Mac Buying Guide 2023: Which Apple Mac is right for me? (Updated)

Note: This feature was first published on 19 June 2023 and was updated on 1 Dec 2023 with new buying recommendations following the launch of Apple’s M3 chip.

Mac Buying Guide 2023

The circle is complete. With the unveiling of the new Mac Pro, the entire Mac lineup now runs on Apple Silicon. And just weeks ago, Apple announced its new M3 family of chips and also updated its 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros. With so many Macs to choose from, it’s easy to see why one might be lost and confused. If you are shopping for a new Mac, this is the guide you need.

Why get a Mac?

The single most compelling reason for getting a Mac is Apple Silicon. It’s impossible to overstate its importance because it utterly transformed the computing landscape. Its combination of performance and efficiency is so far ahead of traditional x86 processors from Intel and AMD that even now, nearly three years on, they are still playing catch up. Unless you are into Windows gaming or have a need to run very specific Windows software, MacBooks should be your choice of notebook. Even the most basic M2 chip is a beast. The speed at which apps launch and the responsiveness of the system, even when it’s heavily taxed, is nothing short of amazing. And yet they are so power efficient that they’ll easily last an entire day. Intel and AMD have made significant improvements recently, but they are still nowhere close to matching Apple in terms of real-world everyday user experience. And that’s why you should get a Mac.

How much is a Mac?

One of the things that’s going to inform your purchasing decision is cost – the other is whether or not you need portability. So let’s talk a look at how much a Mac costs. We are only going to be looking at starting prices here because there are simply too many price points to cover if we are going to include into specific system configurations.

MacBook starting prices

13-inch MacBook Air	15-inch MacBook Air	14-inch MacBook Pro (M3)	14-inch MacBook Pro (M3 Pro, M3 Max)	16-inch MacBook Pro
From S$1,599	From S$1,899	From S$2,299	From S$2,899	From S$3,599

Mac starting prices

Mac Mini	24-inch iMac	Mac Studio	Mac Pro
From S$849	From S$1,899	From S$2,999	From S$9,999

One thing to note about the prices of Macs is that memory and storage upgrades are going to jack up the overall price of the system real quick. Every extra 8GB of memory is going to cost around S$300 while every 512GB of storage is an additional S$300 too. With that in mind, let’s talk about memory and storage considerations.

Memory and storage considerations 

One thing that’s going to heavily impact the price of your system is memory and storage, particularly if you are adding them on as part of a custom order. Another thing to note is that because of how tightly integrated Apple Silicon is, there’s no way to upgrade memory and storage. So you have to be really certain of how much memory and storage you want when you order your system. 

A common question I often get asked is if 8GB of memory is enough. Because of the unique way Apple Silicon and macOS use and manage memory, 8GB of memory is actually adequate for users who will primarily use their Macs to browse the web, check emails, stream videos, and edit the occasional video. That said, my recommendation is to get your Mac with at least 16GB of memory. This ensures your system is future-proofed for the next couple of years. Furthermore, going up to 16GB of memory is usually a S$300 upgrade, which isn’t terribly costly.

As for storage, I think 256GB is going to be a stretch for most people unless they supplement it with some sort of cloud storage and stream all of their content. 512GB should be a more comfortable figure for most users. That said, if you had to choose between memory and storage upgrades, I’ll prioritise memory. Remember, memory cannot be upgraded but you still have the option of external drives to expand your storage should you require more in the future.

The cheapest way into Apple Silicon: Mac mini

With prices starting at S$849, the absolute most affordable way into an Apple Silicon Mac is the Mac Mini. That aside, it’s also the most compact desktop Mac, which makes it great for anyone with space constraints. And for users who demand more performance, they can order their Mac Minis with the more powerful M2 Pro chip. So really, the Mac Mini is the weapon of choice for just about anyone who doesn’t need portability and is looking for the most cost-effective way to get into Apple Silicon. One thing worth noting is that the cheapest variant only comes with 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD so you’ll likely want to upgrade at least the memory, which will bump its price up its price a bit.

Pros: Value for money, very compact

Cons: Only 8GB memory as standard, M2 variants only have 2 USB-C ports

Read our review of the Mac mini here.

You can find the Mac mini on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the Apple Online Store.

