want the newest and most refined. The 13-inch MacBook Pro M2 with two Thunderbolt 4 ports might be the best option if you require consistent, high-level performance. The MacBook Pro features a conventional cooling system, allowing users to run taxing programs for hours without worrying about overheating, in contrast to the MacBook Air’s lack of a fan.

Most people will be satisfied with the Air, but power users may want to upgrade to the Pro. The M1 Pro or M1 Max CPU powers the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. Although both options provide other enticing features, they are overkill for most customers. With the addition of an SD card slot, HDMI, MagSafe charging, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports, these notebooks reverse some of Apple’s contentious choices with the MacBook Pro in 2016. The stunning 120Hz panels are the most excellent laptop displays Apple has ever provided. Apple’s top-tier laptops start at a premium of $1,999, but if you require all this power or detest some of the hardware modifications, they are worthwhile.

The upgraded 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M2 Pro and M2 Max processors are anticipated to be released at the rumored October Apple event; however, leaks haven’t indicated there will be many other changes, so if you can find a good deal on the current models, you shouldn’t be missing out on much.

Do we suggest?

Stick with the M1 or M2 Air if you perform essential productivity work, even with a bit more taxing software, and utilize the savings to expand your RAM or storage. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros are overkill for most individuals unless you want the extra screen space or routinely use demanding software for video production, 3D modeling, animation, or engineering activities.

1. MacBook Air [M1 Late 2020]

Specifications

• CPU: M1
• GPU: M1 (integrated)
• RAM: 8GB/16GB
• Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
• Display: 13.3 inches, 2560 x 1600 pixels
• Size: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Weight: 2.8 pounds

The ideal MacBook for most users is still the MacBook Air M1. How does the MacBook Air M2 compare? The laptop we’ll discuss next is lovely, but most consumers won’t need the changes, so the M1 model will continue to have a starting price of around $1,000 and will frequently be on sale for $900 or less. In our testing, the battery life was 14 hours and 41 minutes, outperforming every thin and light Windows notebook of an exact price point in terms of performance. The MacBook Air M1 will outlast its successor on a single charge and is more than up to the challenge of everyday computer chores.

So why not purchase the Pro instead of the MacBook Air? While the MacBook Air is more affordable and virtually fanless, the MacBook Pro provides more fantastic sustained performance. And Apple’s 13.3-inch model, which costs the least and weighs the least (2.8 pounds and 0.6 inches thick), is the most portable. The MacBook Air M1 is still one of the finest laptop deals, even without a discount, so long as you don’t mind the outdated appearance. Anyone shopping for a new MacBook should give it serious consideration.

2. MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

Specifications

• CPU: M2
• GPU: M2 (Integrated)
• RAM: 8GB/16GB/24GB
• Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
• Display: 13.6-inches, 2560 x 1600 pixels
• Size: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches
• Weight: 2.7 pounds

There’s no disputing the appeal of the new design and processor within the MacBook Air M2, even though the majority will likely be content with the MacBook Air M1. Although I wouldn’t say I like the notch in the panel, the other upgrades are excellent, especially the addition of MagSafe charging, which frees up the two Thunderbolt 4 ports for other uses. Additionally, you receive a good performance boost, and it still outlasted the Windows competitors in our battery life test by 14 hours and 6 minutes when performance is considered. It is still amazing that it accomplishes all this while remaining calm and whisper-quiet without fans.

Along with the new 1080p webcam, other improvements include a brighter display, a quad-speaker setup, and more. That first feature will be especially appreciated by anyone who uses the Air M2 on the fly and may encounter less-than-ideal lighting circumstances. If you need to upgrade significantly from the $1,199 base model, the price of the Air M2 is the main factor to consider. You are paying more for the Air M2 model because, as I previously said, the Air M1 model remained at $999. If your configuration costs more than $1,499, you might want to consider the standard 14-inch MacBook Pro, which is included later in this list and is now frequently available for $1,799.

3. MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022)

Specifications

• CPU: Apple M2 (8-core)
• GPU: Apple M2 GPU (10-core)
• RAM: 8GB/16GB/24GB
• Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
• Display: 13.3 inches, 2560 x 1600 pixels
• Size: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Weight: 3.1 pounds

The internal improvement to the MacBook Pro M2 provides a more significant performance gain than many anticipated, keeping it far ahead of the Windows 11 competition at this price point and above. It may not have the fancy redesign of the new MacBook Air, but it does receive the inside upgrade. The Pro’s battery life on our battery test, which replicates real-world use, was an almost astounding 18 hours and 20 minutes, despite packing so much power into such a thin and stylish chassis. It topped our list of laptops with the most extended battery life because of this. The M2 does more than increase endurance and speed.

The webcam (unfortunately still 720p) is better, thanks to an enhanced image processing unit. As Apple’s ARM-based architecture powers it, iPad and iPhone apps are also available for Mac. Yes, you can use your laptop to run all of your favorite iOS games and applications. The MacBook Pro’s other features should be all too familiar. The Magic Keyboard is a pleasure to type on (and dependable, too! ), and Apple has utilized this design for years. Although we are disappointed to see the TouchBar return, it does have its supporters, and some customers will undoubtedly be pleased to see the screen without a notch.

4. MacBook Pro [14-inch 2022]

Specifications

• CPU: Apple M1 Pro/Apple M1 Max
• GPU: Apple M1 Pro (Integrated)
• RAM: 16GB/32GB/64GB
• Storage: 512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8GB
• Display: 16-inch, 3072 x 1920-resolution
• Size: 14.1 x 9.7 x 0.6 inches
• Weight: 4.3 pounds

The MacBook Pro 14 is a tempting product for which MacBook lovers have been waiting years, especially consumers and content creators. It blends a little bit of the old with a lot of the new. Gamers? For now, you might want to continue with Windows. A complete HDMI and an SDXC card reader have plenty of area in the lightweight, stylish notebook’s design. And the M1 Pro processor adds even more power, easily defeating some of Intel and AMD’s top competitors. Additionally, it boasts a battery life of over 14 hours, a powerful, quick charge, a stunning display, an incredibly ergonomic keyboard, and a top-notch audio system.

Why is there a catch? Even with trade-ins and payment plans, $2,899 is still a steep amount to pay for an Apple product, as is customary. And the beginning price of $1,999 isn’t much better either. It would have been good if Apple had provided a more affordable option, perhaps one that used the new hardware’s M1 chip from the previous year. But the MacBook Pro 14 is a worthwhile purchase given everything it offers.

If you’re prepared to spend even more, you may unleash the might of the M1 Max chip or choose the 16-inch MacBook Pro with a starting price of $2,499 instead (opens in a new tab). The hardware options for the two this year are identical, except for the battery and display size. The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro will outlast anything in its class with comparable performance if battery life is your top concern. The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max is virtually unbeatable for people requiring the maximum amount of processing power available.

How can you pick the ideal MacBooks for yourself?

The MacBook Air is a simple decision for us. Its M1 CPU costs $999 yet offers similar performance and longevity to the MacBook Pro. The enhanced 13.3-inch display makes it the most portable of the lot and is excellent for watching movies or TV shows. Get the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 if you want a little more stamina and more excellent performance over more extended periods.

It has a fantastic battery life of 16 hours and 32 minutes and outperformed the competition in benchmark tests. Those two options should cover at least 90% of users. However, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with either the M1 Pro or M1 Max CPU are excellent, albeit pricey, choices if you require either a larger screen or significantly more power for professional software.

How we evaluate MacBook computers?

Before entering the hands of our reviewers, we subject MacBooks to comprehensive synthetic and real-world benchmark testing. We assess every aspect, including system heat, display brightness, speaker volume, and display speed. We measure the brightness and DCI-P3 color gamut of a laptop’s display using a Klein K10 colorimeter. We put the laptop through a battery of performance tests, including the professional graphics benchmark 3DMark and Geekbench 5.4. We ask the laptop to replicate a 25GB multimedia file and downscale a 4K video to 1080p to assess real-world performance.

Assasin’s Creed Valhalla, Far Cry New Dawn, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider with 1080p or higher resolution when the monitor allows it is among our real-world graphics testing. A 15-minute full-screen film serves as our heat test, and our battery test involves nonstop web browsing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. Everything completed in more than 10 hours is regarded as successful. Naturally, our evaluators also do their hands-on testing to supplement these exams.