Apple laptops: which one is right for you?
The company makes three laptops, and while there is a bit of crossover, each has a specific target audience.
Apple’s laptops may live in the financial shadow of the iPhone, but it hasn’t stopped the company from continuing to refine them.
The company recently updated processors and memory for two of the models, the MacBook and MacBook Pro, with both now featuring Intel Kaby Lake chips which produce faster speeds and better power efficiency.
The company makes three laptops, and while there is a bit of crossover, each has a specific target audience.
They all look similar but there are some important differences to note if you’re considering buying one.
MacBook Air (from $1649)
This is the company’s affordable laptop, aimed at students or anyone who just needs a computer for browsing online, sending emails or light photo editing.
Its main claim to fame was being one of the first super-slim laptops on the market when it was first launched in 2008.
It’s still trim, weighing just 1.35kg but most other laptops have now caught up.
However, it still has a few other attractive features, the main one being long battery life. Apple claims it can last 12 hours – two hours longer than it states for the MacBook and MacBook Pro. This makes it popular for anyone who’s out and about a lot with their laptop but doesn’t want to carry a charger.
Its main downside is its screen. It’s not as sharp as its MacBook siblings but it’s also why it’s more affordable and has a longer lasting battery.
While it’s a good laptop, if you are only after something for basic computer use, you may want to consider the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro, which only costs $1099. It’s got a superior screen and when paired with a keyboard ($259), it happily doubles as a laptop.
MacBook (from $2200)
This is the middle child of the range. It has shared attributes from both its younger and older siblings.
Its big claim to fame is portability, a title once held by the MacBook Air.
It weighs just 920g and feels like an iPad. It’s so slim it’s hard to see how everything fits inside. It’s certainly light on your lap though some people may find it too small.
It mixes this Air-like trimness with what Apple calls a retina screen, a high-resolution display that is a big improvement on the MacBook Air’s standard screen. That means it has 2304 x 1440 pixels compared to 1440 x 900 for the Air.
However, it is an inch smaller (12 compared to 13) than the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
It’s more designed for the user on the go, and for the minimalist – there’s only one USB-C port along with a headphone jack.
This model may also appeal to the design conscious as it comes in rose gold and gold along with the standard silver and grey.
MacBook Pro (from $2200)
The older sibling specialises in performance and is the only one that features a choice between 13and 15-inch screens.
This is the Apple laptop to buy if you are a power user who does a lot of heavy photo and video editing or any other graphicsheavy work. It’s more targeted toward professionals, hence the name.
It features all the latest tech, including the Touch Bar, which replaces the standard function keys on some models. The bar, which is actually an OLED screen, changes depending on what you are doing on your MacBook. For example, if you’re using the Safari web browser, then logos of your most visited sites appear so you can just tap one to load it.
It also has a fingerprint scanner for unlocking your laptop and for using features such as Apple Pay.
The touch bar is a fun feature, but it costs extra and it takes some time to get used to.
Other new tech includes USB-C ports as opposed to the traditional USB. That means you’ll need to buy a dongle to use older devices such as hard drives. This means it’s more suited for early adopters, though it does have a 3.5mm headphone port.
It also shares a few features with the middle child, including a retina display, and a large trackpad with what Apple calls ‘‘force touch’’ which uses pressure sensors to enable certain commands.
Making a decision
Buying a laptop can be confusing, with lots of options and technical specifications to wade through, not to mention meeting your budget.
If you are set on an Apple laptop, then deciding which one suits you best can be summed up in one word for each machine.
For the MacBook Air, it’s affordability; for the MacBook it’s portability and for the MacBook Pro, it’s performance.
While your budget may mean you have to make compromises, these three words should steer you in the right direction.