Which MacBook to Buy in 2026: Air, Pro, Neo, or Wait for the M6 and Touchscreen MacBook?
Most people should buy the MacBook Air. Light, silent and fast enough for almost everything. On a tight budget, the new MacBook Neo is the cheapest real Mac. Heavy video and 3D work is Pro territory. Waiting for the M6 MacBook Pro expected in October only makes sense if you want the entry 14-inch Pro.
Pick your path:
- Tight budgetThe MacBook Neo, the new entry point
- Air or Pro?Settled in two minutes
- Which chipM1 to M6, decoded
- Wait for M6?Only for the base 14-inch Pro
- Memory and storageWhat to actually configure
- Refurbished?Often the smart move
Prices, the mistakes MacBook buyers make in 2026, and the tips: below.
Buying a MacBook in 2026 is more interesting than it has been for years. Apple’s line-up now runs from a brand-new, really affordable model right up to seriously powerful pro machines, so the real question is not whether a MacBook is good, it is which one is right for you and your budget.
This guide breaks down the whole range in plain English: the new MacBook Neo, the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro, whether to wait for the M6 MacBook Pro or the touchscreen model, which Apple chip you actually need, how much to spend, whether a refurbished Mac makes sense, and the everyday tips and shortcuts every new owner asks about.
- The 2026 MacBook line-up
- The new MacBook Neo
- MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro
- Which Apple chip: M1 to M6
- Should you wait for the M6 MacBook Pro or the touchscreen MacBook?
- How much memory and storage
- How much is a MacBook, and is it worth it?
- Are refurbished MacBooks worth it?
- What most buyers get wrong in 2026
- Essential MacBook tips and shortcuts
- Who should buy which MacBook
The 2026 MacBook line-up
Apple now sells three MacBook families, and for the first time in a long while they cover very different budgets:
- MacBook Neo is the new entry point, a 13-inch laptop aimed at students and everyday users who want a real Mac without the usual price tag.
- MacBook Air is the all-rounder most buyers should buy, thin, fanless and silent, in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes.
- MacBook Pro is the powerhouse, with faster chips, active cooling, a brighter screen and more ports, in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes.
All of them run macOS and Apple’s own silicon, which is why even the cheapest feels quick and lasts a long time on battery. The differences come down to power, screen and price.
On Apple’s UK store in September 2026, the Neo starts at £699, the Air at £1,299 and the Pro at £1,999. Those are the prices after Apple’s June price rise.
The new MacBook Neo: Apple’s most affordable Mac
The headline launch of 2026 is the MacBook Neo, and it has been one of the most talked-about laptops of the year. It is a 13-inch Mac that launched at £599 ($599) in March. Apple’s June price rise took it to £699 ($699), and it is still the cheapest MacBook Apple sells.
Instead of an M-series chip, the Neo uses the A18 Pro, the same processor as the iPhone 16 Pro. In everyday use that means performance close to an M1 MacBook Air, which is plenty for browsing, office work, study, streaming and video calls. It comes in fun aluminium colours (silver, indigo, blush and citrus), with 8GB of memory and storage up to 512GB.
The Neo is not built for heavy video editing or large coding projects, and supply has been tight because of how the chips are made. But as an affordable, premium-feeling laptop it competes directly with Chromebooks and budget Windows machines. If you have been weighing a Mac against a cheaper option, our guide to whether a Chromebook is worth it is a useful companion read, as is the Googlebook price against the Chromebook range.
MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro
This is the decision most buyers wrestle with. The simple version: the Air is for everyday life, the Pro is for demanding work. The Air is thinner, lighter, completely silent because it has no fan, and cheaper. The Pro has more powerful chips, a fan so it can run hard for hours, a brighter higher-refresh screen and extra ports like HDMI and an SD card slot.
