Best MacBooks (2023): Which Model Should You Buy? | WIRED

in 2020, Apple’s MacBooks entered a new era. The company announced it was moving away from the Intel chips it had been using since 2006, and rolled out the first Macs with the Apple-designed M1. Cut to 2023 and the company now offers the choice between seven chips, the latest of which are the M2 Pro and the M2 Max—both powering the new MacBook Pro.

Just like Apple’s iPhones, the chips run on the ARM architecture and afford the company greater control over its hardware and software. These processors make Apple laptops both more powerful and power-efficient, meaning greatly improved performance and battery life. You get other perks, like the ability to run mobile apps originally made for iOS. Despite all these advancements, choosing a MacBook is still difficult. Here’s what we think you should spend your hard-earned money on.

Updated February 2023: We’ve added our impressions on the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro and details on the latest M2 Pro and M2 Max chips.

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Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

The Best for Most People

Photograph: Apple

Apple’s MacBook Air (7/10, WIRED Recommends) comes with a ton of upgrades on both the inside and out, which explains the price increase over its predecessor. The company officially ditched the signature wedge form factor for a boxier chassis. It comes in two new colors—midnight and starlight—in addition to the traditional space gray and silver options. The display is also bigger and comes equipped with an updated webcam. Coming in at 13.6 inches (up from 13.3 inches on its predecessor), the screen has thinner borders, a brightness of 500 nits, and a notch that houses a 1080p camera.