Our Verdict
Proper now we’d advocate the MacBook Professional fashions – 13in, 14in and 16in over the iMac. The 13in MacBook Professional provides higher worth for cash and higher chips than the 24in iMac and the 14in and 16in MacBook Professional boast the M2 Professional and M2 Max choices which can be superior to the M1 and the M2.
Worth When Reviewed
Apple 13-inch MacBook Professional (M2, 2022): $1,299
Apple iMac (M1, 2021): From $1,299
Greatest Pricing In the present day for 13in MacBook Professional, M2
$1299.00
$1299.00
$1299.00
We’re evaluating the 24-inch iMac with all sizes of Apple’s MacBook Professional right here, however there’s extra to it than a simple comparability of desktop versus laptop computer. For every Apple product there are variants that go well with completely different clients. A few of you studying this can be hoping for recommendation about whether or not to decide on a brand new 24in iMac or a 13in MacBook Professional, whereas others could also be in search of a little bit bit extra energy and could also be questioning if there’s a good cause to decide on the iMac or the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Professional.
Previous to the spring of 2022 Apple additionally offered a 27-inch iMac and prior to now it has additionally offered an iMac Professional, these focused Macs are now not offered by Apple, though you should still be capable to purchase one from a reseller who nonetheless has inventory. Nonetheless, as a result of they’re powered by Intel chip moderately than the Apple M-series, we’d advise in opposition to shopping for one proper now. There’s a likelihood that the iMac Professional is perhaps reborn in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later, however to this point that’s solely a rumor.
Traditionally it’s been the case {that a} Mac laptop computer, even when it had comparable specs to a desktop, value a little bit extra since you are paying additional for the compact type issue of a laptop computer. Nonetheless, that’s not essentially true proper now. Within the case of the 13-inch MacBook Professional versus the 24-inch iMac, the iMac has the next value regardless of having worst specs (an M1 moderately than the M2).
The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional have even increased costs, however the specs are superior and there are another advantages in comparison with the iMac.
For the newest cash off offers on any of those Macs learn:
Greatest iMac offers and
Greatest MacBook Professional offers.
Learn our critiques of the merchandise talked about right here:
13-inch MacBook Professional vs 24-inch iMac
We’ll begin with the consumer-oriented MacBook Professional and have a look at the way it compares to the 24-inch iMac. If you’re in search of a strong Mac that doesn’t break the bank then the 13-inch MacBook Professional and the 24-inch iMac are place to start out.
Previous to June 2022 each of those Macs featured the identical Apple processor – the M1. Nonetheless, in June 2022 Apple began promoting a brand new 13-inch MacBook Professional that boasts an M2 chip, which is superior to the M1 nonetheless used within the iMac. Learn our 13-inch MacBook Professional (M2) overview. The M2 MacBook Professional is the one MacBook in Apple’s lineup that options the Contact Bar.
The 24-inch iMac was launched in April 2021. It featured an entire redesign in comparison with the earlier 21.5-inch mannequin, got here in seven colors and featured Apple’s M1 Chip. There are three 24in iMacs to select from with varied specs as normal (and lots of extra construct to order choices). Learn our 24-inch iMac (M1) overview.
Each the 24-inch iMac and 13-inch MacBook Professional have first rate specs, for essentially the most half, and each have fairly priced entry-level fashions that will imply you don’t must exceed your funds. We’ll run by value and specs in additional element beneath.
Foundry
What do you get to your cash?
Within the U.S. the 13-inch MacBook Professional and iMac are available in on the similar value: $1,299. Nonetheless, within the UK and elsewhere the costs aren’t the identical. Within the U.Okay., following value will increase on the finish of 2022, the iMac now prices £1,399 (it was £1,249) whereas the 13-inch MacBook Professional prices £1,349. Following this value enhance for the iMac, the iMac it now £50 greater than the MacBook Professional, the place it was once £100 much less. In Europe the worth for the iMac is now from €1,549, whereas the MacBook Professional is from €1,599 (so the iMac is €50 lower than MacBook Professional). Go determine.
Canada, Australia and different areas exterior the U.S. additionally noticed value will increase, however normally these adjustments put the worth according to the MacBook Professional. So in Canada the iMac is now C$1,699 (was C$1,599), the identical because the M2 MacBook Professional A$1,699. And in Australia the place the iMac is now A$1,999 (was A$1,899) just like the M2 MacBook Professional at A$1,999. So, as you’ll be able to see, the query of worth for cash is determined by the place you might be primarily based! In most locations the iMac prices the identical because the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Professional, within the U.Okay it prices extra and in Europe it prices much less…
Right here’s what you get to your cash:
- 24-inch iMac, M1, 8-core CPU/7-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Retina 4.5K show, for $1,299 / £1,399 / C$1,699 / A$1,999.
- 13-inch MacBook Professional, M2, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD for $1,299 / £1,349 / C$1,699 / A$1,999
Observe that when you decide the iMac you’ll have one fewer graphics core and the M1 is an older technology Apple processor than the M2. Learn: Each Apple chip in contrast. M2 vs M1 Professional, Max, and Extremely.
