5 Best Apple Laptops for Beginners
Lucy Wanjohi
Affiliate Marketing Specialist | Digital Marketing | Project Management| Sales
When it comes to choosing the best Apple laptop for beginners, it's essential to strike the right balance between performance, ease of use, portability, and budget.
Apple’s lineup, featuring the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, offers a range of options tailored to different needs.
Beginners typically prioritize affordability, long battery life, and a seamless experience for everyday tasks like browsing, note-taking, and light media consumption.
While the MacBook Air is an excellent entry-level choice with its lightweight design and powerful M1 or M2 chips, those who anticipate diving into more advanced creative work may lean toward the more robust MacBook Pro.
Whether for casual use or future growth, Apple provides a versatile range of laptops suited to any beginner's needs.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link on this site and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliate
Best Apple Laptop for Beginners
1) Late 2020 Apple MacBook Air M1 Chip
The Late 2020 Apple MacBook Air with the M1 chip is one of the best Apple Laptop for Beginners, it features; Incredible Performance: The M1 chip delivers significant improvements in both CPU and GPU performance, making it perfect for a wide range of tasks, Long Battery Life: Up to 18 hours of battery life means you can work all day without needing to plug in among other incredible features.
The Late 2020 Apple MacBook Air with the M1 chip brings a groundbreaking leap in performance and efficiency.
Powered by Apple’s custom-designed M1 chip, this MacBook delivers exceptional speed and responsiveness, making everyday tasks feel snappier and more efficient than ever before.
The 8-core CPU offers up to 3.5x faster performance, allowing users to handle complex projects with ease. Meanwhile, the 8-core GPU provides up to 5x faster graphics performance, ensuring seamless visuals whether you’re editing videos or playing graphic-intensive games.
The stunning 13.3-inch Retina display features P3 wide color, delivering vibrant, true-to-life visuals that make every image pop.
Coupled with a FaceTime HD camera, users will experience clearer, sharper video calls, perfect for remote work or connecting with loved ones.
The 16-core Neural Engine offers advanced machine learning capabilities, improving everything from image recognition to app responsiveness. With 8GB of unified memory, the MacBook Air keeps multitasking fluid, even when running multiple apps simultaneously.
Perhaps one of the most impressive features is the battery life, lasting up to 18 hours on a single charge, allowing users to work or stream for longer without needing to recharge.
All these features are housed in the iconic MacBook Air’s slim and lightweight design, making it a portable powerhouse.
Pros:
Cons:
Get it on Amazon
2) Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip
The 2022 MacBook Air, powered by the next-generation M2 chip is one of the best Apple Laptop for Beginners, it features; Ultra-Light and Portable: At just 2.7 pounds, it's easy to carry and perfect for working on the go, Powerful M2 Chip: The next-gen 8-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU, and up to 24GB unified memory allow for exceptional performance in both work and creative tasks, Long Battery Life: Up to 18 hours of battery life ensures you can work or stream all day without recharging among other incredible features.
The 2022 MacBook Air, powered by the next-generation M2 chip, brings a strikingly thin design and remarkable portability to users who need performance on the go.
Weighing just 2.7 pounds, this lightweight laptop allows you to work, play, or create from virtually anywhere. Its all-new design is not just sleek, but packed with power.
The M2 chip boasts an 8-core CPU, up to a 10-core GPU, and up to 24GB of unified memory, enabling faster performance and seamless multitasking, whether you're editing high-resolution videos, gaming, or using multiple applications at once.
The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display is a visual treat, featuring over 500 nits of brightness, P3 wide color, and support for 1 billion colors, ensuring stunning detail and vibrant images in everything you do.
Apple has also upped the game with its advanced 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a three-mic array, and a four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio, making video calls crystal clear and enhancing your media experiences.
Equipped with MagSafe charging, two Thunderbolt ports, and a headphone jack, the MacBook Air offers versatile connectivity to suit a variety of needs.
Despite its incredible performance, the M2 chip is highly power-efficient, providing up to 18 hours of battery life so you can go all day without needing to charge.
Additionally, with Apple Intelligence built in, you can write, express yourself, and get tasks done effortlessly, all while maintaining the highest standards of privacy.
