Which Mac to buy 2022: Mac desktops and MacBooks compared

If you’re wondering which Mac to buy, you’ve come to the right place. In our 2022 Mac buying guide you’ll find everything you need to know about the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Pro and the new Mac Studio, with expert buying advice to help you choose the machine (and configuration) that’s right for you.

Apple now makes six different types of Mac: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio and Mac Pro, but within each of those categories there are variations in the size, specs and features, so things can get pretty complicated. That’s where this guide comes in, helping you make the right decision. If you’re simply looking for a great offer, visit our MacBook Pro deals, MacBook Air deals, iMac deals, Mac Studio, and Mac mini deals pages.

It’s important to be aware of the fact that Apple has almost completed the transition of all its Macs from Intel processors to its own Apple Silicon processors based on ARM. These new Macs have a new processor called the M1 or a variant of that called the M1 Pro, M1 Max or M1 Ultra. Read everything you need to know about the M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra.

The only Macs that are still running on Intel chips are the Mac Pro and one Mac mini model that is still on sale. There was also a 27in iMac that was running on Intel chips but Apple removed it from sale on 8 March 2022 and hasn’t yet replaced it. It’s likely that by late 2022 there will be no more Intel Macs sold by Apple. It is also possible, although not certain, that Apple will begin to introduced the M2 generation later in 2022.

If you want to know if this means that buying a new Intel Mac now is a bad idea, read Should I buy an Intel Mac? and Should I buy an M1 Mac? As for the best time to buy, you may also like to read Should I buy new Mac now?​ 

The current Mac range in brief

Let us first take you through each Mac that is currently available from Apple, to give you an overview of what’s on offer and what you’ve got to choose from.

Mac laptops

MacBook Air
Screen: 13.3in screen
Processor: M1 chip
From: £999/$999
Pros: Cheapest and lightest Apple laptop; Touch ID fingerprint sensor; great value for money (especially now Apple’s dropped price of mid-range model)
Cons: Only two ports (both USB-4/Thunderbolt)
Latest review: M1 MacBook Air (2020)
Best for: Students; home users
Last updated: November 2020
When to buy: Now
Apple Store link: Apple (UK store or US store)
Jump to the MacBook Air section for best prices and more info

13in MacBook Pro
Screen: 13.3in screen
Processor: M1 chip
From: £1,299/$1,299
Pros: Touch Bar
Cons: More expensive than the Air
Latest review: M1 MacBook Pro review
Best for: Office and home workers
Last updated: November 2020
When to buy: Now
Apple Store link: Apple (UK store or US store)
Jump to the 13in MacBook Pro section for best prices and more info

14in MacBook Pro
Screen: 14.2in screen
Processor: M1 Pro or M1 Max
From: £1,899/$1,999
Pros: M1 Pro and 16GB RAM as standard; ProMotion screen
Cons: Notch (or not)
Latest review: 14in MacBook Pro (2021, M1 Pro) review
Best for: Anyone who needs power on the go
Last updated: October 2021
When to buy: Now
Apple Store link: Apple (UK store or US store)
Jump to the 14in MacBook Pro section for best prices and more info

16in MacBook Pro
16in screen
Processor: M1 Pro or M1 Max
From: £2,399/$2,499
Pros: M1 Pro and 16GB RAM as standard; bigger ProMotion screen
Cons: High price, Notch
Latest review: MacBook Pro 16in (2021, M1 Max) review
Best for: Anyone who needs ultimate power on the go and a big display
Last updated: October 2021
When to buy: Now
Apple Store link: Apple (UK store or US store)
Jump to the 16in MacBook Pro section for best prices and more info

Mac desktop computers

Mac mini
No screen
Processor: M1 on 2020 models, Intel 8th gen 6-core on 2018 model
From: £699/$699
Pros: Cheapest Mac (now even cheaper); small desktop option
Cons: No screen; no keyboard or mouse; no option for discrete graphics (other than plugging in a eGPU – and that is only possible for the Intel model)
Best for: Those who need a Mac on a budget; developers
Latest review: Mac mini (2020, M1) review
Last updated: November 2020
When to buy: Now (for M1 models)
Apple Store link: Apple (UK store or US store)
Jump to the Mac mini section for best prices and more info

24in iMac
24in 4.5K screen
Processor: M1
From: £1,249/$1,299
Pros: All-in-one
Cons: Not portable
Best for: Offices, Home
Latest review: 24in iMac (2021, M1) review
Last updated: April 2021
When to buy: Now
Apple Store link: Apple (UK store or US store)
Jump to the 24in iMac section for best prices and more info

