{"id":24565,"date":"2023-12-02T14:32:53","date_gmt":"2023-12-02T13:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=24565"},"modified":"2023-12-02T14:32:59","modified_gmt":"2023-12-02T13:32:59","slug":"mac-desktop-buying-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Which Mac Is the Right Desktop Computer for You? [Update]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684454c7e3f3\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684454c7e3f3\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684454c7e3f3\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Picking_the_Right_Mac_-_Think_About_the_Form_Factor\" title=\"Picking the Right Mac \u2014 Think About the Form Factor\">Picking the Right Mac \u2014 Think About the Form Factor<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#MacBooks_-_The_Most_Versatile_Option\" title=\"MacBooks \u2014 The Most Versatile Option\">MacBooks \u2014 The Most Versatile Option<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Mac_Mini_and_Studio_-_Incredible_In_Every_Way\" title=\"Mac Mini and Studio \u2014 Incredible In Every Way\">Mac Mini and Studio \u2014 Incredible In Every Way<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Picking_the_Right_Mac_-_Think_About_the_Power\" title=\"Picking the Right Mac \u2014 Think About the Power\">Picking the Right Mac \u2014 Think About the Power<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Picking_the_Right_Mac_-_Think_About_Price\" title=\"Picking the Right Mac \u2014 Think About Price\">Picking the Right Mac \u2014 Think About Price<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Prioritize_Unified_Memory_Over_Storage\" title=\"Prioritize Unified Memory Over Storage\">Prioritize Unified Memory Over Storage<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Which_Mac_Is_the_Right_Computer_for_You\" title=\"Which Mac Is the Right Computer for You?\">Which Mac Is the Right Computer for You?<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#M1_MacBook_Air\" title=\"M1 MacBook Air\">M1 MacBook Air<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#M2_MacBook_Air_1315\" title=\"M2 MacBook Air [13\/15\u201d]\">M2 MacBook Air [13\/15\u201d]<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#MacBook_Pro_1416\" title=\"MacBook Pro 14\/16\u201d\">MacBook Pro 14\/16\u201d<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#M1M3_iMac_24\" title=\"M1\/M3 iMac 24\u201d\">M1\/M3 iMac 24\u201d<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Mac_Mini_M1M2\" title=\"Mac Mini [M1\/M2]\">Mac Mini [M1\/M2]<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Mac_Mini_M2_Pro\" title=\"Mac Mini [M2 Pro]\">Mac Mini [M2 Pro]<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Mac_Studio\" title=\"Mac Studio\">Mac Studio<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Mac_Pro\" title=\"Mac Pro\">Mac Pro<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Conclusion_-_Which_Mac_Is_the_Right_Computer_for_You\" title=\"Conclusion \u2014 Which Mac Is the Right Computer for You?\">Conclusion \u2014 Which Mac Is the Right Computer for You?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Are_Macs_Good_Desktops\" title=\"Are Macs Good Desktops?\">Are Macs Good Desktops?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Can_I_Use_a_MacBook_As_a_Desktop_Replacement\" title=\"Can I Use a MacBook As a Desktop Replacement?\">Can I Use a MacBook As a Desktop Replacement?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Mac_Mini_vs_Mac_Studio_-_Which_Is_Better\" title=\"Mac Mini vs. Mac Studio \u2014 Which Is Better?\">Mac Mini vs. Mac Studio \u2014 Which Is Better?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#How_Much_Unified_Memory_Should_I_Get\" title=\"How Much Unified Memory Should I Get?\">How Much Unified Memory Should I Get?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Is_the_M2_Ultra_Mac_Pro_Worth_It\" title=\"Is the M2 Ultra Mac Pro Worth It?\">Is the M2 Ultra Mac Pro Worth It?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mac-desktop-buying-guide\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Apple, unlike most other OEMs, doesn\u2019t have a <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/m1-imac-vs-mac-mini-vs-mac-studio\/\"><em>litany<\/em> of devices<\/a> on offer. And, what\u2019s more, most of its computers (and even tablets, to a certain extent) share many similarities.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a Venn diagram overlap between them, which makes picking the \u201cright one\u201d all the more challenging.<\/p>\n<p>It also stresses the importance of doing one\u2019s due diligence and being aware of one\u2019s needs and preferences. Having a skewed perception of one\u2019s workload can <em>easily<\/em> result in bad investment.<\/p>\n<p>You <em>might<\/em> be okay with, say, a MacBook Air, but maybe a larger Pro variant would serve as a much greater boon to your creative endeavors.<\/p>\n<p>You might be looking at a spec\u2019d-out Mac Studio, but maybe its smaller brother \u2014 the Mac Mini \u2014 would just as easily get your work done at a fraction of the cost.<\/p>\n<p>You get the gist.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The point of this article is to not only go over Apple\u2019s current <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/\"><strong>ARM-based<\/strong><\/a><strong> line-up but also to explain <em>which<\/em> devices cater to <em>whom<\/em>.<\/strong> Moreover, we\u2019ll cover the most <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-apple-laptops-worth-it\/\">popular MacBooks<\/a> as well as they, too, are broadly used as full-fledged desktop replacements.