Guide

Which Mac is right for you? A February 2023 guide

22.2.2023

Translation: Veronica Bielawski

So you want to buy a Mac, but don’t know which one to get? You’ve come to the right place. Here are my recommendations for each use.

There is a newer version of this buying guide. Find it here:

Guide
November 2023 guide: which Mac is right for you?
by Samuel Buchmann

Buying the right Apple computer isn’t that easy – at least not if you want to strike the right balance between price and performance for your needs. I’m the one in our editorial team who’s peddled all the new Macs so that I can take a closer look at them. In this guide, you’ll learn which one I recommend for which applications. I’m restricting it to Apple’s current lineup and leaving out used and discontinued devices. Of course, those can also be good options depending on the offer. I’ll update this guide when Apple releases new Macs.

Keep in mind that these recommendations are based on my personal opinion. They’re intended as a guide, not the one and only option. Your preferences and demands when it comes to computers may vary. My rule of thumb is don’t get a more expensive device than is necessary – and don’t get one with potential future uses in mind that may not materialise. If you want to cover these eventualities, opt for a higher performance class instead.

This is especially relevant for working memory. Apple’s chips handle RAM very efficiently, delegating to the SSD when overloaded. This is so fast that you don’t even really notice it. However, if you permanently rely on this mechanism, it can shorten the lifespan of your SSD. So, if you know you chronically have 50 Chrome tabs open or otherwise need massive amounts of memory, you’re better off taking the next level up of RAM than recommended here. Stress on «chronically» – the SSD can easily handle occasional spikes.

Carefree all-rounder – M2 Pro MacBook Pro

I’ll start with my personal use case, which may well apply to you. I work both in the office and on the road, so I want a laptop. I want to be able to leave my charger at home. Most of the time I only use the computer for writing articles and e-mails. Sometimes I edit photos in Lightroom and Photoshop. I do also use complex filters and want clipping masks to be enhanced automatically. Every now and then, I edit videos in DaVinci Resolve Studio. I don’t want to worry about whether my computer can handle my camera’s codec or resolution. My workflow includes 8K clips, colour grading, simple effects and animated titles. Very rarely, I’ll even have a quick gaming sesh on my Mac – even though the selection of titles is extremely limited.

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In this case, I’d go for a 16-inch MacBook Pro – with the M2 Pro chip, 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD. The large model is only marginally more expensive than the smaller one. The 16-inch display allows me to work comfortably on the go, and my programs all run quickly and smoothly thanks to the M2 Pro. Thanks to the HDMI port and SD card reader, annoying dongles are a thing of the past. Tasks like exporting a video would be even faster with the even more powerful M2 Max or more RAM, but that doesn’t matter to me as a casual video editor. In return, the MacBook with the more efficient M2 Pro is the absolute king of battery life. At nearly 3,000 francs, it’s no bargain. But it is an all-round carefree device.

Mobile office – M1 MacBook Air

You surf the web, make video calls, watch YouTube videos, write e-mails or papers for your studies and your most power-hungry application is Excel? You want to be able to work in your living room, on the train or at your university? The cheapest Apple laptop is the way to go. Namely, the two-year-old M1 MacBook Air with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD. It’s still my standard recommendation in 2023 for everyday use. It feels lightning fast in office applications, is small, light, silent and pretty with a perfect finish. The battery easily lasts the whole day. The best thing about the M1 MacBook Air? The base version costs only 900 francs. And that’s really all you need for office applications.

«But isn’t there a newer generation?» some of you may be wondering. Yes, the M2 MacBook Air is newer and slightly better. But it’s also more expensive. The display is ever so slightly larger and brighter, and I do like the MagSafe connector. Apart from that, the advantage is negligible in everyday use. You’ll never notice the additional graphics performance of the M2 chip in office applications. And, due to the new architecture, the SSD is actually slower in the new-generation base version with 256 GB than in the old model. If you don’t absolutely insist on the new design (on which opinions differ), you can safely save yourself the 250-franc premium.

Fixed workstation – M2 Mac Mini

The Mac Mini is the solution for all office workers with a fixed workstation. Even in the base version with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD offers more than enough performance for office applications. At 650 francs, it’s pleasantly affordable. Throw in a budget monitor, mouse and keyboard – et voilà, you have a solid workstation setup for around 1,000 francs. The M2 Mac Mini can also easily be used to edit the RAW image here and there or to edit a short video.

