Macs Compared: Which Apple Computer is right for you?

The Mac line has a long history going back some 30 years now, but there’s been no change quite so profound in how a Mac works as the shift Apple made back in 2020 when it announced its first generation of “Apple Silicon” processors, shifting away from the Intel processors it had been using for more than a decade at that time.

Don’t worry, this doesn’t get super technical if you’re not that way inclined. The important detail to know about Apple Silicon is that it’s just a branding name for what’s called System on a Chip (SoC) design, where pretty much all the core elements of a computer system are baked into a single chunk of highly complex silicon. 

The change here that’s most important to know is that all of the processor capability, graphics processor capability, memory and internal storage are all in that single silicon package. What that means is that unlike older Macs, there’s no way to directly change the quantity of RAM, or swap out the hard drive for a larger one, or even – though this was a more edge case really for most Mac users – utilise a different GPU. It’s all hard baked into the design, and what that means is that it’s very important to consider your needs around matters like RAM when you’re buying your new Apple Silicon because there’s no way to add extras to the existing silicon system inside every new Mac. 

That doesn’t apply if you’re buying a much older Intel-based Mac to varying degrees depending on the precise model, but those systems are getting quite old now, and we’d only advise picking them up at real garage sale style prices.

Pricing: From $999

What is it? A small desktop computer

The current generation of Apple Mac Mini runs on Apple’s 2024 M4 Apple Silicon processors, and the 2024 models have seen some of the biggest changes in what the Mac Mini is for some generations. That’s largely to do with a new design that’s smaller than prior Mac Minis, while also offering a lot more flexibility in placement, thanks to the incorporation of dual USB-C ports and a headphone jack at the “front” of the Mac Mini. It’s a square, so technically any side could be the front, but the point here is what while prior generations only had ports at the “back”, you’ve now got a lot more flexibility in placement terms.

The entry level models, starting at $999 feature Apple’s M4 processors and a 10-core CPU/GPU arrangement. This is Apple’s cheapest Mac, but you’ll have to provide your own keyboard, mouse and monitor to at least set it up; depending on your needs it can run “headless” from there. The entry level models feature Thunderbolt 4 ports at the rear, up to 32GB of RAM – with 16GB as the default – and either 1TB or 2TB of integrated storage.

Then there’s the Mac Mini Models with M4 Pro processors. These are considerably more capable machines at a processing level, but you do pay for that power, with pricing starting at $2,199. That gets you a 12-Core CPU/16-Core GPU with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD as the baseline, but you can bump those specifications all the way up to a 14 Core CPU/16-Core GPU, 64GB of RAM, 8TB SSD and 10Gbit Ethernet. That will set you back quite a bit more, however -- $7149 to be precise, or the cost of 7 entry level Mac Minis with $156 change to spare.

Pricing: From $1999

What is it? All-in-one desktop computer

The recently refreshed Apple iMac hasn’t quite seen the same design reinvention as the tiny Mac Mini, but this is still a highly stylish desktop option that’s primarily pitched at anyone who wants an all-in-one approach. It’s the only Mac you can buy with its own integrated screen but no integrated keyboard, because it’s not a laptop. Instead, it's essentially a screen with the computer parts built into that display. 

All of the iMac’s ports are located around the back of the screen, which maybe isn’t great if you do swap out drives and cables constantly, but equally could have some appeal if you want a clutter-free look to your desktop computing.

The iMac has a long history as Apple’s “colourful” computer. Fun fact: The first iMacs were “Bondi Blue” coloured, named for Sydney’s iconic beach, though Apple doesn’t go in for quite such fancy colour names any more. Still, with 7 different colours to choose from – Blue, Purple, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Green or Silver – you’ve got more scope for some fun choices than any other Mac you can buy.

Where the Mac Mini gives you options around M4 or M4 Pro processors, the iMac is only available with the straight M4 processor on board, though there is a slight cores difference between the entry level model which features a 8-core CPU/GPU mix and every other configuration which runs with a 10-core CPU/GPU arrangement instead. 

All versions ship with 16GB of RAM as standard (expandable up to 24GB or 32GB) while storage comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB as needed. Another slight catch there for the entry level 8-Core iMac is that you can’t get it with a 2TB drive; that’s an exclusive for the 10-core models only.

Pricing: From $3299

What is it? Small(ish) desktop computer

The Mac Studio looks rather like Apple took the Mac Mini and super-sized it – and honestly, that’s probably kind of true. It’s a larger but still identifiably Apple design that offers up a lot more ports than the Mac Mini does, including an SD card reader at the front and both USB-C and USB-A ports at the rear along with Apple’s M2 Max or M2 Ultra processors underneath their shiny metal hoods.

The simple truth here is that Apple hasn’t upgraded the Mac Studio line for a couple of processor generations here, and that means that while it was an absolute Pro-level beast when it launched, some models of Mac are pretty close if not beating it in performance terms for less money.