Mac Studio
No screen
Processor: M1 Max or M1 Ultra
From: £1,999/$1,999
Pros: Extremely powerful; lots of connectivity options; compact
Cons: Doesn’t include a display, mouse or keyboard
Best for: Creative pros including video editors and animators; designers; photographers
Latest review: Coming soon
Last updated: March 2022
When to buy: Now
Apple Store link: Apple (UK store or US store)
Jump to the Mac Studio section for best prices and more info

Mac Pro
No screen
From: £5,499/$5,999
Pros: Extremely powerful; expandable
Cons: Astronomically expensive
Best for: Professional video editors and animators; studios; others requiring huge amounts of power from their Mac
Latest review: Mac Pro (2019) review
Last updated: December 2019
When to buy: We recommend waiting for the 2022 Mac Pro to launch
Apple Store link: Apple (UK store or US store)
Jump to the Mac Pro section for best prices and more info

MacBook Air

Last updated: November 2020
Price: From £999/$999

The MacBook Air is the thinnest and lightest Mac laptop as well as the cheapest of Apple’s laptops. It is a popular choice and rightly so.

The Air was updated in November 2020 – for the second time in a year. This was a significant update: the Air was one of the first Macs to gain a M1 chip.

There are two MacBook Air models: one has an M1 8‑Core CPU and 7‑Core GPU with 256GB storage, the other has an M1 8‑Core CPU and 8‑Core GPU with 512GB storage. Apple also dropped the price of the 512GB model by £100/$100.

You get a Retina display with a 2K resolution, an improved keyboard and a Force Touch trackpad. You’ll also find Touch ID incorporated into the keyboard, so you can use your fingerprint to sign in and verify purchases.

You should get around 18 hours of battery life for video playback, or 15 hours for typical use.

There is no Ethernet port: the MacBook Air is limited to two Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 ports (one of which will need to be used for power, if you want to charge) and a headphone jack.

The MacBook Air represents great value for money, and the M1 processor is surprisingly speedy on what is traditionally thought of as a less powerful Mac option.

Who is the MacBook Air best for?

Because it’s so slim and light the MacBook Air is a great option if you want a Mac to use at home or at work that doesn’t take up a whole lot of space. It is perfect for anyone who needs to carry their laptop with them, especially students, commuters, and hotdeskers.

You can always plug it into a monitor on your desk, or even plug it into a TV screen (via an adapter) if you feel you would benefit from a bigger display.

The MacBook Air is not the fastest Mac laptop you can buy, but whether that matters depends a lot on what you will be doing with it, and what your priorities are when looking for a new Mac.

If the majority of what you do on your Mac is everyday tasks, such as sending and receiving email, browsing the web, and using office applications, the MacBook Air is quite capable of meeting your needs. Even beyond that kind of use, you can happily use the Air for editing short videos, or for working with photos from your iPhone or point-and-shoot camera.

MacBook Air specs

There are two standard MacBook Air models available. The specs are as follows:

£999/$999 MacBook Air:
Apple M1 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 7‑Core GPU
16-core Neural Engine
256GB Storage
8GB unified memory (configurable to: 16GB)

£1,249/$1,249 MacBook Air:
Apple M1 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 6‑Core GPU
16-core Neural Engine
512GB Storage
8GB unified memory (configurable to: 16GB)

There are also various build-to-order options (a faster processor, 16GB RAM, 1TB of 2TB SSD), if you want more speed or storage and your budget can stretch.

Should you buy a MacBook Air now or wait?

Apple updated the MacBook Air in November 2020. It was a significant update and now features Apple’s M1 processors. It’s a good time to buy as long as you are prepared to take on the first generation of a new technology. If you’d prefer to stick with an Intel MacBook Air you may still find some available – check prices below for the best MacBook Air deals right now.

You may be interested to learn about the rumours that Apple is working on a replacement for this MacBook Air that could come in an assortment of colours and offer an M2 chip, but we don’t expect that until the second half of 2022. Read more here: New colour MacBook Air 2022 rumours.

If you like the MacBook Air, but it costs a bit more than your budget allows, read our article about how to get a cheap Mac and take a look on the Apple refurbished store to see if Apple has any cut-price Macs. We have an article dedicated to Why you should buy a refurbished Mac, but we also warn against buying a secondhand Mac.

