STORE GUIDE
Your complete guide to the best Apple hardware and third-party accessories
Welcome to MacFormat’s Store Guide, the place to go to find out about all the Apple kit that matters, whether you’re looking for your next iPhone or a powerful new desktop Mac. We’ve chosen our top products from Apple’s product line-up, plus the best third-party kit that meets our quality standard.
Whether you’re a recent convert or a seasoned Apple user, we highlight a model of each product that’s ideally suited to your needs. So, check our handy tables to see which Mac, iPad or iPhone is best for you. We’ve also highlighted the gold standard in audio, storage, cameras, and many other categories to complement your Mac or iOS device with the best accessories.
iMac
Ever since the famous Bondi Blue iMac debuted way back in August 1998, Apple’s all-in-one desktop computer has been setting standards in gorgeous design and powerful performance. Apple’s spirit of innovation was as clear back then as it is today – the iMac was the first Macintosh to abandon the floppy disk in favour of USB ports, and its bright, colourful aesthetic set it apart as a playful pretender in a world of staid beige boxes.
These days Apple is again pushing boundaries with the iMac, blessing all of its 27-inch models with the world’s best display, which has a massive 5K (5120x2880) resolution and a wider colour gamut than previous models. Add in a quad-core Intel Core i5 processor (configurable from 3.2GHz up to 4.0GHz), 8GB of memory, a fast and capacious Fusion Drive, and a powerful AMD Radeon R9 graphics processor – and the large iMac is the desktop system to own. In 2015, Apple introduced the first 21.5-inch iMac with a Retina 4K (4096x2304) display. All except the entrylevel, 21.5‑inch model have a quad-core processor.
MacBook
The baby of Apple’s laptop family, the MacBook was updated in early 2016 with slightly improved specs and a new Rose Gold colour. Weighing in at just 0.92kg, it’s Apple’s most lightweight laptop but still packs in a 226ppi pixel density in its 12-inch Retina display.
The MacBook is powered by an Intel Core M processor (at 1.1GHz, 1.2GHz or 1.3GHz), which doesn’t require a fan to keep cool, so the MacBook runs silently. It also features a Force Touch trackpad, which can trigger different responses as you apply more pressure. All models of the MacBook come with 8GB of 1866MHz memory, with no option to add more, and Intel HD Graphics 515 – that’s 25% faster than the previous iteration – and there are 256GB or 512GB flash storage options. There are four colour options: Silver, Space Grey, Gold, and the new Rose Gold.
MacBook Pro
Apple debuted the new MacBook Pro in October with an OLED strip of appspecific controls called the Touch Bar. This replaces the function keys with a row of context-sensitive shortcuts.
The Force Touch trackpad was made larger to provide more room for gestures, and the keyboard was also updated with a second-generation version of the butterfly keys found in the 12-inch MacBook. Memory speed in all models except the entry-level 13-inch was upgraded to 2133MHz, and all new models are thinner and lighter.
The ports saw substantive changes, too. You’ll now get either two or four Thunderbolt 3 ports (depending on the model), which are also compatible with USB-C devices, and through which you charge the MacBook Pro. The 13-inch and 15-inch sizes remain, although the entry-level 13-inch lacks a Touch Bar.
Mac Pro
If you need power – and we mean
serious power – this is the computer for you. Even the entry-level model comes with 12GB of memory, a quadcore 3.7GHz processor, 256GB of speedy PCIe flash storage and dual AMD FIrePro D300 graphics cards. However, with a high cost, last being updated in 2013, and Thunderbolt 3 debuting in the new MacBook Pro, it’s worth holding out for the next version.
Mac mini
A welcome update in 2014 brought a £100 price drop to the most affordable Mac, but rises in late 2016 added £80 back on. The mini has some interesting talking points: the entry-level model has a 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of memory, making it one of the lowest-spec Macs around, with a 500GB hard drive and no display. Higher end models come with 1TB storage (Fusion Drive and SSD options are available), 8GB of memory, a better graphics processor and either a 2.6GHz or 2.8GHz Intel Core i5 for £679 and £949. Those models can be upgraded to a Core i7, but there aren’t any quad-core options available.
iPhone
The iPhone 7 represents a big update, no doubt about it. Apple introduced an amazing dual-camera setup in the Plus model, which allows for 2x optical zoom and on-the-fly depth-of-field effects.
Both sizes feature the improved A10 Fusion chip, a redesigned Home button with haptic feedback, better battery life, Lightning EarPods, and storage ranging from 32GB to 256GB.
The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are still available, and are great devices in their own right. With 3D Touch giving you a greater range of interactions with apps, plus a 12MP rear camera with 4K video recording and Live Photos, consider them if the iPhone 7 is too expensive.
And let’s not forget the iPhone SE. Though it lacks 3D Touch, it packs in many of the 6s’s features, such as the A9 chip and M9 motion coprocessor, and has a more compact 4-inch screen.
iPad
Apple didn’t change much in the way of its iPad range during its September event, but it did tweak its iPad storage options and prices. The iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 and iPad mini 2 now start at 32GB instead of 16GB – rejoice!
But it wasn’t all good news. Thanks to currency fluctuations post-Brexit, Apple has raised iPad prices (despite lowering them in the US).
On the software side, the iPad adds multitasking features, which are a boon for productivity. You can slide a second app over the right side of the one you’re working in, then dismiss it to get back to work. Picture in Picture enables you to watch video in a corner of the screen. Those two features work on the Air 2, mini 2 and Pro and newer models. There’s also Split View, on the Air 2, mini 4 and Pro, which lets you work on two apps side by side.
iPad Pro
The iPad Pro comes in 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, packed with either 32GB, 128GB or 256GB of storage. All models except the 32GB, 12.9-inch one are available with the option of mobile network connectivity. The Pro’s A9X chip is the most powerful in any iOS device, and it has an impressive four-speaker sound system, too. Adding the pressure-sensitive Apple Pencil makes it an accomplished drawing tool.
Watch
From £269 The Watch has already made Apple the second biggest watchmaker in the world. Apple is continuing this push with Apple Watch Series 2, which sees a big update to the Watch. It’s water-resistant to 50 metres so you can take it for a swim, it has a faster dual-core processor and GPU, and a brighter display. There’s also built-in GPS, which can measure routes, pace and distance when you’re out on a run or hike without needing an iPhone.
Apple also introduced a ceramic model to replace the gold Edition, and has partnered with Nike to create the Apple Watch Nike+, a range of runneroriented models. The Hermès straps come in new colours and designs, too.