The best MacBooks to buy in 2025: The M5 has arrived

Ever since the rollout of the first M-series chips in 2020, the best MacBooks have dominated our guides to the top laptops.

Thanks to the latest Apple silicon, the company's signature laptops have consistently offered impressive performance and long battery lives (which Windows laptops have only begun to touch). Granted, MacBooks can be expensive — especially as you add more RAM and storage — but their premium price tags accurately reflect their premium, oft-imitated design and quality.

Apple's hot streak continues with the latest M4- and M5-powered models, some of the best MacBooks (and some of the best laptops) ever.

Which MacBook should you buy?

Apple just debuted the M5 MacBook Pro, but I think this year's 15-inch M4 MacBook Air is the best choice for most people because of its big display and quiet, Pro-level power. Its 13-inch counterpart is the best option for students since it's cheaper and a little more portable. Pro tip: you almost never have to pay full price for these Apple laptops: They're almost always on sale at Amazon and Best Buy.

If you want a nicer 120Hz display, cooler multitasking performance, and a better variety of ports than the Air models offer, go with the new 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro. (Its predecessor is also worth considering if it's on sale.)

Read on for my full recommendations and find the best MacBook to buy in 2025, with options for students, professionals, and bargain hunters.

What's new

As of late October 2025, the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro has replaced the M4 model as our upgrade pick for users who want a nicer display, more ports, and cooler multitasking performance. It's a smidge faster than its predecessor and priced the same. Their design and specs are otherwise identical.