Apple’s Mac product line has changed a lot recently, and if you’re looking for a new Mac, you have a number of options to consider. For some, it’s a simple decision, but for others, the choice can be more complex.

If you need a Home Office MAC, you currently have four options for that type of computer. If you want a laptop, you have three options. However, you may also want to use a laptop on your desktop, which increases the number of options. In this article, I’ll help you choose the right Mac for your use case.

Apple’s new M1 processors

The biggest change in choosing new Macs is the recent release of Macs with Apple’s M1 processors. Apple’s initial presentation of these new computers was so overwhelming that Mac users couldn’t believe what they were seeing. The promised speed and power consumption were unexpected, and that has been confirmed in benchmarks and real-world use.

These models are equipped with a processor with eight cores; you can think of one core as a mini processor. Much of our work is done with a single core, but for demanding tasks, multiple cores work simultaneously. We can expect Apple to offer 16-core processors soon, which will be even faster, and maybe even 32-core processors in the near future.

For this reason, you should either get one of the new M1 Macs – right now, that’s the 24-inch iMac, MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini – or wait until other new models with these processors become available. If you need a Mac now and want the latest technology, you can only choose from these three models, but if you can wait, we’re sure to see new models soon.

The M1 iMacs come in seven colors.

One important point: If you’re depending on the software that hasn’t and won’t be updated for Apple’s M1 processor, or if you absolutely need a Mac with an Intel processor because you want to be able to run Windows on your Mac with Boot Camp, now is the time to buy one. Soon all Macs will have Apple’s processors.

Cost

If money is no object and you need a workhorse, don’t waste too much time. Opt for the Mac Pro. With a price starting at $5,999, it’s the Rolls Royce of desktop Macs, and you can configure it at a staggering price – over $50,000 – if you want it lightning-fast, with plenty of RAM and SSD storage.

What do you use your Mac for?

Do you only use your Mac to surf the web, send an email, maybe stream music or play simple games? If so, you don’t need to buy the most expensive Mac. But if you’re a real gamer or shoot a lot of videos or edit photos, then you need a Mac that can handle the load. (Spoiler: Any M1 Mac can handle just about anything you throw at it).

And do you want to be portable? If so, how much weight are you willing to carry around? Do you want a computer that you can use on your desk, but that you can fold up when you don’t need it? Today’s laptops offer the best of both worlds for many people. Even if you find the screen too small for home or office use, you can connect an external monitor, but put it out of the way when you’re not using it and don’t want to see it.

If you don’t use your computer much and don’t need any special applications – and if you don’t need to work with a lot of files that you copy to or retrieve from your computer – you might even want to consider an iPad.

One way to save money

You may be able to save money by browsing the refurbished and clearance sections of Apple’s online store. Here you can usually find Macs and other Apple products at a 15% discount. These are last year’s models, but they are covered by Apple’s full warranty and you can even purchase AppleCare protection. I’ve bought Macs this way before, and they are a great way to save money. They don’t have configuration options, though, so you have to find a Mac that fits your needs. At the time of writing, Apple is selling some of the new M1 Macs on its refurbished page.

There are a variety of options for Macs today, covering a wide range of sizes, weights, power, and price, but there are also new Macs coming soon with Apple’s own processors. Considering how fast and power-efficient these new Macs are if any of the four available models fit your needs, it’s a good time to buy.