1. Quick list
2. FAQs
3. How to choose
4. How we test
5. Top picks in depth
▶ Best overall
▶ Best budget
▶ Best premium
▶ Best M2
▶ Best premium M2
▶ Best clearance
Finding the best MacBook Pro for your specific requirements can feel like navigating a labyrinth, given Apple's rich assortment of models.
Take our top pick, the MacBook Pro 14-inch with Apple M3-series chips. It offers outstanding performance across a range of price points, making it the best model for most people. But it's hardly the only one. The Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch with M2 chip is a fantastic performer that you can get for pretty cheap, making it a great option for creative pros on a budget.
There are also older MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch models available at various retailers, and they remain some of the best laptop options for creative professionals who need all-day battery life, brilliant displays, and top-tier performance. We've reviewed all the best MacBook models over the last decade, so we know our MacBook Pros, and we've rounded up our top picks to help you find the best MacBook Pro for your needs and budget.
The Quick List
The best MacBook Pro overall
The MacBook Pro 14-inch with the latest M3-series chips offers outstanding, best-in-class performance while getting fantastic battery life and features the best display of any MacBook ever.
The best budget MacBook Pro
While the 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2022 might not be as powerful as the 14-inch or 16-inch models, it still packs a good performance punch, especially for its price and size.
The best premium MacBook Pro
Looking for the most power, most feature-rich, and largest MacBook Pro on the market? This is it. Its incredible performance and gorgeous display come at a premium though.
The best MacBook Pro with M2 chip
The early-2023 MacBook Pro 14-inch isn't as powerful as the M3-series models released later that same year, but it's still a fantastic performer that you'll likely find on sale.
The best premium M2 MacBook Pro
This beast of a MacBook Pro comes in just behind its successor as the best premium MacBook Pro, and its M2-series chips are more than powerful enough for the most demanding workloads.
The best MacBook Pro on clearance
The MacBook Pro 14-inch with M1 Pro might be harder to find than newer models, but if you can find this powerhouse on clearance, it'll be well worth the effort.
The best MacBook Pro: FAQs
Which one is better MacBook Pro or Air?
While the MacBook Air is a fantastic laptop, it is not really geared for creative professionals, so it might not have the memory, storage, and processing power you'll need for professional use. If you need to do serious creative content work, the MacBook Pro is the way to go. If this is the case, pair with the best monitors for MacBook Pro for the absolute in color fidelity.
What MacBook Pro model year is the best?
This isn't as straightforward a question as it might seem, honestly. The MacBook Pro 14-inch with an M3-series chip is our top pick, but an M2 Max MacBook Pro is going to outperform an M3 or M3 Pro chip, even though these were released more recently. It all depends on your performance needs and your budget, since older models might be cheaper than current models while still giving you the level of performance you need.
How to choose the best MacBook Pro for you
The two key factors to keep in mind when choosing a MacBook Pro is price and performance, since the designs and displays of each MacBook Pro on our list are similar enough that you won't find much difference there.
Older models will be cheaper, as will smaller sizes, so if you're on a more restricted budget, the M2-series MacBook Pros in 13-inch and 14-inch are great, and you can get up to an M2 Max in a 14-inch MacBook Pro. If you've got a lot of room in your budget, a 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max is going to be the best you can get and will last you much longer than other models might, which is great for future-proofing.
For memory and storage, unless you're doing substantial video editing work with very large source files at high resolutions, you shouldn't need more than 24GB or 32GB of memory, and 2TB storage is going to be more than enough for most users. Video pros will definitely need a minimum of 32GB and 2TB, and higher memory and storage configurations are recommended.
How we tested our best MacBook Pro picks
We put all the MacBook Pro models we review through our standard battery of benchmark tests to score their processing power, both in absolute synthetic terms but also with workloads like video editing, 3D rendering, and others. Traditionally, MacBooks are some of the best laptops for photo editing, best video editing laptops, and best laptops for graphic design - so we're always keen to see how the latest models perform in the creative arena. We also conduct extensive battery testing to measure its real world longevity.
We measure these scores against their predecessors to determine if it's worth the upgrade to the latest models, or if the previous model offers a better value of price for its performance.
The best MacBook Pro: Our Top Picks
The best MacBook Pro of 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best MacBook Pro models on our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best MacBook Pro overall
The new MacBook Pro 14, powered by Apple's M3 chip, particularly the high-end M3 Max processor, is more than just a new laptop; it's a testament to the chip's raw power. The highest-end configurations showcase superior performance due to their additional CPU and GPU cores and larger memory capacity (64GB). While the base M3 model still offers advanced features like hardware-based ray tracing, mesh shading, and a fast neural network, it has fewer cores and less memory.
This MacBook Pro stands out for its design, including an option for a fingerprint-resistant Space Black finish, a highly praised keyboard, and the macOS Sonoma platform, offering versatility for various activities. It's considered the best MacBook to date.
However, it's not an affordable option. For those with less demanding needs, like working on standard files or less intensive gaming, the MacBook Pro 13-inch with M2 (included below). The complete MacBook Pro 14 M3 series, from the base model to the M3 Pro and M3 Max, rank among the top laptops available, not just the best Mac devices, with the M3 Max configuration also a contender for the best gaming laptop list.
