The Apple products are highly sought after, not only for its price, which transforms them into an almost luxury object, but also for its simplicity, quality and design. Because of this, you are likely to be tempted to buy an Apple laptop, even if you are not a fan of the Cupertino brand.
In addition, now the apple company is going through a transition to its own processors (Apple Silicon), with the first of them: the M1 and new M2. This new chip has achieved some really surprising results, especially in energy efficiency, although it still has its disadvantages. Fortunately, there are still newer Intel x86 computers that you can buy as an alternative to ARM.
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Today's best deals on Apple laptops
Types of Apple laptops
Apple has a much more limited range of notebooks than other brands, since it only has three main series, with models of different configurations to meet various needs. To be able to choose the most consistent, you should first know the series and its objective:
MacBook Air 13 inches
It is a compact device, with a lighter weight and a slimmer profile. In addition, its autonomy is greater than the Pro, at the cost of sacrificing some performance.
Ultimately, these Apple laptops are aimed at those seeking greater mobility, such as students who need to carry it to school, those who want to work or play while traveling on public transport, in a park, etc.
MacBook Air 15 inches
If you want the same thing that the 13-inch MacBook Air offers, but with a superior screen, then the perfect model is the 15-inch version, which has a new panel, great user experience, good autonomy and great performance.
All thanks to its new hardware, such as M2 processors, the second generation of Apple Silicon for laptops and desktops. In addition, you can get them with different configurations, and different colors.
MacBook Pro 13 inch
This other team has some characteristics similar to the Air, since it mounts a panel with the same size, that is, a 13.3 ”screen.
That makes it quite compact and its weight is only about 200 grams higher. Therefore, it is also a good equipment for mobility, only that it has a superior performance, designed for professionals or users who need a plus.
MacBook Pro 14 inch
If a 16-inch screen seems too big and heavy, and a 13-inch screen seems too small, then you have the perfect middle ground with these new 14.2-inch Macbook Pros. A medium size that has the best of both worlds: lightness and small size + a wide field of vision. Of course, we have the new M3s as replacements for the M2 generation.
And all this, of course, with the performance and functions that can be expected from Apple's Pro series, especially designed for users looking for a little more performance, as well as professionals.
MacBook Pro 16 inch
It is exactly the same as the previous one, only its weight and dimensions are higher, since it has a 16.2” panel. A larger size that will make its mobility and autonomy slightly worse than the previous ones, but which may be more visually comfortable. In addition, it comes with the new generation of the M3, M3 Pro and M3 MAX SoC, as well as greater unified memory capacity.
At the hardware level, you can also go for more powerful configurations than the smaller models.
In short, a larger display and work area, which can be appreciated for gaming, design, etc.
Advantages of an Apple laptop
If you have doubts about whether you really need an Apple laptop or not, know the advantages Those who have this type of equipment can end up clarifying your ideas and finally deciding on one of them. Among the highlights are:
- Ecosystem: Apple offers hardware and software. This means that there is a limited number of Mac models, compared to non-Mac computers. But, saving this inconvenience, this mode offers a huge advantage, since it allows optimizing the operating system so that it works in the best way with it. existing hardware. Instead, Windows needs to work well on a multitude of computers (ASUS, HP, Lenovo, Dell, and a long etc.), but it is not optimized for any, so it shows in performance and efficiency.
- macOS: the operating system belongs to the UNIX family, and everyone knows the advantages of * nix (FreeBSD, Linux, Solaris,…), which are much more secure, robust and stable systems. That means improving productivity compared to Windows, since you will have fewer problems due to errors, reboots, screenshots, or malware. With macOS, forget about all that and enjoy the experience. In addition, you will continue to be able to enjoy the Microsoft Office office suite, since it is available for it.
- ARM processor: Apple Silicon's new product, the M1, M2 and the new M3, is a processor that has been talked about a lot, especially the use of the memory it achieves (a key point of its performance, despite not being so surprising in others senses). In addition, this processor is very energy efficient, managing to extend battery life to the maximum (it has doubled). And, if that doesn't seem enough to you, if you need to develop for ARM and avoid cross-compilation, what better way than to have this team for it... And I wouldn't like to forget another advantage, and that is the compatibility of iOS/iPadOS apps also with him, which opens up new possibilities and is perhaps the closest to that convergence that has been talked about so much. Something like what Google Chromebooks have.
- Screen quality: Apple is one of the few that mount Retina panels. These IPS LED panels have a better resolution, both for images and texts, which is a great advantage. It also has a high pixel density and hence the sharpness is also extraordinary. In addition, when you bring the screen closer to your eyes, they also achieve better results than with normal panels.
- Autonomy: This has to do with the ecosystem, since when creating OS and hardware, they can optimize the code a lot to be able to reach an efficiency that others would not. That, together with efficient hardware, makes these teams have one of the best existing autonomies. Therefore, if you are one of those who need a battery that lasts many hours, an Apple laptop is what you need.
- Integrated: one of the things that stand out the most about this firm is the quality finish. With premium materials and minimalist designs and with very modern lines that is one of the most attractive things that stand out when you see one of these Apple laptops. In fact, it has become an identifying characteristic of those from Cupertino.
