If you get yourself one of the best MacBooks, know that you aren't just getting a sleek, reliable machine, no matter the model; you're also choosing one of the best laptops on the market. I know, as I've been using a MacBook as my daily driver for years.
We here at Tom's Guide have put together this guide to help you find the best one for your needs, after reviewing all the latest MacBooks for nearly 20 years.
The MacBook Air M5 is an easy recommendation as the best MacBook for most people. All-day battery life and even better specs under the hood compared to previous models make it a winner, despite the bump in price. But if you're all about affordability, the MacBook Neo is an exemplary budget laptop for the price. It's a win for students, first-time Mac users and, well, anyone looking for plenty of value.
For power users, creatives and anyone looking for high-end performance, we recommend the latest MacBook Pro M6 to blaze through all kinds of demanding tasks. And if you're looking to add one of the very best OLED touchscreens on one of the most powerful laptops we've ever tested, the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display should be your go-to choice.
For MacBook owners and first-time buyers, you'll want to know that macOS Golden Gate has arrived, and it's available to download and install now. This brings a bigger focus to the all-new Siri AI and other Apple Intelligence features. It's not a big update, but to make the most of Siri AI, it's worth downloading. For more hands-on testing and expert advice, this guide will help you find the best MacBook for your needs.
The best MacBooks you can buy today
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The best MacBook overall
"The MacBook Air 13-inch M5 offers nice upgrades over the M4 version while keeping the same sleek design, vibrant display, and long battery life. M5 performance impresses, and the doubled 512GB storage and better wireless connectivity are nice bonuses. Yes, it costs an extra $100 (and an extra $200 after Apple's price hikes) for most of the same features as the M4 model. Still, the MacBook Air M5 is a fantastic laptop for most folks, especially anyone looking for a premium notebook (that you'll definitely find for under $1,000 during a sale)."
Who is the MacBook Air M5 13-inch for?
This is the go-to MacBook for most folks. Why? The MacBook Air M5 13-inch brings even faster performance under the hood thanks to the M5 chip, which also results in even greater battery life at over 15 hours. That's all wrapped up in the familiar yet fantastic, sleek, lightweight design, especially with the 13-inch model. Aside from those who already have an M4, or even an M3, MacBook Air, this is hands down not just the MacBook, but also the laptop to beat.
Why is it the best overall MacBook?
As with its predecessor, the MacBook Air M5 comes out on top because it ticks all the right boxes. Premium performance for a laptop under $1,500 (and even less when those discounts start pouring in)? Check. Faster M5 power for seamless multitasking, especially for web surfing, video editing and even demanding gaming? It's got it. Now offering over 15 hours of battery life, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and an upgraded 512GB base storage? You know it. It's got it all for most.
MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) Performance Results
Slide through to see our performance
and battery life test results
Geekbench 6 (single-core)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) | 4168 |
What do we like about the MacBook Air M5 13-inch?
👍 Fast M5 performance: In our benchmark tests, the M5 knocked it out of the park in both single- and multi-core performance, allowing for seamless multitasking for multiple tasks.
👍 Even longer battery life: Now boasting a battery life that lasts 15 hours and 30 minutes, the latest MacBook Air delivers one of the longest-lasting laptops around.
👍 Useful upgrades: While its price hike hurts, the Apple N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7 support and boosted 512GB base storage make this MacBook Air better than ever.
What don’t we like about the MacBook Air M5 13-inch?
👎 Prepare to pay more: Sure, the upgrades are useful, but being $100 more for both the 13- and 15-inch models stings, especially when the design hasn't changed at all. Keep an eye out for discounts.
👎 A modest upgrade over M4: This is the same laptop, just with boosted performance. There's a noticeable jump in power, but not enough for an upgrade from M4.
MacBook Air M5 13-inch: Bottom line
Apple has done it again, making the do-it-all MacBook even better with faster M5 performance, longer battery life, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and a much-appreciated 512GB base storage. It still boasts the same impressively sleek and lightweight design, making this the MacBook for travelers, students, workers and more.
- Read our full MacBook Air M5 review
The best budget MacBook
"This system ticks all the right boxes for its low price, with a premium aluminum design, a rich and bright display you’d normally find on $1,000 laptops and good-enough performance from its A18 Pro chip. I also like the side-mounted speakers, as well as the comfy keyboard and smooth touchpad. And the more than 13 hours of battery life is very impressive at this price."
