Mac App Store is the simplest way to find and download apps for your Mac. To download apps from the Mac App Store, you need a Mac with OS X 10.6.6 or later. MacBook Pro 13 (2020) A solid MacBook with a Magic Keyboard. You don't need to buy a 16-inch MacBook Pro to get your hands on the Touch Bar – there is also a 13-inch model that packs in great.
Apple laptops aren't cheap, so it's important that you consider your MacBook options carefully before parting with your cash.
We take a look at the key differences between the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro ranges, so you can be confident that you're buying the right Mac for you.
See also:See all of our best laptops| Answer three questions to find the best laptop for you|Best Windows 10 laptops|Best laptops for students
Which MacBook should I buy?
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020)
If you've got a big budget, you might have your eyes on a MacBook Pro. These are the most expensive Apple laptops around, and the latest model has a unique Touch Bar. This feature lives right above the keyboard, and it's a mini touchscreen that will display changing information, depending on what you're doing. If you're editing home videos in Final Cut, for example, the Touch Bar will turn into a mini timeline that lets you quickly navigate through your clips. If you're interested in the top-of-the-range model, see our review of the Apple MacBook Pro 2018 with Touch Bar.
Apple 15-inch MacBook Pro
This Apple is at the very top of the tree in terms of power, size and price. Putting the Pro moniker to good use, this six-core laptop is designed for the most power-hungry tasks such as video editing and computer-aided design. It will surely be overkill for anybody who doesn't do those tasks on a daily basis, though. This model has now been superseded by the 16-inch model, which we have not yet tested.
Apple Macbook Air 2020
This is the latest version of Apple's popular 13-inch laptop, which starts at under £1,000 for a model with an Intel Core i3 processor. We've testded the mid-range Core i5 model. It has a high resolution screen and a very attractive design, although keep in mind that the processor is a slower form of Core i5 than the one you'll find in the MacBook Pro.
Last updated: July 2020
See our full collection of MacBook reviews to see how else these models differ.
Mac vs Windows vs Chromebooks
MacOS, Windows 10 and ChromeOS all have their own strengths and weaknesses. MacOS is buttery smooth and is the go-to operating system for many creative industries, but it also requires you to shell out a huge amount of money on a premium Apple device.
MacBooks run smoothly and can keep viruses at bay, but they aren't cheap.
Windows, meanwhile is available on a huge range of devices from ultra-budget to super-premium and, for many, is still the operating system they know best. But it's not without its downsides: Windows 10 updates are still a major sticking point for many people, and the fact that Windows 10 doesn't run particularly smoothly on very cheap laptops.
That's where ChromeOS comes in. This operating system is little more than a fancy web browser, with web apps that work best when connected to the internet. There's a range of budget devices available, and a few premium options as well. There's no faffing with huge updates and since everything is in a browser, there shouldn't be any problems with programs crashing either.
See how MacOS stacks up against its rivals in ourMac vs Windows and Chromebookadvice guide.
What do I need to know about MacOS?
MacOS (formerly known as Mac OSX) is extra useful for people who own iPads and iPhones, with a host of clever features that lets you share and work on files seamlessly on all your devices. You can also make and receive calls on your computer; no need to reach for the phone any more. There's also the Siri voice assistant that'll let you ask questions, set reminders and issue other commands with just your voice.
The latest version of MacOS is called Catalina, which launched in Autumn 2019. This update added a host of new features, including the ability to run iPad apps on your MacBook, which will be handy for when you start a task on your tablet and then move over to your laptop. It also heavily redesigned several key Mac apps including iTunes, which has been split up into three separate programs for music, films and TV, and podcasts. Reminders, Notes and Photos have been overhauled, and you can now also use your iPad as a second screen for your MacBook. And, as ever, MacOS is arguably the best operating system to choose if you already own an iPhone; things sync and work together more seamlessly than other combinations of phones and laptops.
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While Macs are definitely nice computers to have, not everyone can afford to buy a brand new one. Thankfully, used Macs are usually just as good as new ones, provided they have received proper care. Needless to say, putting the machine through some tests to see if it works well is recommended.
While physical appearance and hardware is where you should start, they are only part of a larger equation when you buy a used Mac. You also should thoroughly check the Mac’s software, especially if it has not been formatted beforehand.
Here is a list of different aspects of the software of a used Mac that you have to double-check before sealing the deal.
Important Note: We have already written about what aspects of the hardware you should check before getting a second-hand Mac.1. Check for Other Users
Once you get your Mac, the first thing you should do is head to the root folder, usually named Macintosh HD (or any other name that the previous user might have given that folder) and there, check for other users under the Users folder.
If you find other users, simply head to the Mac’s Preferences and delete them from there.
2. Check for No Previous iCloud Credentials
With how ubiquitous iCloud has become among Apple users, now everyone who has an Apple device also uses an iCloud account.
Furthermore, due to the security features implemented by Apple, having a device linked to an iCloud account severely locks that device’s functionality if a previous user hasn’t signed out of iCloud before selling or giving away their device.
To check this on your secondhand Mac, head to Preferences > iCloud and see if the previous owner is still signed into their account.
3. Look for Forgotten Content
You would be surprised at how many Mac users take all the necessary measures to secure their Mac before selling it and yet forget to delete information in the most basic locations, such as the Notes or Reminders apps.
Other places to look into are mainly Apple’s default applications, like Pages, Numbers or Contacts, as well as the system’s default folders, like the Documents folder for example.
Another important folder to look into is the Applications folder, where previous users sometimes leave apps for which only they have a license.
4. Look into ‘Database’ Apps
Apple is known for constantly trying to remove file management from users, doing so in some of their most important apps, like Photos for example. These apps group files into a single Library file, which in turn takes a lot of space on the hard drive.
The main apps you should look for are iPhoto or Photos and iMovie, which place their libraries in the Pictures and Movies folders respectively.
Important Note: You can easily check for detailed information on the space of your Mac’s hard drive using great apps like Daisy Disk, which we reviewed here.5. Secure Sensitive Information
There is an app on the Mac that stores a ton of very sensitive information. It is Keychain Access, which is in charge of keeping user passwords and other credentials safe.
When getting a second-hand Mac, make sure that this utility is empty, since some Mac apps like Safari sometimes use information in Keychain to automatically log in to websites and other services, and you don’t want to be accidentally logged in to a stranger’s account.
Additionally, the previous user might have set up their Mac to share files and folders via the local network. So unless you want to accidentally share some important information, double-check this in the Sharing section within your Mac’s Preferences.
Lastly, FileVault is another very important element of the Mac security-wise. It is used to encrypt the content of your Mac’s hard drive and the previous user might have enabled it and then forgot about it.
Even worse, only the previous user has the password needed to disable it, so make sure you check this in the Security & Privacy section on your Mac’s Preferences panel.
6. Clean Up the Preferences Panel
One last thing you should take care of before getting your Mac is to make sure the Preferences panel is free from additional, third party utilities.
Utilities like these (flash or others) tend to expire from time to time and most likely are deeply linked to other apps on your Mac, so it is better to remove them and start from scratch, installing only the ones you want.
And there you have it. Make sure you go through all of these if you are considering getting a secondhand Mac. It might be a bit of work, but it will pay off in the long run.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Also See
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