Among the less-publicized features introduced late last year in iOS 18.2 is a massive change to the Mail app. The same experience was added to the iPad in iPadOS 18.4 and the Mac in macOS 15.4. For longtime users of the Mail app, it was a shock to the system and definitely takes some getting used to. But if that hasn’t happened, there’s good news—you can change it back to the old way.
The new Mail app breaks the Inbox into several categories: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. The categories are fairly self-explanatory:
Once you start using iOS 18.2 (or iPadOS 18.4 / macOS 15.4), the new Mail will be on by default and messages will automatically begin routing to their respective categories. Any folders will remain, of course, but your Mail experience is definitely different.
For one, your Mail badge will only show the count for messages in the Primary category, which means dozens of messages could go unread for hours or even days. And since everything is done automatically, some important messages might get routed to the wrong category. However, all time-sensitive messages will appear in the Primary view even if they’ve been routed to other categories.
When you first enable the app, you might see a box asking if you want to use the categories feature or not. It looks like this (Mac on the left, iPhone/iPad right):
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If you don’t trust this new category view or just plain don’t like it, you can change it back to the old way with very little trouble. On an iPhone or iPad, here’s what you do:
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On your Mac with macOS 15.4 or later, getting rid of the new mail categories is a little different:
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Whether on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, these same menus also contain an option to toggle the AI-powered Priority Messages feature. So if you don’t like the little box at the top of your email showing what Apple Intelligence thinks are your most important emails, with a summary of them, you can easily turn that feature off in the same place.
If you’re wondering which Mac to buy, you’ve come to the right place. In our Mac buying guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac Studio, with expert buying advice to help you choose the machine (and configuration) that’s right for you.
Apple makes six different types of Mac: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro, but within each of those categories there are variations in the size, specs, and features, so things can get pretty complicated. That’s where this guide comes in, helping you make the right decision so you can find the Mac that matches your needs, whether its the best value for money, the most powerful, the most portable, or a combination of all those things.
Our top choice of Mac in 2025 is the MacBook Air because it offers a great combination of value for money in a compact package that will appeal to the typical Mac user. However, that may not be the best Mac for you if you need the most powerful Mac, in which case we would recommend the MacBook Pro which brings you all the power you could need in a portable form.
If you don’t need a laptop Mac there are some excellent options in Apple’s desktop range, with the Mac Studio providing the best value for money and saving thousands compared to a similarly specced Mac laptop. If a low budget option is what you are looking for then look no further than the Mac mini, which is the cheapest Mac at just $599/£599.
Below we’ll take you through each Mac currently available from Apple, to give you an overview of what’s on offer and what you’ve got to choose from. We also have additional advice for choosing the best Mac laptop in our MacBook buying guide.
What is it? The 11-inch MacBook Air is Apple’s most affordable laptop, designed with portability in mind.
What’s new?Apple introduced the M4 version of the MacBook Air in March 2025. As well as the M4 chip it features an improved camera, Thunderbolt 4 support, support for 32GB RAM, and a new Sky Blue color.
Who’s it for? If you are always on the go, don’t want to be bogged down by a regular-size laptop, and need a versatile computer that looks good, it’s a great choice at a great price. If you want a larger screen there is a 15-inch MacBook Air, which we discuss below.
How much does the 13-inch MacBook Air (M4) cost?The entry-level 11-inch M4 MacBook Air costs $999/£999, which is great news because in previous years to get the latest chip you had to spend $1,099/£1,099. There are three configurations and you can create build-to-order models with even more memory or storage.
What are the specifications? The specs for the M4 MacBook Air offer an improvement on the previous generation. The MacBook Air now ships with at least 16GB RAM and we recommend avoiding older stock with just 8GB RAM.
What are display specifications?
How do I connect stuff? The M4 MacBook Air models are the first MacBook Air models to support Thunderbolt 4, which means that they can now support a dual monitor set up. If you want to connect USB-A devices, you need either a USB-C to USB adapter, like Apple’s $19 / £19 one, or a USB-C hub that has USB-A ports. See our round-up of the best USB-C hubs and adapters.
The MacBook Air has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) for connecting to a network. It provides built-in Bluetooth (5.3) for wirelessly connecting a mouse or other peripherals. If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you need an adapter.
How fast is it? When we tested the M4 MacBook Air we were impressed by the Geekbench 6.4 results. It was much faster than the M3 MacBook Air and the M4 chip even beats the M3 Pro in some tests as you can see in our Mac processor benchmarks. If you are upgrading from an old Mac – especially if it is one with an Intel chip – you will see a big difference.
Any other considerations?The MacBook Air should be more than fast enough for general-purpose use. The only issue is that, because it doesn’t have a fan, it may slow down during long processing sessions to keep cool. So if you are likely to be video editing or compiling code the MacBook Pro with its fan is a better choice. Also note that (as with almost all Macs) it’s impossible to upgrade the storage or memory after purchase, so you should buy the model with the largest amount of storage and memory you can afford.
Why we recommend the 13-inch MacBook Air: The MacBook Air is a great choice for someone who does general-purpose work and moves around a lot, such as a student or a self-employed person.
We compare the MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro separately.
