Guide

June 2023 guide: which Mac is right for you?

Samuel Buchmann

19.6.2023

Translation: Veronica Bielawski

Want to buy a Mac, but not sure which one’s right for you? Here are my recommendations for each use case.

There is a newer version of this buying guide.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 so straightforward – at least not if you want to strike the right balance between price and performance for your needs. Being on the Editorial Team, I examine each new Mac in detail. In this guide, you’ll learn which one I recommend for which use case. I’m limiting myself to Apple’s current lineup.

This is the latest version of this guide. I’ll update it when Apple releases new Macs. You’ll find the previous version from February here.

This list is intended as a guide, not gospel. Your preferences and demands when it comes to computers may vary. My rule of thumb is don’t get a more expensive device than necessary – and avoid getting one with potential future uses in mind that may not materialise. If you want to future-proof yourself, 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. Most of the time I only use my computer for writing texts and e-mails. I’ll also edit the occasional photo in Lightroom and Photoshop. When doing so, I use complex filters and want clipping masks to be enhanced automatically. And, 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.

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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 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 faster with the even more powerful M2 Max or more RAM, but that doesn’t matter to me as a casual video editor. On the flip side, the MacBook with the more efficient M2 Pro is the absolute king of battery life. While not a bargain, it is a hassle-free allrounder.

Mobile office – 15-inch M2 MacBook Air

The 15-inch MacBook Air is my new favourite laptop from Apple’s range. It’s pretty, thin and light, yet still has plenty of screen real estate, a long battery life and is fast enough for almost anything. What’s more, Apple’s held back with the price. The new Air is a perfectly balanced device for students and anyone who needs an office laptop. With the 15-inch version, you can get away without having an external screen in most situations.

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The standard version with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD offers ample performance for web browsing, video calls, YouTube, e-mailing and writing texts. Occasional image editing is no problem either. If you have large Lightroom catalogues or use Photoshop often, I recommend upgrading to 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD; you’ll then only reach the limit with very computationally intensive applications or large video projects. For everything else, the Air hits the sweet spot of value for money.

Mobile office on a budget – M1 MacBook Air

The two-year-old M1 MacBook Air with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD also remains a solid recommendation for everyday use in 2023. It feels lightning fast in office applications, is small, light, and silent. The battery easily lasts the whole day. The best thing about the M1 MacBook Air? The base version costs just 900 francs.

«But isn’t there a newer generation?» some of you may be wondering. Yes, the 13-inch 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 having the new design, you can safely save yourself the premium.

Fixed workstation – M2 Mac Mini

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

Professional image editing – M2 Pro Mac Mini

Are you a photographer? Is sorting, developing and editing images 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 comes with 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 are on the small side and you don’t have a plethora of browser tabs open at all times, 16 GB RAM is probably enough –

High-end videos and 3D – M2 Max Mac Studio

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». This level of performance 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 M2 Max will speed up your work considerably, not least because this chip also offers twice the number of video encoders and decoders. The M2 Ultra is even faster, but definitely overkill in most cases.

Since such projects involve large files, you should upgrade the SSD to at least 2 TB, unless you work directly on a network drive. In terms of working memory, 32 GB is sufficient in most cases. If you need more RAM on an ongoing basis, you’ll probably already be aware of this. For a stationary workstation, the Mac Studio is the obvious choice. If you prefer a mobile solution, the M2 Max chip is also available in the MacBook Pro. Go for the large, 16-inch version then; its cooling system can handle the M2 Max much better than the 14-inch model.

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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June 2023 guide: which Mac is right for you?

November 2023 guide: which Mac is right for you?

Carefree all-rounder – M2 Pro MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro review: overkill

Mobile office – 15-inch M2 MacBook Air

15-inch MacBook Air review: perfect balance

Mobile office on a budget – 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 and 3D – M2 Max Mac Studio

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