Professional image editing – M2 Pro Mac Mini

Are you a photographer? Sorting, developing and editing images is part of your paid job? Then I recommend you get the M2 Pro Mac Mini with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD – along with a good AdobeRGB display like the BenQ PhotoVue SW321C. If you prefer a mobile setup, go for the M2 Pro MacBook Pro mentioned above. However, it’ll run you nearly twice as much.

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If you want the best value in a Mac Mini, don’t bother going for the full-blown M2 Pro variant with 12 CPU and 19 GPU cores. Even the version linked above with a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU is sufficient for very demanding image editing. Lightroom exports RAW images quickly and even complex Photoshop tools work smoothly. The M2 Pro Mac Mini already has a minimum of 16 GB of RAM. That’s typically plenty. On the other hand, I do recommend upgrading the SSD to 1 TB. After all, you want to be able to store your current project on the drive without it filling up immediately.

Programming and audio production – M2 Pro MacBook Pro

If you want to do professional programming or music production on macOS, I’d snag the M2 Pro MacBook Pro with 32 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD. Your applications mainly need processor power. Whether you opt for 14 or 16 inches is a matter of taste. If you work on the go a lot, the larger display is worth it. If you commute between your home office and company office and have external screens in both places, the 14-inch model is the perfect combination of light weight and good performance. If your projects aren’t huge and you don't have a plethora of browser tabs open at all times, 16 GB RAM is probably enough – and saves you 440 francs.

High-end videos, 3D rendering: M2 Max MacBook Pro

As a rough-and-ready rule, if you have to ask if you need the 38 GPU cores of the M2 Max, the answer is «no». Apple’s most expensive chip of the current generation is only worth it in exceptional cases. For example, if you produce videos professionally and your workflow includes raw footage in 8K, or you work in After Effects. Or if you regularly use 3D rendering programs like Blender, which eat up graphics power. If you’re in this target group, the MacBook Pro with M2 Max will speed up your work considerably, not least because this chip also offers twice the number of video encoders and decoders.

Since such projects involve large files, you should upgrade the SSD to at least 2 TB. In terms of working memory, 32 GB are sufficient in most cases. If you need more RAM on an ongoing basis, you’re probably already aware of this. I recommend the 16-inch version; its cooling system handles the M2 Max much better than that of the 14-inch model. What’s more, the 14-inch model doesn’t have as long a battery life.

Save your money – skip the iMac, Mac Studio and Mac Pro

Besides my purchasing recommendations, there are also devices that I currently don’t recommend.

The iMac is pretty, and it is a good computer for the office. But it’s currently only available with the older M1 chip and only in a 24-inch size. The display is good but small. I find the iMac too expensive for what it offers. For that money, you can buy an M2 Mac Mini and a good, big screen.

I have gentler reservations about the Mac Studio. It’s a fixed workstation with a lot of power – essentially a MacBook Pro on steroids. In the version with M1 Ultra, the Mac Studio delivers more power than any other Mac, with 20 CPU cores and up to 64 GPU cores. With the top chip, however, the thing runs you at least 5,500 francs. To make that price tag worth it, you need to be someone who produces high-end motion graphics and animations professionally. Even then, I’d rather wait for a version with next-gen chips or a new Mac Pro.

Speaking of the Mac Pro: Apple’s still offering the four-year-old tower with Intel processors for sale in 2023. It costs a minimum of 6,400 francs and is already beaten by the M2 Pro Mac Mini in many cases. All this to say: keep your hands off the Mac Pro until Apple releases a new version with its M-chips.

Header image: Samuel Buchmann

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Samuel Buchmann

Senior Editor

Samuel.Buchmann@digitecgalaxus.ch

My fingerprint often changes so drastically that my MacBook doesn't recognise it anymore. The reason? If I'm not clinging to a monitor or camera, I'm probably clinging to a rockface by the tips of my fingers.

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Which Mac is right for you? A February 2023 guide

November 2023 guide: which Mac is right for you?

Carefree all-rounder – M2 Pro MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro review: overkill

Mobile office – M1 MacBook Air

Fixed workstation – M2 Mac Mini

Professional image editing – M2 Pro Mac Mini

M2 Mac Mini review – a level-up

Programming and audio production – M2 Pro MacBook Pro

High-end videos, 3D rendering: M2 Max MacBook Pro

Save your money – skip the iMac, Mac Studio and Mac Pro

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