<\/p>\n<p>After all, if the Air and the Pro can have the same chipset as the \u201cdesktop-class\u201d Mac Mini, then they <em>should<\/em> be analyzed through the same lens.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The good news is that there\u2019s no <em>wrong<\/em> choice, at least in terms of performance.<\/strong> All of Apple\u2019s latest devices are downright <em>extraordinary<\/em> and have taken the world by storm for a <em>very<\/em> good reason.<\/p>\n<p>Their form factors differ, but they can <em>all<\/em> be used for basically the exact same tasks and workflows.<\/p>\n<p>Finding the right Mac for your needs, therefore, isn\u2019t nearly as big a challenge as one would expect. <strong>Still, there <em>are<\/em> nuanced differences you need to be aware of.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>And so, with that little introduction out of the way, let\u2019s begin!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Picking_the_Right_Mac_-_Think_About_the_Form_Factor\"><\/span>Picking the Right Mac \u2014 Think About the Form Factor<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The first thing you need to think about is the <em>form factor<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-24574\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers.jpg\" alt=\"Apple Mx Computers\" width=\"2251\" height=\"970\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers.jpg 2251w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers-300x129.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers-1024x441.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers-768x331.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers-1536x662.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers-2048x883.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2251px) 100vw, 2251px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-24574 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202251%20970%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Apple Mx Computers\" width=\"2251\" height=\"970\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202251%20970%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2251w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2251px) 100vw, 2251px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers.jpg 2251w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers-300x129.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers-1024x441.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers-768x331.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers-1536x662.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers-2048x883.jpg 2048w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Apple-Mx-Computers.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>What <em>kind<\/em> of device do you need? Do you like working while you\u2019re out and about or do you, perhaps, prefer a more <em>fixed<\/em> work-from-home kind of setup?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Each and every single Apple Silicon device that's currently on sale is <em>incredibly<\/em> performant.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You know what you\u2019re getting performance-wise with each particular chipset, so you really ought to consider the <em>surrounding<\/em> factors and your <em>subjective<\/em> needs and preferences.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MacBooks_-_The_Most_Versatile_Option\"><\/span>MacBooks \u2014 The Most Versatile Option<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you already have a laptop at your disposal \u2014 one with which you are wholly satisfied with \u2014 then going with a desktop Mac would definitely be the way to go.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If, however, you need a \u201c2-for-1\u201d kind of device, then a MacBook is undoubtedly the best option.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You can use it as a regular laptop whenever you\u2019re out and about and then, once you get back home, you can simply connect it to an external monitor, a set of peripherals, perhaps a dock or a hub of some kind, and have yourself a full-fledged desktop experience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Apple\u2019s latest MacBooks offer the best of <em>both<\/em> worlds. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>They offer desktop-like performance in a thin-and-light chassis that\u2019s about as portable as it gets; they also feature some of the finest, most color-accurate displays on the market, alongside stellar inputs, mind-blowing speakers, and a trackpad that can only be described as <em>best-in-class<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re really worth their weight in gold, and that holds true for the three-year-old M1 MacBook Air as much as it does for the latest and greatest MacBook Pros.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_i_XWx05FTw?si=doYFPJcMnqGQhcyF\" width=\"860\" height=\"515&quot;\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515&quot;\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_i_XWx05FTw?si=doYFPJcMnqGQhcyF\" class=\" lazyload\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mac_Mini_and_Studio_-_Incredible_In_Every_Way\"><\/span>Mac Mini and Studio \u2014 Incredible In Every Way<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Those looking for a regular desktop, however, should only consider the 24\u201d iMac, the Mac Mini, and the Mac Studio. <strong>The first one is perhaps the <em>hardest<\/em> to recommend as it is essentially a <em>complete<\/em> <em>package<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_24575\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24575\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24575\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/M1-iMac-Drawbacks.jpg\" alt=\"M1 iMac Drawbacks\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/M1-iMac-Drawbacks.