When you have a little bit extra to spend you might have the next selections:
- 24-inch iMac, M1, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Retina 4.5K show, for $1,499 / £1,599 / C$1,949 / A$2,299
- 13-inch MacBook Professional, M2, 8-core CPU/10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD for $1,499 / £1,549 / C$1,949 / A$2,299
Once more, the worth within the U.S., Canada and Australia is similar for the iMac and MacBook Professional, whereas within the U.Okay. MacBook Professional prices £50 much less. Right here not solely is the processor within the MacBook Professional higher than that of the iMac, you additionally get twice as a lot storage.
The iMac prices the identical (or £50 extra within the U.Okay.) and provides worse specs, so the selection is obvious: The 13-inch MacBook Professional is significantly better worth, until you discover a actually whole lot on a brand new iMac.
Foundry
14-inch & 16-inch MacBook Professional vs 24-inch iMac
When you require a extra highly effective Mac, and have the funds, then prior to now you might need thought-about the 27-inch iMac, and even the iMac Professional, however Apple has discontinued each of those fashions, introducing the Mac Studio as an alternative. See: Is Mac Studio a worthy alternative for a 27-inch iMac?
The Mac Studio is a superb choice when you want a strong Mac, as is the Mac mini with M2 Professional or M2 Max, however in case you are in search of a Mac with a construct in show the Mac Studio lacks one. If a in-built display is necessary to you could be contemplating the iMac because of it’s 24-inch show compared to the bigger MacBook Professional fashions that supply 14-inch and 16-inch screens.
Additionally learn: Mac mini vs Mac Studio.
What you get to your cash
You might take into account both of the iMacs we’ve talked about above, however with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional having the next beginning value than each of those choices, we are going to evaluate the MacBook Professional with the dearer iMac choice beneath:
- 24-inch iMac, M1, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Retina 4.5K show, for $1,699 / £1,799 / C$2,199 / A$2,599
- 14-inch MacBook Professional, M2 Professional, 8-core CPU/14-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD for $1,999 / £2,149 / C$2,599 / A$3,199
The most affordable 14-inch MacBook Professional prices greater than the most costly iMac – is it value the additional cash? One think about favour of the 14-inch MacBook Professional is the M2 Professional, which is a superior processor to the M1 within the iMac. For extra data learn What Mac processor do I want?
One think about favour of the iMac–most likely the one issue–is the display, which is a 4.5K show. The discontinued 27-inch iMac had a 5K show. The display on the 24.5-inch iMac is nice, however not important given that you would be able to plug in extra shows to your MacBook Professional. See our spherical up of the perfect shows for a Mac.
When you want a strong machine then the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Professional is the one to decide on. There actually isn’t any escaping the truth that when you want a excessive specced machine, the iMac and MacBook Professional with M2 Professional or M2 Max don’t evaluate very favourably proper now. Nonetheless, that will change if Apple re-introduces the 27in iMac. Examine what we count on Apple to do with the professional model of the iMac.
Learn extra in regards to the variations between the 13-inch, 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional.
Verdict
Proper now we’d advocate all fashions of the MacBook Professional over the 24-inch iMac.
When you have extra to spend and wish a strong machine then it’s value contemplating the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional.
Nonetheless, the MacBook Professional isn’t essentially the perfect Mac laptop computer you can purchase – the MacBook Air would possibly do the job simply as properly for even much less cash, wherein case, learn our comparability of the MacBook Professional and MacBook Air.
Greatest costs proper now:
13-inch MacBook Professional, M2, 8-core, 10-core, 256GB – MSRP $1,299 / £1,349
$1299.00
$1299.00
$1299.00
13-inch MacBook Professional, M2, 8-core, 10-core, 512GB – MSRP $1,499 / £1,549 / C$1,949 / A$2,299
$1,349.00
$1499.00
$1499.00
$1499.00
$1499
24-inch iMac, M1, 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU, 256GB SSD – MSRP from $1,299 / £1,399 / C$1,599 / AU$1,899
$1249.00
$1,249.00
$1299.00
$1299
$1299.99
24in iMac, M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 256GB SSD – MSRP $1,499 / £1,599 / AU$2,199
$1449.00
$1,449.00
$1499.00
$1499.99
24in iMac, M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 512GB SSD – MSRP $1,699 / £1,799 / AU$2,499
$1,699.00
$1699.00
$1699.99
14in MacBook Professional, M2 Professional, 10-Core CPU/16-Core GPU, 512GB – MSRP: $1,999 / £2,149
$1999.00
$1999.00
$1999.00
$2,849.99
14in MacBook Professional, M2 Professional, 12-Core CPU/19-Core GPU, 1TB – MSRP: $2,499 / £2,699
$2,249.00
$2499.00
$2499.00
$2499.00
$2499
14in MacBook Professional, M2 Max, 12-Core CPU/30-Core GPU, 1TB – MSRP: $3,099 / £3,349
$3099.00
$3099.00
$3099.00
$3099
16in MacBook Professional, M2 Professional, 12-Core CPU/19-Core GPU, 512GB – MSRP: $2,499 / £2,699
$1999.00
$2,088.00
$2099.00
$2499