Who is the MacBook Neo for?
At $699 (and $599 for education), the MacBook Neo is a reliable, sturdy laptop with a fun pop of color for students, workers on the move and anyone after a budget laptop. With its A18 Pro chip onboard, expect solid performance for general, day-to-day tasks, including writing in documents, editing photos, exploring the web and more. If you don't mind a lack of keyboard backlight or no Touch ID (you'll have to pay $100 extra), this MacBook is well worth considering.
Why is this the best budget MacBook?
The MacBook Neo's price beats that of the MacBook Air M2 (even a refurbished model), even after the $100 price hike from Apple. The Neo's performance is nearly on par with that chip, too, showing just how far Apple's A-series chips (generally made for iPhones) have come. So, instead of paying over $1,000 for a MacBook, you can now get one for a fraction of the price. And a reliable one with plenty of fun colors, too.
MacBook Neo (A18 Pro) Performance Results
Slide through to see our performance
Geekbench 6 (single-core)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| MacBook Neo (A18 Pro) | 3535 |
What do we like about the MacBook Neo?
👍 Solid A18 Pro performance: Compared to other Chromebooks and Windows machines at the same price, the MacBook Neo outperforms these laptops with good speeds for multitasking and juggling multiple tabs or apps.
👍 Long battery life: Impressively, the MacBook Neo can last 13 hours and 28 minutes, which is more than enough to breeze through a full workday without needing a charger.
👍 Design that pops: Fan of the sleek, lightweight design of the MacBook Air? Well, the MacBook Neo takes the best parts of this (aluminum design included) but adds a splash of colors, making for an attractive laptop that works for the office, classroom and while out and about.
What don’t we like about the MacBook Neo?
👎 Annoying trade-offs: I mean, sacrifices had to be made. Expect to pay $100 extra for Touch ID and double the storage, no keyboard backlight and 8GB of RAM being the limit.
👎 No Thunderbolt support: If you need a laptop with Thunderbolt for speedy data transfer or to connect to peripherals (like a monitor), the MacBook Neo has no such support, so prepare to have a USB-C hub on hand.
MacBook Neo: Bottom line
The MacBook Neo finally makes Apple's lineup of laptops supremely more affordable, and it's amazing what $699 can get you. If you're looking to get started in macOS but don't want to spend $1,000 or more and only need it for everyday tasks, the MacBook Neo provides.
- Read our full MacBook Neo review
The best MacBook for creatives
"Ultimately, the MacBook Pro M6 is for those who want a pro-grade MacBook that’s $900 less than the entry-level MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display. Sure, it lacks a touchscreen and an OLED display, but for demanding tasks like video editing and gaming, this MacBook Pro won’t let you down. Taken on its own merits, the MacBook Pro 14-inch M6 is still a phenomenal laptop."
Who is the MacBook Pro M6 14-inch for?
Now boasting the power of M6, the latest MacBook Pro is otherwise a modest upgrade over its previous model. It's the laptop power users will love and know, but this time with even greater battery life (reaching over 19 hours) and blazing-fast performance from its M6 chipset. Along with its identical yet fantastic utilitarian design and gorgeous XDR display, this MacBook Pro will satisfy the needs of many creatives, video editors and power users all the same.
Why is this the best MacBook for creatives?
As with previous MacBook Pro models, the MacBook Pro M6 nails the basics of what creatives and power users could want, all at the most affordable price Apple can offer for this level of performance. From its stand-out battery life, which is longer than ever, to its sleek and compact 14-inch design with plenty of ports (three Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C, one SD Card slot and an HDMI port), it offers pro-level power and tools for creatives to work anywhere.
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M6) Performance Results
Slide through to see our performance and battery life test results
Geekbench 6 (single-core)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 14-inch (M6) | 4752 |
What do we like about the MacBook Pro M6 14-inch?
👍 Strong M6 performance: The new Apple M5 chip provides a notable performance boost over its predecessor and Windows-based competitors. If you’re a video editor, you can render 4K videos much faster than before, and if you’re into gaming, the new MacBook Pro can also deliver impressive performance for titles that are optimized for M-series Macs.