Read the full MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3, 2023) review
The best budget MacBook Pro
If you're looking for an affordable MacBook Pro that delivers impressive performance and power, then the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) is a brilliant option. It keeps the same price as the M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch while touting Apple’s brand-new M2 chip that certainly makes up for the fact that Apple hasn't given its design and look a proper refresh. That makes this the best budget MacBook Pro to get right now if you don't want older internals.
Although this new model may look and feel a bit redundant to M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch owners, they'll appreciate that noticeable boost in performance. In our tests, it achieved better performance in both single and multi-core CPU tests, which means it's much better at multitasking than its predecessor and around twice as powerful as the Intel Core i7-1185G7-powered Surface Laptop 4. It's even more power-efficient as well, giving us two more hours of juice than the M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch in our battery life test.
Read our in-depth MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) review
The best premium MacBook Pro
Apple's October reveal of the MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3) range was a surprising and risky move, coming just 10 months after the M2-based model. This swift update may frustrate recent buyers of the M2 Max model, who expected their high-end laptops to remain top-of-the-line for longer. The quick transition to the M3 series, including the M3 Pro and M3 Max, also casts the M2 generation in a somewhat unfavorable light, especially with the introduction of new iMac models that bypass the M2 chip entirely.
Despite potential customer grievances, the M3 series starts at the same price as the previous generation, offering significant performance upgrades. The MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3) retains its exceptional 16.2-inch display with Liquid Retina XDR technology, 1,600 nits peak brightness, and 120Hz ProMotion tech, ensuring a vivid and responsive visual experience. It also features a range of ports for enhanced connectivity.
The new MacBook Pro is a powerhouse in performance, handling intensive tasks like editing 4K footage effortlessly and even proving capable of running the latest games. This versatility marks a shift in Apple's 'Pro' range, offering both work and play capabilities. However, due to its high cost and lack of a more affordable base M3 option, this model is recommended only for those with the necessary budget and need for such a powerful machine.
Read the full Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max) review
The best last-gen MacBook Pro
It seems that every year, Apple is making the MacBook Pro 14-inch a lot more power than you'd expect. Its 2021 predecessor may have been an almost perfect laptop, but this one blows it out of the water in terms of power, cementing the line's status as a mobile workstation that's reserved for users who can maximize its sheer performance.
However, even though it launched in January 2023, the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) is no longer the latest model - it's just been superseded by the MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3/M3 Pro/M3 Max), which can be found higher up on this list. That might be annoying for people who just bought the M2-era model, but it's still a great laptop, and with the new M3 models out, you may be able to find the M2 models for cheaper - though not from Apple, which has now stopped selling those (slightly) older 14-inch MacBook Pros.
Read our full in-depth Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) review
The best premium M2 MacBook Pro
If you’re looking for the best laptop for photo editing, the MacBook Pro 16in M2 model offers outstanding performance, wrapped up in that always-sleek Apple aesthetic
We don’t hesitate in calling this “the best screen on a laptop” in our review. Its gorgeous 16in, 3456 x 2234 Liquid Retina XDR display providing a broad canvas for any photo editing project.
Driving the Apple Macbook Pro is the powerful M2 chip that we found more than capable of handling hardware-intensive creative apps. Benchmarking the machine, it hit a PugentBench Photoshop score of 1,060; Premier Pro scored 1,095; Blender, 123.97. The base configuration comes with 10-core CPU, a 16-core GPU, 16GB memory, and 512GB SSD storage. However, photographers and editors will be better off with the 32GB RAM and 1TB storage configuration.
It’s not the lightest photo editing laptop, and its larger screen makes it less portable. But the Macbook Pro is a great choice if you’re on the go, working at home, in the office, the studio, the coffee shop. Whether running plugged in or off the battery, there were next to no differences in performance during our tests.
Read our full Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) review
The best MacBook Pro on clearance
The MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) is a standout choice for creative professionals on a more restricted budget thanks to it being two model generations behind the current lineup, but it's still a powerful performer that will satisfy the needs of any creative pro out there.
This model remains a compelling device, especially for those who may find it on clearance. It is powered by Apple's M1 Pro or M1 Max chips, which outperform the newer Apple M2 found in the MacBook Pro 13-inch. The device features a comprehensive array of ports, addressing a common grievance among users of previous generations by eliminating the dependency on dongles and hubs for peripheral connections.
With three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, SDXC card slot, and MagSafe 3 for charging, it caters adeptly to the needs of professionals requiring a robust mobile workstation for a more modest investment than newer models demand.
This MacBook Pro not only boasts superior internal hardware but also introduces an upgraded Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED technology, akin to that in the latest iPad Pro, offering an impressive 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and ProMotion technology for refresh rates up to 120Hz. This ensures stunning visual quality, whether for editing HDR content, scrolling through websites, or engaging in any task that benefits from vibrant colors and fluid motion.
Additionally, the battery life extends to 17 hours, a notable feat for a workstation of this caliber, allowing it to maintain performance without throttling to conserve power.
Despite its premium pricing at launch, the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) remains an unrivaled option for professionals needing exceptional performance and functionality. Its blend of power, design, and utility makes it an excellent investment, particularly if available at a reduced price, underscoring its status as not just an older model, but a timeless piece of technology offering outstanding value.
Read our full Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) review
We tested the best video editing Macs and MacBooks - and here's what made the final cut