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/M1-iMac-Drawbacks-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/M1-iMac-Drawbacks-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/M1-iMac-Drawbacks-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/M1-iMac-Drawbacks-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24575\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24575 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"M1 iMac Drawbacks\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/M1-iMac-Drawbacks.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/M1-iMac-Drawbacks-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/M1-iMac-Drawbacks-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/M1-iMac-Drawbacks-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/M1-iMac-Drawbacks-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/M1-iMac-Drawbacks.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-24575\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/imac-24\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s only a good option if you\u2019re okay with the size of its screen, its design, port selection, and overall performance. If what it offers sounds alluring, then you\u2019ll no doubt be superbly satisfied. If not, then you\u2019d best look elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/mac-mini\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Mac Mini<\/strong><\/a><strong> and <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/mac-studio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Mac Studio<\/strong><\/a><strong>, on the other hand, are much more performant.<\/strong> They\u2019re both actively cooled and have more ports than any other Mac or MacBook in Apple\u2019s current line-up.<\/p>\n<p>The Mac Studio is sort of the \u201cgo-to\u201d option if you\u2019re a creative professional who needs as much horsepower as possible. <strong>The Mac Mini, however, is a very <em>strange<\/em> option, as it caters to both professionals <em>and<\/em> hobbyists alike.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The base M1 and M2 Mac Minis are absolutely <em>incredible<\/em> from a price-to-performance standpoint and are a lot more capable than their small, metallic enclosures would lead you to believe.<\/p>\n<p>As such, they\u2019re a downright <em>phenomenal<\/em> option for the vast majority of users \u2014 <em>especially<\/em> those who are on a tighter budget.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The M2 Pro Mac Mini, on the other hand, is geared towards content creators and those whose needs aren\u2019t quite as modest.<\/strong> It\u2019s not as affordable, granted, but it\u2019s still a stellar option worth considering.<\/p>\n<p>It provides a tremendous uplift in performance over the regular M1 and M2 chipsets, and while it\u2019s by no means the most powerful option in Apple\u2019s current line-up, it sure does serve as a great middle ground.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/B3LraI0n9yI?si=8SJRv1ly_5b4KMXG\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/B3LraI0n9yI?si=8SJRv1ly_5b4KMXG\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Last but certainly not least, there\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/apple-m1-ultra-mac-studio\/\">Mac Studio<\/a>. It is, simply put, the most powerful Mac that Apple has to offer and, as such, should only be considered by the \u201cconsummate professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s worth the asking price is up for debate, but its performance chops simply cannot be brought into question.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that it\u2019s as small and silent as it is \u2014 whilst competing with much larger, more power-hungry Windows PCs \u2014 only further increases the \u201cwow\u201d factor.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Picking_the_Right_Mac_-_Think_About_the_Power\"><\/span>Picking the Right Mac \u2014 Think About the Power<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The topic of <em>power<\/em> is a mighty interesting one, as even the base M1, M2, and M3 Macs have it in spades.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re devilishly fast and can chew through most tasks you\u2019d want to throw their way with ease. They only start to \u201cfall apart\u201d in GPU-heavy workloads which, needless to say, is only natural given the number of GPU cores with which they are imbued.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The <em>vast<\/em> majority of users will be <em>more<\/em> than satisfied with an <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/m1-vs-m2-macbook\/\"><strong>M1 or M2-based<\/strong><\/a><strong> Mac, with the M3 being an even <em>better<\/em> option for those who'd like to future-proof their setup for the years to come.<\/strong> It\u2019s not an \u201centry-level\u201d or budget-oriented option in the slightest. <strong>Creative professionals, however, might want to opt for a more powerful chipset.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Pro, Max, and Ultra SoCs all come imbued with <em>a lot<\/em> more power than Apple\u2019s current \u201cbase\u201d offerings \u2014 hence the nomenclature.<\/p>\n<p><strong>They're better across the board<\/strong>: more CPU and GPU cores, higher memory bandwidth, better support for external displays, larger amounts of <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/apple-unified-memory-guide\/\">Unified Memory<\/a>, more powerful media engines (for video decoding and encoding), and so on and so forth.