👍 Vivid display: As always, the 14.2-inch (3024 x 1964) Liquid Retina XDR display with its 120Hz refresh rate is as gorgeous as ever, and works amazingly for video editing, watching shows and even gaming.
👍 Astonishing battery life: The MacBook Pro M6 shows that Apple keeps raising the bar on how long its laptops can last. In our test, the laptop kept running for 19 hours and 5 minutes! Windows laptops still struggle to reach this! If you want a laptop that can potentially last for two full workdays on a single charge, this is it.
What don’t we like about the MacBook Pro M6 14-inch?
👎 Only a minor spec bump: While it's hard to deny what the MacBook Pro M6 delivers, it's still only a chip upgrade on a laptop we've seen for years now. Unless you're new to MacBook Pros or are upgrading from an M1, this is purely just for the latest performance gains
MacBook Pro M6 14-inch: Bottom line
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 may not be a huge upgrade in anything but performance from previous models, but that doesn't take away from this being an excellent choice for creators and professionals. In fact, now more than ever, with its faster M6 performance and longer battery life. For pro-level performance without the need to spend extra on a touch display (like the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display), the MacBook Pro M6 is a fantastic choice.
- Read our full MacBook Pro M6 review
The best big-screen MacBook
"The 15-inch MacBook Air hits a real sweet spot — offering that spacious, immersive screen without the steep price of the 16-inch MacBook Pro. While it’s not a pro-level video editing machine, the latest M5 chip has no trouble powering through my daily workload and multitasking, and it’s ready for Apple Intelligence, too. Battery life is stellar at over 15 hours, making it a great pick for anyone who needs all-day performance in a slim, silent package. I just wish Apple gave it more than two USB-C ports."
Who is the MacBook Air M5 15-inch for?
This is for the people who have those casual-to-moderate productivity demands, but really want a big-screen laptop experience. The M5 chip performs just as well here as the 13-inch, but you’re getting the benefit of a larger display (and bigger battery, too).
Why is this the best big-screen MacBook?
Previously, a giant screen was limited to just the 16-inch MacBook Pro, so a 15-inch Air is warmly welcomed! Put simply, this is the cheapest way to get a MacBook with a large display. But with that, Apple hasn’t forgotten about what makes the Air so great — making it slim, light and incredibly portable.
MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) Performance Results
Slide through to see our performance
Geekbench 6 (single-core)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) | 4191 |
What do we like about the MacBook Air M5 15-inch?
👍 Gorgeous display that goes big: You don’t really know how big a 15-inch display will be until you see it. This thing is big. Not only that, but it packs an impressive average brightness of 454 nits and a lot of color, so this is great for both work and binge-watching.
👍 Same Air design with one key improvement: What’s even more impressive is the fact that Apple keeps the 15-inch MacBook Air just as slim as the 13-inch at 0.45 inches. For something of this size and stature, that aluminum construction feels almost impossible in the hands.
👍 Incredible battery life: The difference between the 13- and 15-inch models may be slightly less compared to their predecessor, but the latest 15-inch MacBook Air still delivers an amazing 15 hours and 30 minutes.
What we don’t like about the MacBook Air M5 15-inch?
👎 Desk view is awkward to use: With that higher megapixel count and wider field of view, you can use desk view using the MacBook Air's webcam, but it does look a little awkward!
👎 No fan = lower sustained performance: Over a longer period of work or gaming, you’re best off sacrificing an inch of screen size and going for the M5 MacBook Pro, which has a fan to keep the M5 running at 100% for longer.
MacBook Air M5 15-inch: Bottom line
Regardless of our criticisms of ports and sustained performance, it’s hard to really knock the 15-inch MacBook Air in real-world use. The M5 chip affords impressive power and battery life, and Apple has made the thinnest big-screen laptop you can buy right now.
- Read our full MacBook Air M5 15-inch review
The best MacBook for power users
"I thought the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display could be amazing, but it shattered and exceeded my expectations. The new tandem OLED display raises the bar for laptops in brightness and color reproduction. Smooth touchscreen controls, a lighter design, and booming audio take Apple’s new machine to the next level. Yes, it’s very expensive, but it’s a brilliant laptop that makes competitors pale in comparison."
Who is the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display for?