Seamlessly compatible with all your favorite apps, from Microsoft 365 to Zoom, and even many iPhone and iPad apps, the MacBook Air delivers an all-in-one experience.
With its durable, all-aluminum unibody enclosure and regular software updates, it is built to last and ensures smooth performance for years to come.
Pros:
Cons:
Get it on Amazon
3) 2021 Apple MacBook Pro
The 2021 Apple MacBook Pro is one of the best Apple Laptop for Beginners, it features; Incredible Performance: With the M1 Pro or M1 Max chips, the MacBook Pro delivers exceptional CPU and GPU performance for professional workflows, High-End Graphics: The 32-core GPU option provides up to 13x faster graphics performance, ideal for intensive applications like 3D rendering and gaming among other incredible features.
The 2021 Apple MacBook Pro is a powerhouse, offering groundbreaking performance with the new Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.
These chips deliver a massive leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning capabilities, making it an ideal choice for professionals who require top-tier performance.
With up to a 10-core CPU, this MacBook Pro enables up to 3.7x faster performance, allowing users to breeze through demanding workflows, from video editing to software development.
The GPU, configurable up to 32 cores, delivers up to 13x faster performance, making it perfect for graphics-intensive applications like 3D rendering and gaming.
A 16-core Neural Engine offers up to 11x faster machine learning performance, which can significantly enhance tasks like image processing and AI-driven applications.
The MacBook Pro also boasts incredible memory and storage options, with up to 64GB of unified memory ensuring fluid multitasking, and up to 8TB of superfast SSD storage, allowing for near-instant app launches and file access.
The 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is stunning, featuring extreme dynamic range and contrast ratios for deeper blacks and more vibrant colors.
It’s perfect for creative professionals working with high-resolution images or videos. The MacBook Pro is also equipped with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, enhanced by an advanced image signal processor for sharper and clearer video calls.
The six-speaker sound system, complete with force-canceling woofers, provides rich, immersive sound, making it perfect for media consumption or audio work.
Despite all this power, the 2021 MacBook Pro offers up to 17 hours of battery life, ensuring it can keep up with demanding workdays without constantly needing to be plugged in.
Pros:
Cons:
Get it on Amazon
4) Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop with Apple M2 Pro chip
The 2023 Apple MacBook Pro , supercharged by the M2 Pro or M2 Max chips, delivers unmatched performance and efficiency for demanding professional workflows.
The M2 Pro chip features 12 CPU cores, 19 GPU cores, and up to 32GB of unified memory, offering incredible speed for multitasking, content creation, and pro-level applications.
For those needing even more power, the M2 Max chip takes it further with 12 CPU cores, up to 38 GPU cores, and up to a staggering 96GB of unified memory, making it an ideal machine for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and heavy video editing.
With up to 22 hours of battery life, the MacBook Pro can power through the longest workdays without needing a recharge, all while maintaining its high performance whether on battery or plugged in.
It runs professional apps, including Adobe Creative Cloud, Xcode, Microsoft 365, and even iPhone/iPad apps, with lightning speed and efficiency, making it a versatile tool for creative professionals, developers, and business users alike.
The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display offers breathtaking visuals, with over 1000 nits of brightness for HDR content and extreme dynamic range, ensuring precise and vibrant images.
Whether you’re working on visual content or watching movies, this display is a standout feature for anyone requiring top-tier visual quality.
Additionally, the 1080p FaceTime HD camera, studio-quality three-mic array, and six-speaker system with Spatial Audio ensure excellent video calls and a rich media experience.
Connectivity is another strong point, with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, MagSafe charging, and Wi-Fi 6E, ensuring you have everything you need for peripherals and fast, seamless wireless connections.
The Magic Keyboard, complete with Touch ID, offers a secure and easy way to unlock your device and access apps.
Designed with Apple’s ecosystem in mind, the 2023 MacBook Pro integrates seamlessly with all your other Apple devices, letting you copy and paste between devices, take calls, send texts, and more.
The all-aluminum unibody enclosure is both sleek and highly durable, and regular software updates ensure it will remain secure and efficient for years to come.
Pros:
Cons:
Get it on Amazon
领英推荐
5) Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop with Apple M2 Pro chip
The 2023 Apple MacBook Pro , equipped with the cutting-edge M2 Pro or M2 Max chips, offers a significant performance boost for professionals handling demanding projects.