13in MacBook Pro

Last updated: November 2020
Price: From £1,299/$1,299

Here are the latest 2020 13in M1 MacBook Pro Deals:

Apple updated the 13in MacBook Pro in November 2020 when it furnished the two entry-level models with the same M1 chips as see in the MacBook Air that we discussed above. The company continued to sell two Intel-powered 13in MacBook Pro until October 2021 when they were discontinued and the 14in model introduced (read about that in the next section).

As the Pro part of the name suggests, the 13in MacBook Pro is generally a more powerful machine than the MacBook Air. However, right now the gap is small between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro models since they share the M1 chips. The most notable differences are that the Pro offers longer battery life, the Touch Bar, a brighter display, and better speakers.

The entry-level MacBook Air has a 7-core GPU, while the MacBook Pro and the other MacBook Air both have 8-core GPUs. The MacBook Pro also features a cooling system, while the Air, which lacks a fan, is likely to slow things down to avoid getting too hot.

The MacBook Pro is slightly heavier than the MacBook Air, although still reasonably svelte – the Pro series benefited from a slimming-down redesign in 2016.

The 13in MacBook Pro models, like all recent Mac laptops,  have the new Magic Keyboard, which replaced the problematic keyboard design of the older models.

The 13in MacBook Pro features two USB-4 ports. The Air also has two USB-4 ports. The larger 14in and 16in MacBook Pro models have a lot more ports on offer. The MacBook Pro doesn’t offer USB-A or an SD card slot.

Like the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro doesn’t feature a Ethernet port, but the M1 models do offer 802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6. If you need to plug into a wired network you will be able to purchase an adaptor separately

The 13in MacBook Pro is the only Mac laptop that features the Touch Bar that provides users with contextual controls depending on the app they are using at the time – for example, in Safari it’ll offer shortcuts to your favourite websites. We tend to think the Touch Bar is more of a gimmick than a useful addition (it’s not even particularly intuitive to use – we often find ourselves reaching to touch the screen instead).

Both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro incorporate a Touch ID fingerprint scanner into the power button.

Who is the 13in MacBook Pro best for?

The 13in MacBook Pro is a great choice for Mac users looking for a little more power and great battery life from a laptop. We think the MacBook Pro is perfect for anyone who needs a powerful laptop that they can carry around all day without damaging their back.

As to whether you should buy a 13in MacBook Pro or the MacBook Air, or even the 14in MacBook Pro (which we will discuss next), this depends foremost on what you will be using it for, and secondly on how often you will be carrying the laptop around.

If what matters most to you is having a laptop that is light enough to carry with you, then the 13in MacBook Pro could be ideal – although we’d suggest that you consider the MacBook Air range. If you need powerful graphics and a big screen then the 14in might be more suited to you.

If you’ve already got a Mac and are looking to sell, read Which Mac do I have? and How to check your Mac’s tech specs.

13in MacBook Pro specs

Apple discontinued the two 2.0GHz Intel models when it introduced the 14in MacBook Pro, so there are now just two 13in MacBook Pro models rather than four. You can add further build-to-order (BTO) options and upgrades if you’re willing to spend more.

The two 13in MacBook Pro have Apple’s M1 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU and they ship with 8GB RAM as standard.

Here’s how the specs line up:

£1,299/$1,299 MacBook Pro:
Apple M1 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 8‑Core GPU
16-core Neural Engine
256GB Storage
8GB unified memory (configurable to: 16GB)

£1,499/$1,499 MacBook Pro:
Apple M1 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 6‑Core GPU
16-core Neural Engine
512GB Storage
8GB unified memory (configurable to: 16GB)

You can configure your Mac at point of sale with 16GB RAM and up to 2TB SSD.

Should you buy a 13in MacBook Pro now or wait?

Apple introduced the M1 MacBook Pro in November 2020 so, assuming you are happy to take on the first generation of a new technology, now is a good time to buy one of those M1 models.

It’s possible that later in 2022 Apple will update the 13in MacBook Pro with a M2 chip – but the 2022 could actually spell the end of the 13in MacBook Pro, if rumours that Apple will introduce a colourful 13in MacBook instead. Read more here: New colour MacBook 2022 rumours.

If you want to buy one we recommend you check out our round up of MacBook Pro deals.

14in MacBook Pro

Last updated: October 2021
Price: From £1,899/$1,999

Here are the latest 2020 14in MacBook Pro Deals:

The 2021 MacBook Pro has a brand new design that means what was previously a 13in display (actually 13.3in is now 14in (actually 14.2in). The screen is bigger, but the Mac itself is only fractionally larger than the 13in MacBook Pro.

The screen itself is a real selling point as it brings ProMotion to the MacBook Pro. ProMotion offers an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, which means it can refresh images 120 times a second when required.