If you've been waiting for a huge update to the beloved MacBook Pro, it's finally arrived in the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display. And it doesn't disappoint. It will cost you, but anyone after one of the best OLED touchscreens we've laid eyes on and the powerhouse performance from an M5 Pro or M5 Max chip will be more than satisfied with what this swanky MacBook has to offer.
Why is this the best MacBook for power users?
We've already seen how strong the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are, but the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display takes it a step further by offering a mesmerizing OLED panel for creative work, greater battery life (over 21 hours) and responsive touch display controls in a thinner, lighter design. For video editing, coding, creative design work and AI tasks, this is a beast.
MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display Performance Results
Slide through to see our performance and battery life test results
Geekbench 6 (single-core)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display 14-inch (M5 Pro) | 4323 |
| MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display 16-inch (M5 Max) | 4359 |
What do we like about the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display?
👍 Incredible M5 Pro/M5 Max performance: Apple's silicon is still one of the fastest-running chips on the planet, and the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR shows off this monstrous performance. Expect to breeze through everyday workloads, edit 4K video faster than ever, utilize on-device AI and more.
👍 PROLED is a marvel to look at: We've been asking for OLED, and the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR brings the best of it. With stunning visuals, floods of accurate color, deep blacks and even responsive touch controls throughout, this display is a treat for the eyes. Oh, and there's no notch!
👍 Outstanding battery life: While the 14-inch model with M5 Max didn't last as long (still nearly 17 hours), the M5 Max MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR offered up an incredible 21 hours and 24 minutes of battery life. Now that really is all-day battery life.
What don’t we like about the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display?
👎 Incredibly pricey: It hardly comes as a surprise, as MacBook Pro models don't come cheap anyway, but with a starting price of $2,899 / £2,899, you'll be paying quite a lot for performance you can get on ordinary MacBook Pro models, just with the added benefit of its lovely OLED touchscreen.
MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display: Bottom line
The MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display shows that Apple is a master at bringing the very best displays on laptops, with the tandem OLED touchscreen being a marvel to look at and touch. For video editors, creative professionals and power users looking for the ultimate power in a premium laptop, this will surely impress.
- Read our full MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display review
MacBook performance tests compared
MacBooks are among the most powerful laptops on the market, and we have the testing to prove it. Using the Geekbench 6 benchmark to see the single-core (for simple tasks) and multi-core (for complex tasks) results of each MacBook we get in, along with the Handbrake test to see how fast a laptop is at converting a 4K video to 1080p, we can gauge the performance of each MacBook. Here's how each compares.
Best MacBook Performance Test Results
Slide through to see Geekbench and Handbrake tests compared
Geekbench 6 (single-core)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display 14-inch (M5 Pro) | 4323 |
| MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display 16-inch (M5 Max) | 4359 |
| MacBook Pro 14-inch (M6) | 4752 |
| MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) | 4191 |
| MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) | 4168 |
| MacBook Neo (A18 Pro) | 3535 |
MacBook battery life tests
Our big test for every MacBook is the battery life. We run our custom battery test to see how long each MacBook (at 150 nits of brightness) can last while browsing the web over Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice. Here's how all of the best MacBooks stack up.
Spoiler alert: they're some of the best laptops for battery life you can snag right now.
Best MacBooks Battery Life Benchmarks
In our battery test, we set the laptop's display to 150 nits of brightness and have it endlessly browse the web via Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.
Battery life (hh:mm)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display 14-inch (M5 Pro) | 16.933333333333334 |
| MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display 16-inch (M5 Max) | 21.4 |
| MacBook Pro 14-inch (M6) | 19.083333333333332 |
| MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) | 15.5 |
| MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) | 15.466666666666667 |
| MacBook Neo (A18 Pro) | 13.466666666666667 |
Best MacBook: Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy a MacBook now or wait for the next model?
We can expect a new set of next-gen Air, Pro and now even Neo MacBook models annually. However, don't feel you need to upgrade every year.
That being said, no one wants to buy a current-generation MacBook only for Apple to launch the next-gen model the next day (I would feel that pain!). Right now, the latest MacBooks are the following:
- MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display: It's Apple's first touchscreen MacBook, and it's something to behold. It's mega powerful, and the screen is unreasonably beautiful. It's packing an M5 Pro or M5 Max chip, and it's lighter than the standard M6 model. You'll also find even higher RAM configurations. Just be ready to pay a mighty price for one.