What is it? The 15-inch MacBook Air is essentially identical to the 13-inch model above aside from the bigger screen and six-speaker system rather than four speakers. Surprisingly, battery life isn’t better on the 15-inch, despite the bigger battery.
What’s new? The M4 MacBook Air arrived in March 2025. Like the 11-inch version it features an improved camera, Thunderbolt 4 support, support for 32GB RAM, and a new Sky Blue color.
Who’s it for? The 15-inch MacBook Air is ideal for anyone who wants a big-screen laptop without having to spend a fortune. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models cost considerably more than the 15-inch MacBook Air does. It’s a great choice for anyone who is always on the go due to its lightweight design.
How much does the 15-inch MacBook Air (M4) cost?With the introduction of the M4, Apple reduced the price of the 15-inch model to $1,199/£1,199 from $1,299/£1,299. There are three configurations and you can create build-to-order models with up to 32GB memory and 2TB storage.
What are the specifications? The specifications of the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air are generally the same as the 13-inch model, expect there is no 8-core GPU option here. You are essentially paying $200/£200 more for the bigger screen.
What are display specifications?
How do I connect stuff? The M4 MacBook Air models support Thunderbolt 4 and can now support a dual monitor set up. For USB-A devices you need a USB-C to USB adapter (Apple sells one for $19 / £19), or a USB-C hub with USB-A ports. See our round-up of the best USB-C hubs and adapters.
There’s a Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) for connecting to a network and Bluetooth 5.3. If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you need an adapter.
How fast is it? This is the same M4 as found in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, so you can expect similar performance. Indeed, in our tests we found the M4 to be faster in some benchmarks than the M3 Pro.
Any other considerations? The Air doesn’t have a fan to keep the computer cool, so it may throttle down its speed during long processing sessions, such as video editing or compiling code. If that’s the kind of work you intend to do, a MacBook Pro would be a better option. Also note that you won’t be able to update RAM or storage later, so get as much as you can afford.
Why we recommend the 15-inch MacBook Air: Starting at $1,199/£1,199, the 15-inch MacBook Air is a much more affordable Mac laptop than the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,599/£1,599, so if you want your screen to be bigger than 13 inches, and you don’t need the power of a MacBook Pro for the kind of work you do, the 15-inch MacBook Air is a great option.
What is it? There are three distinct types of MacBook Pro, the M4 model discussed here, and M4 Pro and M4 Max models we will look at separately. Like it’s more powerful siblings, the M4 MacBook Pro has an HDR ProMotion display, which the MacBook Air lacks. The MacBook Pro offers more ports than the MacBook Air: HDMI and SDXC slots. The 14-inch MacBook Pro offers the best battery life of any Mac laptop.
What’s new? In October 2024 Apple updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip. Aside from a better chip, RAM was increased from 8GB to 16GB (and now supports up to 32GB). There were also camera improvements, slight battery life improvements, and it gained Thunderbolt 4 support.
Who’s it for? The 14-inch MacBook Pro is for a more demanding user than the MacBook Air. Its main benefit is the design allows for better cooling, which means that if you push the machine it won’t slow down to avoid overheating. However, there are other MacBook Pros available from Apple (including a 16-inch model) that offer faster processors, so if you really need a powerful machine one of those might be more suitable–we discuss the M4 Pro and M4 Max models below.
How much does the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) cost? The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,599/£1,599. There’s another model available with twice the storage (1TB) for $200/£200 more.
What are the specifications? The specifications of the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro are similar to those of the M4 MacBook Air.
What are display specifications?
How do I connect stuff? There are three Thunderbolt 4 ports (up from just two on the older model). These are compatible with USB-C (if you have wired devices that aren’t USB-C or are an older version of Thunderbolt, you’ll need an adapter, we have a separate MacBook Pro Thunderbolt adapter guide to help you decide which ones you’ll need). The 14-inch MacBook Pro also comes with an HDMI port for connecting an external display or projector, and an SDXC Card slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices. The HDMI port also supports multichannel audio output. The 14-inch MacBook Pro also has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity.
How fast is it? The M4 MacBook Pro matches the specs of the M4 MacBook Air, but you can expect more out of the MacBook Pro just because it features a fan for cooling (the MacBook Air doesn’t have the space for this). The M4 is an impressive chip, and in our benchmarks it scored better in some tests than the M3 Pro. However, if you need a really powerful Mac you should look to the M4 Pro or even the M4 Max.
Any other considerations? As usual our advice is to max out the RAM (aka Unified Memory) and storage when you buy a Mac because you can’t update it later on. At least Apple no longer sells an 8GB version.
Why we recommend the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4): The 14-inch MacBook Pro costs $1,599/£1,599, which is much more than the 13-inch MacBook Air at $1,099/£1,099. However the $500/£500 difference is misleading: when comparing like for like, the 15-inch MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD costs $200/£200 less than the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the same 16GB memory and 512GB SSD. For that extra $200 you get a machine that is better suited to processor intensive work.
