Which MacBook to Buy (2026): My Honest Advice on Which to Buy

Which MacBook to Buy (2026): My Honest Advice on Which to Buy

2026 年买哪款 MacBook:关于选购的诚恳建议

Apple has set the 2026 MacBook lineup. Complete with several MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, along with the cheaper MacBook Neo, there’s a lot to consider before deciding on the MacBook that best suits your needs. 苹果公司已经确定了 2026 年的 MacBook 产品阵容。随着多款 MacBook Air 和 MacBook Pro 机型,以及价格更亲民的 MacBook Neo 的推出,在决定哪款 MacBook 最适合你的需求之前,有很多因素需要考虑。

With a decade of MacBook testing under my belt, I feel confident in my ability to point you in the right direction, regardless of your budgetary restraints and performance needs. Speaking of budget, if you’re hunting for discounts, be aware that Apple recently increased MacBook prices, citing component supply constraints and the high cost of memory and storage chips. 凭借十年的 MacBook 测试经验,我有信心为你指明方向,无论你的预算限制和性能需求如何。说到预算,如果你正在寻找折扣,请注意苹果最近提高了 MacBook 的价格,理由是零部件供应紧张以及内存和存储芯片的高昂成本。

For more recommendations, be sure to check out the rest of our computer buying guides, like the Best Laptops, Best Cheap Laptops, Best iPads, and Best Windows Laptops. 如需更多建议,请务必查看我们其他的电脑购买指南,例如“最佳笔记本电脑”、“最佳廉价笔记本电脑”、“最佳 iPad”和“最佳 Windows 笔记本电脑”。

Updated July 2026: I’ve added context behind Apple’s recent price increase for models in its MacBook line. 2026 年 7 月更新:我补充了苹果近期上调 MacBook 系列机型价格背后的背景信息。


Is Now a Good Time to Buy?

现在是购买的好时机吗?

As of March 2026, Apple has refreshed every MacBook, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and the new MacBook Neo. That means if you shop now, you’ll get the latest hardware, which may extend its longevity. You’ll also get ongoing software support from Apple. 截至 2026 年 3 月,苹果已经更新了每一款 MacBook,包括 MacBook Air、MacBook Pro 以及全新的 MacBook Neo。这意味着如果你现在购买,你将获得最新的硬件,这可能会延长其使用寿命。你还将获得苹果持续的软件支持。

The problem is that on June 25, Apple dramatically increased the price of all the MacBooks (and iPads) to varying degrees. Here’s a breakdown of the new prices, with increases ranging from $100 to $400: 问题在于,6 月 25 日,苹果大幅提高了所有 MacBook(及 iPad)的价格,涨幅不一。以下是新价格的明细,涨幅从 100 美元到 400 美元不等:

  • MacBook Neo: $699 (up from $599): 14 percent
  • MacBook Neo: 699 美元(原价 599 美元):涨幅 14%
  • MacBook Air (13-inch): $1,299 (up from $1,099): 15 percent
  • MacBook Air (13 英寸): 1,299 美元(原价 1,099 美元):涨幅 15%
  • MacBook Air (15-inch): $1,499 (up from $1,299): 13 percent
  • MacBook Air (15 英寸): 1,499 美元(原价 1,299 美元):涨幅 13%
  • MacBook Pro (14-inch): $1,999 (up from $1,599): 20 percent
  • MacBook Pro (14 英寸): 1,999 美元(原价 1,599 美元):涨幅 20%
  • MacBook Pro (16-inch): $2,999 (up from $2,699): 10 percent
  • MacBook Pro (16 英寸): 2,999 美元(原价 2,699 美元):涨幅 10%

It’s very rare for Apple to raise prices suddenly, especially when the change doesn’t accompany a product refresh. What makes this update especially unusual, though, is that only a few months have passed since the MacBook Neo launched. Apple blames the price spikes on memory and storage increases, stating that AI data centers have “created an extraordinary surge in demand” never seen before. 苹果突然涨价非常罕见,尤其是在没有伴随产品更新的情况下。然而,这次更新之所以特别反常,是因为 MacBook Neo 发布才仅仅几个月。苹果将价格飙升归咎于内存和存储成本的增加,称人工智能数据中心“创造了前所未有的巨大需求”。

So yes, the better time to buy a MacBook would have been earlier this year. While Apple says that it is “working tirelessly to find solutions,” I wouldn’t expect these prices to come down anytime soon. Predictions around how long this memory shortage will last are measured in years, not months. 所以,是的,购买 MacBook 的更好时机是在今年早些时候。虽然苹果表示正在“不懈努力寻找解决方案”,但我预计这些价格短期内不会下降。关于这场内存短缺将持续多久的预测是以年为单位,而不是以月为单位。

One potential update to note: A rumored MacBook launch later this year that would be a major moment. It will reportedly sport an OLED display, a touchscreen-optimized interface, an M6 chip, and a thinner chassis. While the device was once believed to be a forthcoming version of the MacBook Pro, a recent report from Bloomberg discusses an alternative high-end machine, possibly known as a MacBook Ultra. If it comes to fruition, it could be a way for Apple to offer a more expensive MacBook that isn’t purely performance-driven. 需要注意的一个潜在更新是:传闻今年晚些时候将发布一款 MacBook,这将是一个重要时刻。据报道,它将配备 OLED 显示屏、针对触摸屏优化的界面、M6 芯片和更薄的机身。虽然该设备曾被认为是 MacBook Pro 的后续版本,但彭博社最近的一份报告讨论了另一款高端机器,可能被称为 MacBook Ultra。如果它成为现实,这可能是苹果提供一款不完全以性能为导向、价格更昂贵的 MacBook 的一种方式。

