Best by the numbers
Best Apple laptops
The top 12 of 15 non-discontinued Apple models we track, ranked by our hand-scored average across the six categories. Not by what Apple pushes, and not by commission.
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- Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro, 2024)
The M4 Pro step up from the base M4: a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24 GB unified memory and three Thunderbolt 5 ports in the same 1000 nit 120 Hz ProMotion mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR chassis.
€ 2.499 9.0/10 Linux not supported - Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5, 2025)
The October 2025 base M5 14 inch keeps the 1000 nit 120 Hz ProMotion mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR panel and 14 hour battery and now starts at 16 GB unified memory and 512 GB for 1599 dollars.
€ 1.799 8.8/10 Linux not supported - Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4)
The best laptop here for battery, screen and quiet performance, and the worst for Linux: Asahi does not support M4 and will not for a while.
€ 1.899 8.8/10 Linux not supported - Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Pro, 2026)
The new 15-core M5 Pro with a 16-core GPU starts at 24 GB unified memory and 1 TB for 2199 dollars and pushes battery to 24 hours of video, in the same 1000 nit 120 Hz ProMotion mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR chassis.
€ 2.549 8.8/10 Linux not supported - Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026)
18-core M5 Max with a 32-core GPU, 36 GB unified memory base, 100 Wh battery and the same 1000 nit 120 Hz ProMotion mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR panel from 3899 dollars.
€ 4.399 8.7/10 Linux not supported - Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Max, 2024)
A reference creative workstation: M4 Max, 40-core GPU, 48 GB unified memory in the base SKU, a 1000 nit 120 Hz ProMotion mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR panel, 14-hour battery.
€ 4.499 8.7/10 Linux not supported - Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max, 2023)
The 2023 M3 Max 16 was the first to hit 1000 nits sustained on the 120 Hz ProMotion mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR with a 22-hour battery claim, 36 GB unified memory in the base SKU.
€ 3.254 8.5/10 Linux not supported - Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4)
Apple finally killed the 8 GB base and cut 100 dollars, making this the best-value Air in years, but Linux on M4 barely boots.
€ 1.199 8.3/10 Linux not supported - Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023)
Apple's first 14 Pro with a base, non-Pro chip, 1.55 kg, the same 1000 nit 120 Hz ProMotion mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR panel as the M2 Pro and a 70 Wh cell good for roughly 13 hours.
€ 1.799 8.3/10 Linux not supported - Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5, 2026)
The new M5 keeps the 1.23 kg fanless body, 13.6 inch 500 nit Liquid Retina panel at 60 Hz and 18 hour video runtime, with 16 GB unified memory and 512 GB now standard from 1099 dollars.
€ 1.299 8.2/10 Linux not supported - Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3)
Outstanding battery and build for macOS users; a poor pick if Linux is the goal.
€ 1.299 8.2/10 Linux not supported - Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5, 2026)
The 15 inch M5 Air at 1.51 kg keeps the same 500 nit Liquid Retina panel at 60 Hz and 18 hour video runtime as the 13, with 66.5 Wh and 16 GB unified memory and 512 GB now standard from 1299 dollars.
€ 1.499 8.2/10 Linux not supported
