If you have come to this article, it is because you are thinking of buying a new computer and you are probably wondering if it is better to buy a Mac or a MacBook.
The truth is that Apple has such a varied range of options that sometimes it is difficult to choose. What’s the best Mac you can buy? The truth is that the answer will depend on the use you have of giving that computer.
If a desktop computer is among your options, you should know that a Mac can outshine a MacBook for many reasons. We tell you below the five reasons why we recommend you buy a Mac instead of a MacBook.
1. Ports and expandability
One of the biggest advantages of buying a desktop Mac over a MacBook is that desktop Macs often have more upgrade options. While the latest MacBook Pros have more ports than they’ve had in many years—three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, HDMI, and an SDXC card slot—it’s still a far cry from what you get on the Mac mini. (two USB-A ports) and the Mac Studio (up to six Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB-A ports), and even the 24-inch iMac has two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports and two USB 3 ports.
An extra port may not seem like much, but it allows you to connect even more external devices – hard drives, keyboards and other things you might need for your daily work – without the need for hubs Y dongles.
However, the days of “playing around” with Mac desktops are over. Even if you get a Mac mini or a Mac Studio, Apple Silicon Macs don’t allow internal user-installable updates, whether it’s a desktop or laptop.
The RAM is integrated with the processor, so if you think you need more RAM than the standard configuration, customize your order at point of purchase. The same goes for SSD for file storage, although with more ports you can easily add external storage.
The only Mac that Apple currently sells with easily user-upgradable components is the Mac Pro. This computer, however, is designed for high-end professionals, and they are expensive machines.
Plus, it’s one of only two remaining Mac models that still use Intel processors. It’s possible that Apple will bring out a new Mac Pro this year with its own Silicon that’s user-upgradable, but it could also be just as locked down as the Mac Studio.
2. Choose the monitor yourself
Another of the great advantages of desktop Macs is the versatility they offer with respect to compatible monitors. Yes, it’s true that you can connect a display to a MacBook, but you’re also paying a higher price for the built-in display, which is more than likely to close when connected to an external display.
If you’re going to be parked at a desk most of the time or want the flexibility of a multi-display setup, a desktop Mac is easily the smartest choice.
You just have to make sure of what you need. Apple’s remaining Intel Macs and the Mac Studio can power more than two displays, but Apple’s silicone Macs are different: The Mac mini M1 is limited to a total of two displays (one via Thunderbolt and one using HDMI). .
The 24-inch iMac can add a second display via Thunderbolt. Still, that’s more than Apple’s M1 laptops – the 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro – which can only connect one additional display, making a proper multi-display setup difficult, and you’ll have to spend nearly $2,000 on a 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro to power up to four external displays with Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) and HDMI ports…
So if you want the best value for your multi-display setup, go for a desktop Mac and look for a good external display.
3. Macs offer better speed
One of the main reasons why you might opt for a desktop Mac over a MacBook is Apple’s M1 Ultra processor. It’s the fastest and most powerful chip Apple has ever designed, and it’s only available in the €4,629 Mac Studio.
Don’t get us wrong, MacBook Pros offer incredibly good performance, especially in the newer models, but they don’t offer the M1 Ultra, which makes Apple’s desktop Macs the company’s most powerful. And due to the cooling requirements of the M1 Ultra, it may never make it to a laptop.
4. A design that adapts to any place
While MacBooks can be extremely portable, they don’t always fit directly into the style and space you have in your office, another area where desktop Macs can shine.
While Apple has some more basic-looking designs like the Mac mini or Mac Studio, the 24-inch iMac gives Apple users multiple color options to choose from.
That means you can choose a computer that fits your office color scheme without having to settle for the more minimalist silver color of a standard MacBook.
Because there are smaller options like the Mac mini and Mac Studio, you can find a powerful computer that blends seamlessly into your office space, even if you don’t have a lot of desk space. That allows you to maximize your desktop space without losing too much of it to your computer.
5. The best value for money
MacBooks can be exceptionally expensive, especially if you go for the more powerful models. But you don’t have to settle for breaking the bank to get a great Mac computer.
Instead, there are multiple pricing options available for several of the different desktop Macs out there. For example, the new Mac Studio costs the same as some of the more powerful MacBook Pros, but you get more power, more ports, and more features.
Also, the 24-inch iMac that Apple has launched with the M1 processors starts at €1,499, much cheaper than the new MacBook Pros with smaller screens.
Or you can bundle a 24-inch 4K display with a Mac mini for even less. Macs don’t come cheap, but with the right desktop and display combination, you can get a full-fledged computer without breaking your budget by buying an expensive MacBook Pro.
These are the best monitors available for Mac.