The advantage that the Mac Studio has will primarily come around whether you’ve got a Pro-grade workflow that needs all those extra ports but especially all the additional GPU cores that it’s possible to configure a Mac Studio with. A fully specced out Mac Studio ships with a hefty 76-core GPU configuration and up to 192GB of unified memory. Want 8TB of storage with that for all that high-end video rendering you’re going to do? All yours for $13,799.

That’s the biggest issue with the Mac Studio, because it’s always been a Pro-grade tool, but a lot of what it’s doing is being matched in some respects by the much cheaper M4 Pro Mac Minis. 

Pricing: From $11999

What is it? Desktop computer

The Mac Pro, as its name suggests, is Apple’s premier pitch towards creative professionals – or at least, that’s the idea here. It’s Apple’s last true “desktop” style computer, coming in a case design that always gets compared to a cheese grater – because it looks like a massive cheese grater – and it’s notable as being Apple’s most internally upgradeable Mac. You’re still talking Apple Silicon at its beating heart and, in the case of the Mac Pro at the time of writing  an Apple M2 Ultra chip.

Like the Mac Studio, Apple’s taken its sweet time providing upgraded models of the Mac Pro, though that does match with the history of how it’s produced Mac Pro variants over time.They’re nearly always the last to see new processor generations, and the smart money (and rumours) suggest that when the next Mac Pro upgrade comes down from on high – or in this case, from Cupertino, where Apple is headquartered – it’ll ship with an M4 Ultra chip.

Until that time, the M2 Ultra is where it’s at, with either a 24-core CPU/60-core GPU or 24-core CPU/76-core GPU arrangement, paired up with 64GB, 128GB or 192GB of unified memory. On the storage side, you’re starting at 1TB (this is a Pro machine) all the way up to 8TB. All of this is integrated, because this is an Apple Silicon machine (as we explained in the introduction).

What you can do with a Mac Pro that doesn’t exist for any other Mac is use MacOS compliant PCIe cards for expansion purposes. There are some limitations around what’s actually supported by MacOS in this regard though. It really is one of those situations where if you know what you need and you’ve been using it already, you’re probably quite au fait with all of this.

The Mac Pro is not cheap in any sense of the word – even more expensive if you want its rack mount variant – and like the Mac Studio, it’s total overkill for everyday work. Also like the Mac Studio, it’s somewhat expected that we might see a new model in early to mid-2025.

Pricing: From $1599

What is it? Thin and light laptop

Apple’s MacBook Air started life as purely a thin and light laptop – at the time, the world’s thinnest – back in 2018, pitched almost entirely at mobile workers who wanted moderate power but particularly a thin design above all else.

Over the years, however, the purpose of the MacBook Air has changed, and it’s now effectively Apple’s “entry level” laptop that just happens to be rather thin in design terms. At the time of writing, Apple offers the MacBook Air with either an M2 processor (13 inch screen only) or with the M3 processor with either a 13 inch or 15 inch display. You don’t quite get the full blush of colour of an iMac, but you do get four colour choices – Midnight, Starlight, Space Grey or Silver – across either the M2 or M3 models.

One catch with the MacBook Air – largely it’s suspected because it hasn’t yet shifted to having an M4 offering – is that the baseline for RAM across all models is just 8GB. If there’s one upgrade it’s worth paying for on a MacBook Air, it’s the jump up to 16GB of RAM without a shadow of a doubt.

While Apple hasn’t let the MacBook Air lie still for as long as the Mac Studio or Mac Pro lines – it sells a lot of MacBook Air models simply on the basis that it’s the company’s cheapest laptop – it’s still expected that we’ll see an M4 variant emerge in early to mid 2025. At that point, Apple will all but certainly stop selling the M2 version, replacing it with the M3 model as the “entry level” laptop choice.

Pricing: From $2499

What is it? Pro-grade laptop

Apple’s MacBook Pro line ships with either a 14 inch or 16 inch display, and it’s got the widest array of Apple Silicon processors under the hood of any Mac right now. The baseline is for an M4 Processor, but there’s also options for a higher spec M4 Pro and then an M4 Max variant as well.

It’s mostly a question of processor and GPU cores, with the M4 topping out at a 10/10 core arrangement where the M4 Pro can step up to 14/20 and the M4 Max takes that up to a 16/40 arrangement for a lot of portable processing power on the go.

If you want the higher speeds of Thunderbolt 5 interfaces, you’ll also only find them on the M4 Pro and M4 Max equipped MacBook Pro models. While 16GB is the new normal for any M4 Mac, it tops out at 32GB for the regular M4, 64GB for the M4 Pro and 128GB for the M4 Max.

All of this predicated on your professional workflow needs, and of course your budget. MacBook Pro pricing might start at $2,499, but that’s for a baseline M4 model with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. Want a fully kitted out MacBook Pro 16 Inch with Nano-texture display, 128GB RAM and an 8TB SSD? Apple will be happy to take your money – all $11,529 of it.