What is it? The 14-inch MacBook Pro can also be configured with an M4 Pro or M4 Max chip, which are much more powerful than the standard chip in the M4 MacBook Pro. The Pro and Max MacBook Pro can support up to 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 128GB memory and 8TB storage, for a seriously fast Mac laptop. There’s a larger 16-inch MacBook Pro with similar specs that we discuss below.
What’s new?The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max was introduced in October 2024. As well as more powerful chips, it brought better battery life, 24GB RAM as standard (up from 18GB), improved camera, and Thunderbolt 5. Battery is up from 18 hours to 22 hours for the M4 Pro (still 18 hours on the M4 Max). A fast charging feature allows the laptop to charge to 50 percent in 30 minutes, but you need to have the proper power adapter to do this.
Who’s it for? When Apple called these “Pro” laptops, they weren’t kidding. If your work is very demanding processing power, these laptops are happy to handle it. Work in pro-level software all the time? Get a 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro. With either the M4 Pro or M4 Max processor, they’re the fastest laptops Apple has ever created. The 14-inch MacBook Pro is cheaper than the 16-inch model, so it’s a more budget-friendly choice, and if you pair it with an exteernal monitor the screen size isn’t important.
How much does the 14-inch MacBook Pro cost?There are three configurations starting at $1,999/£1,999. The ultimate option is the M4 Max version with a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory, and 1TB SSD, which costs $3,199/£3,199.
What are the specifications? Here are the standard configurations for the 14-inch MacBook Pro
What are display specifications?
How do I connect stuff? The 14-inch MacBook Pro has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. There are three Thunderbolt 5/USB C ports, an SDXC slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices, and an HDMI port for connecting an external display or projector (the HDMI port supports multichannel audio output).
How fast is it? Apple built the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with pro users in mind and it shows in the performance. Now that Apple has introduced the M4 Pro and M4 Max you can enjoy the fastest Mac laptops Apple has ever made, although when it comes to graphics prowess the Max will always beat the Pro. So if you need the fastest then you’ll want to upgrade to the M4 Max which beats the M2 Ultra, only the M3 Ultra is faster than the M4 Max.
Any other considerations? Our advice would be that if you are considering the 14-inch MacBook Pro because you need a powerful Mac then, ignore the $1,999/£1,999 model in favor of the $2,399/£2,399 model that has more CPU and GPU cores. If you don’t need 1TB storage, save money by adding the M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, and 20-core GPU as a build-to-order option to the $1,999/£1,999 model for an additional $200/£200, bringing the price to $2,199/£2,199. Also note that for fast charging you need a 96W adapter.
Why we recommend the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro or M4 Max): If you want a laptop that can handle any task you throw at it—and you don’t have a constraining budget—you want a MacBook Pro. The only reason not to buy the 14-inch M4 Pro or M4 Max MacBook Pro would be if you saw a good deal on the M3 Pro/M3 Max version–we’ve been seeing some excellent deals and price cuts on the older models, just remember that there was less RAM in those model (18GB rather than 24GB at the entry-level).
What is it? The 16-inch MacBook Pro offers a similar set of specs and configuration options as the 14-inch MacBook Pro (above), but it has a higher price, a bigger screen, and better battery life (24 hours, up from 22 hours on the predecessor).
What’s new? The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max was introduced in October 2024. Along with more powerful chips, it offers better battery life (up to 24 hours), minimum 24GB RAM (up from 18GB), improved camera, and Thunderbolt 5.
Who’s it for? This is Apple’s largest ‘pro’ laptop and it’s designed for people who need a portable Mac to do work that demands extreme processing power. You could save some money with the 14-inch MacBook Pro, but if you need a big screen on your laptop this is the Mac for you. You’ll also benefit from longer battery life. Configured with the M4 Max this is the fastest and most powerful laptop Apple has ever created.
How much does the 16-inch MacBook Pro cost?There are four standard configurations starting at $2,499/£2,499 for the 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU and 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD. The ultimate option is a $3,999/£3,999 M4 Max with 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48GB RAM and 1TB SSD. You can also add more RAM and up to 8TB SSD.
What are the specifications? Here are the standard configurations for the 16-inch MacBook Pro introduced in 2024.
What are display specifications?
How do I connect stuff? The 16-inch MacBook Pro has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. There are three Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports that are compatible with USB-C. If you have wired devices that aren’t USB-C or are an older version of Thunderbolt, you’ll need an adapter. We have a separate MacBook Pro Thunderbolt adapter guide to help you decide which ones you’ll need. Unfortunately, be prepared to shell out a good amount of extra cash. These laptops also come with an HDMI 2.0 port for connecting an external display or projector, and an SDXC Card slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices. The HDMI port supports multichannel audio output.
How fast is it? The 16-inch MacBook Pro models were built with pro users in mind so you can expect excellent performance. Your software will be able to take full advantage of the CPU’s multiple cores. If you are a professional, you’ll benefit from the M4 Pro. If you want the ultimate Mac, the M4 Max beats the M2 Ultra, only the M3 Ultra in the Mac Studio is faster than the M4 Max.
Any other considerations? Look out for deals and price cuts on the M3 Pro and M3 Max models, but note that there is more RAM in the newer models (24GB up from 18GB for the entry-level M4 Pro).