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_24568\" style=\"width: 1536px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24568\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-24568\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max.png\" alt=\"Apple M2, M1 Max &amp; M2 Max\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max.png 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-825x464.png 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-594x335.png 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-420x236.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24568\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-24568 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201536%20864%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Apple M2, M1 Max &amp; M2 Max\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201536%20864%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max.png 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-825x464.png 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-594x335.png 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max-420x236.png 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/apple-m2-m1-max-and-m2-max.png\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-24568\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Apple<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The average user \u2014 or hobbyist content creator \u2014 probably won\u2019t care much for these advancements seeing how the base M1, M2, and M3 are still plenty powerful.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Those whose livelihood depends on the speed at which something can be created or rendered, however, <em>will<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And so the hierarchy is simple<\/strong>: the base M1 and M2 will satisfy all but the most demanding of users. The Pro variants, on the other hand, can be used for all kinds of (professional) content creation and, thus, offer the best \u201cbang for the buck.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, the Max and Ultra chipsets \u2014 while undeniably spectacular \u2014 should only be prioritized if you\u2019re after sheer GPU performance or, say, the highest number of video decoders and encoders.<\/p>\n<p>They come with a tremendous price tag and, frankly, they aren\u2019t all that impressive from a value perspective.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If money is of no concern, then obviously go with as powerful a chipset as you can, but <em>do<\/em> know that there\u2019s a very tangible point of diminishing returns \u2014 as evidenced by the following video:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gsggbsTdKlI?si=WoiQvBdpydGsoH6P\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gsggbsTdKlI?si=WoiQvBdpydGsoH6P\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Picking_the_Right_Mac_-_Think_About_Price\"><\/span>Picking the Right Mac \u2014 Think About Price<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Apple\u2019s latest ARM-based Macs are spectacular in a number of different ways. And, frankly, they\u2019re <em>competitively<\/em> priced, too, which sort of took us all off guard. That, however, only holds true for the <em>base<\/em> models and SKUs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The catch is rather simple: each <em>individual<\/em> upgrade costs a whopping <em>$200<\/em>.<\/strong> That, needless to say, is <em>obscene<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_24576\" style=\"width: 1515px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24576\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-24576 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Macbook-Air-RAM-_-SSD-Upgrade.jpg\" alt=\"Macbook Air RAM _ SSD Upgrade\" width=\"1515\" height=\"912\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Macbook-Air-RAM-_-SSD-Upgrade.jpg 1515w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Macbook-Air-RAM-_-SSD-Upgrade-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Macbook-Air-RAM-_-SSD-Upgrade-1024x616.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Macbook-Air-RAM-_-SSD-Upgrade-768x462.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1515px) 100vw, 1515px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24576\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-24576 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201515%20912%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Macbook Air RAM _ SSD Upgrade\" width=\"1515\" height=\"912\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201515%20912%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1515w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1515px) 100vw, 1515px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Macbook-Air-RAM-_-SSD-Upgrade.jpg 1515w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Macbook-Air-RAM-_-SSD-Upgrade-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Macbook-Air-RAM-_-SSD-Upgrade-1024x616.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Macbook-Air-RAM-_-SSD-Upgrade-768x462.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Macbook-Air-RAM-_-SSD-Upgrade.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-24576\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/shop\/buy-mac\/macbook-air\/15-inch-midnight-apple-m2-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-10-core-gpu-256gb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>If you\u2019re not okay with 8GB of Unified Memory and 256GB of storage (fast though it is), you\u2019ll have to shell out an additional $400 \u2014 <em>on top<\/em> of the \u201cbase\u201d MSRP.