Which MacBook Should I Buy In 2019?

Apple's new lineup of MacBooks simplifies your choices by removing the 12-inch MacBook and older MacBook Pro models. But you still have 8 base models of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. Which one is the right one for you. But looking closely at the specifications and purchase options, there is really one one MacBook Air model and two 13-inch and two 15-inch models. For most people, it comes down to a low-end but light MacBook Air, a mid-range MacBook Pro 13-inch and a high end MacBook Pro 15-inch. Find out which models you should consider to match how you use your MacBook.

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Video Transcript: Hi, this is Gary with MacMost.com.  Apple just came out with a whole new lineup of MacBooks. So which one is the right one for you?
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So let's start by looking at the MacBook Air. There's really only one model here. The website shows two. One has a 128GB drive. The other a 256GB drive. But they're really the same model. The same processor. The same graphic. The same everything else except the size of the hard drive. As a matter of fact you can choose the lower one and then choose any of the hard drive options. So there's only really one model to choose from which makes it easy. You've got, pretty much, your base level MacBook. It's going to be the lightest model for sure and it's going to be the least expensive. So it makes it easy to choose this if you're not going to be using your Mac for anything that requires a lot of processor power or graphics power. So in other words if you're not going to be doing video editing. If you're not going to be doing editing of large photos. I'm not talking about adjustments in Photos. I'm talking about like using PhotoShop. If you're not going to be playing games. If you're not going to be doing anything that's really going to tax the processor then this is a good choice. It's great for students. It's great if your main thing is writing, surfing the web, communicating email, FaceTime, consuming video, so in other words watching video or listening to music but not making videos or making music.
So the one thing to know here is the cheap model has a 128GB hard drive. I don't think this is really good for anybody. After helping people with their Macs for decades I've never heard anybody say they wished they'd saved some money and gotten a Mac with a smaller hard drive. But all the time I hear people saying they wished they'd gotten a larger hard drive.  A 128GB is almost too small for anybody. You're not going to be able to do much except have the default apps installed, a regular number of photos, and a few videos, and things like that. Anytime you install something, like if you're a developer and you install Xcode that's ten gigs right there. Installing Adobe app's a few gigs. Using a music app like GarageBand or Logic is going to fill your drive with tons of music samples. So I recommend 256GB minimum. So the $1299 model is really is the base model here for a Mac.
Next we've got the 13 inch MacBook Pro. Now there are basically only two models here although Apple shows three. The first two are basically the same thing with the larger hard drive on the middle one here. The last one is a major update with a lot more graphics power, processor power, and 4 USBC ports instead of only two. What I said before about 128GB hard drive is even more important now if you're getting a MacBook Pro. Really 256GB is the minimum you should be shooting for. Then you're only at a $300 difference between the one with the 1.4GHz processor and 2.4GHz processor. It's a pretty major upgrade and you get faster graphic's chips and two extra ports as well. So the more powerful one at a $1799 seems to be the winner here. It makes for a good mid range MacBook.
Another advantage you're going to get with a 13 inch MacBook Pro is with the graphics power it's going to be able to handle an external monitor better than a MacBook Air. They can both handle an external monitor if that's your plans but if you're going to be using your MacBook that way you probably want the faster graphic chips in the MacBook Pro to run that external monitor. 
Now if you're thinking of the MacBook Air because of its size and weight note that there's not that much of a difference between the size and weight of a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro 13 inch. As a matter of fact if you look at it it's only a little of a quarter pound weight difference and two dimensions are exactly the same between these. Thickness is the only real difference and you can see the maximum thickness really is the same except the MacBook Pro is that thickness throughout the entire body whereas a MacBook Air tapers down to the front. So it's quite a bit thinner. Now I should say that the MacBook Air feels a lot thinner and lighter than the MacBook Pro even though it really isn't. I still consider this to be a factor. The main thing for being able to carry it around easily the MacBook Air still has a clear advantage here.
Now 15 inch MacBook Pro has a huge difference over the other models.  It has a dedicated graphics processing unit. So a real GPU. So this is the only real choice if you're going to be using it, say, for games and if you're going to be using it everyday for processing graphics, doing video, all sorts of things that use a GPU. Don't discount the larger screen. A 15 inch screen is a big improvement over a 13 inch screen if it's going to be your main display for work that you do everyday. Now the main difference here between the two 15 inch models is you've got an i7 processor in one and an i9 processor in the other. A 6 core versus 8 cores. You also have a more advanced GPU in the second one. In addition the second one starts at a 512GB hard drive. So for only $400 more you get a better processor, a better GPU, and double the hard drive space. That $400 is probably the best bargain in the whole MacBook line. So if you're a Pro user and this is going to be your main Mac then the top model, the 8 core i9, is the clear winner here. 
For me what it comes down to is that there are only three models that you need to consider when buying a new MacBook. One is the low end MacBook Air. For $1299 you get a decent machine that could be your second Mac or the primary Mac for students and anybody not needing graphics power. Then at the high end you've got the i9 MacBook Pro 15 inch. Has lots of power. Has the graphic's chips you need to play games and to do graphics. It really can be a primary Mac for a professional. Then you have a great mid range choice. It's not really that much heavier or larger than a MacBook Air. At $1799 you get a decent amount of power. You'll be able to do some graphics stuff on it. It's not going to be as powerful as the high end, of course, but it still will be a decent Mac and a good choice if you're on a budget and you can't go to the high end.
So that leaves us with upgrades. There are a bunch of upgrades you can do. Processor, Memory, and Storage. I'd say the highest priority is usually storage. People always underestimate how much storage that they will need. So think seriously about going up to the next level. Memory, 8GB on the 13 inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are fine for most users. The importance of memory isn't the same as it used to be. Apps are super efficient nowadays and for most users 8GB is actually enough. But if you're doing lots of graphics. If you're doing development work and video editing, things like that, then you may want to consider an update here as well as to the processor. But I don't know if I'd update anything on the 13 inch MacBook Pro because I think what you're better off doing is going to the 15 inch. If you really need power and really need memory then you should be considering the 15 inch, not the 13 inch. The 15 inch comes with 16GB of memory already so you are already pretty good there. You also have options for updated graphic's cards here and also updated storage up to 4TB. If you really need all that power and you're considering upgrades you probably should start with the 15 inch right from the get go.
So I hope I've helped your decision making here by focusing on these three main models of MacBook. Your low, medium, and high end MacBook models in the second half of 2019.