It’s also a Liquid Retina XDR display with an extreme dynamic range, 1,000 nits brightness, 1,600 nits of peak brightness, and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

Despite the larger screen the dimensions aren’t much bigger than the 13in model: 1.55cm x 31.26cm x 22.12cm compared to 1.56cm x 30.41cm x 21.24cm. The 14in model weights a little more at 1.6kg rather than 1.4kg.

To accomplish the larger screen without increasing the size, Apple has incorporated a notch for the (much improved) 1080p FaceTime HD camera. The notch will no doubt be something people eventually learn to live with, just as with the iPhone. Some of us don’t think the notch is so bad, others are dismayed.

Apple has done away with the Touch Bar, which the company finally seems to have admitted didn’t suit creative pros who require physical function keys.

Another pro-focused change is the return of a number of ports to the side of the MacBook Pro: we now have three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port and an improved headphone jack that supports high-impedance headphones. We also see the return of MagSafe which brings fast charge to the MacBook Pro.

Who is the 14in MacBook Pro best for?

The 14in MacBook Pro (and the 16in model) are designed with pro users in mind – the kind of people who need the best graphics options and more memory (the M1 Pro supports 32GB RAM and the M1 Max supports 64GB RAM).

Apple claims that the 10-core CPU in the M1 Pro and M1 Max offers 70 percent faster CPU performance than the M1, which has a 8-core CPU.

The M1 Pro offers 14-core or 16-core GPU options, compared to the 7-core or 8-core GPU in the M1. The M1 Max, which you can get as a build-to-order option with the 14in MacBook Pro, has a 24-core or 32-core GPU option. Apple says that the M1 Pro offers up to 2x faster GPU performance compared to the M1, while the M1 Max is 4x faster than M1.

If power is what you need, the decision isn’t a choice between 14in and 16in MacBook Pro, it’s a choice between the M1 Pro and M1 Max. The main difference between the 14in and 16in models are the larger screen and better battery life of the 16in MacBook Pro. Those two features probably matter if you will be frequently away from your desk. If you are using the Mac at your desk a lot then you can plug in a screen and you won’t be relying on the battery, so the 14in will be sufficient.

14in MacBook Pro specs

14in MacBook Pro offers a choice of a 8-core or 10-core CPU. This is the same 10-core CPU whether it’s a M1 Pro (which it is as standard) or an M1 Max (which you can customise your Mac with).

Here’s how the specs line up:

£1,899/$1,999 14in MacBook Pro:
Apple M1 Pro Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 14‑Core GPU
16-core Neural Engine
521GB Storage
16GB unified memory

£2,399/$2,499 14in MacBook Pro:
Apple M1 Pro Chip with 10‑Core CPU and 16‑Core GPU
16-core Neural Engine
1TB Storage
16GB unified memory

With the 14in MacBook Pro you can customise your Mac with a M1 Max, which will give you the option of a 24-core or 32-core GPU and 64GB RAM. You can also furnish it with up to 8TB SSD. These options are the same for the 16in MacBook Pro.

Should you buy a 14in MacBook Pro now or wait?

Since the 14in MacBook Pro launched in October 2021, it will be a long time before Apple improves it. We are impressed by the power and capabilities of this model. Our only disappointment is the very high price, especially the giant leap from £1,899/$1,999 to £2,399/$2,499, which seems quite extreme, but maybe just means that the £1,899/$1,999 is a bargain?

We’d also suggest that you consider the Mac Studio, which offers the same specs as the 14in MacBook Pro for about £400/$500 less.

16in MacBook Pro

Last updated: October 2021
Price: From £2,399/$2,499

Here are the latest 16in MacBook Pro Deals:

Apple updated its largest MacBook Pro model in October 2021, replacing the 16in Intel-powered model with a new MacBook Pro with M1 Pro or M1 Max and a fractionally larger 16.2in display. It shares many of the features of the 2021 14in MacBook Pro that was introduced at the same time. (Discussed above).

As in the case of the 14in model, the Pro part of the 16in MacBook Pro’s name is very deserving – much more so than it is for the 13in models. This really is a powerful machine.

As you would expect the 16in MacBook Pro is heavier than the 14in model, although still reasonably svelte. The 16in model measures 1.62cm x 35.79cm x 24.59cm compared to 1.55cm x 31.26cm x 22.12cm for the 14in. It’s only fractionally wider and actually slightly lighter (at 2kg) than the previous 16in model.

