The Best MacBooks You Can Buy in 2024

Our favourite MacBook right now? That would be the Air M3. During our tests, we had so few complaints that we can see it working as most people’s ideal daily-use computer for many years.

It feels fantastic to use: the keyboard and trackpad are clicky and responsive, the 13.6-inch display is bright and colourful and the latest M3 processor is superfast when opening apps and loading up 42 tabs at once (we all do it).

This is a companion for work, travel and entertainment. We used it for all three in our tests – and we love typing on it just as much as watching streaming shows. While it won’t handle intensive editing, it’s great for normal day-to-day use. No matter what we throw at it, it just works.

Apple doesn't make any drastic changes between this and its 13-inch Air, but a lot of us will appreciate the version with a 15-inch screen.

Everything else about it remains excellent, from the comfy keyboard to the smooth performance to the responsive trackpad. Buy this model if you want that same slimline Mac with a more expansive display.

Starting up a new YouTube channel or editing some feed-worthy photographs? You’ll need more computing power and storage than the base models can provide. Your best option is the 2023 Pro, which comes in 14-inch or 16-inches and some house the most powerful “Pro” version of the latest chip.

We like this smaller model for the portability, plus you get solid connectivity – two USB-C ports, one HDMI, one SD card slot and a 3.5mm jack – plus a chunkier body that adds to the feeling of it having a sturdier build. This series has a 120Hz display and tons of storage – more than enough for large video projects.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro (2023) is your best choice if a big screen is your priority – and it will shine when used for editing photos or videos. What you lose in portability you gain in power – and this is a brilliant option if you plan to keep it on your desk most of the time.

Of course, that extra display size means it’s also a fantastic choice for multitasking, and it gives you the space to have several tabs showing at once. It’s got everything that makes the 14-inch above special, just in a bigger package and a slightly better chip. It’s notable for offering the longest battery life of any MacBook right now.

This is the best laptop alternative to a full-blown Mac desktop computer that you’ll find, although we admit that it may be too much power if you're just a casual user who only wants a laptop for browsing your socials and watching a few hours of Apple TV+.

It’s always tempting to want the latest specs and designs, but you’d be wrong if you think the M1 MacBook Air from 2020 is unworthy of attention. It may not have the new M-series processors or the design of the Air M2 from last year, but this still has more than enough power for most people – and it’s fantastic value these days as you can pick one up for well under £800 brand new.

That’s the most affordable MacBook you’ll find outside of the refurbished models. The M1 chip is still a beast compared to most other laptops – and if all you use it for is streaming movies, typing documents, looking at social media or light editing, you won’t have any problems with its speed or efficiency.

You get the exact same Retina display as the MacBook Pro M2 (2022) and the same battery as the recent Air M2, and while the design is still closer to the older tapered shape – this remains a thin and attractive option.

Apple laptops hold their value for years, and it’s rare to see massive discounts or deals. But if you're shopping on a budget we advise checking out older refurbished models via websites like Back Market and Amazon Renewed.

On Back Market, we regularly see older MacBook Air laptops for around £400. If you don’t mind not having the latest specs and designs, you can currently get a 13-inch 2017 MacBook Air graded “excellent” (so the screen and keyboard are in great condition) for around £340. These models have been tested and come with a year's warranty, covering manufacturing faults. If you don’t like the device, you can get a refund within 30 days.