Why we recommend the 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro or M4 Max):The 16-inch MacBook Pro is a powerful workstation that will meet the needs of the most demanding user.
What is it? The Mac mini was already Apple’s smallest desktop Mac, but 2024’s M4 and M4 Pro models are even smaller following a redesign that means it now measures 5 inches by 5 inches, down from 7.75 inches by 7.75 inches. It offers a nice combination of speed and, at just $599/£599, affordability. It’s more than fast enough for general-purpose use, in fact, its multi-core speed is so good that if you use a professional app like a video editor, 3D software, or developer tools, the Mac mini can handle it, no problem.
What’s new? The Mac mini with M4 and a Mac mini with M4 Pro were introduced in October 2024. Along with the faster processors Apple redesigned the Mac mini, so it’s now even smaller.
Who’s it for? Because of its price and performance, the Mac mini is a great Mac for just about anybody. It makes for an ideal primary Mac for a home or small office. Professionals on a budget will be satisfied with the Mac mini. If you’re switching from a PC, you can use your PC’s keyboard and mouse with the Mac mini. The Mac mini is also ideal as a secondary Mac in your home, and it can integrate into your home entertainment center.
How much does the Mac mini cost? There are three standard configurations starting at $599/£599 for the Mac mini M4. At the top of the range is an M4 Pro Mac mini with a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, and 512GB SSD which costs $1,399/£1,399. The price is about $1,000/£1,000 less for a similarly specced MacBook Pro, although, in each case, the MacBook has a bigger SSD.
What are the specifications? Apple sells three Mac mini models.
The Mac mini does not include a display, keyboard, or mouse, so you’ll have to provide your own, or you can customize your order to include these devices as extra-cost options.
How do I connect stuff? Like Apple’s other Macs, the Mac mini has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The M4-based Mac minis have three Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports, while the M4 Pro-based Mac mini has three Thunderbolt 5 ports. All Mac minis also offer an additional two USB-C ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a headphone jack, and a gigabit ethernet port. They no longer offer USB-A ports. To connect a display, you can use the HDMI port or a Thunderbolt port. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesn’t have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt.
How fast is it? The M4-based Mac minis are very fast, and offer the best performance-to-price ratio of any Mac that Apple offers. The Mac mini with M4 Pro offers the same 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, and 512GB storage that is found in the M4 Pro MacBook Pro for $1,399 rather than $1,999 which represented a huge saving and a great way to get a powerful Mac without spending a fortune.
Any other considerations? The Mac mini, since it doesn’t include a screen, also doesn’t feature a camera, so you will need a separate webcam for conference calls. There is also no microphone integrated.
Why we recommend the Mac mini (M4): The Mac mini is an excellent machine for most Mac users—new or experienced, professional or general consumer. Plus the price is excellent: if you’re on a budget, it’s a great choice, especially if you already have a spare keyboard, mouse, and display.
Read our full
M4 Pro Mac mini review
What is it? The Mac Studio is the perfect compromise, offering the ultimate in power for less money. It’s a desktop Mac that offers the workstation-quality chips of the MacBook Pro for a fraction of the price. All it lacks are the Mac Pro’s expansion options.
What’s new? In 2025 Mac Studio gained an M4 Max and M3 Ultra option. This was a leap from the M2 Max and M2 Ultra in the predecessor. There isn’t a M4 Ultra option (Apple may be reserving this for the Mac Pro).
Who’s it for? The Mac Studio with M4 Max is for the user who wants a lot of processing power in a desktop Mac for a bargain price. It is the cheapest way to get M4 Max chip – the equivalent MacBook Pro costs $3,199/£3,199, albeit with 1TB instead of 512GB storage, while the Mac Studio starts at $1,999/£1,999. That’s a huge $1,200 leap between machines, and even if you spent the extra $200 on storage you’d still have a lot of money left over.
How much does the Mac Studio cost? There are two standard configurations, an M4 Max and M3 Ultra (we’ll look at the Ultra below). Prices start at $1,999/£2,099 for the Mac Studio M4 Max with 32-core GPU and 512GB SSD. There are also build-to-order options for the M4 Max that include a 40-core GPU, up to 128GB Unified Memory, and 8TB SSD.
What are the specifications? The Mac Studio uses either the M4 Max or M3 Ultra processors. The standard configuration for the M4 Max is:
The memory bandwidth of the M4 Max is 546GB/s compared to 400GB/s in the M2 Max model.
How do I connect stuff? The M4 Max Mac Studio has the following ports:
The Mac Studio does not include a display, keyboard, or mouse, so you’ll have to provide your own, or you can customize your order to include these devices as extra-cost options. To connect to a network, you can use the built-in ethernet port, or you can use Wi-Fi, which comes standard. To connect a display, you can use the HDMI 2.0 port or a Thunderbolt port. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesn’t have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt. You can connect up to eight 4K displays, eight 6K displays or four 8K displays thanks to Thunderbolt 5 on the 2025 model.
How fast is it? The M4 Max is a fast chip and the Mac Studio with M4 Max is a powerful Mac at a very competitive price point. If you want something even faster you need to look to the Mac Studio with M3 Ultra (below).