If your day is browsing, email, Office, study, photos and the odd bit of light editing, the Air will not break a sweat and you will love how portable it is. If you edit 4K video, produce music, compile code or run heavy apps all day, the Pro’s cooling and power are worth it. If you are choosing for the office, see how the Air compares with Windows work laptops. Here is how the three compare.
| MacBook Neo | MacBook Air | MacBook Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | A18 Pro | M5 | M5 / M5 Pro / M5 Max (M6 base model expected October) |
| Best for | Budget, students, everyday | Everyday users, everyday and light creative | Creative pros, developers, heavy work |
| Screen | 13 inch | 13 or 15 inch | 14 or 16 inch, brighter |
| Cooling | Fanless | Fanless | Active fan |
| Ports | Limited | Two USB-C / Thunderbolt | More ports, HDMI, SD |
| Starting price (Apple UK) | From £699 | From £1,299 | From £1,999 |
Two differences are easy to miss but matter every day. The Pro’s screen is far brighter, around 1000 nits against 500 on the Air, with ProMotion that runs at 120Hz for smoother scrolling, while the Air’s display is lovely but capped at 60Hz. Only the M5 Pro and Max models carry the new Thunderbolt 5 ports for the fastest external drives and displays. The Pro also lasts longer off the charger, up to around 24 hours against roughly 18 on the Air.
Which Apple chip: M1 to M6 (and the A18 Pro)
Apple silicon is the engine inside every modern Mac, and the numbers can be confusing. Here is what they mean in real terms:
- M1 and M2: still excellent for everyday tasks. You will mostly find these in refurbished and older models, and they remain great value.
- M3 and M4: the chips in recent MacBook Air models before the M5 Air arrived in March 2026. Fast, efficient and more than enough for almost everyone, so they make strong refurbished buys.
- M5, M5 Pro and M5 Max: the chips in the current MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Their headline upgrade is AI, not raw speed: a neural accelerator is now built into every GPU core, for up to four times the AI performance of M4, plus a new networking chip that adds Wi-Fi 7. General day-to-day speed is only modestly higher than M4.
- M6: Apple’s first 2-nanometre chip, announced on 25 August 2026 in the Mac mini. It has two more CPU cores and two more GPU cores than M5, and Apple quotes up to 1.2 times the multithreaded speed. No MacBook uses it yet. The base 14-inch MacBook Pro is expected to be first.
- A18 Pro: the iPhone-derived chip in the MacBook Neo, roughly M1-class for day-to-day use.
The takeaway: unless you do professional creative work, you do not need the most powerful chip. A current Air, or even an M1 or M2 model, will feel fast for a long time.
Should you wait for the M6 MacBook Pro or the touchscreen MacBook?
If you are about to buy a MacBook Air or a MacBook Neo, don’t wait. If you want the entry 14-inch MacBook Pro, waiting a few weeks for the M6 model makes sense. And if you are holding out for an “M6 Pro” or “M6 Max”, there is nothing to wait for, because Apple is not expected to make one.
What is confirmed. The M6 chip is real. Apple announced it on 25 August 2026 inside the new Mac mini. It is Apple’s first 2-nanometre chip, with a 12-core CPU and a 12-core GPU, two more cores of each than M5. Apple quotes up to 1.2 times the multithreaded speed of M5 and up to 32GB of memory. That helps you: the M6 Mac mini is already on sale, so its reviews tell you roughly how an M6 laptop will perform.
What is reported, not confirmed. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman expects a base 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 chip to launch in October, in line with Apple’s usual schedule, and 9to5Mac’s October preview on 25 September still lists it. Gurman also reports that Apple will skip M6 Pro and M6 Max and move straight to M7 Pro and M7 Max in late 2027. The Mac mini fits that picture: its faster model uses the M5 Pro, not an M6 Pro.
