10 Best MacBooks of 2026

The 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 is the Mac we would point most buyers to in November 2026. Apple's spec page lists a 10-core CPU with 4 super cores and 6 efficiency cores, an 8-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, 16GB of unified memory and a 512GB SSD in the base model, which is double the starting storage of the previous generation. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display runs at 2560 by 1664 and 500 nits, and Apple rates the battery at up to 18 hours of video streaming. It has no fan, weighs 2.7 pounds and adds Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, a 12MP Center Stage camera and Touch ID. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports drive up to two external displays. The trade-offs: there is no HDMI port or SD slot, the display has no ProMotion, and Apple's US store now lists it from $1,299. We compared documented features and published prices only.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 went on sale on November 6, 2026, and it is the cheapest way into Apple's Pro line. Apple's newsroom lists a 12-core CPU, a 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in each core and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, and claims up to 30% faster graphics and up to 25% faster AI workloads than M5. The base model has 16GB of unified memory, configurable to 32GB, and a 1TB SSD. The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display reaches 1000 nits sustained and 1600 nits peak for HDR with ProMotion up to 120Hz, and Apple rates battery life at up to 24 hours of video streaming. Ports include three Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, an SDXC slot and MagSafe 3, with support for two external displays. Limits: 32GB is the memory ceiling, and the ports are Thunderbolt 4 rather than Thunderbolt 5. We compared documented features and published prices only.

Apple's own refurbished store listed the 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 in sky blue at $1,099 on November 14, 2026, against a was-price of $1,299, a saving of $200. The configuration matches the new base model: an M5 chip with a 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory, a 512GB SSD, a Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and two Thunderbolt 4 ports plus MagSafe 3. Apple says each refurbished unit goes through a refurbishment process before sale and is covered by its one-year limited warranty and 14-day returns policy, and AppleCare can be added. In the box you get the 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max and a 2 m USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable. The catch is availability: Apple notes that supplies are limited, so the color or configuration you want may not be listed on a given day. We compared documented features and published prices only.

For buyers who want MacBook Pro hardware below $2,000, Apple's refurbished store had the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 in silver at $1,609 on November 14, 2026, down from a was-price of $1,899. Apple's listing shows a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory, a 1TB SSD, a 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and Touch ID. Ports match the new M6 model: three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, an SDXC card slot, a headphone jack and MagSafe 3, and Apple quotes up to 24 hours of battery life. It ships with a 70W USB-C adapter and a 2 m MagSafe 3 cable. The trade-off is age: this model was originally released in October 2025, and Apple says the M6 that replaced it delivers up to 30% faster graphics and up to 1.3x faster Xcode builds. Refurbished stock is limited. We compared documented features and published prices only.

The 15-inch MacBook Air with M5 is the pick for people who want more screen but not the weight or price of a 16-inch MacBook Pro. Apple's spec page lists a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display at 2880 by 1864 and 500 nits, a six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, and a weight of 3.3 pounds, which is 1.4 pounds less than the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro. The base configuration in Apple's store uses the M5 with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, two more GPU cores than the entry 13-inch model, and Apple rates battery life at up to 18 hours of video streaming. Like the 13-inch, it is fanless, has two Thunderbolt 4 ports plus MagSafe 3 and drives two external displays. The limits are the same too: no HDMI, no SD slot and no ProMotion display. At $1,499 it costs $200 more than the 13-inch at check. We compared documented features and published prices only.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, on sale since November 6, 2026, is Apple's most advanced laptop screen. Apple's spec page lists a 14.2-inch tandem OLED panel at 3024 by 1986 with a 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio, up to 1000 nits sustained and 2000 nits peak for both HDR and SDR content, ProMotion from 10Hz to 120Hz, P3 plus Adobe RGB color, an antireflective coating, Dynamic Island and Multi-Touch support. The base M5 Pro has a 15-core CPU and 16-core GPU with 24GB of memory and a 1TB SSD, and there are three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, SDXC and MagSafe 3. Apple says the 14-inch model now weighs 3.0 pounds, half a pound less than before. Downsides: Apple rates battery at up to 22 hours of video streaming against 24 hours on the M6 model, and the $2,899 start is $900 above the M6 MacBook Pro. We compared documented features and published prices only.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display takes everything in the 14-inch model and stretches it to a 16.3-inch tandem OLED panel at 3472 by 2266. Apple lists the same 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio, up to 2000 nits peak for HDR and SDR content, P3 plus Adobe RGB color, ProMotion from 10Hz to 120Hz and Multi-Touch with Dynamic Island. The base chip is an M5 Pro with an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, 24GB of memory and a 1TB SSD. Its 100 watt-hour battery is rated at up to 24 hours of video streaming, and Apple says the 16-inch now weighs 4.0 pounds, 0.7 pounds lighter than before. There are three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, SDXC and MagSafe 3. The case against it is price: $3,399 to start, $400 more than the 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR model with the same chip, and fast charging needs a 140W or higher adapter. We compared documented features and published prices only.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro stays in Apple's lineup next to the new PROLED models and costs $400 less with the same base chip. Apple's spec page lists an M5 Pro with an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, 24GB of unified memory configurable to 64GB, and a 1TB SSD. The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display reaches 1000 nits sustained and 1600 nits peak for HDR with ProMotion up to 120Hz and a nano-texture option. Battery is a 100 watt-hour unit rated at up to 24 hours of video streaming. Ports include three Thunderbolt 5 at up to 120Gb/s, HDMI, SDXC and MagSafe 3, and M5 Pro supports up to three external displays. The weak points are weight, at 4.7 pounds versus 4.0 pounds for the 16-inch PROLED model, and a mini-LED panel with one tenth of the PROLED contrast ratio and no touch input. We compared documented features and published prices only.

The cheapest MacBook on Apple's US store on November 14, 2026 was a refurbished MacBook Neo at $599, in citrus and indigo, with Touch ID versions in silver, citrus and indigo at $679. Apple's product page lists the A18 Pro chip, a 16-core Neural Engine, 8GB of unified memory, a 256GB SSD, a 13-inch Liquid Retina display at 2408 by 1506 with up to 500 nits, and two USB-C ports plus a headphone jack with support for one external display. Apple rates battery life at up to 16 hours. Refurbished units are covered by Apple's one-year limited warranty and 14-day returns policy, can take AppleCare, and ship with the 20W USB-C Power Adapter and a 1.5 m charge cable. The limits are those of the Neo itself, with 8GB of memory and a USB 2 second port, plus refurbished supply that Apple describes as limited. We compared documented features and published prices only.

MacBook Neo, launched in March 2026, is Apple's entry laptop and runs on the A18 Pro, a phone-class chip with a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. Apple's spec page lists 8GB of unified memory, 256GB or 512GB of storage and a 13.0-inch Liquid Retina display at 2408 by 1506 and 500 nits. Battery is rated at up to 16 hours of video streaming, and it weighs 2.7 pounds. The compromises show in the details: one USB-C port runs at USB 3 speeds and the other at USB 2, it drives a single external display up to 4K at 60Hz, the camera is 1080p, wireless is Wi-Fi 6E, and Touch ID is only on the higher model. Apple announced it at $599 in March, but the US store listed it from $699 on November 14, 2026, and Apple's refurbished store had it at $599. We compared documented features and published prices only.