As with the 14in MacBook Pro Apple has been able to make the screen larger without increasing the overall size by incorporating a notch for the (much improved) 1080p FaceTime HD camera. This notch, like the one on the iPhone, will no doubt be a point of contention, but we think people will eventually get used to it. We expect it will be here to stay.

Not every innovation from Apple stays though. As with the 14in model, Apple has ditched the Touch Bar. Apple has recognised that this solution didn’t suit creative pros who require physical function keys.

Speaking of the needs of pros, Apple has also returned a number of ports to the MacBook Pro: we now have three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port and an improved headphone jack that supports high-impedance headphones. You will also find a MagSafe charging port with fast charging.

One of the biggest differences between the 14in and 16in MacBook Pro is the battery life: the 16in boasts 21 hours compared to 17 hours for the 14in model. The 2019 16in MacBook Pro managed just 11 hours, so this is quite a leap.

The improved battery life is due in part to Apple’s M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, which are more power efficient. The same chips are available in the 14in MacBook Pro though, so they aren’t a reason to choose the 16in over the 14in. 

The other selling point in favour of the 16in MacBook Pro is the large screen. The new screen brings ProMotion to the Mac, so it can refresh images 120 times a second when required. It’s also is a Liquid Retina XDR display with an extreme dynamic range, capable of 1,000 nits standard brightness and 1,600 nits of peak brightness. Apple also claims 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio for deeper blacks and more vivid colours.

Those features are the same on the 14in MacBook Pro, but obviously the pixel count is much higher on the 16in. The 16in MacBook Pro offers 3,456 by 2,234 pixels – that’s 7.7 million pixels total. In comparison the 2019 16in MacBook Pro offered 3,072 by 1,920 pixels. You should note thought that there are more pixels on the 2021 14in MacBook Pro (3,024 by 1,964) than there were on the 2019 16in MacBook Pro (3,072 by 1,920). The size of the screen is only really a selling point if you aren’t planning to plug into an external display.

Who is the MacBook Pro best for?

The 16in MacBook Pro is a great choice for creative pros and those looking for more power from a laptop, however, since the 14in MacBook Pro offers the same options – including the ultimate M1 Max upgrade, there is no real need to pick the 16in over the 14in, unless your priorities are battery life or screen size, since both are greater for the 16in model.

The main selling points are the larger screen and improved battery life compared to the 14in MacBook Pro. With that in mind this is a powerful Mac for someone who is mostly going to be working on their laptop away from their desk, and needs the extra battery life and larger screen.

Don’t forget you can also plug your MacBook Pro into a large monitor and use that when you’re at your desk.

MacBook Pro specs

There are three 16in MacBook Pro as well as various build-to-order (BTO) options and upgrades if you’re willing to spend more.

Here’s how the specs line up:

£2,399/$2,499 16in MacBook Pro:
Apple M1 Pro Chip with 10‑Core CPU and 16‑Core GPU
16-core Neural Engine
521GB Storage
16GB unified memory

£2,599/$2,699 16in MacBook Pro:
Apple M1 Pro Chip with 10‑Core CPU and 16‑Core GPU
16-core Neural Engine
1TB Storage
16GB unified memory

£3,299/$3,499 16in MacBook Pro:
Apple M1 Pro Chip with 10‑Core CPU and 32‑Core GPU
16-core Neural Engine
1TB Storage
32GB unified memory

As with the 14in MacBook Pro, you can customise all the MacBook Pro models with the M1 Max, which will give you the option of a 24-core or 32-core GPU and up to 64GB RAM. You can also choose a 8TB SSD if you need that much storage.

Should you buy a MacBook Pro now or wait?

The 16in models were introduced in October 2021 so you are pretty much safe to buy one now. THe only reason not to buy is if you don’t really need a laptop. If you would be just as happy with a desktop Mac you should condider the Mac Studio, which also offers the M1 Max along with an even more powerful option: the M1 Ultra. This Mac is £500/$600 cheaper than the equivalent 16in MacBook Pro (£2,599/$2,699).

Mac mini

Last updated: November 2020
Price: From £699/$699

Here are the latest 2020 M1 Mac mini Deals:

Here are the latest Intel Mac mini Deals, normally £1,099:

The Mac mini is Apple’s compact desktop computer first introduced in 2005. It’s also Apple’s cheapest Mac, starting at just £699/$699 (although it did used to be cheaper than that – when the 2014 model launched it cost just £399/$499). The mini used to be Apple’s least powerful Mac, but the latest iteration has a lot more oomph than previously.

