Which Apple Silicon MacBook should you

buy in 2026? Especially since Apple

increased the price for all MacBooks,

some by hundreds of dollars. Well,

myself and my chief Apple technician, or

CAT for short, have bought every single

Apple Silicon MacBook since 2020. And

there are two in particular you might

want to consider, and also a few that

you should probably stay away from. Now,

the single most important thing to do

first is to think about what you're

doing on your MacBook on a day-to-day

basis. This is so important because, you

know, you don't want to buy something

that ends up being underpowered. Uh but

on the flip side, you also don't want to

waste hundreds of dollars on something

that's unnecessary, right? Like buying a

MacBook Pro when maybe the Air or the

Neo would be just fine. I have a really

simple way to figure this out. Just grab

a piece of paper and write down all the

stuff you use your MacBook for. Here's a

list of some popular workflows broken up

into how demanding they are on your

system, either low, medium, or high.

Then draw a pie chart, roughly estimate

what percentage you'll spend on each

workflow, and just color in anything

classed as medium or high. For me, I do

a lot of research and productivity tasks

like web browsing, Google Docs, and

emails, you know, stuff like that. But I

also do more intensive tasks like video

editing and travel photography, and some

design work using Photoshop. So, look at

your pie chart. If the majority of it is

just, you know, fairly simple stuff like

web browsing, Word documents, or emails,

let's start at the entry level and most

affordable option, which is the MacBook

Neo. So, the Neo is the best bang for

buck MacBook you can buy right now. It

is $699

or $599 with a student discount, and

easily handles all of that simple

productivity stuff I mentioned just

before. Now, if your laptop needs are

pretty basic and, you you you have a

limited budget or you just don't want to

spend more, it is a great option. You

know, it has the same excellent build

quality as even the most expensive and

premium MacBooks. Battery life is

decent. I regularly get between 8 to 10

hours on average, and the overall

experience is just good, right? Like

everything from the keyboard, trackpad,

webcam, and speakers. However, once you

start comparing the Neo to the next best

thing, or the MacBook Air, you start to

realize just how many things the Neo is

missing in comparison. Which makes

sense, you know, the Neo is

significantly cheaper than the Air, so

Apple, of course, had to cut out a lot

of stuff. For example, the Air has

MagSafe and faster Thunderbolt ports,

which also means better external monitor

support, slightly larger screen size,

better speakers, Touch ID, a few more

hours of battery life, and also double

the SSD size, going from 256 GB on the

Neo to 512 GB on the Air. And, of

course, double the RAM, going from 8 GB

on the Neo to 16 GB on the Air. Not to

mention, the Air is using the much more

powerful M5 chip versus the A18 Pro used

in the Neo, which is essentially an

iPhone chip. So, if you do some

occasional gaming, or like that more

demanding stuff like compiling code or

using Photoshop, etc., the Air is

noticeably better and more capable. Same

if you tend to do more intense

multitasking, like you know, if you have

a heap of different apps and 30 to 40

browser tabs open at the same time, the

Air is just going to handle this better.

Is all of this worth an extra 600 bucks

over the Neo? Well, I actually made a

whole separate video comparing the two

in depth, so you can just watch that one

down below to decide for yourself. So,

what about the MacBook Air? Well, first

of all, there are two main choices, the

size, so 13 versus 15-in, and the

version, either the M1, M2, M3, M4, or

M5. Now, size choice is pretty easy. The

two biggest differences for the 15-in is

obviously it's more expensive and you

get a bigger screen. Now, I definitely

notice the bigger screen area for

productivity and stuff like Excel. Uh

check out this Excel comparison test I

did to show you the difference. You'll

get a couple more columns and rows on

the 15-in or alternatively side-by-side

windows when multitasking. Um this 13-in

can just feel a little bit cramped for

me personally. I also find some commonly

used corporate apps or websites like

Salesforce, for example, just seem nicer

to use on a slightly larger screen just

because of the way their UI scales. And

I found portability on the larger 15-in

Air is actually quite similar to the

13-in version despite the larger size.

They're both just so thin and

lightweight. As to which version you

should buy, like M2, M4, M5, whatever,

uh I actually had to rewrite this part

of the video after Apple's recent price

increases because of the price of the M5

Air went from $1,099

US dollars to $1,299.

Now, this might seem like a huge

increase, at least at first glance.

However, for that price, remember you

are getting a 512 GB SSD and 16 GB of

RAM. All previous Air base models only

had 256 GB SSDs and up until halfway

through the M3 Air's release, only 8 GB

of RAM. So, to match these previous

versions to the M5 Air, you had to pay

an additional $200 for more storage and

depending on the version, another $200

for 16 GB of RAM. So, often $400 more.

So, technically, the M5 Air, even with

the recent price increase, is still

roughly the same price as previous

versions. Actually, it's cheaper if you

take into account inflation over the

last few years and the skyrocketing

price of computer components. Now, don't

forget you can also regularly find sales

on resellers like Amazon or Best Buy

where this price usually drops by 10 to

15%. I will link the best sale I could

find in the description of this video.

