28 Macworld • March 2021BUYING GUIDE
the £1,799 and £1,999 Intel-based
models, and in some situations, it’s
faster than the 16in MacBook Pro.What about the 15in MacBook Pro?
Apple replaced the 15in model with
the 16in MacBook Pro in November- If you really want a 15in model,
try looking in Apple’s Refurbished
and Clearance Store.
Verdict: For the most demanding
mobile Mac user – someone whose
work requires a lot of processing
power – the MacBook Pro is the
ticket. However, the MacBook Pro
is in a transition period because of
Apple’s switch from Intel processors
to its own system on a chip. At the
time of writing, only two of the six
different models are available with
Apple’s M1. And the M1 outperforms
the other MacBook Pro models.
If speed is you priority over
everything else – port connectivity
and screen size aren’t serious
considerations – get a £1,299 or
£1,499 13in MacBook Pro with
Apple’s M1 system on a chip.
If you want speed, but also want
more ports, consider the £1,799 13in
MacBook Pro or the 16in MacBook
Pro. They’re still fast and they offer
more ports than the M1 models.Apple will update the other
MacBook Pro models with its system
on a chip, so if you can wait, the wait
will pay off. You’ll get a really fast
laptop. If your work mostly involves
Internet access and other productivity
tasks, however, go for a MacBook Air.MAC MINI
Models for sale were originally
released November 2020.What is it? The Mac mini is Apple’s
smallest desktop Mac. It’s a
nice combination of speed and
affordability. It’s not only fast enough
for general-purpose use, but its multi-
core speed is quite good – if you use
a professional app like a video editor,
3D software, or developer tools, the
Mac mini can handle it, no problem.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 centre.28 Macworld • March 2021BUYING GUIDE
the £1,799 and £1,999 Intel-based
models, and in some situations, it’s
faster than the 16in MacBook Pro.What about the 15in MacBook Pro?
Apple replaced the 15in model with
the 16in MacBook Pro in November- If you really want a 15in model,
try looking in Apple’s Refurbished
and Clearance Store.
Verdict: For the most demanding
mobile Mac user – someone whose
work requires a lot of processing
power – the MacBook Pro is the
ticket. However, the MacBook Pro
is in a transition period because of
Apple’s switch from Intel processors
to its own system on a chip. At the
time of writing, only two of the six
different models are available with
Apple’s M1. And the M1 outperforms
the other MacBook Pro models.
If speed is you priority over
everything else – port connectivity
and screen size aren’t serious
considerations – get a £1,299 or
£1,499 13in MacBook Pro with
Apple’s M1 system on a chip.
If you want speed, but also want
more ports, consider the £1,799 13in
MacBook Pro or the 16in MacBook
Pro. They’re still fast and they offer
more ports than the M1 models.Apple will update the other
MacBook Pro models with its system
on a chip, so if you can wait, the wait
will pay off. You’ll get a really fast
laptop. If your work mostly involves
Internet access and other productivity
tasks, however, go for a MacBook Air.MAC MINI
Models for sale were originally
released November 2020.What is it? The Mac mini is Apple’s
smallest desktop Mac. It’s a
nice combination of speed and
affordability. It’s not only fast enough
for general-purpose use, but its multi-
core speed is quite good – if you use
a professional app like a video editor,
3D software, or developer tools, the
Mac mini can handle it, no problem.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 centre.