Apple updated the Mac mini in November 2020 when it added the M1 chip to two models, while keeping an older Intel Mac mini on sale. This means that you have a choice between being an early M1 adopter, or sticking with the Intel processor. An easy way to tell the difference – the 2018 Intel model is Space Grey while the M1 model is silver. Note that we expect that Apple will upgrade this remaining Intel model in 2022, so we could see M1 Pro or M1 Max processor options coming to the Mac mini.

All Mac mini models ship with 8GB RAM as standard, but the Intel model can be equipped with 64GB memory while the M1 models only run to 16GB.

All models can be equipped with up to 2TB storage.

Only the M1 models can support a 6K display, the 2018 model supports one 5K display or up to three 4K displays. The newer M1 models also offer 802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6 rather than 802.11ac Wi‑Fi.

Who is the Mac mini best for?

For anyone who uses their Mac for browsing the web and writing emails, and doing general office work the Mac mini could suffice. It’s powerful enough to do a good job with photo and home video editing. If you are looking for a Mac that will just sit on your desk, or in the study, the Mac mini is a cheap option.

The Mac mini is also a popular choice for a living room Mac. A lot of people plug it into their TV screen via an HDMI cable (the Mac mini retains its HDMI port). And, apparently one reason why Apple, after waiting four years, finally updated the Mac mini was its popularity with developers and server farms.

When the Mac mini stopped featuring a optical drive back in 2011 there was a bit of an outcry from those who though it was an ideal home entertainment centre, but DVDs are far less popular than they were back then thanks to the rise of streaming services. If you want a DVD player for your Mac mini Apple still sells the SuperDrive for £79.

The Mac mini is a popular choice for developers – probably because it’s cheap and they can just plug it into an existing monitor and keyboard. It may also appeal to creatives with more demanding needs, thanks to higher spec build-to-order options – though the lack of a discrete GPU is still a serious limitation (the Intel model can be used with a eGPU, but the M1 will not be compatible with that set up). Read about the best Mac for developers here.

Mac mini specifications

There are three Mac minis available. The two cheapest Mac mini models are equipped with M1 chips, but there is also a Mac mini with a 3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core processor as well as various build-to-order options, including a 3.2GHz 6-core Intel i7 processor, 2TB SSD, 64GB RAM, and a 10 Gigabit ethernet port – that’s the model we expect to be updated in 2022.

The M1 Mac mini weighs 1.2kg while the Intel model weighs 1.3kg, but the dimensions are exactly the same at 19.7cm by 19.7cm and just 3.6cm tall, so it really is mini as the name suggests.

£699/$699 Mac mini:
Apple M1 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 6‑Core GPU
16-core Neural Engine
256GB Storage
8GB unified memory (configurable to: 16GB)

£899/$899 Mac mini:
Apple M1 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 6‑Core GPU
16-core Neural Engine
512GB Storage
8GB unified memory (configurable to: 16GB)

£1,099/$1,099 Mac mini:
3.0GHz Intel Core i5 6-Core Processor 
Intel UHD Graphics 630
512GB Storage
8GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM

Should you buy a Mac mini now or wait?

The Mac mini was updated in November 2020 when it gained the M1 chip, the older model was last updated in 2018, although it had its storage doubled in 2020. We expect that Intel model will soon be discontinued and a new M1 Pro Mac mini will take its place. The surprise is that Apple hasn’t done this yet – we had expected that the company would make this move in March 2022, but instead it introduced the Mac Studio. Speaking of which, the Mac Studio is an excellent choice if you need more power than the Mac mini offers.

If you’d like to get one of the older Intel models, that have been discontinued, check out the latest deals below, alternatively we have even more Mac mini deals.

Mac mini, 3.6GHz Quad-Core, 256GB (2020)

This model previously started at £799/$799. Here are the best deals right now:

24in iMac

Last updated: April 2021
Price: From £1,249/$1,299

Here are the latest 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU iMac deals, RRP: £1,249/$1,299/AU$1,899

8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 256GB SSD – RRP: £1,449/$1,499/AU$2,199

8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 512GB SSD – RRP: £1,649/$1,699/AU$2,499

The iMac is probably Apple’s most famous Mac. First introduced in 1998 and causing shockwaves in personal computing, over the years the iMac has lost its old bulky CRT monitor and slimmed down – some people don’t even realise that the whole computer is concealed behind the display (there is no tower to hide away under your desk). The design of the iMac hadn’t changed much in the past decade or so until April 2021 when Apple launched an all new design with the 24in iMac. Now it is incredibly thin and comes in seven different colours. Read about the 2021 iMac.

