Best MacBook in 2021: the best Apple laptop for your needs

If you need a new Apple laptop, it's a really good time to buy one. The latest MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro models use a proprietary chip designed by Apple — the M1— instead of the Intel processors the company has used for several years. In our testing, the M1 set new standards in speed and energy efficiency, and it is available even in the company's least expensive notebook, making the $999 MacBook Air a clear choice for the best Mac laptop for most users. For those who need a little more power and battery life, the 13-inch MacBook Pro should fit the bill.