Apple laptops are separated into two main types: the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. While both families include some of the highest-performing laptop models on the market, the Air focuses on packaging quality features in a lightweight design while the Pro targets the data and graphics-heavy needs of professionals who work with visual content or run complex programs.

Within each category, you will find a variety of processor, RAM, storage and display options. The high-end MacBook Air options include MacBook Air computers with 500GB to 1TB of storage. And there are many models of MacBook Pro with 1TB of storage as well.

MacBooks also rely on different central processing units: intel processors and Apple processors. Intel MacBooks run on the same processors as most traditional Windows desktops and provide reliable performance for a wide range of computing tasks. Apple MacBooks, on the other hand, run on Apple’s custom-designed processor, which has showcased impressive performance improvements compared to Intel processors in certain tasks, such as multitasking and energy efficiency.

When choosing the best Apple MacBook for you, consider the tasks you’ll be doing on your computer and look at the hardware recommendations for the software products you frequently use. If you are using video editing software, photo editing software or are interested in graphic design or gaming, you will want to prioritize graphics and processing speeds. But if you’re looking into how to choose the best laptop for college, you might want to save some money by going with one of the baseline models.

Also, if you’re concerned about your budget, you can get more value for less by going with a refurbished MacBook or an open-box MacBook. These options let you get the most out of you laptop, but are much more affordable than a new MacBook.

Before you start using or traveling with your MacBook, make sure you protect it properly by investing in a laptop bag or case and in antivirus and security software. You can also extend your product’s hardware repair and technical support with the purchase of AppleCare+.