Which MacBook should I buy? For most people, a MacBook Air with an Apple M-series chip is the right answer; choose a MacBook Pro only for long video edits, heavy coding or 3D work. Avoid Intel MacBooks unless they’re very cheap and you accept that their software support is ending.
Updated 30 October 2026.
Still deciding between Mac and Windows? See MacBook or Windows laptop first.
Air vs Pro in plain words
| MacBook Air | MacBook Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Students, office work, browsing, light photo editing | Video editing, music production, developers, designers |
| Cooling | No fan: silent, but slows under long heavy loads | Fans: holds full speed for hours |
| Screen | 13 or 15 inch, very good | 14 or 16 inch, brighter, faster refresh |
| Ports | 2 Thunderbolt (USB-C); newer ones add MagSafe | More Thunderbolt, HDMI, SD card slot |
| Weight | Lighter, easy for matatu commutes | Heavier, especially the 16-inch |
Apple also sells the MacBook Neo, a cheaper laptop with an iPhone chip and 8 GB of memory. It suits schoolwork and browsing, not heavy apps.
Intel vs Apple silicon (M-series)
Since late 2020, Macs use Apple’s own chips (M1, M2, M3 and newer). Even an M1 Air beats most Intel MacBooks on speed and battery life.
Should I buy an Intel Mac? Generally no. Apple has said macOS Tahoe (macOS 26) is the last major version for Intel Macs. They still get security fixes for a while, but apps gradually drop support.
Many ex-UK MacBooks sold in Kenya are older Intel models. Check Apple menu > About This Mac: it says “Chip: Apple M…” or “Processor: Intel…”.
How old is too old: macOS support
- Oldest worth buying: the M1 MacBook Air or Pro (2020), which runs current macOS.
- Intel MacBooks from 2019–2020: only as a cheap backup machine for basic tasks.
- Older Intel models: skip. Browsers and banking sites will eventually stop supporting them.
On any used Mac, check the battery health and cycle count before paying; see MacBook battery cycle count. Make sure the seller has signed out of their Apple account (Activation Lock off). A worn battery or missing charger adds to the real cost, so get a repair quote first.
RAM and storage choices
You can’t upgrade RAM or storage on any M-series Mac later, so buy what you’ll need for the next five years.
- RAM: 8 GB covers basics; 16 GB is safer for multitasking, Zoom plus many tabs, or light editing. Newer MacBook Air and Pro models start at 16 GB. Details in 8GB vs 16GB RAM on a MacBook.
- Storage: 256 GB fills fast with photos and WhatsApp media. Go for 512 GB if you can, or plan on cloud or an external drive.
Quick decision table
| You are… | Buy |
|---|---|
| A student on a tight budget | Used M1/M2 Air, or a MacBook Neo |
| An office worker or freelancer | M-series Air, 16 GB, 512 GB |
| A video editor, developer or creator | MacBook Pro, 16 GB or more |
| Shopping only on price | Avoid Intel; stretch for an M1 |
Wondering if a new model is due soon? Read buy a MacBook now or wait.
Quick answers
A MacBook Air with an M-series chip and 16 GB of RAM suits most people. Pick a Pro for sustained heavy work like video editing.
Usually not. Intel Macs no longer get new major macOS versions, so app support and resale value keep dropping.
The M1 MacBook Air or Pro from 2020. Anything older is Intel and nearing the end of its software life.