Any other considerations? The main disadvantage is that the Mac Studio relies on external connections for expandability. If you want a pro-level Mac with the ability to swap expansion cards you should look at Apple silicon-based Mac Pro below.
Why we recommend the Mac Studio (M4 Max): The Mac Studio is ideal for users who use processor- and graphics-intensive apps, such as media production, software development, graphics software, and more. If you find yourself spending a lot of time watching progress bars while you work, you’ll benefit from the power of the Mac Studio. Read: Why Mac professionals should switch to a Mac Studio. The Mac Studio is the perfect compromise, offering the ultimate in power for less money. It’s a desktop Mac that offers the workstation-quality chips of the MacBook Pro for a fraction of the price. It’s more powerful (and more expensive) than the Mac mini, but lacks the Mac Pro’s expansion options.
What is it? The iMac is what Apple is famous for, although the current design is as far removed from the original as you. can get. It’s the Mac to have in a living room or an office reception – somewhere you can show it off.
What’s new? In October 2024 Apple introduced the M4 version of the 24-inch iMac. Little has changed since the redesign of 2021, which represented the first major update in more than a decade, with a cleaner design and a choice of seven bright colors (slightly lighter shades for 2024).
Who’s it for? The iMac is great for both novices and demanding users. It can handle general-purpose and heavy-duty tasks equally well, although those after a replacement for a 27-inch IMac or iMac Pro might want to wait to see if the rumored iMac Pro ever materializes, or settle for a Mac mini Pro (above) or Mac Studio (below). It’s ideal for someone who needs to buy a complete computer setup (keyboard, mouse or trackpad, and display) and wants to maximize workspace efficiency. The 24-inch iMac is a design icon that will look great in any office.
How much does the iMac cost? When the M4 iMac Apple dropped prices outside the U.S. The three standard configurations start at $1,299/£1,299 for the entry-level model, $1,499/£1,499 for the mid-range, and $1,699/£1,699 for the top of the range.
What are the specifications? The 24-inch iMac uses Apple’s M4 chip, the same M4 that features in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, but in each case, there is half the storage and the price is $100 less. There are several configurations available as well as build-to-order options:
What are the display specifications? The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display has 11.3 million pixels and supports the P3 wide color gamut, over a billion colors, 500 nits of brightness, and True Tone. Apple treats the display with an anti-reflective coating to help with readability. The display hasn’t changed since the M1 model launched.
How do I connect stuff? The $1,299 24-inch iMac 24 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports that also work with USB-C devices. The $1,499 and $1,699 iMacs have four Thunderbolt 4 ports (the previous generation had two Thunderbolt/USB 4 and two USB 3 ports). If you have a USB-A device, you need to buy an adapter, such as Apple’s ($19 / £19). If you have multiple USB-A devices and other items, consider a Thunderbolt hub. The 24-inch iMac also has a headphone jack on the side.
Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are built-in. Apple doesn’t put a gigabit ethernet port on the 24-inch iMac—instead, it’s on the power adapter. But that ethernet-equipped power adapter comes standard with the $1,499 and $1,699 models. It’s not included with the $1,299 model, but you can select it as an option at the point of purchase—and yes, that means you’ll have to pay extra for it.
How fast is it?: Since the 24-inch iMac has the same M4 as the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, its speed is very similar. That means it’s fast. It’s got all the speed general consumers need, and it can handle pro applications with no problem. However, the $1,299 model has only one fan inside its body, while the $1,499 and $1,699 models have two fans. That means the high-priced models do a better job of keeping the internals cool. The $1,299 model may need to slow down its performance on heavy-duty tasks in order to maintain a proper temperature.
Any other considerations? We feel that the iMac price is high compared to the specs on offer, but we do admire the design. We are holding out for a bigger screen.
Why we recommend the iMac (M4): The iMac was greatly improved when Apple introduced the 24-inch model back in 2021, from the design to the display to its performance. But, we hope rumors that Apple may launch an iMac Pro model are true. If you are buying one the sweet spot is the $1,499/£1,499 model, which gets you more ports, Touch ID, and ethernet.
What is it? There is a configuration of Mac Studio that, like the Mac Pro, runs on Apple’s Ultra chips. The Ultra chip combines four of the standard M-series chips on one die for a super fast and ultra powerful system. Note that the Mac Studio features an M3 Ultra, not an M4 Ultra, and the M3 Ultra is faster and more powerful than the M4 Max.
What’s new? In March 2025 Apple updated the Mac Studio to run on an M3 Ultra chip. The surprising thing about this is that Apple didn’t jump straight to the M4 Ultra. No doubt Apple has a reason to choose to sell an M3 Ultra Mac Studio rather than an M4 Ultra Mac Studio (probably it doesn’t want it to overshadow the Mac Pro when that model gets the M4 Ultra). The M3 Ultra is the fastest Mac processor Apple makes (until the M4 Ultra arrives at least).
Who’s it for? The Mac Studio with M3 Ultra is for the user who wants the maximum processing power. It lacks the expansion options of the Mac Pro, but it brings all the power usually reserved for the ultimate Mac in a smaller and cheaper package.