The M2 Pro features up to 12 CPU cores, up to 19 GPU cores, and up to 32GB of unified memory, providing exceptional speed and efficiency for tasks like video editing, software development, and graphic design.
For even more power, the M2 Max pushes the limits with 12 CPU cores, up to 38 GPU cores, and a staggering 96GB of unified memory, making it the ultimate machine for those needing top-tier performance for 3D rendering, high-end video editing, or other resource-intensive applications.
Battery life is impressive, with up to 18 hours of usage on a single charge, thanks to the power-efficient design of both chips.
Whether plugged in or running on battery, the MacBook Pro delivers seamless performance.
The laptop is fully compatible with professional-grade apps like Adobe Creative Cloud, Xcode, Affinity Designer, and Microsoft 365, ensuring that you can run your favorite pro apps smoothly and efficiently, while also supporting many iPhone and iPad apps for added versatility.
The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display offers stunning visuals with Extreme Dynamic Range, over 1000 nits of brightness, and support for HDR content.
It also includes pro reference modes, making it ideal for creators who need color accuracy and precision in their work.
Along with the brilliant display, the MacBook Pro also features a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio, delivering an immersive multimedia experience and high-quality video calls.
Connectivity options are robust, with a MagSafe charging port, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack, ensuring you can connect all the devices you need.
Wireless connectivity is faster than ever, thanks to Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, making it easier to stay connected wherever you are. The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID offers fast and secure access to your Mac, adding convenience and security to your daily routine.
Built with Apple's signature all-aluminum unibody design, the 2023 MacBook Pro is as durable as it is sleek, designed to last for years. Regular software updates ensure your MacBook Pro stays secure and efficient for the long haul, making it a reliable investment.
Pros:
Cons:
Get it on Amazon
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Apple Laptop for Beginners
1. Performance Requirements
The performance of an Apple laptop depends largely on the type of processor it has, such as the M1, M2, M2 Pro, or M2 Max chips. Beginners who need a laptop for basic tasks like browsing, word processing, and light media consumption can opt for an entry-level model, like the MacBook Air with M1 or M2 chips.
These models offer great CPU and GPU performance for everyday tasks, and even some light content creation or gaming.
On the other hand, users interested in creative fields or development might need a more powerful laptop, like the MacBook Pro with M2 Pro or M2 Max chips, which can handle demanding applications like video editing or 3D rendering.
Determining your performance needs helps narrow down your choices.
2. Budget
Apple laptops come at different price points depending on their performance, display, and features. MacBook Air models are generally more affordable and are a great starting point for beginners, especially those looking for a solid, long-lasting laptop without the need for ultra-high performance.
However, if budget permits and the user anticipates growing into more advanced tasks like video editing or design, a MacBook Pro offers more power but comes at a higher price.
Understanding what you can afford while balancing performance needs is essential when choosing the best Apple laptop.
3. Portability
For beginners, especially students or professionals on the go, portability is crucial. The MacBook Air is known for its thin, lightweight design, making it incredibly portable at just under 3 pounds. This makes it easy to carry in a backpack or tote, making it ideal for commuting, working from different locations, or studying at cafes. The MacBook Pro, particularly the 16-inch models, while powerful, is heavier and less portable, which could be less convenient for frequent travelers. For those prioritizing portability, the MacBook Air is a great choice.
4. Battery Life
Battery life is another key consideration, especially for those who need to use their laptop throughout the day without being tethered to a power source.
The MacBook Air offers up to 18 hours of battery life, which is more than sufficient for most beginners, allowing you to complete a full day of tasks without needing a recharge.
The MacBook Pro can last up to 22 hours, depending on the configuration, but this extra longevity might not be necessary for everyone.
Consider how often you’ll be away from a charging point and whether battery life will impact your daily routine.
5. Display Quality
Apple laptops are renowned for their high-quality displays, but there are still differences worth noting.
Beginners who prioritize media consumption, like watching movies or working on design projects, will benefit from the MacBook Air's Retina Display, which delivers sharp visuals and vivid colors.
However, the MacBook Pro’s Liquid Retina XDR display is superior, offering Extreme Dynamic Range, more brightness, and better contrast, which is ideal for creative professionals working on high-quality visuals or HDR content.