Until recently Apple also sold a 27in iMac, but it surprised everyone by discontinuing that in March 2022. The larger iMac may return – there are rumours that an iMac Pro may soon launch – but for now the Mac Studio has taken its position in the line up. Read about the new iMac Pro 2022.

For more information about how the different iMacs compared read: Which iMac.

Who is the 24in iMac best for?

It’s a desktop Mac, so the 24in iMac is obviously best for someone who doesn’t mind being tied to their desk. Or perhaps you already own a laptop and need a more powerful machine. The great thing about buying an Apple computer is that because everything is tied to your iCloud account all your Safari bookmarks, photos, messages, iCloud documents and applications will be available to you on all of your Macs.

Perhaps the big screen appeals – 24in is bigger than the screen on a 16in MacBook Pro. Of course if it’s a big screen you want you could just plug your Mac laptop into a separate display.

The type of person for whom the 24in iMac is ideal is different to the type who would have chosen the 27in iMac back when Apple was selling it. The now discontinued 27in iMacs used to feature discrete GPUs that would have appealed to creative pro users and gamers, the 24in iMacs feature Apple’s 8-core GPUs (or 7-core GPU in the entry-level model). The M1 GPUs hold reasonably well for creative tasks – Apple did suggest that the 24in iMac is capable of up to 2x faster GPU performance for certain apps like Affinity Photo and Photoshop, as well as having the ability to edit up to five streams of 4K footage – so these Macs may be sufficient for creative users. But there are better, cheaper options for this demanding market.

Regardless of whether they are adequate for creative pros, the 24in iMacs are great options for general use.

They are also perfect for adorning the front desks of companies who want to look fashionable and creative.

24in iMac specifications

The 24in iMacs were introduced by Apple in April 2021. They are the first iMacs to feature the M1 Chip, which Apple added to the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini models in November 2020.

There are three 24in iMac models, the entry-level has an 8-Core CPU and 7-Core GPU and 256GB SSD, the next one up has a 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU, and the top-of-the-range model has 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU and 512GB SSD. Here’s how that looks:

£1,229/$1,299 24in iMac:
8-Core CPU, 7-Core GPU
256GB SSD
8GB RAM
2 Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports

£1,429/$1,499 24in iMac:
8-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU
256GB SSD
8GB RAM
2 Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports
Two USB 3 ports

£1,429/$1,499 24in iMac:
8-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU
512GB SSD
8GB RAM
2 Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports
Two USB 3 ports

You’ll notice from the above that the only two of the 24in iMacs feature USB 3 ports that will work with the older USB-A standard if you have old peripherals. So if you are likely to require the older standard you’ll need to avoid the cheaper machine, or buy an adapter.

Should you buy a 24in iMac now?

The 24in iMac was introduced by Apple in April 2021 and went on sale in May 2021. As long as you are happy to be take on the first generation of a new technology then the 24in iMac will be a good choice. The M1 Chip is already proven to be superior to the Intel chips that had been used in the older 21.5in iMac range.

We do recommend that you look at the Mac mini as an alternative to the 24in iMac though if you want a powerful machine and don’t care so much about how it looks. The Mac mini will get you a whole lot more for your money.

Mac Studio

Last updated: March 2022
Price: From £1,999/$1,999

Here are the latest Mac Studio with M1 Max deals

Here are the latest Mac Studio with M1 Ultra deals

The Mac Studio is Apple’s newest category of Mac. It looks a bit like an expanded Mac mini, but on the inside it’s got an M1 Mac or an M1 Ultra – the latter bringing the ultimate in performance to this desktop Mac. Right now the Mac Studio trumps the Mac Pro in the power stakes – but only because the Mac Pro hasn’t been updated since 2019 (expect that to change in the next few months).

Who is the Mac Studio best for?

The Mac Studio is for professionals who need a powerful Mac. Prior to introduction of the Mac Studio this group of Mac users had the choice of the 27in iMac, 16in or 14in MacBook Pro or the Mac Pro.

For those who need portability a Mac laptop is the obvious choice, but the world has changed in the past few years and there is a lot less commuting going on, so maybe there isn’t the need to have a Mac you can carry around wiht you that there once was.

More than a decade ago these users would have opted for the Mac Pro, but the current Mac Pro is priced out of the range of the vast majority of Mac users. The 27in iMac was therefore seen as the option for those who used to rely on a Mac Pro. But then Apple removed the 27in iMac from the line up.