How much does the Mac Studio cost? The Mac Studio M3 Ultra with 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 32-Core Neural Engine and 1TB SSD costs $3,999/£4,199. There are also build-to-order options that include a 32-core CPU, 80-core GPU, up to 512GB Unified Memory, and 16TB SSD. Fully maxed out a Mac Studio would cost $14,099/£14,299.
What are the specifications? The Mac Studio with Me Ultra processors offers these specs:
The memory bandwidth of the M3 Ultra is 819GB/s compared to 800GB/s in the M2 Ultra model.
The Mac Studio does not include a display, keyboard, or mouse, so you’ll have to provide your own, or you can customize your order to include these devices as extra-cost options.
How do I connect stuff? The Mac Studio has the following ports:
To connect to a network, you can use the built-in ethernet port, or you can use Wi-Fi, which comes standard.
To connect a display, you can use the HDMI 2.0 port or a Thunderbolt port. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesn’t have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt. You can connect up to eight 4K displays, eight 6K displays, or four 8K displays to the M2 Ultra.
How fast is it? The M3 Ultra Mac Studio is the fastest Mac Apple sells as of March 2025 and it does so at a very competitive price point. However, when the M4 Ultra arrives in the Mac Pro that will take the lead. We’ll be testing the M3 Ultra as soon as we can get our hands on the new Mac Studio.
Any other considerations? Sharing the same chip as the Mac Pro made the Mac Studio the obvious choice for anyone who wanted a powerful Mac without having to remortgage their house. Now that the Mac Studio runs on an M3 Ultra while the Mac Pro still only offers the M2 Ultra (for now) the Mac Studio is the fastest ever Mac. Those who might have chosen the Mac Pro may opt instead for the Mac Studio, it’s one disadvantage being that it lacks the Mac Pro’s expansion options.
Why we recommend the Mac Studio M3 Ultra: The Mac Studio with M3 Ultra is ideal for users who use processor- and graphics-intensive apps, such as media production, software development, graphics software, and more. If you find yourself spending a lot of time watching progress bars while you work, you’ll benefit from the power of the Mac Studio.
The only reason not to buy is if you want to wait to see what the Mac Pro with M4 Ultra offers, when, if ever, Apple launches it.
Note: This model hasn’t been updated since 2023. An update is expected at some time in 2025. See: M4 Ultra Mac Pro rumors.
What is it? The Mac Pro is Apple’s workstation. It’s designed for professionals who need a powerful and flexible machine. Apple took its time to update the Mac Pro with its own silicon, but in June 2023, three and a half years after the previous update, the company finally came up with the goods. We are now waiting for Apple up update it from the M2 Ultra to the M4 Ultra.
Who’s it for? The Mac Pro is designed for professionals who work with applications that use as many processing cores as possible—video-editing applications, image-editing software, 3D programs, audio editing, software developers, and the like.
How much does the Mac Pro cost? The Mac Pro starts at $6,999/£7,199 (which is up from the previous generation’s starting price of $5,999/£5,499). That’s for the Tower version, there is also a Rack mount version that starts at $7,499/£7,699. Those are the starting prices, you can choose various configuration options, such as the 76-core GPU and the 192GB unified memory and 8TB storage – just as with the Mac Studio. A fully specced out Mac Pro Tower costs $11,799/£11,999.
What are the specifications? The specifications on offer are identical to the Mac Studio with M2 Ultra:
How do I connect stuff? Mac Pro has the following ports:
To connect a display, you can use the HDMI 2.0 port or the Thunderbolt ports. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesn’t have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt. You can connect up to eight 4K displays, six 6K displays, or three 8K displays.
To connect external devices, the Mac Pro has six Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, two HDMI ports, and dual 10Gb Ethernet. But the real draw for creative pros will be the seven full-length PCI Express gen 4 slots, one of which comes with an Apple I/O card installed.
How fast is it? When it announced the model, Apple said the 2023 Mac Pro was up to 3x faster than the previous-generation Intel-based model. It was impressive at the time, but the M2 Ultra has been superceeded by the M4 Max in our tests, and now that Apple has updated the Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra you can expect even better performance from that model, which has the benefit of costing much less.
Apple says the M2 Ultra Mac Pro can plan an “unprecedented 22 streams of 8K ProRes video.” Just imagine what the new Mac Pro M4 Ultra will be capable of.
Macworld’s buying advice: The Mac Pro provides the processing power that the most demanding users need. We’re talking about production environments, like TV and audio recording studios, animation houses, and software developers. If you feel like you can never have enough power, you’re probably the professional the Mac Pro is aimed at. But if you don’t need the expandability then the Mac Studio will probably be adequate.
If you’re more of a “prosumer” than a professional—someone who is an expert Mac user, but doesn’t use high-end apps—the Mac Pro is overkill. You’re probably not going to be able to take advantage of what the Mac Pro has to offer.
Our recommendation is to wait until June 2025 for the long overdue M4 Ultra.
We are now more than four years into Apple’s transition from Intel processors to its own silicon that includes CPU, GPU, and unified memory. The transition began with the introduction of the M1 in November 2020. Since June 2023 every Mac Apple sells uses Apple’s own chips rather than Intel processors.
