Which Apple MacBook model is right for you?

The range of laptops Apple, The MacBook, has been getting crowded lately. There are six different models in circulation at the same time - something that the Apple not used to - and it's understandable that one would be confused. And with the presentation of the latest MacBook which is thinner than the Air, but it doesn't have a name, and with a screen that differs from any previous one, we get even more involved.

I guess the marketing directors there at Cupertino to consider reducing the number of models and returning to the company's renowned simplicity and ease of choice. But until they do, we'll untie the Gordian knot for you and show you what's in your best interest and what to avoid.

For immediate avoidance

Below are the MacBook models currently on the market.

• MacBook

• MacBook Air 11΄΄

• MacBook Air 13΄΄

• MacBook Pro 13΄΄

• MacBook Pro retina 13΄΄

• MacBook Pro retina 15΄΄

Anything else you find in stores that doesn't correspond to one of these models is surely forgotten in the store's stock from earlier times and you should be aware that it has been discontinued by Apple, so proceed at your own risk.

From the above list, two models can be immediately removed as models to avoid. These are. Mac book Pro 13΄΄ and the Mac book Air 11΄΄.

The reason is obvious. The Pro 13΄΄ is now an old three-year-old model with "archaic" hardware. The drive is a mechanical "snail" of 5400 rpm, the processor is an old dual-core Core and the screen is considered "ancient" by today's standards with a resolution of 1280Χ800 (like that of the old white MacBook). It's a wonder why the Apple still sells it and at a price that is not considered low for such a machine.

Regarding the Air 11΄΄, the truth is that it was never a great machine - given its price. It's not bad, but it's too small for many users to allow comfortable work with it. It has an "outdated" resolution 1366Χ768 and has a slower hard drive than its bigger brother of 13΄΄. Although it seems like a good deal because it's the "cheap" one in the range, it's much more worth the difference of about 150 euros to get the 13'' which is far superior. If you still want to get something economical, you're better off looking at the used ones. The Air of 11΄΄ is unprofitable.

The races begin

Taking two out of the competition, we enter the "main course". Let's start with the shiny newcomer, the new MacBook.

The new MacBook

It's true that the new Mac book is thinner than the Air, lighter, without fans to hum with Force Touch trackpad and most importantly, newer. But it has its faults.

The first is its processor, the Core M, which, although it is new technology, is for machines without fans and is relatively slow (so as not to raise temperatures). Things get worse in graphics as the built-in Core M, Intel HD 5300, is one of the slowest graphics cards available with this processor. All this makes it the MacBook more like an expensive tablet with a keyboard than a laptop in terms of performance. Then we have the issue of ports. It only has one USB-C for all your work - peripheral connections and charging - and a headphone output. The newest USB-C is indeed a very good port, but you won't find peripherals that support it at the moment (and if you do, they will cost too much).

Sure, it's the ultimate portable machine. But its battery lasts 9 hours while his Air 13΄΄ Holds 12 and the Pro 13΄΄ retina lasts 10. So, even though it's lightweight, it loses in portability to its siblings because of the battery.

See also: This is the new lighter and thinner MacBook in multiple colours

MacBook Pro Retina 15΄΄

Anyone looking for the absolute strongest MacBook will go directly to MacBook Pro 15΄΄ Retina. Quad-core processor, separate AMD Radeon graphics card and memory RAM that reaches the 32 GB.

But the point is that - although it is the strongest of the MacBook - has lagged behind Apple in terms of evolution. The processor is fourth-generation when sixth-generation processors are now available and the AMD Radeon R9 M370X is not the top or one of the top of the range but an older model.

This does not mean that the machine is slow. But it does mean that it is probably getting ready for a total upgrade and probably soon. And given that it hasn't received an upgrade in a while, the newer model will probably have huge differences.

So if you need it immediately, yes it is the best. But if you can wait, then you better do it because you might cry your money.

See also: What is the future of MacBook laptops according to Apple?

And the winner is

We are finally left with two models from the range of laptops Apple: The Air 13΄΄ and the Pro 13΄΄ Retina.

If you can give the money, then the Pro 13΄΄ Retina is your answer. The latest Pro's are so light that one wonders why there are the Air. The Pro 13΄΄ compared to the Air 13΄΄ is only a little fatter and half a kilo heavier. Half a kilo will show up in your hand, but not in a bag.

On the other hand, this extra half-pound hides serious differences in the hardware. Its screen is twice as dense (PPI) as that of the Air, the processor is faster by 1.1GHz and the RAM twice as much at the time of purchase (8 GB instead of 4 GB of Air) and additionally (16 GB instead of the Air's 8). And in terms of graphics it has a faster integrated card Intel HD and even has the Force Touch trackpad which is also present on the new MacBook but not on the Air.

The difference of 320 about euros between the two machines is worth more than that. And beyond that, the Air is now a relatively old system near the end of its life while the Pro is quite new to the production line of Apple and we'll carry it with us for years to come.

This does not mean that the Air is useless. It's worth it for users who don't care about overkill in processing power or its top retina display Pros, but they are interested in the absolute portability of the Air and the 12 hours battery life. And on the other hand, they don't want to pay that extra money for the Pros.

For most people though, and given that a laptop of such quality as the Apple, you take it with the intention of keeping it for several years without needing another one, the MacBook Pro Retina 13΄΄ is the undisputed winner of the competition.

See also: Comparative: Microsoft Surface Book vs Apple MacBook Pro 13

from Elichord