The best MacBook for most people: 13 and 15-inch MacBook Air

For most readers who demand a portable system, the MacBook Air is the one to get. It’s slim, light, has all-day battery life and more than enough power for most people. The lineup also recently received a new addition in the form of the larger 15-inch MacBook Air. This new larger model is an excellent choice for people who prefer a larger screen. And best of all, despite the larger screen, it still remains very thin and relatively light. One thing to note is that all MacBook Air models have fan-less chassis. The upside to this is that they run silently. The downside, however, is that throttling can be an issue if you are running intensive sustained workloads. If you do a lot of gaming, video editing, or anything that requires sustained CPU and GPU performance, you might want to consider the MacBook Pro instead.

Pros: Powerful, portable, battery that lasts all day

Cons: Limited ports, not great for sustained workloads

Read our review of the 15-inch MacBook Air here.

Read our review of the 13-inch MacBook Air here.

You can find the 13 and 15-inch MacBook Air on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the Apple Online Store.

The cheapest “Pro” MacBook: 13-inch MacBook Pro

Apple has finally given the entry-level MacBook Pro the upgrade it deserves. Gone is the dated design and controversial Touch Bar, and in its place, we have the same form factor and design as the 14-inch MacBook Pro. This is now the cheapest MacBook you can buy with active cooling, which is a must-have for folks who run intensive sustained workloads and who intend to play games. It’s also the cheapest MacBook to feature the gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR display. This is a great option for anyone who wants something a little better than a MacBook Air but doesn’t need all of the performance of the pricier 14 or 16-inch MacBook Pros.

Pros: Most affordable MacBook with active cooling and Liquid Retina XDR display

Cons: Only 8GB memory as standard, only supports one external display

Read our review of the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro here.

You can find the 13-inch MacBook Pro on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the Apple Online Store.

For performance on the go: 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro

Apple recently updated the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros with its new M3 family of chips.  and a new Space Black finish. These new chips are measurably faster than their predecessors, and they can also be equipped with up to 128GB of memory. This makes the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros excellent for anyone who needs serious computing performance on the go. The rest of the notebook is unchanged, which is no bad thing given that it’s mostly faultless. The Liquid Retina XDR display is gorgeous, they have a good selection of ports, and, despite their prodigious performance, they also have a very long battery life. Admittedly, they are very pricey, but for professionals, I can think of no matter MacBook than the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros.

Pros: Gorgeous display, breathtaking performance, SD card reader

Cons: Pricey, a little heavy

Read our review of the 16-inch M3 Max MacBook Pro here.

You can find the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the Apple Online Store.

For the cleanest setup: iMac

Folks who are concerned about aesthetics as much as they are about performance and features should look at the iMac. It has a sleek and playful design and is possibly the best-looking all-in-one system I’ve ever seen. Furthermore, it comes in seven colours and can be ordered with colour-matching accessories. The screen is high-quality too – it’s a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display. Apple also recently updated it too, so it has the latest M3 chip, which should deliver more than enough performance for most users. It’s not cheap, but I guess that’s the price to pay if you want to look good.

Pros: Sexy-looking all-in-one system, new M3 chip

Cons: Pricey, limited ports

Read our review of the old M1 iMac here.

You can find the 24-inch iMac on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the Apple Online Store.

For pros only: Mac Studio & Mac Pro

The Mac Studio and Mac Pro are overkill for most people. Powered by Apple’s most powerful chips – the M2 Max and M2 Ultra – these are systems designed for professionals who need the last word in performance. If you don’t find yourself editing streams of 4K or 8K videos, running multiple virtual machines, compiling tons of code, or dealing with massive 3D models and graphics, there’s little need for these systems. Both the Mac Studio and Mac Pro can be equipped with Apple’s flagship M2 Ultra chip. However, the Mac Pro has the benefit of additional PCIe slots that can be useful for professionals who require the use of specific PCIe cards for storage, networking, or audio and video I/O. If you don’t even know what a PCIe card is, you don’t need it. Of course, you could get these systems too if you feel like balling out, but really, these are systems for professionals who have very serious and demanding computing needs.

Pros: Very powerful, very fast

Cons: Very expensive, niche

Read our review of the M2 Ultra Mac Studio here.

Read our coverage of the new Mac Pro and updated Mac Studio here.

You can find the Mac Studio and Mac Pro on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the Apple Online Store.