One other interesting development in the world of Mac rumors is the forthcoming M6 chip, which will reportedly be the first in the lineup that will be a standalone chip that won’t get an M6 Pro, M6 Max, or M6 Ultra. That would render the current M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro the most up-to-date models for longer than usual. Mac 传闻界的另一个有趣进展是即将推出的 M6 芯片,据报道,它将是该系列中首款独立芯片,不会有 M6 Pro、M6 Max 或 M6 Ultra 版本。这将使当前的 M5 Pro 和 M5 Max MacBook Pro 比往常更长时间地保持为最新机型。


A Breakdown of Each M-Series Chip

M 系列芯片详解

All of Apple’s processors are scattered throughout different MacBook models, and you can find older models at specific third-party retailers online, either completely new or refurbished. If you do stumble upon its older chips (which came out four years ago), you might be wondering how they compare to other options. Here, get a breakdown of the differences to consider. 苹果的所有处理器都分布在不同的 MacBook 机型中,你可以在特定的第三方在线零售商处找到旧机型,无论是全新的还是翻新的。如果你确实偶然发现了其旧款芯片(四年前推出的),你可能想知道它们与其他选项相比如何。以下是需要考虑的差异分析。

M5 Series M5 系列

M5: The M5 chips are the latest options from Apple, having arrived in late 2025 with the launch of the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro. The base M5 still has up to a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, though there’s also a lower-tier 9-core CPU that’s available on the iPad Pro. The M5 is around 10 to 15 percent faster in CPU performance but also takes a significant step up in GPU, AI workloads, and even storage speed. Like Apple’s mobile chips, the M5 is now also available on the MacBook Air. M5: M5 芯片是苹果最新的选择,于 2025 年底随着 14 英寸 MacBook Pro、iPad Pro 和 Vision Pro 的发布而推出。基础版 M5 仍然拥有最高 10 核 CPU 和 10 核 GPU,尽管 iPad Pro 上还有一款更低阶的 9 核 CPU 版本。M5 的 CPU 性能提升了约 10% 到 15%,但在 GPU、AI 工作负载甚至存储速度方面也有显著提升。与苹果的移动芯片一样,M5 现在也应用于 MacBook Air。

M5 Pro: Currently available exclusively on the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, the M5 Pro comes with up to an 18-core CPU and a 20-core GPU. The base configuration starts with only a 15-core CPU and 16-core GPU. As with previous generations, the “Pro” chip gets all the same benefits as those in the M5 architecture but adds more cores and improved memory bandwidth. The biggest advantage is in GPU and on-device AI performance. This time around, however, both the M5 Pro and M5 Max also debuted an update: “Fusion Architecture” is a new version of UltraFusion (which was previously used only on the Ultra chips) that combines two dies together across a superfast interconnect. M5 Pro: 目前仅在 14 英寸和 16 英寸 MacBook Pro 上提供,M5 Pro 配备最高 18 核 CPU 和 20 核 GPU。基础配置仅从 15 核 CPU 和 16 核 GPU 开始。与前几代一样,“Pro”芯片获得了与 M5 架构相同的所有优势,但增加了更多核心并提高了内存带宽。最大的优势在于 GPU 和设备端 AI 性能。然而,这一次 M5 Pro 和 M5 Max 都首次推出了一项更新:“融合架构”(Fusion Architecture)是 UltraFusion(此前仅用于 Ultra 芯片)的新版本,它通过超高速互连将两个芯片裸片结合在一起。

M5 Max: The M5 Max is the M5 Pro—only with more GPU power. You get the option for up to 40 GPU cores, which puts the MacBook Pro on the level of high-end gaming laptops in terms of graphics performance. Add in the neural accelerators that are now built into each GPU core, and you’ve got one of the most powerful AI laptops on the market. In terms of Apple rankings, it’s only bested in GPU performance by the M3 Ultra, which is currently available only in the Mac Studio. M5 Max: M5 Max 就是 M5 Pro,只是拥有更强的 GPU 性能。你可以选择最高 40 核 GPU,这使得 MacBook Pro 在图形性能方面达到了高端游戏笔记本电脑的水平。再加上现在内置于每个 GPU 核心中的神经加速器,你就拥有了市场上最强大的 AI 笔记本电脑之一。在苹果的排名中,其 GPU 性能仅次于目前仅在 Mac Studio 中提供的 M3 Ultra。

M4 Series M4 系列

M4: The M4 originally launched in 2024. It has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. Apple claims the M4 delivers 1.8 times faster CPU performance and 2.2 times faster GPU performance than the M1. M4: M4 最初于 2024 年发布。它拥有 10 核 CPU 和 10 核 GPU。苹果声称 M4 的 CPU 性能比 M1 快 1.8 倍,GPU 性能快 2.2 倍。