The touchscreen MacBook. This is a separate, more expensive model. Reports describe 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with touch-enabled OLED screens, a thinner body and a Dynamic Island in place of the notch, possibly sold as a “MacBook Ultra”. They are expected to use M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, not M6. On 14 September Gurman reported that Apple is testing them with macOS 27.1, due in late October, and listed them as coming later this year. Research firm Omdia says the current MacBook Pro will stay on sale alongside them.
| What you are waiting for | Status on 25 September 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| M6 chip | Confirmed, in the Mac mini since 25 August | Apple |
| M6 14-inch MacBook Pro | Expected in October, not announced | Bloomberg, 9to5Mac |
| M6 Pro and M6 Max | Not expected. M7 Pro and M7 Max due late 2027 | Bloomberg |
| Touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro | Expected late 2026, could slip to early 2027 | Bloomberg, Omdia |
| MacBook Air M6 | No firm report. The Air moved to M5 in March 2026 | MacRumors |
How much will the M6 MacBook Pro cost? Apple has not said. Today the M5 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at £1,999 on Apple’s UK store. The one M6 Mac on sale is a warning sign: the M6 Mac mini starts at $899 in the US, and Ars Technica’s review calls it a $300 price rise. Memory costs are behind it, so don’t assume the M6 laptop will cost the same as the M5 one. The touchscreen model is expected to cost more than today’s MacBook Pro, where the 14-inch M5 Pro already starts at $2,499 in the US.
In Reddit’s MacBook forums this month, several buyers have asked whether to hold off an M5 Pro for an M6 Pro. Based on every report so far, that wait runs into late 2027 and a different chip, M7. If your current laptop is failing or you need a Mac for work now, buy now. If you want the base 14-inch Pro and can manage until the end of October, wait and compare.
How much memory and storage do you need?
This is where it pays to think ahead, because you cannot upgrade memory or storage on a Mac after you buy it. It is sealed in.
Memory: Apple’s unified memory is efficient, but 8GB now feels tight if you keep lots of tabs and apps open. For a machine that stays smooth for a good few years, 16GB is the practical pick, and it is the single upgrade we recommend most. Creative pros should consider 24GB or 32GB.
Storage: 256GB fills up fast once you add photos, apps and files. 512GB is a more comfortable starting point for plenty of people, and 1TB if you store a lot of media locally. You can always use iCloud or an external drive, but built-in storage is the most convenient.
How much is a MacBook, and is it worth it?
Prices now span a wide range. On Apple’s UK store the MacBook Neo starts at £699, the MacBook Air at £1,299 and the MacBook Pro at £1,999, climbing further with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
Is a MacBook worth it? For a lot of people, yes. You get a beautifully built laptop, superb battery life, near-silent running on the Air and Neo, fast performance and software support that lasts many years, which protects the resale value too. The trade-off is the upfront cost and the fact that you pay extra for memory and storage upgrades. If your budget is tight and your needs are simple, the Neo or a refurbished Air gets you the Mac experience for much less.
One timing note for 2026: a global memory shortage has pushed component costs up across the industry, and on 25 June Apple raised Mac prices because of it. The Neo went from $599 to $699, a MacBook Air with 512GB rose by $200 and a MacBook Pro with 1TB rose by $300, as The Guardian reported. The first M6 Mac then arrived costing more than the model it replaced. So MacBook prices are more likely to rise than fall. Waiting only pays if you are waiting for a specific new model.
Are refurbished MacBooks worth it?
Often, yes. A professionally refurbished MacBook is checked, cleaned and restored to full working order, so you get the same macOS experience and years of remaining software support for a lot less than new. Because Macs hold up so well, a refurbished M1 or M2 Air can be a smarter buy than a brand-new budget Windows laptop.
The things to check are simple: buy from a seller that grades the condition clearly and includes a warranty, and confirm the memory and storage suit your needs, since those cannot be changed later. One expert check: look at which Apple chip it has. Macs receive new macOS versions for many years, so an M1, M2 or later machine still has plenty of supported life ahead, while much older Intel Macs are near the end of theirs. Because Macs hold their value better than most laptops, paying a little more for a newer chip often pays you back at resale. Browse our refurbished laptops to see the current choice.