If you’ve yet to upgrade your Intel Mac to one powered by Apple’s silicon what are you waiting for? If you are concerned that a must-have app doesn’t run on an M-series Mac, consider finding a new app because the performance gains are tremendous.
Another good reason to update your Intel Mac is that it is unlikely to be supported by Apple for much longer in terms of security updates. With the arrival of macOS Sequoia, the number of supported Intel Macs is fewer than ever, and although Apple will be supporting Sonoma with security updates for a couple more years, and Ventura for another year, only a few of the most recent Intel Macs still be supported in a year or so. Read: The Intel Macs that can run macOS Sequoia.
If you’re simply looking for a great offer, visit our MacBook Pro deals, MacBook Air deals, iMac deals, Mac Studio deals, and Mac mini deals pages which are regularly updated.
For more information to help you decide which Mac to buy see our Mac processor comparison where we compare Apple silicon and Intel. We also offer advice about how much storage, RAM, and cores in How much MacBook RAM, SSD, GPU, and CPU do you really need.
The iMac, Mac mini and MacBook Pro were all last updated in October 2024. The MacBook Air was last updated in March 2025, as was the Mac Studio. The only Mac that hasn’t been updated in the past couple of years is the Mac Pro.
Here’s something you may not know: Hackers can sign up for phishing-as-a-service platforms. In other words, there are businesses that put together a PhAAS software package that hackers can buy and run phishing schemes. A new PhAAS called Lucid is now available and is used to target iPhones, according to a report by security researcher Catalyst.
What’s alarming about Lucid is that it involved phishing messages sent via Apple’s iMessage, which uses end-to-end encryption that allows the messages to bypass spam filters. Lucid also sends messages via encrypted RCS, which allows for attacks on Android devices. Apple has announced support for encrypted RCS that will arrive in a future iOS update.
To be able to send out phishing messages via iMessage, iPhone farms are in place. XinXin, the business behind Lucid, claims it can send over 100,000 messages daily using “temporary Apple IDs with impersonated display names,” according to the report. The PhAAS package offers templates so attackers can create legitimate-looking websites and messages. The phishing messages urge the readerto pay for unpaid toll fees, shipping costs, or taxes, and the links route users to websites that look like legitimate sites, such as a site that masquerades as the U.S. Postal Service.
iPhone phishing farm used to send phishing messages.
Some iPhone users may feel a sense of security when receiving an iMessage because of Apple’s measures, but Catalyst notes that it is this sense of security that hackers are taking advantage of. Lucid has a success rate that “makes the operation cost-effective.”
Text messaging is convenient, but it also leaves you vulnerable to attack. Don’t use links in text messages whenever possible; always check the URL if you absolutely need to use the link. Attackers will disguise fake domains to look like legitimate ones. If a message is poorly written, has typos, misspellings, and poor grammar, don’t trust it. Macworld has a guide to avoid smishing attacks. Apple releases security patches through OS updates, so installing them as soon as possible is important. If you use a third-party browser, Macworld has several guides to help, including a guide on whether or not you need antivirus software, a list of Mac viruses, malware, and trojans, and a comparison of Mac security software.
Apple sells four kinds of iPad: the iPad Pro; the iPad Air; the iPad mini; and the standard, cheapest iPad. In this roundup, we’ve got all the best deals on Apple’s cheapest iPad, which is currently the iPad A16 model introduced in March 2025.
The 2025 A16 iPad is the 11th-generation model, replacing the 2022 iPad (10th generation) which ran on an A14 chip. The main selling point of the 2025 iPad is that it has double the storage at the entry level, so it’s a better deal than ever.
The processor has leapt from the A14 to A16, which might sound good, but this is also the main disadvantage of the 2025 iPad. The A16 is not compatible with Apple Intelligence, the new AI features Apple is making quite a fuss about.
It is already possible to get small savings off the price of the A16 iPad, which went on sale on March 12, or you can save money on an older iPad, which isn’t all that different to the new one. Just beware that the older model had half the storage for the same price, so the deal will have to take that into account to be worth it. For that reason we will be clear about what the newer model would cost when listing the deals on the older model below.
We’ve checked all the best places to pick up the iPad at the best price for you so that you can get a bargain.
If you’d like to see the best prices for the standard iPad’s more expensive siblings, including iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad Pro, click those links for dedicated deals roundups. Also, have a look at our iPad buying buide if you’re not sure which model you want. You may also like to read our best iPad for kids, best iPad for students, and best iPad for seniors guides. You can also check out our roundup of the best Apple deals.
The main difference between the 2025 iPad and the 2022 iPad is that you will get more storage for your money with the newer models. The entry-level 2022 iPad had 64GB storage, while the 2025 iPad has double that storage for the same price. So is is crucial to keep that in mind if you are considering buying a 10th-gen iPad, or you risk spending more on an older iPad.
U.S.
U.K.
Check below to see other deals that are available.
Below you will find the best prices at various resellers.
iPad (A16, 128GB, Wi-Fi): $349/£329
iPad (A16, 256GB, Wi-Fi): $449/£429
iPad (A16, 512GB, Wi-Fi): $649/£629
You may find older iPads on sale. Just make sure you compare the price to that of the 2025 iPad.