For beginners with more basic needs, the MacBook Air’s display is more than adequate, but those in creative fields might lean toward the MacBook Pro.
6. Storage and Memory
Beginners should consider how much storage and memory they’ll need based on their planned usage.
The MacBook Air offers configurations with 256GB to 2TB of storage and 8GB to 24GB of unified memory, which is sufficient for basic tasks, document storage, and light multimedia work.
However, if you plan to store larger files, like videos or software projects, the MacBook Pro offers up to 8TB of SSD storage and up to 96GB of unified memory with the M2 Max chip.
Choosing a laptop with the right storage and memory ensures smooth performance and ample space for future growth.
7. Keyboard and Usability
The usability of a laptop is particularly important for beginners, especially in terms of how comfortable the keyboard is to use.
Both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro feature the Magic Keyboard, which is praised for its comfortable typing experience.
For beginners who value fast and secure access, the inclusion of Touch ID in both models adds convenience, allowing you to unlock your laptop and log in to apps with ease.
Consider whether you value extra usability features, like a larger trackpad or more tactile keys, which might push you toward the Pro model.
8. Ecosystem Compatibility
If you are already using other Apple products, like an iPhone or iPad, seamless integration with your laptop can enhance productivity.
Both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro offer deep integration with Apple’s ecosystem, allowing you to copy and paste between devices, use iMessage on your laptop, and answer FaceTime calls.
Beginners who rely heavily on Apple’s ecosystem will find either MacBook model convenient, but this factor is especially useful if you plan to manage multiple devices and need seamless communication between them.
9. Durability and Longevity
For beginners, investing in a durable laptop that will last for several years is important. The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro both feature Apple’s signature all-aluminum unibody design, making them robust and long-lasting.
However, the MacBook Pro tends to be more durable and better equipped for heavy professional use over time.
Both models receive regular software updates, ensuring they stay secure and up-to-date for years, but it’s worth considering how long you want your laptop to last without feeling outdated.
10. Intended Use
Your specific use case will heavily influence which Apple laptop is best for you. Beginners using their laptop primarily for schoolwork, browsing, and light creative projects will find the MacBook Air more than adequate due to its balance of performance, price, and portability.
If you’re planning to get into more professional creative work, like video editing, coding, or 3D rendering, the MacBook Pro provides the power and features to support these more intensive tasks.
By aligning your intended use with the capabilities of each model, you’ll make a more informed decision.
FAQs
1. Which is the best Apple laptop for beginners, the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?
For most beginners, the MacBook Air is the best option. It combines portability, affordability, and excellent performance with Apple’s M1 or M2 chips, making it perfect for everyday tasks like browsing, writing, and light media editing.
If you're planning to work with more demanding software for creative tasks, coding, or design, the MacBook Pro offers greater power and advanced features, but it comes at a higher price and may be more than most beginners need.
2. How much storage and memory should I get as a beginner?
As a beginner, 8GB of unified memory and 256GB of storage is generally sufficient for basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and streaming.
However, if you plan to store large files (like videos or software projects) or run multiple apps simultaneously, opting for 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage is a good choice for future-proofing your laptop without overspending.
3. Is the MacBook Air powerful enough for creative work like photo or video editing?
Yes, the MacBook Air is powerful enough for light creative work, thanks to its M1 or M2 chip, which can handle tasks like photo editing, light video editing, and graphic design.
However, if you plan to work with larger projects or use more demanding software regularly, the MacBook Pro with M2 Pro or M2 Max chips will provide significantly better performance for tasks like 4K video editing, 3D rendering, or high-end graphic design.
Read Also : 5 Best Windows Laptops for Graphic Design 2024
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the best Apple laptop for beginners depends on your specific needs and future ambitions. The MacBook Air stands out as the top choice for most beginners, offering a perfect blend of performance, portability, and affordability, making it ideal for everyday tasks and light creative work.
For those who anticipate more demanding projects, like video editing or software development, the MacBook Pro offers advanced power and features at a higher price.
Ultimately, whether you choose the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, both options provide the exceptional quality, user experience, and durability Apple is known for, ensuring you’re well-equipped to grow and learn with your new device.