What most MacBook buyers get wrong in 2026
A few things we wish more shoppers knew before they spend:
- The M5 leap is about AI, not everyday speed. The big change in M5 is a neural accelerator inside every GPU core, worth up to four times the AI performance of M4. For browsing, Office and the usual apps you will barely feel the difference, so do not pay for an M5 Pro unless you actually run local AI, heavy video or 3D work.
- Memory costs have already pushed Macs up. Apple raised MacBook prices on 25 June and blamed memory costs. If you know you want a Mac, buying sooner is more likely to save you money than waiting. We cover the wider squeeze in our guide to RAM and SSD prices in 2026.
- Choose memory over storage. You can always add an external SSD or lean on iCloud, but you can never add memory to a Mac. 16GB of unified memory is the upgrade that keeps it fast well into the future.
- The cheapest Pro is not always the Pro you want. The base 14-inch Pro shares its chip class with the Air. The real Pro advantages, Thunderbolt 5, the brightest XDR screen and the most GPU cores, live in the M5 Pro and Max models.
- There is no M6 Pro to wait for. Reports say Apple is skipping M6 Pro and M6 Max and moving to M7 in late 2027. Even the touchscreen MacBook Pro is expected to use M5 Pro and M5 Max. If you need Pro or Max power, the current generation is what you will get this year. What is confirmed and what is rumour.
Essential MacBook tips and shortcuts
New to Mac, or switching from Windows? These are the shortcuts people search for most, with the exact keys to press.
- Take a screenshot: Cmd + Shift + 3 for the whole screen, or Cmd + Shift + 4 to drag and select an area. They save to the Desktop.
- Screen capture toolbar and recording: Cmd + Shift + 5 opens options to grab part of the screen or record video.
- Copy and paste: Cmd + C to copy, Cmd + V to paste, Cmd + X to cut. To paste plain text, use Shift + Cmd + V.
- Right-click: tap the trackpad with two fingers, or hold Control and click.
- #️⃣ Type a hashtag on a UK MacBook: press Option + 3. The # is not printed on UK Mac keyboards, but this shortcut always works.
- Force quit a frozen app: Cmd + Option + Esc, then pick the app.
- Emoji and symbols: Control + Cmd + Space.
- Split the screen: hover over the green button at the top-left of a window, then choose to tile it left or right.
- Factory reset: open System Settings, then General, then Transfer or Reset, then Erase All Content and Settings.
Who should buy which MacBook
To make it simple:
- Students and tight budgets: the MacBook Neo, or a refurbished MacBook Air.
- Most people: the MacBook Air, ideally with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage.
- Creative pros and developers: the MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro or Max chip and plenty of memory.
- Want the newest entry-level Pro: wait for the M6 14-inch MacBook Pro expected in October.
- Big-screen workers: the 15-inch Air or 16-inch Pro for more room without an external monitor.
Browse our current MacBook range below. Every listing shows the exact chip, memory and storage, with a full manufacturer warranty.
Apple MacBook Air M5 13.6″ 16GB 512GB SSD macOS Navy
In stock
Apple MacBook Air M5 16GB 512GB SSD macOS
In stock
Apple MacBook Air M5, 13.6″, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, macOS Beige
In stock
Apple MacBook Air M5, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, macOS
In stock
Apple MacBook Air M5 15.3″ 16GB 1TB SSD macOS Navy
In stock
Apple MacBook Air M5 Laptop 13.6″ 24GB 1TB SSD macOS
In stock
Apple MacBook Air M5 13.6″ 24GB 1TB SSD macOS Silver
In stock
Apple MacBook Air M5, 13.6″, 24GB, 1TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7, macOS Beige
In stock
Pro tip: spend your money on memory before chip. Jumping from 8GB to 16GB of unified memory keeps a MacBook smooth for far longer than paying for a faster chip you will rarely push. You cannot add memory later, so get it right at the checkout.
