APPLE DESKTOPS FULL
APPLE DESKTOPS PRO
APPLE DESKTOPS MAC

APPLE DESKTOPS MAC

If you need 32-128GB RAM, the Mac Studio is ideal. If you're okay with 16GB RAM or less, you're looking at the Mac mini or iMac, depending on whether you want the built-in display or not.

APPLE DESKTOPS PRO

If you need native Intel, you're looking at the Mac Pro or the Intel Mac mini. Be aware that both of these are likely to be discontinued soon and OS support will probably end in 2-4 years. If you want a built-in display, but don't mind limiting it to 24 inches, consider an iMac. Here are some of the choices you might make, and which machine best fits based on your needs. I go into depth about the Mac Studio's configuration capabilities here, but suffice it to say that the Mac Studio may well be the Goldilocks machine for most extreme pro Mac users. This is the machine to buy if you're an extreme pro but don't want to spend tens of thousands of dollars. The fully-equipped model is priced just a bit higher than a base Mac Pro yet has the power to rival a Mac Pro configuration costing six times more.' The base model outperforms the Mac Pro yet is priced like a well-equipped Mac mini. It doesn't allow for upgradeable RAM or internal storage, but that lack of slots means data can stay inside the SoC (system on a chip) and move much, much faster between memory and processor.Īlso: Apple Silicon, Rosetta, M1, M2, SoC: Why these terms matter to every computer buyerĪs I said before, 'The introduction of the Mac Studio changes the calculus of buying desktop Macs. The Mac Studio is as close to the machine pro users wanted as it's possible for Apple to get. $699 at Apple Do you want more, but at a price that's attainable to most pros? If you're not doing any extreme pro work, the Mac mini is almost always my default desktop recommendation.

APPLE DESKTOPS FULL

That gives her monitor and speakers when using her Mac, and a full smart TV with Roku when doing other work in her office. My wife has her office Mac mini paired with a $269 43-inch TCL Roku 4K TV. If you already have a monitor, it's a very easy choice. I did a full article comparing those two machines. With the advent of the Mac Studio, the RAM limitations of the M1 are no longer an issue for those needing a lot of RAM. Until recently, some folks were still buying the aging Intel Mac mini model from Apple just for access to 32 and 64GB RAM. I expect Apple to stop selling them this year.Īlso: Mac Studio vs Intel Mac Mini: Which is the better deal? It also runs Steam games better, but that requires a big eGPU investment and it's flirting with obsolescence. The still-sold Intel Mac mini has considerably more capacity (especially in terms of RAM) than the M1 Mac minis. While the M1 Mac mini is the future of the model, Apple is still selling the 2018 Intel-based Mac mini. I found that my Intel Mac minis (which I've subsequently replaced) each had a total cost of ownership ranging from $128 to $264 per year (depending on the configuration). Over the years, I've bought quite a few Mac minis and they have definitely paid for themselves. You can always add fast external storage via the Thunderbolt 3/USB C ports. That's actually quite a functional machine, but if you're going to be stressing it at all, I'd recommend punching it up to 16GB RAM for $899. The base M1 unit starts at $699 with 8GB RAM and 256GB flash storage. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews.

This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping.

Apple desktops