<\/p>\n<p>And so, with all of that in mind, you really ought to ask yourself the following question: <strong>how <em>much<\/em> am I really willing to spend?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If money is of no concern, then you should obviously go with whichever device you deem best \u2014 with the spec sheet you deem necessary. If, however, the reality of your finances looms large, then you <em>do<\/em> need to think about these things.<\/p>\n<p>The Mac Mini, obviously, is the cheapest of the bunch \u2014 but it <em>doesn\u2019t<\/em> sacrifice performance. It <em>is<\/em>, however, sort of the \u201centry-level\u201d option as far as sheer computational grunt is concerned.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s sufficient for most, but if you\u2019re after a more powerful desktop Mac, then going with the M2 Pro SKU <em>would<\/em> be your best option.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a great overview of its specs and abilities:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cneoANZKBGk?si=MRxQ67HWWSSHe0x0\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cneoANZKBGk?si=MRxQ67HWWSSHe0x0\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The MacBook Airs and Pros are sort of all over the place pricing-wise as they range from <em>somewhat<\/em> affordable to <em>pretty darn expensive<\/em>. They <em>are<\/em> worth the asking price, there\u2019s no doubt about it, but they\u2019re not exactly value champions.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, the latest and greatest Mac Studios will easily burn a hole through your wallet and while they <em>are<\/em> worth the investment for <em>some<\/em> users, they still come with the exact same strengths and weaknesses as their more affordable brethren.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Mac Mini, therefore, stands out as the best \u201cbang for the buck\u201d option, with the M2 Pro variant being a spectacular deal for those whose creative projects and endeavors require additional horsepower.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To learn more about it \u2014 and the way in which it compares to the Mac Studio \u2014 make sure to watch the following video:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8pqvfkcP8g8?si=fe7a7-a-3oU28YKr\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8pqvfkcP8g8?si=fe7a7-a-3oU28YKr\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prioritize_Unified_Memory_Over_Storage\"><\/span>Prioritize Unified Memory Over Storage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>With upgrades being so costly, you really ought to prioritize buying a Mac with more Unified Memory as <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/add-storage-to-macbook\/\"><strong>opposed to storage<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If your workflow demands it, you can always purchase a third-party dock or hub of some kind \u2014 those often come with a <a href=\"https:\/\/satechi.net\/products\/stand-hub-for-mac-mini-with-ssd-enclosure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">built-in M.2 slot<\/a> for an additional SSD.<\/p>\n<p>External SSDs \u2014 something like a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samsung.com\/us\/computing\/memory-storage\/portable-solid-state-drives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Samsung T7<\/a> \u2014 are <em>also<\/em> a stellar choice.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Mac_Is_the_Right_Computer_for_You\"><\/span>Which Mac Is the Right Computer for You?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Think of this section as sort of a \u201c<em>who should buy which Mac and why<\/em>.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a simple and straightforward way of explaining the core features and unique selling points of each device and, in turn, whom they were designed for.<\/p>\n<p>And, as already mentioned, we\u2019re only considering Apple\u2019s MacBooks as they, too, can easily be used as full-fledged desktop replacements.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"M1_MacBook_Air\"><\/span>M1 MacBook Air<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This, essentially, is Apple\u2019s most affordable ARM-based Mac, and, needless to say, it\u2019s worth its weight in gold.<\/p>\n<p>It is by no means the most novel, seeing how it came out nearly three years ago, but it\u2019s still blazingly fast and, as such, is a spectacular option for those with more constrained budgets.<\/p>\n<p><strong>It can only drive a single external display, though, so just keep that in mind if you\u2019re looking to use it as a full-fledged desktop replacement.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"M2_MacBook_Air_1315\"><\/span>M2 MacBook Air [13\/15\u201d]<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The M2, while definitely better than its predecessor, is by no means as earth-shattering as we hoped it\u2019d be.<\/p>\n<p>Still, it\u2019s a good \u2014 if iterative \u2014 release. Whether it\u2019s worth the increase in price is heavily up for debate, though.<\/p>\n<p>These MacBooks are a lot more beautiful, but if you don\u2019t value looks all that highly, then you might as well go with the M1 Air and save yourself a few hundred dollars\/euros.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MacBook_Pro_1416\"><\/span>MacBook Pro 14\/16\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>These Pro MacBooks are, one could easily argue, the very best and most well-rounded laptops <em>on the market<\/em>. And that, needless to say, speaks <em>volumes<\/em> given the sheer amount of competition.