Now, I would definitely still consider a

very lightly used or, you know, brand

new if you can find one M3 or M4 Air.

Ideally with the same RAM and SSD as the

M5 if you can. If you have to make a

sacrifice, get the smaller SSD, but try

to get 16 GB of RAM. I think it's going

to really come in handy over the next

couple of years. But all that being

said, I think the M5 is still really

good value, right? Like you'll also get

all the other miscellaneous good stuff

that comes with a brand new MacBook like

full warranty, uh guaranteed software

support for at least 7 years, etc. If

you want a full breakdown of all the

physical and performance differences

between every single generation of the

MacBook Air, I actually have a separate

video that goes into way more depth.

Seriously, I even break out the thermal

camera to see how hot they get. Uh so, I

will link that video down below. But

spoiler alert, the M5 chip in general

was noticeably more capable than

previous MacBook Airs in certain areas

and workflows. But for most everyday

productivity stuff like multitasking and

web browsing and battery life, etc., the

differences were surprisingly not that

big. Now, on the topic everyday stuff

like web browsing, a lot of people have

asked me if they need an antivirus for

their Mac. Now, my honest answer is that

it's not 100% necessary, right? Like

macOS has some basic built-in security

tools to prevent your Mac from

Mac-specific malware. And if you're

reasonably knowledgeable when it comes

to online security, it may be enough.

However, there are tools out there that

will complement these security tools and

give you an extra level of protection

including filling in some of the gaps

that Apple's tools miss, improved virus

and malware detection, and of course

some other stuff like checking emails so

you don't get fished or scammed. So, if

you are looking to further protect your

Mac, check out Moonlock, a Mac

protection and antivirus app made

specifically for Mac users who care

about their online security. And big

thanks to Moonlock for supporting my

channel and sponsoring this section of

the video. Now, Moonlock allows you to

see an instant overview of your Mac's

protection and will give you

personalized recommendations on how to

improve your defenses like checking

macOS system settings for gaps in

security configurations via the system

protection page. Then there's the

malware scanner that detects not only

active malware but dormant malware that

can hide deep in your system. The

technology powering Moonlock is

something called Moonlock engine which

is a proprietary anti-malware technology

built by a whole team of malware

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10% off. So, now that I've covered the

MacBook Air, do I recommend paying extra

and going for the MacBook Pro instead

even if you maybe don't necessarily need

a more powerful laptop? Well, first of

all, there are technically two MacBook

Pro versions. I know, it's a little bit

confusing. Uh the basic MacBook Pro with

the non-Pro chip, the exact same chip as

the Air, which was $1,699 USD but got a

$300 price increase and is now $1,999.

And then the premium MacBook Pro with a

more powerful chip, either the Pro or

the Max, which was $2,199

USD but is now 2,499.

For now, I'm talking about the basic

1999 version here. So, think of this as

having the same like physical body as

the more expensive premium MacBook Pro,

like the M5 Pro MacBook Pro, but with

the weaker processor of the M5 Air

inside it instead. So, even though the

Pro has the larger chassis and uses a

fan versus the Air's passive cooling

with no fan, there's not really a huge

difference in terms of performance

between the two. What you are getting,

though, is a much better chassis with

more features compared to the Air. So,

better screen with 120 Hz promotion, you

know, the high refresh stuff you get on

the iPhone Pro, more ports, and the

Pro's base model comes with 1 TB of

storage versus 512 GB on the Air. Now,

portability is also a factor, but I

found it's not as significant as some

people make it out to be. For example,

the 13-in Air versus a 14-in Pro, I've

traveled with both literally all around

the world, and sure, you know, the Pro

is a bit heavier and thicker, but the

actual footprint in a backpack or an

airplane tray table, for example, is

very similar to the 13-in. And in a

backpack, you probably won't notice the

0.8 lb or 360 g weight difference,

especially if you've got other stuff in

there. So, I really wouldn't let the

lightweight Air design of the Air

compared to the Pro influence your

decision too much because in actual like

day-to-day usage, I just didn't find it

to be that significant. And the

trade-off is you get all these

incredible features on the Pro that the

Air just does not have. One side note

here is that there definitely is a major

difference between the 14-in and 16-in

MacBook Pros. Now, you can still travel

with the 16-in, but it is noticeably

heavier and less portable. I often have

trouble squeezing it into the laptop

sleeve of certain bags, and it's just

not something you want to use in tight

spaces. I think it's best suited for

those who prefer a larger screen, but

mostly use their laptop at a desk and

maybe travel between home and work

because carting this thing around

airports or college lecture theaters all

day long for example is just not ideal

at least in my own personal experience.

There's also no difference in features

between the 14 and 16-in Pros. You're

just paying more and getting a larger

screen size. So this brings us all the

way up to the premium MacBook Pros

starting at $2,499

and they are all very, very similar.