How we know, as a UK retailer: we stock, sell and support MacBooks and a wide range of laptops every day, and we handle the questions, returns and warranty claims that come with them. That gives us a practical view of which models suit which buyers, what people actually ask before they commit, and where the real value sits. We do not run a testing lab. Instead we cross-check the latest specs against Apple’s own information and trusted independent reviews, and we keep our advice honest whether or not it leads to a sale.
For most buyers the MacBook Air is the obvious pick. On a tight budget, the new MacBook Neo gives you a real Mac for less. For professional creative or developer work, choose the MacBook Pro. Aim for 16GB of memory whichever you pick.
The Air is thinner, lighter, silent because it has no fan, and cheaper, which suits everyday use. The Pro has more powerful chips, active cooling, a brighter screen and more ports, which suits heavy creative and developer work.
It is Apple's most affordable Mac, launched in 2026. A 13-inch laptop with the iPhone's A18 Pro chip, colourful aluminium and a UK starting price of £699 since Apple's June price rise. It performs roughly like an M1 MacBook Air for everyday tasks.
On Apple's UK store the MacBook Neo starts at £699, the MacBook Air at £1,299 and the MacBook Pro at £1,999, with M5 Pro and M5 Max models costing more. Refurbished models cost noticeably less.
Press Cmd + Shift + 3 for the whole screen, or Cmd + Shift + 4 to drag and select an area. Use Cmd + Shift + 5 for the capture toolbar and screen recording. Screenshots save to the Desktop.
Highlight the text, press Cmd + C to copy and Cmd + V to paste, and Cmd + X to cut. To right-click, tap the trackpad with two fingers or hold Control and click.
Press Option (Alt) + 3. The hash symbol is not printed on UK Mac keyboards, but this shortcut always produces it.
Yes, if they are professionally refurbished, graded for condition and covered by a warranty. You get the full macOS experience and years of support for much less than new.
Only if you want the entry 14-inch MacBook Pro and can wait a few weeks. It is expected in October, but Apple has not announced it. If you need an Air, a Neo, or M5 Pro or Max power, buy now, because no M6 version of those is expected soon.
Apple has not announced a price, and reports say there will be no M6 Pro chip at all. The M6 MacBook Pro expected in October replaces the M5 14-inch model, which starts at £1,999 on Apple's UK store. Ars Technica's review of the M6 Mac mini calls it a $300 price rise, so a higher price is possible.
It looks likely but is not confirmed. Bloomberg reports 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with touch-enabled OLED screens in testing for release later this year, possibly branded MacBook Ultra, with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. A slip into early 2027 is possible.
Yes. Apple announced the M6 on 25 August 2026. It is Apple's first 2-nanometre chip, with a 12-core CPU and a 12-core GPU, and it launched in the Mac mini. No MacBook uses it yet.
Apple has not announced one, and it is not among the Macs reported for October. The MacBook Air moved to the M5 chip in March 2026, and current reports name the 14-inch MacBook Pro as the first M6 laptop.
Sources and further reading
- Apple Newsroom: MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max
- Macworld: MacBook Neo: everything to know
- MacRumors: Apple’s low-cost A18 Pro MacBook
- 9to5Mac: cheaper MacBook powered by an iPhone chip
- Apple Newsroom: Apple introduces M6 and M5 Ultra
- Apple Newsroom: Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro
- MacRumors: why Apple is skipping M6 Pro and M6 Max (Bloomberg)
- MacRumors: OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro testing with macOS 27.1
- MacRumors: what to expect from the MacBook Ultra
- MacRumors: Omdia on the OLED MacBook plans
- 9to5Mac: Apple’s October 2026 lineup
- The Guardian: Apple raises iPad and MacBook prices
- Ars Technica: M6 Mac mini review
- Apple UK Store: MacBook prices