The 10th-gen iPad, with its larger 10.9-inch display, launched in October 2022.
10th-gen iPad (A14, 64GB, Wi-Fi): $349/£329
10th-gen iPad (A14, 256GB, Wi-Fi): $499/£479
9th-gen iPad (A13, 64GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP was $329/£369 (now discontinued)
9th-gen iPad (A13, 256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP was $479/£549 (now discontinued)
U.S. retailers
U.K. retailers
Apple has a number of Apple Premium Resellers who stock iPads in the U.K., and also offer other services, try the following:
If you want to buy the iPad on contract you could try these networks:
U.S. network carriers
U.K. network carriers
The deals you will see above are generally from Apple resellers rather than Apple itself, which very rarely drops the prices. Apple does, however, sell reconditioned iPads in its refurbished store. So you might be able to grab a bargain.
The iPads in Apple’s refurbished store may be ex-display stock, or they may have been returned to Apple due to a fault, but they are fully reconditioned now and come with a full year’s warranty. It’s not like buying secondhand.
The U.S. refurbished store has a selection that includes:
Compared to the original price, you can save as much as $320 on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
In the U.K. you’ll find a similar selection of iPads available from Apple’s refurbished store. You’ll find the following:
There are savings of £480 on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, compared to the original price.
Another place to look is BackMarket US and BackMarket UK, which sells refurbished Macs and other Apple products. Amazon also has a certified refurbished store for Apple products, but we would advise against buying any products that are older than five years. Most of the products we see on the Amazon refurbished store are unfortunately very old.
There is a large refurbished market for the iPad. We’d recommend taking a look at these refurbished resellers for iPad offers:
If you want to buy an iPad Pro you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re looking at where you can buy the iPad Pro for the lowest price.
We track the various resellers who sell the iPad Pro in the U.S. and U.K., so we always have details of the best prices and best discounts. Read on to find the best place to get a great deal on a new iPad Pro right now!
There are two kinds of iPad Pro: the 11-inch Pro with M4 and the 13-inch Pro with M4, both of which were launched in May 2024. Among these are Wi-Fi and cellular models in various configurations. For more information read our iPad Pro 2024 review and find out how it compares to the 2024 iPad Air in our iPad Air (M2) vs iPad Pro (M4) comparison.
Have a look at our iPad buying guide if you’re not sure which model you want. You may also like to read: best iPad for kids, best iPad for students, and best iPad for seniors.
U.S.
U.K.
The M4 iPad Pro models launched in May 2024. Look through the tables below to find the best discounts. These tables will always be up to date with the latest prices for each iPad Pro. For even bigger savings, the 2022 iPad Pro models can be found in the section below this one.
11-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $999/£999
11-inch M4 iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,199/£1,199
11-inch M4 iPad Pro (1TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,599/£1,599
11-inch M4 iPad Pro (2TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,999/£1,999
13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,299/£1,299
13-inch M4 iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,499/£1,499
13-inch M4 iPad Pro (1TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,899/£1,899
13-inch M4 iPad Pro (2TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $2,299/£2,299
The M2 iPad Pro models launched in October 2022, and have now been replaced by the M4 model. But you may still be able to get a deal on one of these older models. Look through the tables below to find the best discounts. These tables will always be up-to-date with the latest prices for each iPad Pro.
11-inch M2 iPad Pro (128GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $799/£899
11-inch M2 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $899/£1,019
11-inch M2 iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,099/£1,249
11-inch M2 iPad Pro (1TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,499/£1,699
11-inch M2 iPad Pro (2TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,899/£2,149
12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (128GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,099/£1,249
12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,199/£1,369
12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,399/£1,599
12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (1TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,799/£2,049
12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (2TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $2,199/£2,499
You can also find the iPad Pros from all the retailers listed below. Alternatively, check out the great deals in the section below – our best price tables will always be up to date with the latest prices for each iPad Pro model.
US retailers
UK retailers
Apple has a number of Apple Premium Resellers who stock iPads in the UK, and also offer other services, try the following:
The deals you will see above are generally from Apple resellers rather than Apple itself, which rarely reduces prices. Apple does, however, sell reconditioned iPads in its refurbished store. So you can grab a bargain.
The iPads in Apple’s refurbished store may be ex-display stock, or they may have been returned to Apple due to a fault, but they are fully reconditioned now and come with a full year’s warranty. It’s not like buying secondhand. In the U.K., watch this page and the U.S. Refurb Store page is here.
The U.S. refurbished store has a selection that includes:
Compared to the original price, you can save as much as $320 on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
In the U.K. you’ll find a similar selection of iPads available from Apple’s refurbished store. You’ll find the following:
There are savings of £480 on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, compared to the original price.
Another place to look is BackMarket US and BackMarket UK, which sells refurbished iPads and other Apple products.
There is also a large refurbished market for the iPad. We’d recommend taking a look at these refurbished resellers:
University students and teachers can also save on the iPad Pro with Apple’s Education pricing.
See our full guide on to how to get an education discount.
Or head directly to Apple UK or Apple US to get the educational discount.
RCL Trading nv 2025
Email: admin@computing911.com