- Reliability: Apple takes great care of every detail, including QA (Quality Assurance). It is true that Apple laptops are manufactured in the same Chinese factories as other computers, that is, they share ODM (Original Design Manufacturers). For example, Quanta Computer, AsusTek and Foxconn are two of the producers of Apple laptops, same factories that make others such as Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, or Sony. On the other hand, there is a slight difference in quality between one and the other, since Apple puts its teams through some extra quality controls to make sure they meet the standards that they want. For this reason, apple products tend to be more durable.
Where to buy a cheap MacBook
Apple sells its products through its own web platform, or from its famous shops physical distributed by different points of the geography. However, as you know, they are not very numerous, and they do not reach all capitals far from it. Therefore, the easiest method to get a MacBook laptop is to buy it at any other physical or online store.
For example, you can find it at Amazon, PC Components, El Corte Inglés, Carrefour, etc. The advantage is that in almost all of them it usually costs the sameUnlike other equipment from other brands, there are notable differences between some stores and others.
Second-hand or refurbished Apple laptop, is it a good option?
As I have commented, the price It is one of the negative points of Apple laptops. Therefore, you can look for alternatives to get a real Mac at a better price. For example, you could choose to:
- Second hand: many choose to buy second-hand products. And while MacBook computers tend to be durable, it's not the best alternative. You don't know the kind of "life" that your previous user has given you, and you might have some problems that can't be seen with the naked eye. Even more so if you buy it through platforms such as Wallapop or second-hand websites, instead of in trusted second-hand stores that offer a certain guarantee.
- Refurbished: Another alternative to get a cheaper Apple laptop is to buy a refurbished one. That is, those new products that cannot be sold as such for various reasons. It may be because it does not have its original box, because it has a scratch on the housing due to transport, it has been exposed in a display case, or because it has had to be returned to the factory and repaired due to a factory problem. Be that as it may, what you get is new equipment, and the EU has lobbied with laws so that users of this type of customer also have a guarantee as if it were normal equipment.
- Old model: in addition to the previous two, you could also choose to buy a slightly older model. Some are still being sold, such as models with Intel chips or versions from older years. This means that its price has dropped considerably, while still being new equipment and enjoying a guarantee. The only problem with this type of equipment is that you will always have somewhat less powerful hardware, and that obsolescence will come sooner, since macOS will continue to be updated for a while, but perhaps you will not be able to count on the latest versions (you know that Apple is limiting this to models of older generations).
When to buy a cheaper Apple laptop?
One of the main disadvantages of the Apple laptop is its price. They are expensive products, since they are exclusive. For this reason, many people shy away from these types of products and prefer other brands. Instead, there is big opportunities of choosing a cheaper Apple laptop, such as:
- Black Friday: on the last Thursday of November this global event is held where all stores, from small to large supermarkets, both at physical points of sale and in online stores, put a multitude of discounts on their products. Some technology discounts could be as high as 20% or more, so Black Friday is a great time to get a laptop Cheaper Apple.
- Prime Day: If you have an Amazon Prime subscription, then you have another great opportunity. The famous Jeff Bezos platform offers all its premium customers exclusive discounts. Therefore, you can benefit from them and acquire what you need and save something on your purchases. Of course, you will continue to enjoy Prime benefits, such as free and fast shipping.
- Cyber Monday: The Monday after Black Friday there is another big event. This Monday, online stores tend to throw the house out the window with very good offers, similar to those on Black Friday. Therefore, if you missed the opportunity on Friday or did not find what you wanted, in the selection of Cyber Monday laptop deals find another opportunity to buy more for less.
Apple laptops, are they worth it? My opinion
You should evaluate the pros and cons to have Apple laptops. On the one hand, one of the most advantageous things, such as its ecosystem, could also be limiting for some video games or software that is not available, also for some hardware devices that do not have drivers for this platform.
On the other side is the price, which positions them among the most expensive equipment on the market, even more than some competitive gaming equipment that has superior hardware. But you also have to keep in mind that, in return, you get greater reliability and durability.
Finally, your M1, M2 and now the new M3 can be a great advantage if you are looking for autonomy and develop on an ARM platform. But it also has its negative side, and it is something that you have to evaluate according to your case. In this sense, you should know that Windows (and other operating systems) can no longer be installed due to the lack of support for the M-Series when removing Bootcamp. You can only use them through virtualization.
The M-Series has also brought other limitations, such as the limit of installed RAM memory, being integrated, and the lack of eGPU compatibility.
You should also know that some software that you used with the Apple x86 with Intel chip will no longer work on the new Apple Silicon M-Series. It is true that with Rosette 2 you can continue running all that software without any problem, since it is software that provides a compatibility layer so that this is not a limitation. But, some programs, such as those that depend on certain instructions or Intel virtualization technologies (eg: Intel VT), do not work because the M-Series lacks these. For example, some users have found that some virtualization programs or containers, such as Docker, no longer work.
ConclusionIt is worth it if you are looking for a stable, robust, reliable, secure and trustworthy platform. Either to improve the productivity of your work, to enjoy leisure without complications, or to study. In fact, all those disadvantages that I have mentioned in the previous paragraphs do not affect the vast majority of users, since the use that they are going to give does not interfere with that. But I preferred to be honest and cite them, since some developers or professionals could find those unforeseen events ...
Telecommunications Engineer closely linked to the world of computing. I complement my daily work with a suitable laptop for my tasks and I help you to achieve the same adapted to your needs.
