Best Macs to Buy Right Now (August 2026)
2026 is one of the most exciting times to shop for a Mac. Apple's M5 lineup, the MacBook Air M5 and MacBook Pro M5 series, is now the current generation, and the $699 MacBook Neo still makes macOS affordable even after the June price reset.
Whether you are a student, designer, or video professional, there is a Mac with your name on it.
| Model | Chip | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Neo | A18 | $699 | Budget / students |
| MacBook Air 13" M5 | M5 | $1,299 | Students |
| MacBook Air 15" M5 | M5 | $1,499 | Bigger screen |
| MacBook Air M4 | M4 | Discounted | Value |
| MacBook Pro 14" M5 | M5 | $1,999 | Pro users |
| MacBook Pro 14" M5 Pro | M5 Pro | $2,499 | Developers |
| MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro | M5 Pro | $2,999 | Pro workflows |
| MacBook Pro M5 Max | M5 Max | $4,099+ | Extreme |
| Mac mini M4 | M4 | $799 | Desktop |
| iMac M4 | M4 | $1,499 | Families |
| Mac Studio | M4 Max / M3 Ultra | $2,499 | Creators |
| Mac Pro | M3 Ultra | $6,999 | Enterprise |
Best Mac for Most People: MacBook Air M5
The MacBook Air M5 is the one to buy if you are not sure which Mac you need. The updated Air arrives with the new M5 chip, featuring a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU with roughly 36% faster GPU performance than the M4.
After Apple's June 2026 price reset, the 13-inch and 15-inch Air sit at higher Apple list prices than they did at launch, which makes live retailer discounts more important. Both support up to 32GB of unified memory, Wi-Fi 7, and deliver around 18 hours of battery life. The Air remains completely fanless, running silently under virtually all everyday workloads.
Apple price data by TheresMac · updated periodically
When to Consider Other Macs
MacBook Neo
At $699 (up from its $599 launch price after the June 2026 reset), the MacBook Neo is Apple's cheapest laptop in years. It runs the A18 chip rather than an M-series processor, so it's built for browsing, school, and everyday work, not pro apps. The best first Mac for students and anyone on a budget.
MacBook Pro M5 Series
For professionals who need the latest chips, ProMotion displays, and dedicated graphics. Current Apple list prices moved higher in June 2026, so check the live product pages before treating any Pro configuration as a fixed-price buy.
Mac mini M4
At $799, the Mac mini M4 is the best value in the Mac lineup for home office and desktop users who already have a monitor. (Apple discontinued the $599 entry tier earlier in 2026.)
iMac M4
At $1,499, the iMac M4 is a great choice for families and home offices that want an all-in-one solution with a beautiful 4.5K Retina display.
Mac Studio
Starting at $2,499 with M4 Max after the June 2026 price reset (Ultra configurations cost more), the Mac Studio is the ultimate workstation for video editors, musicians, and developers who need serious performance.
Compare the latest checked Mac offers from Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers on TheresMac.