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re simply perfect in every way and, as such, are a <em>killer<\/em> option for those who need a 2-for-1 kind of device \u2014 a portable powerhouse for their commutes and travels, and an insanely capable desktop replacement whilst at home.<\/p>\n<p><strong>They're also the <em>only<\/em> Macs on the market (at the time of this writing) that can be equipped with an M3, M3 Pro, or an M3 Max chipset. <\/strong>And so, if you're in need of the absolute <em>best<\/em> performance (and are willing to pay for it), then these MacBook Pros are definitely the way to go.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"M3 Max 16\u201d MacBook Pro vs M2 Max &amp; M1 Max - HOLY MOLY..\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BWeuhxnWDl0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"M3 Max 16\u201d MacBook Pro vs M2 Max &amp; M1 Max - HOLY MOLY..\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BWeuhxnWDl0?feature=oembed\" class=\" lazyload\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"M1M3_iMac_24\"><\/span>M1\/M3 iMac 24\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The 24\u201d iMac, despite its beauty, is really hard to recommend.<\/p>\n<p>For <em>some<\/em> people, it very well might be the perfect all-in-one computer.<\/p>\n<p>For others \u2014 and they <em>are<\/em> in the majority \u2013 it simply comes with too many limitations and drawbacks, all of which are hard to justify given its higher-than-expected price tag.<\/p>\n<p>The recently released M3 variant <em>is<\/em> better (performance- and efficiency-wise), but it doesn't really fix any of the issues or design-related drawbacks that plagued the original M1 model.<\/p>\n<p>In any case, this particular iMac is undoubtedly the most unique device in Apple\u2019s current line-up and, as such, targets a very specific demographic. There's nothing quite like it on the market which doesn't, however, make it a worthwhile purchase.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mac_Mini_M1M2\"><\/span>Mac Mini [M1\/M2]<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The best \u201cbang-for-the-buck\u201d computer on the market. That previous sentence might sound like a bit of hyperbole, but it really <em>is<\/em> true.<\/p>\n<p>Both the M1 and M2 Minis are some of the finest small form factor computers out there and are a spectacular option for anyone looking to enter Apple\u2019s ecosystem, regardless if they\u2019re a student or an up-and-coming content creator.<\/p>\n<p>Just make sure to spec yours out with 16GB of Unified Memory and it\u2019ll surely serve you for many a year.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/l5A89PV1j-s?si=4opR2gKuxNEaFOin\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/l5A89PV1j-s?si=4opR2gKuxNEaFOin\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mac_Mini_M2_Pro\"><\/span>Mac Mini [M2 Pro]<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you like the Mini\u2019s size and appearance but need a bit more horsepower, then <em>do<\/em> make sure to check out the M2 Pro variant.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re still perplexed by Apple\u2019s decision to release such a device (seeing how it probably cannibalizes the sales of its more performant Mac Studio), but we sure are glad it exists as it caters to the needs of a <em>much<\/em> broader set of users.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also a fair bit more affordable and, needless to say, is powerful enough even for professional use. <strong>This is, without a doubt, the most <em>well-rounded<\/em> desktop Mac in Apple\u2019s entire line-up; it ticks all the right boxes, <em>especially<\/em> for the asking price.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To see how it handles a few creator-related workloads, make sure to watch the following video from Hardware Canucks:<\/p>\n<p>&lt;<noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LC9dGn7klyI?si=V5sF624Gf52jFrK6\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LC9dGn7klyI?si=V5sF624Gf52jFrK6\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mac_Studio\"><\/span>Mac Studio<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Those who need even <em>more<\/em> computational performance (not to mention sheer GPU grunt) should look into the Mac Studio.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not as affordable (an understatement), but it <em>is<\/em> a solid option for those who\u2019d like to future-proof their setup for the years to come. This particular Mac can be configured with an astounding amount of Unified Memory alongside more CPU and GPU cores than we\u2019d care to count.<\/p>\n<p>Needless to say, if your livelihood depends on the speed at which something can be created or rendered \u2014 and money is of no concern \u2014 then this is the one to get.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do prioritize buying the M2 (Max or Ultra) variant, as it brings numerous architectural advancements over the M1 for the exact same price.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To learn more about it, make sure to watch the following video:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LS2f-Ko0GYo?si=IIJSgLegYDACs3o5\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LS2f-Ko0GYo?si=IIJSgLegYDACs3o5\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mac_Pro\"><\/span>Mac Pro<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>And, finally, we have the <em>obscenely<\/em> expensive Mac Pro which, frankly, has no <em>real<\/em> reason to exist.<\/p>\n<p>There's really nothing to write home about other than it having a whopping <em>six<\/em> open PCIe slots (Gen 4).