What we are left with is a Mac that fills the gap left by the Mac Pro when Apple updated that Mac to the unsuccessful 2009 model. The Mac Studio is the Mac that those who used to own a Mac Pro (or a Power Mac) before the Mac Pro evolved into what it is today.

The new Mac Studio is particularly ideal for graphic design, or those who work with video and images.

Mac Studio specifications

There are two standard configurations of the Mac Studio: 

Mac mini with M1 Max: £1,999/$1,999

• 10-core CPU
• 24-core GPU
• 32GB Unified Memory
• 512GB storage
• Two USB-C ports and an SDXD card reader on the front and four Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, a HDMI port 10Gb Ethernet and 3.5mm headphone jack on the back.

Mac mini with M1 Ultra: £3,999/$3,999

• 20-core CPU
• 48-core GPU
• 64GB Unified Memory
• 1TB storage
• Two Thunderbolt 4 ports and an SDXD card reader on the front and four Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, a HDMI port 10Gb Ethernet and 3.5mm headphone jack on the back.

Read: Apple brings M1 Ultra to new Mac Studio

There are also various build to order options for the M1 Max model including:

• The M1 Max with 32-core GPU for an additional £200/$200.
• 64GB unified memory for an additional £400/$400.
• Up to 8TB SSD for an additional £2,200/$2,200.

The build to order options for the M1 Ultra include:

• The M1 Ultra with 20-core CPU and 48-core GPU for an additional £1,000/$1,000.
• 128GB unified memory for an additional £800/$800.
• Up to 8TB SSD for an additional £2,200/$2,200.

Should I buy Mac Studio

It only went on sale on 11 March 2022, but this looks like it will be a incredibly powerful Mac.

During the Mac Studio unveiling on 8 March Apple made the following claims about the Mac Studio with M1 Ultra compared to the Mac Pro:

• Up to 90% faster CPU performance vs Mac Pro w/ 16-core Xeon
• Up to 60% faster CPU performance vs Mac Pro w/ 28-core Xeon
• Up to 80% faster GPU performance vs Mac Pro w/ Radeon Pro W69 00X

This indicates not only that the Mac Studio is better than the Mac Pro – it’s better than the top of the range Mac Pro with 28-core Xeon and the Radeon Pro W69 00X. While the Mac Studio with M1 Ultra is by no means cheap, it costs a fraction of the price of the Mac Pro (especially one with all these cores and GPU options), making it look like a bargain.

And it’s not only the Mac Pro that makes the Mac Studio look like a bargain. If you compare the  MacBook Pro with the same M1 Max as used in the £1,999/$1,999 Mac Studio, the Mac Studio also comes out trumps:

Mac mini with M1 Max
10-core CPU, 24-core GPU, 32GB Unified Memory, 512GB storage for £1,999/$1,999

14in MacBook Pro (build to order option)
10-core CPU, 24-core GPU, 32GB Unified Memory, 512TB storage for £2,399/$2,499

As you can see, the 14in screen essentially adds £500/$500 onto the price. That might not seem like a bad deal when you consider the price of the Apple Studio Display starts at £1,499/$1,599, but you don’t need to spend more than £500/$500 on a display and you may also want to use an external display with the laptop when you are at your desk. The choice between these Macs is really one of portability. If you want a laptop get a laptop, but if you will be at your desk get the Mac Studio.

Mac Pro

Last updated: December 2019
Price: From £5,499/$5,499

If you want to buy a Mac Pro, here are the best deals:

The Mac Pro is Apple’s professional Mac with a price tag to match, starting at £5,499/$5,499. It’s a fully fledged workstation aimed at those who need the ultimate in power and have a huge budget.

Who is the Mac Pro best for?

Professionals who need extreme processing capability.

Mac Pro specifications

You can configure the 2019 Mac Pro anywhere from an 8- to a 28-core processor, with up to 1.5TB of RAM – yes, 1.5TB of RAM, not storage – and up to 8TB of SSD storage. It’s an astoundingly powerful machine, but as we said above, right now it is no match for the Mac Studio.

Should you buy a Mac Pro now or wait?

The Mac Pro went on sale in December 2019, so a while ago now. Apple intends to transition from Intel processors to its own M-series processors, and has confirmed that the Mac Pro will be getting this treatment in 2022. According to Apple’s own self imposed deadline we should see this by the autumn of 2022 at least. Here’s what to expect from the 2022 Mac Pro.

For now our advice would be to buy the Mac Studio, unless you really need something super powerful and modular like the Mac Pro is, but if you are the market for the Mac Pro we strongly recommend that you wait for the new machine with Apple’s chips.