- MacBook Pro M6: There are a couple of key upgrades here of note. The first is the new M6 chip, which offers much faster performance and better AI capability. Plus, it offers even better battery life than every before, and there's now a Nanotexture option for a glare-free screen.
Each jump for Apple's laptops is a more modest upgrade with the same design and display. The improvements tend to come under the hood, but unless you're jumping from, say, a MacBook Pro M1 to a MacBook Pro M5, don't expect huge leaps in performance.
Apple's latest lineup of MacBooks is the best around, but don't worry about upgrading if you only got the previous year's model. However, when a revamp is expected, or a new launch is right around the corner, it's often best to hold off on buying the current-gen MacBook you had your eye on.
That's because you'll get the latest and greatest MacBook right when it launches, and for (hopefully) the same price you'd pay for the model that would instantly be considered the "last-gen" model. It will prolong how many more years of use you'd get out of it, but there's also something to be said about saving on an earlier MacBook; although expect these to be "renewed" models at major retailers.
In any case, if we're hearing about a MacBook launch that's just around the corner, or a fully revamped model, your best bet is to wait to upgrade.
How much do MacBooks cost now?
As of June 25, 2026, Apple increased the price of its range of MacBooks, which is now in effect at the Apple Store. While it's unfortunate, it's the result of the ongoing RAM crisis, with costs rising from $100 to a staggering $500, depending on the model.
If you're shopping for a new MacBook, it's a good idea to check third-party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and more to grab a laptop at the older, lower price (or even with a deal).
Right now, here are the prices of each MacBook after the increase in the U.S. and U.K.
- MacBook Neo: $699 / £699 (up from $599 / £599, $100 / £100 increase)
- 13-inch MacBook Air: $1,299 / £1,299 (up from $1,099 / £1,099, $200 / £200 increase)
- 15-inch MacBook Air: $1,499 / £1,499 (up from $1,299 / £1,299, $200 / £200 increase)
- M6 MacBook Pro: $1,999 / £1,999 (up from $1,699 / $1,699, $300 / £300 increase)
- M5 Pro MacBook Pro: $2,499 / £2,499 (up from $2,199 / £2,199, $300 / £300 increase)
- M5 Max MacBook Pro: $4,099 / £4,099 (up from $3,599 / £3,599, $500 / £500 increase)
- MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display: $2,899 / £2,899
What is macOS?
macOS is Apple's own operating system for its lineup of Macs, and it's an intuitive, seamless OS that tightly integrates with the rest of the Cupertino tech giant's products, like the iPhone and iPad.
Every year, macOS gets a major update, bringing new features and tweaks to check out. Right now, we're on macOS Golden Gate (macOS 27), which is available to upgrade to now. This is mainly focused on bringing Siri AI to the forefront, so it is largely the same as the previous macOS Tahoe (macOS 26).
Here's what to expect in the latest macOS 27 update:
- Siri AI and Apple Intelligence: Apple's rebuilt take on AI is integrated throughout the system, with contextual awareness, conversational capabilities and improved natural-language support. For example, through the Siri AI app in the Dock, Menu or Spotlight, it can help write and proofread drafts from scratch, find a PDF invoice in one of your emails in Spotlight and use Visual Intelligence to answer questions based on what's on screen. This works in a similar way to ChatGPT and Google Gemini.
- Liquid Glass Slider: The design overhaul introduced in macOS Tahoe will now be easier to customize, with sliders to change the opacity and color of windows, tiles and apps, along with edges of apps now being more defined to stand out more in the background.
- Spatial Reframing: As with iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, Spatial Reframing is a new feature in the Photos app that lets you reframe existing photos and adjust the perspective however you like. It's a great tool to have if you're looking for a different angle, and it can now be done on macOS.
Which MacBooks support Apple Intelligence?
Back in 2024, Apple released the initial version of Apple Intelligence for Macs, iPads and iPhones. The launch has been, well, rocky, to say the least. But now, we're getting a completely built-from-the-ground-up Apple Intelligence in the form of Siri AI, coming with macOS Golden Gate.
This brings smarter suggestions across Apple's range of apps, such as scheduling an event or reminder in the Calendar app after someone messages about an upcoming appointment, understanding what's on your screen with Visual Intelligence, analyzing files and bringing up what's most relevant, and more.