Comments: 13 Responses to “Which MacBook Should I Buy In 2019?”

Philbrook F Sargent

5 years ago

This was a great discussion on choosing a MacBook for the general user. I was hoping for a suggestion for replacing an older iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) which can no longer be updated. I do all my household bookkeeping using Quicken which has a 18 Gb file size. I also use Dreamweaver CS4 which will be needing an update to run on a 64 bit machine. Thanks

Jim Welch

Hi Gary-

Thanks so much for this info. I do not do a lot of video editing, but anticipate doing more. So the 15” makes sense.

On a personal note, yesterday my backpack got ripped off with 2 MacBooks in it. Definitely a bad hair day. So your video timing was perfect.

Dean Kutzler

Thanks, Gary! This was TOTALLY helpful in my decision. I'm taking your advice.

Dan Bajuk

Hi Gary. I’m considering an upgrade from a late 2013 13” MacBook Pro with 512gb SSD and 16gb memory to a 15” MacBook Pro with 1tb SSD. I’m not sure if I should upgrade the memory to 32gb. I typically run Parallels for MS Project at the same time with various Office 365 apps on the OSX side. MSProject sometimes hesitates especially while sharing on telecoms. Would 32gb memory be a good decision to improve performance.

William

Thanks for this. Any advice about updating iMacs?

Gary Rosenzweig

Dan: Hard for me to say as I don't use MS Project+Parallels. Can you look and see how much memory Parallels is using at those times to see if it is really taxing things?

William: No new iMacs recently, but some of the same ideas about GPU, storage and memory apply here. It all depends on your needs and budget.

Gary, many thanks for the quick succinct answer.

Karen

Thanks for this very good information. I have a 13" Macbook Air, early 2015 model and it has flash storage. I am by no means an expert on Mac's, but I was wondering if this is available on the Macbook Air you showed in your video (price point was $1,299 in your video). Thanks!

Karen: All MacBooks come with an SSD (solid state drive) which is technically the same as Flash storage, but very fast and high quality. They have for a long time now.

Dave H

I'm so disappointed with my 23" 2015 iMac - intemitent crashes and losing bluetooth keyboard and touchpad connectivity. All tests out OK but still it slows and crashes- extremely frustrating. My 2012 Macbook Pro (similar spec)is a vastly superior machine that does everything the iMac does with more speed and reliability.Mac quality is not what it was and I am thinking to go to Windows. Macbook Pro may be an alternative - is it upgradeable and serviceable after purchase? I edit RAW images.

Dave: Have you taken your iMac to the Genius Bar to have these problems fixed? Some of them could be due to software you have installed. You'll need to define "Upgradeable and serviceable" with specifics. But the information for each model is easy found if you search. Best to get what you need when you purchase.

Sandy Kobrock

Thanks, Gary. Very helpful!

Comments Closed.

Which MacBook Should I Buy In 2019?

Comments: 13 Responses to “Which MacBook Should I Buy In 2019?”

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