This article is a useful tool for anyone wondering ‘which MacBook do I need in 2024?’. We tell you which MacBooks are available and where you can find the best deals!
Which MacBook do I need in 2024?
The type of MacBook you need depends on your specific needs. Consider factors such as budget, performance, and usage scenarios when choosing between the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or another Apple model that best suits your needs. We have listed the most important points for you.
Usage scenarios and performance
One of the most important things you need to be clear about is what you want to do with the MacBook. If you are an average user, a MacBook Air is certainly sufficient. If you often do video editing and 3D rendering, you absolutely need a MacBook Pro.
How important is mobility?
Although you can take all MacBooks with you relatively easily, there is of course a difference in size and weight. If you carry your MacBook everywhere every day, you will soon notice that a MacBook Air is more pleasant to carry than a MacBook Pro. For example, a MacBook Pro 16 inch weighs 2.14 kilograms, while the 13-inch MacBook Air weighs only 1.24 kilograms. That’s almost double.
Budget determines the limit
Which MacBook you choose also depends on your budget. A MacBook Pro is pricey anyway, especially if you need extra storage space and RAM. The prices of a MacBook range from approximately 1300 to 4500 euros. For the MacBook Pro 2023 (M3) you pay at least € 1,878, for the MacBook Air 2024 the price is € 1,229.
A big difference, which you should definitely take into account if you don’t yet know which MacBook you need. Is your budget lower than the MacBook you actually want? Then the question is whether it is better to buy a cheaper model, or perhaps it is better to opt for a slightly older second-hand or refurbished model. Often the MacBooks from one or two years ago are still an excellent choice due to the small differences with the latest generation.
A MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro
Based on the above information, you should be able to roughly estimate whether you need a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro. You then have to determine which model is the best choice for you. That’s why we now look at the differences between the available models.
Which MacBook Air do I need?
If you go for a new MacBook Air, you will have three options in 2024: MacBook Air 13 inch M2, MacBook Air 13 inch M3 and MacBook Air 15 inch M3. The MacBook Air 13 inch M2 is with a starting price at Apple the cheapest option at 1299 euros. That laptop still runs on the M2 chip, but for the average user that is an excellent option. The M3 version has a faster chip and is less likely to get fingerprints on the housing. You can buy it from Apple from 1529 euros.
Since last year there is also a 15-inch version. This MacBook Air 2024 with 15-inch screen is comparable to the MacBook Air 13-inch M3, only you get a larger screen with a higher resolution. Such a larger screen can be very nice, but keep in mind that mobility is reduced due to the larger dimensions and higher weight. The 15-inch version is also a lot more expensive at 1,759 euros from Apple.
Which MacBook Pro do I need?
If you choose a new MacBook Pro, you will also have three different options in 2024: MacBook Pro 14 inch M3, MacBook Pro 14 inch M3 Pro/Max and MacBook Pro 16 inch M3 Pro/Max. So not an M2 chip, but an M3, M3 Pro or M3 Max.
The only real difference, apart from the size difference between the 14 inches and 16 inches, is the chip inside. The M3 is a lightning-fast chip, but the M3 Pro and M3 Max go even further, as the image below shows.
As mentioned, a MacBook Pro is recommended if you do a lot of video editing and 3D rendering. Even if you play graphically demanding games, a Pro model is preferable. Whether you need a MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro or an M3 Max chip depends on how demanding the tasks you have to perform usually are. If you need it, you probably know it. If you have no idea, there is a good chance that a ‘normal’ M3 chip will suffice.
The performance increases considerably with each chip, but so does the price. The starting price at Apple for a MacBook Pro M3 it is 2029 euros, for a MacBook Pro M3 Pro 2549 euros and for a MacBook Pro M3 Max no less than 4049 euros.
A refurbished MacBook is cheaper
If you don’t have that much to spend, it may be a good idea to choose an older refurbished model. In the case of a MacBook Air, this would be the MacBook Air M1. At Apple you pay around 900 euros for this, but there are places where you can buy a refurbished model for just under 800 euros. You can of course also purchase a MacBook Pro M2 refurbished.
Conclusion: which MacBook do I need in 2024?
With the MacBook Air it is fairly simple: for the average user, the MacBook Air 13 inch M2 is completely fine. If you want a more modern and powerful model, then the MacBook Air 13 inch M3 is what you need. And if you want a larger screen, choose the MacBook Air 15 inch M3. If your budget is not high enough, a refurbished MacBook Air 13 inch M1 is still an option.
For the MacBook Pro, the 14-inch M3 is a good choice for most people. The other two models are mainly intended for professionals. As an average user you really buy more than you need. That in itself is not a problem, but you pay more than necessary.
Of course, you can also expand both the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro even further with more storage space and more RAM. Whether you need this is of course very personal and also depends on what you are going to do with it. Here too, the standard version is sufficient for the average user.
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