Apple Macs (2024): Which model should you buy?

The Apple Silicon-powered Macs not only outperform their Intel counterparts in terms of performance, but they also offer enhanced power efficiency, which helps deliver extended battery life. While most of these machines are powered by the cutting-edge M3 series of processors, including the newly launched 13 and 15-inch MacBook Air, the company also sells previous-generation models at a much lower price.

If you are already in the Apple ecosystem, then it is another reason to buy a Mac instead of a PC, as it really plays well with devices such as iPhones, iPads, AirPods, and other Apple devices. Here’s how to choose the best Mac in your budget.

Finding the right model for the right use case

With the extensive range of Macs, it is easy to get confused about which model to choose. Macs can be easily distinguished into two categories — desktop and laptop. Models like the Mac mini, Mac Studio, iMac, and Mac Pro can be considered desktop computers, as these don’t include a battery, and are meant for stationary usage, where they mostly stay in one place. Similarly, the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro models are meant for those who need mobile devices, and depending on budget and use case, one can choose between a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro.

Within these two categories, one can further streamline the exact model that they wish to buy. For example, a Mac mini will be for those who need a Mac at a much lower price, whereas, the iMac is for those who need an all-in-one Mac. Similarly, the Mac Studio is for those who need high-performance desktop computers, and the Mac Pro is meant for heavy users who need nothing but the best.

The same goes for the MacBook models, which start with the M2 MacBook Air and go up to the 16-inch M3 Max MacBook Pro. While the MacBook Air is thinner, lighter, and easy to carry around, the MacBook Pro models are slightly on the thicker side, but they also include an active cooling system, ensuring peak sustained performance. Even within these lineups, one needs to select the right storage or memory variants.

| Apple launches new MacBook Air with M3 chip, starts from Rs 1,14,900

Another thing to keep in mind while buying a new Mac is the fact that the storage and RAM on these new devices are non-user upgradeable, and one needs to choose the right model at the time of purchase. While the base models with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB flash storage should be sufficient for most users, heavy users might have to consider a higher memory variant, especially for professional use cases and those who intend to use these Macs for an extended period.

Based on these parameters, here are some of the best Macs that one can consider right now: Kindly note that we have mentioned the official prices of these devices as per the company’s website, while most of these Macs are available at a much lower price on major online e-commerce portals.

Mac mini (M2)

The new M2 Mac mini is available to order from January 17 and will start shipping on January 24. (Image credit: Apple)

If you are looking for a simple Mac that doesn’t cost a lot, then we recommend the M2-powered Mac mini, which retails for Rs 59,900, making it one of the most affordable Macs that one can buy in 2024. This is a compact device with a metal casing that looks as premium as many other Macs, which can be hooked to any monitor via the HDMI or the Thunderbolt 4 port, and the base model offers 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage paired with an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. For tasks like web browsing, video streaming, and even for office-related work, this should be more than enough. On top of that, it also offers USB-A ports along with an Ethernet port, allowing users to connect physical mouse and keyboard with this Mac.

iMac (M3)

Apple iMac M3

This model is meant for those who need an all-in-one Apple computer with a large high-resolution display. Apple Silicon M3-powered iMac is currently the only all-in-one PC that Apple currently sells. Powered by the latest third-generation M3 processor, the base model costs Rs 1,34,900. Just like the base Mac mini, the iMac offers 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage, and the iMac is available in seven dual-tone colour options. This device features a high-resolution 24-inch 4.5K resolution display, and the device can also power external displays. The retail package of the iMac also comes with a Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and a USB-C to lightning port.

MacBook Air (M2)

MacBook Air M2 (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/Indian Express)

If you are looking for a new MacBook, we recommend the M2-powered MacBook Air (review) instead of the M3 model. The M2 MacBook Air starts at Rs 99,900 and looks exactly identical to the M3 model. Similarly, there is also a bigger 15-inch model, meant for those who need a thin-and-light MacBook with a bigger screen real estate and even more impressive battery life. The M2 MacBook Air flaunts a new flat design and it also includes an improved MagSafe charging system that magnetically attaches to the MacBook Air. It also has a high-resolution 1080p web camera, and the base model offers 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage.

Mac Studio (M2 Ultra)

The 27-inch Studio Display with 5K Retina display (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

If you own a studio that deals with high-resolution photo or video editing, then the Mac Studio with the M2 Ultra (review) is the right model to consider, which is also one of the most powerful Macs that Apple has ever produced. With a starting price of Rs 4,19,900 for the 24-core CPU, 60-core GPU, and 64 GB RAM, it is almost as powerful as the Mac Pro at a much lower price. Compared to the Mac mini, the Mac Studio has additional perks like front I/O, which includes a full-sized SDXC card slot, and the Ethernet port supports a 10Gb data transfer rate. Despite being this powerful, the Mac Studio is very compact, and it does not take up much space on a desk.

16-inch MacBook Pro (M3 Max)

Despite being a light machine, it offers up to 22 hours of battery life (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

If you need a MacBook that offers almost desktop-like performance, then get the 16-inch MacBook Pro, powered by the M3 Max (review) processor with a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and 48 GB of unified memory. This model by default offers 1 TB of storage and sells for Rs 3,99,900, and you can also configure this with up to 8 TB of storage, instead of doing that, we recommend buying external USB-C storage devices, which will be significantly cheaper than storage upgrade prices. This laptop comes with a large 16.2-inch screen, and despite being this powerful, it can still offer up to 22 hours of video playback time, and the best thing about this machine is the fact that you won’t notice a performance dip, even if you are using it on battery.