If you're buying a new Windows laptop from a major retailer, it's likely your PC will either already have Windows 11 installed or will work with Windows 11 and be eligible for a free upgrade.īut if you're buying second-hand or refurbished, your laptop may still be running Windows 10 and might not be compatible with Windows 11. MacOS is buttery smooth and is the go-to operating system for many creative industries, but it also requires you to shell out a huge amount of money on a premium Apple device. MacOS, Windows and ChromeOS all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Not yet a Which? member? You can join Which? to unlock our MacBook and laptop reviews - you'll also get access to all of our online reviews, including desktops, monitors and even electric cars. Which? members can login to reveal our full reviews and test scores to see how these MacBooks performed in our expert lab tests. The 13-inch Pro sits comfortably in the mid-tier while the 14- and 16-inch models are very expensive, so will have to perform exceptionally well to justify a purchase if you simply want a good laptop but don't need the raw power these machines offer. The MacBook Air models are the cheapest and lightest of the lot, and are great general-purpose laptops for people that do not require the advanced specs of the Pro models. You also get HDMI and SDXC card slots and the laptop is charged using the magnetic MagSafe connector. These larger MacBook Pro models are both similar when it comes to specifications, and include more ports than the Air and 13-inch Pro models. These use the M2 Pro or M2 Max chips, which are more powerful. There are also two higher-end Pro models, coming in 14- and 16-inch screen sizes.

It also uses the same Apple M2 processor as the MacBook Air, albeit with a cooling fan so it can perform faster for longer. The 13-inch model is the cheapest in the Pro line-up and is the lightest and smallest. There are five models in the current MacBook line-up: two MacBook Air laptops - one with the M1 chip, which is the entry-level model, the recently updated Air with the newer M2 chip and three MacBook Pro models.

Whatever your budget, our lab tests reveal which models are worth your money and which aren't. Wondering whether Apple is the right brand for your next laptop? We also give you an overview of the differences between Apple MacBooks, Windows laptops and Chromebooks. Plus our expert lab tests reveal the crucial differences between the M1 and M2 chips, so you will know whether it's worth shelling out for the latest model or not. We take a look at the key differences between the Apple MacBook Air and MacBook Pro ranges, so you can be confident that you're buying the right MacBook for you. Apple MacBooks aren't cheap, so it's important that you know what you get when you buy a MacBook before parting with your cash.

Cheapest apple computer