What's the Best Mac Laptop or Desktop for You?

The headline: Apple introduced the MacBook Neo, a brand-new laptop that starts at just $599, the cheapest Mac the company has ever sold. It’s powered by an iPhone chip rather than the M-series silicon found in other Macs, and Apple is aiming it at students, first-time buyers, and people who’ve wanted a Mac but couldn’t justify the price.

Alongside the Neo, Apple refreshed the MacBook Air with the M5 chip. It’s faster, the company says, comes with more storage out of the box, and now supports WiFi 7, but the starting price has climbed $100 to $1,099. The company also updated the MacBook Pro with new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and prices went up there, too, with the 16-inch M5 Max model now starting at $3,899.

We haven’t had a chance to test any of these new models yet (we have to buy them first), but we’ll update this article with lab results and analysis as testing is completed. In the meantime, this guide can help you understand how the current models fit into Apple’s lineup and figure out which Mac is right for you.

In short, in Apple’s new three-tier lineup, the MacBook Neo ($599) is the budget option; the MacBook Air ($1,099 and up) likely remains the best all-around choice for everyday use; and the MacBook Pro ($1,599 and up) is for power users—software developers, photographers, and video editors—who need serious horsepower.

If you’re looking to save money, though, buying a model with an earlier M-series chip (M1 through M4) won’t hinder performance for routine tasks.

Prefer a desktop? Apple has you covered there, too. The iMac and Mac Mini open up the possibility of expansive screens, better ergonomics, and a generous selection of ports, with no extra dongles required. Pro-level users also have their pick between the ultra-powerful Mac Studio and Mac Pro, but these are probably overkill for the average Consumer Reports reader.

Let’s begin with Apple’s laptops.