<\/p>\n<p>If you have an incredibly niche use-case then this <em>might<\/em> be worth looking into, but otherwise, it\u2019s going to perform <em>exactly<\/em> the same as the aforementioned Mac Studio \u2014 a device which, when similarly configured, costs about <em>half<\/em> as much.<\/p>\n<p>If your workflow involves a bunch of expansion cards (for audio, storage, or networking), then the Mac Pro <em>might<\/em> be worth considering, but it sure is going to cost you an arm and a leg.<\/p>\n<p>MKBHD perhaps explained it best:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/w2KbwC-s7pY?si=_zlvyk9q1ymf_Cg3\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/w2KbwC-s7pY?si=_zlvyk9q1ymf_Cg3\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_-_Which_Mac_Is_the_Right_Computer_for_You\"><\/span>Conclusion \u2014 Which Mac Is the Right Computer for You?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There\u2019s really no right or wrong option at the time of this writing \u2014 other than, perhaps, the 24\u201d iMac.<\/p>\n<p>The good news is that all of today\u2019s most popular Mac devices share much of the same \u201cDNA.\u201d They have the same <em>architecture<\/em> which is then scaled and made more performant the higher up the product stack you go.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You\u2019re essentially getting a very similar experience no matter which option you go with \u2014 at least when it comes to day-to-day usage.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The more powerful chipsets, obviously, should be prioritized by creative professionals and power users, but Apple still provides a stellar level of performance even with its base M1 and M2 offerings.<\/p>\n<p>And so, if you\u2019re a hobbyist content creator or just someone who doesn\u2019t need the latest and greatest bells and whistles, go with either a MacBook Air or a Mac Mini. You will <em>not<\/em> be disappointed <em>whatsoever<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>If you need a much higher level of performance, the 14\u201d\/16\u201d MacBook Pro and the upgraded Mac Mini (w\/ M2 Pro) are no doubt worth exploring.<\/p>\n<p>And, finally, if money isn\u2019t an issue and you want the absolute best desktop computer which Apple has to offer, then go with the M2 Ultra Mac Studio \u2014 it <em>really<\/em> is in a league of its own performance-wise. <strong>The latest M3 Max MacBook Pros <em>do<\/em> beat it out in GPU performance (quite handily, in some cases), so you really ought to make your purchasing decision based on your specific needs and preferences.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To see how these two beastly chipsets stack up against each other, make sure to watch the following video:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"M3 Max vs M2 Ultra - How Did Apple do THIS?\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6KOEnjBgN-k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"M3 Max vs M2 Ultra - How Did Apple do THIS?\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6KOEnjBgN-k?feature=oembed\" class=\" lazyload\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s go over a few potential questions you might have regarding this particular topic:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Macs_Good_Desktops\"><\/span>Are Macs Good Desktops?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>They definitely are!<\/p>\n<p>Their operating system (macOS), while definitely not to everyone\u2019s taste, is both polished beyond measure <em>and<\/em> packed with numerous different features, all of which coalesce to deliver a spectacular user experience.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not as <em>malleable<\/em> as, say, Windows (to say nothing of Linux), but it sure does tick all the right boxes. Apple\u2019s Mac devices are also incredibly well-built and are designed to last for many a year.<\/p>\n<p>They don\u2019t break down easily nor do they have the tendency to malfunction for whatever reason. They\u2019re also the most efficient on the market but are still plenty powerful for both casual <em>and<\/em> professional use.<\/p>\n<p>They cannot be upgraded, though, which may or may not be a dealbreaker, depending on your needs and overall use-case.<\/p>\n<p>All in all, the positives <em>do<\/em> outweigh the negatives.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_Use_a_MacBook_As_a_Desktop_Replacement\"><\/span>Can I Use a MacBook As a Desktop Replacement?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Absolutely! All you need is an external display, a couple of peripherals and you\u2019ll be good to go!<\/p>\n<p>To really maximize the experience, though, you really ought to invest in an external Thunderbolt dock or hub of some kind \u2014 a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.caldigit.com\/thunderbolt-station-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CalDigit TS4<\/a> or its more affordable predecessor, for instance.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_24577\" style=\"width: 1908px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24577\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24577\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Caldigit-TS4-USB-Hub-IO.jpg\" alt=\"Caldigit TS4 USB Hub IO\" width=\"1908\" height=\"1089\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Caldigit-TS4-USB-Hub-IO.jpg 1908w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Caldigit-TS4-USB-Hub-IO-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Caldigit-TS4-USB-Hub-IO-1024x584.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Caldigit-TS4-USB-Hub-IO-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Caldigit-TS4-USB-Hub-IO-1536x877.