Physically, the M4 and the M5 Pro

MacBooks compared to the previous

generations only have very minor

upgrades like an updated webcam and

Thunderbolt 5 ports versus Thunderbolt 4

and also a slightly brighter screen that

has that new nano texture option. Now I

personally love nano texture. It was

well worth the upgrade for me because it

significantly cuts down on reflections

and glare. I also didn't find any

noticeable effect on text sharpness.

Text still looks really sharp and

legible, you know, just as good as a

standard glossy MacBook Pro screen even

side by side. Now nano texture can cause

colors to look a little washed out

particularly like dark movie scenes, but

only if there's a lot of ambient light

in the room. If you're in a room and

there's no there's really just

no difference. When it comes to choosing

which specific MacBook Pro version

either the M1, M2, M3, M4, or M5 Pro,

unlike the MacBook Air or the basic

MacBook Pro, the premium MacBook Pro is

for people who do more intensive stuff

on their laptop, right? Like, you know,

video editing, compiling code, 3D

design, etc. Let me just break down the

differences in the chips a bit. Uh here

is a comparison chart showing you the

configuration of the base models.

Notable mention is the increase of the

base model SSD from 512 GB to 1 TB on

the M5 Pro. The M3, M4, and M5 Pro also

have the same media engines for video

rendering and playback, and they also

get the same GPU specific upgrades like

hardware accelerated ray tracing, mesh

shading, and dynamic caching where the

M2 and M1 Pro do not. But, in terms of

what effect these differences have on

real life performance, just like the

MacBook Air for that everyday

multitasking and the basic stuff,

there's no real difference. But, for the

more demanding stuff, it heavily depends

on what exactly you're doing on the

MacBook because for some things there's

a huge difference, others not so much if

any. Comparing all five generations of

the MacBook Pro in specific workflows is

a whole separate video, which I've

already done. So, click on the card here

and I'll also link it below uh so you

can watch that. But, long story short,

even if the M5 Pro is noticeably more

capable in a particular workflow than,

you know, let's say the M4 Pro, uh look

at what Apple just increased the M5

Pro's price to, $2,500.

in 2026, at least at the time of this

video, I have no idea what's going to

happen to the second-hand market after

these big price increases from Apple.

But, right now, you can get a

refurbished M4 Pro for about $1,450 on

eBay or $1,750

from Best Buy. Uh will the M5 Pro give

you almost $1,000 worth of additional

performance over the M4 Pro, which is

almost identical in every way?

Probably not. But, you know, the

warranty and the brand new aspect might

still be worth it though for the M5 Pro.

Now, side note here, if you think you

need a more powerful Max chip instead of

the Pro, chances are you might. There

are significant performance improvements

when going from a Pro to a Max, [music]

but again, it just very heavily depends

on what exactly you're doing. I cannot

stress this enough. Uh and to answer

this question, it is really multiple

separate videos going into depth into

each workflow.

Um so, at this point, I actually

recommend finding creators who

specialize in your particular workflow.

For example, photographers, uh check out

Art is Right's channel, or developers,

Alex Ziskind, because my video is just

too general to go into the amount of

nuanced detail you need to make the

right decision. So, overall, which

MacBook should you buy in 2026,

especially with all of the price

increases Apple recently announced?

Starting with the Neo, I think it's

awesome. Like, it is incredible value

for money, uh especially if your needs

are pretty straightforward. I see a lot

of school or college students buying it.

But, if you have the budget for it, I

would definitely at least consider the

MacBook Air, especially if you can get

the M5 on sale, or if you're willing to

go for a used or refurbished M3 or M4

Air. In the long run, I think you will

appreciate all of the extra features on

the Air, uh like more SSD storage, and

Touch ID, the MagSafe for charging, etc.

Uh yes, the Neo is much cheaper, but

think about the 6 to 8 hours a day,

every day, for the next 5-plus years

you'll be using it. Next is the standard

MacBook Pro at $1999.

Kind of hard to justify at that price

point, I think, versus the MacBook Air,

which is $700 cheaper. Uh you have to be

specifically wanting all the physical

features of the better MacBook Pro

chassis, like the 120 Hz ProMotion or

the extra ports, but also not want the

increased performance of the Pro chip.

Hey, some people love it, but I think

it's more of a niche choice compared to

the Air or the more premium MacBook Pro.

It's kind of in this weird gray area

between the two. And speaking of that

more expensive MacBook Pro, I think it

is tied with the Air for the top shot

for 2026. It just has so much raw

performance for those that do that more

intensive stuff frequently. You know,

amazing screen, great port selection.

It's almost perfect in my opinion. I

will say that that newly increased price

is kind of brutal though. Uh and I think

it is actually enough to strongly

consider an M4 Pro instead. Like you'll

get the exact same features as the M5

Pro,

lose out on some performance, yes, of

course, uh maybe not even a lot

depending on what you use it for, but

you will save a lot of money, up to

roughly like a thousand dollars, which

is a lot in this economy. Now, YouTube

thinks that you might want to watch this

video next. I have no idea what it is.

Hopefully it's one of my own videos and

not some random channel, but hey, give

it a click. I think you'll enjoy it

regardless.