Every MacBook on this list will meet these requirements, touting a Neural Engine on the chipset and over 16GB of RAM. However, MacBooks with Intel chips will not support Apple Intelligence (i.e., those sold in 2019 and earlier).
Should I buy a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro?
Buy a MacBook Air for everyday work, study, web browsing, light creative tasks and the easiest portability. Buy a MacBook Pro when you need higher sustained performance, more ports or a higher-end display. The MacBook Air M5 is our best overall choice because it combines strong everyday performance with a thin, light design and long battery life.
Choose the Pro if you regularly edit video, compile code, work in demanding creative apps or even game during your usual week. Even with the MacBook Pro M5, its cooling fan helps it sustain heavy workloads for longer, and it has a better selection of ports.
How much RAM and storage do I need in a MacBook?
It's important to choose enough memory and storage for the work you expect to do over the laptop’s lifetime, because both are fixed once bought (you can always ad an external SSD for storage, though). For browsing, documents and streaming, a base configuration of 16GB and 512GB is enough to get through work tasks, video editing work and light gaming. For frequent multitasking, creative apps, development work or longer ownership, prioritise more memory above all.
Storage needs depend on whether you keep large photo, video or project libraries locally. The current MacBook Air M5 starts with 512GB now, and the MacBook Neo offers 512GB for an extra $100/£100, which gives many buyers more flexibility than its previous smaller capacities.
How to choose the best MacBook for you
As of 2026, there are three types to choose from:
- MacBook Neo: The budget pick that boasts more than enough power for browsing the web with multiple tabs and handling apps, wrapped up in a compact, sturdy frame with a splash of fun colors.
- MacBook Air: The go-to option for everyone that ticks all the boxes for everyday productivity, creative work, web browsing, some light gaming and the like in an ultra-thin and light form factor.
- MacBook Pro: The powerhouse for those who want to get into more demanding work like video editing, coding, music production or even gaming.
Each comes with its own set of strengths, but it all depends on your needs and budget. Here's a breakdown of what to check out:
- Performance: The transition to Apple Silicon breathed new life into the MacBook lineup — pairing seriously impressive performance with peak power efficiency and downright bafflingly low operating temperatures (even under max load). Of course, the question of how much of that face-melting speed you need comes down to individual use cases. Not really doing much beyond casual productivity? The MacBook Neo is perfect. Need a little more? Bump up to the MacBook Air M5. If you're a power user with creative tasks, the MacBook Pro M6 or the M5 Pro or M5 Max MacBook with PROLED XDR are the way to go.
- Graphics and gaming: If you want to work by day and play by night on your MacBook, anything with an M3 chip (or above) is the way to go. These 3nm chipsets pack the best GPUs, which enable huge graphical capabilities such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Plus, this additional power means you can breeze through graphically intense productivity tasks, too.
- Size and weight: If portability is important to you, the MacBook Airs are a must-buy from this selection. At just 2.7 pounds for the 13-inch version (and a mere 3.3 pounds for the 15-inch), these are so easy to carry around. If portability isn't the biggest concern, you could go all the way up to 4.3 pounds for the 16-inch MacBook Pro. But as far as dimensions go, all of these models are seriously sleek and carryable.
- Battery life: The 16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display is the longest-lasting MacBook there is, posting a Tom's Guide battery test time of 21 hours and 24 minutes. But the whole MacBook lineup lasts 13 hours or more, so if longevity is your primary concern, each model will have you covered for a full workday.
How we test every MacBook
Outside of putting them through their real-life paces in our day-to-day, we have an advanced suite of lab tests to truly see what performance and power efficiency are like in every single MacBook. Go behind the scenes and check out all the lab tests we do.
To get straight to the point of the key reasons people buy a MacBook — speed and battery life — we use our Geekbench 6 performance testing and the speed of transcoding video (Handbrake) to find out how well each MacBook performs, along with a battery test to see how long these machines last before needing a charge.
Beyond these, we test the display with a high-end colorimeter and brightness tester — to ensure you're getting a great panel for the price. Then, we move on to professional performance and graphics-intensive tasks like PugetBench benchmarks with Adobe apps.
And finally, as Apple is now really going hard on MacBook gaming, we have plenty of game benchmarks, including Cyberpunk 2077!