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1908px) 100vw, 1908px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24577\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24577 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201908%201089%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Caldigit TS4 USB Hub IO\" width=\"1908\" height=\"1089\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201908%201089%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1908w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1908px) 100vw, 1908px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Caldigit-TS4-USB-Hub-IO.jpg 1908w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Caldigit-TS4-USB-Hub-IO-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Caldigit-TS4-USB-Hub-IO-1024x584.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Caldigit-TS4-USB-Hub-IO-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Caldigit-TS4-USB-Hub-IO-1536x877.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Caldigit-TS4-USB-Hub-IO.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-24577\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.caldigit.com\/thunderbolt-station-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Caldigit<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>There\u2019s no shortage of options out there, so you\u2019re bound to find one that\u2019ll suit both your needs <em>and<\/em> your budget.<\/p>\n<p>Such a device would, essentially, circumvent the only real issue that looms over Apple\u2019s thinner MacBooks: <strong>an austere port selection.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You <em>should<\/em> note, however, that the M1 and M2 chipsets only support a <em>single<\/em> external display. If you need more than that, you\u2019ll have to invest in a MacBook Pro (14\/16\u201d).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mac_Mini_vs_Mac_Studio_-_Which_Is_Better\"><\/span>Mac Mini vs. Mac Studio \u2014 Which Is Better?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Mac Mini essentially offers a good chunk of the Mac Studio experience for a <em>much<\/em> more palatable asking price.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not geared towards the consummate professionals or those who need the most computational performance money can buy, but it sure doesn\u2019t lack in performance \u2014 the M2 Pro model, especially.<\/p>\n<p>The Mac Studio, on the other hand, is pretty much the best and most capable desktop Mac that Apple has to offer; it really <em>is<\/em> a technological wonder.<\/p>\n<p>Most folks, however, don\u2019t really need <em>that<\/em> much horsepower, which makes the M2 Pro Mac Mini our \u201cgo-to\u201d recommendation for anyone looking to get a stellar level of performance for a very rational sum of money.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Much_Unified_Memory_Should_I_Get\"><\/span>How Much Unified Memory Should I Get?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You should never buy a Mac with less than 16GB of Unified Memory.<\/p>\n<p>You might be okay with 8GB <em>right now<\/em>, but sooner or later, that amount <em>will<\/em> become a bottleneck.<\/p>\n<p>And, needless to say, if you\u2019re a creative professional and need as much \u201cwiggle room\u201d as possible, then going with a Mac Studio with 32GB <em>would<\/em> be the way to go.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_M2_Ultra_Mac_Pro_Worth_It\"><\/span>Is the M2 Ultra Mac Pro Worth It?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Absolutely not. The Mac Pro is, essentially, a glorified Mac Studio with a few PCIe slots thrown in for good measure.<\/p>\n<p>It <em>might<\/em> be a worthwhile purchase if your workload involves numerous different expansion cards \u2014 storage, networking, audio, and such like \u2014 but the fact that it costs as much as it does makes it an unjustified investment for all but the most professional of creators.<\/p>\n<p>For a more in-depth look into the latest Mac Pro, make sure to watch the following video:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OtcSNiU9Zb8?si=cK4ycjvYuSCCzEiO\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OtcSNiU9Zb8?si=cK4ycjvYuSCCzEiO\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em><strong>Do you prefer a more traditional desktop setup or do you, perhaps, gravitate towards something that\u2019s a bit more \u201cmalleable\u201d \u2014 like a MacBook connected to an external display and a set of peripherals?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Let us know in the <a href=\"#comments\">comment<\/a> section down below and, in case you need any help, head over to <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\">our forum<\/a> and ask away!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Apple, unlike most other OEMs, doesn\u2019t have a litany of devices on offer. And, what\u2019s more, most of its computers (and even tablets, to a certain extent) share many similarities. There\u2019s a Venn diagram overlap between them, which makes picking the \u201cright one\u201d all the more challenging. It also stresses the importance of doing one\u2019s...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2346,"featured_media":24567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[290],"tags":[286,323,339,295],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24565"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24565"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24565\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24806,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24565\/revisions\/24806"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}