While plenty of brilliant laptops are out there, it's worth broadening your options and looking at some MacBook deals. If you're more comfortable with Apple's range of devices, you can definitely find a quality MacBook at a nice discount.
MacBooks are often a bit pricier than their peers, so you may not find one as affordable as a good laptop deal, but that also means that when there is a deal, you're making a significant saving. It's not just old models either; you can save a pretty penny on plenty of recent MacBook designs.
The best MacBook deals at a glance:
• Best overall MacBook deal: APPLE MacBook Air 15.3 Inch - View on Ao.com
• Best MacBook deal for storage: APPLE MacBook Pro 14 Inch - View on Currys
• Best budget MacBook deal: Apple MacBook Air Laptop 16 Inch - View on Amazon
MacBooks appear to be quite similar to each other at first glance, but there are some differences to keep an eye out for. Some will have better storage options or amounts of RAM, and of course, battery life is always worth keeping in mind.
To help you find the right MacBook deal for you, we've made a list of some of our favourites. We've looked at their pros, cons, and essential specs, so you can be sure each one has something to offer.
The best MacBook deals:
All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Best overall MacBook deal
Currys/Appleao.com
This 15.3-inch MacBook Air is an excellent all-rounder suited for almost anything. It's up there as one of the best MacBooks in terms of screen and audio quality, thanks to its combination of powerful speakers and bright display. The storage capacity isn't as great as others on our list, but it's still decent.
By using the Touch ID, you lock and unlock your MacBook with just your fingerprint. Not only does this save you the trouble of remembering a unique password, but it's also quick and convenient.
Pros
- Brilliant set of speakers
- Touch ID makes using it even easier
- Rich display and screen quality
Cons
- Better options exist for storage capacity
Best MacBook deal for storage
Currys/Applewww.currys.co.uk
If the storage of the last MacBook seemed too limiting, consider this Pro model. It has a one-terabyte SSD, which is fantastic for any laptop, but especially nice to see with a deal like this. Since the webcam quality is so good too, we think this is the ideal MacBook for remote workers who often need to handle large files.
We also appreciate the available ports and connections of this MacBook. It has three Thunderbolt connections, so you should have no trouble pairing it with a compatible mouse and keyboard. Plus, the HDMI means you can use an extra monitor with it.
Pros
- One terabyte of storage is fantastic for a laptop
- Great webcam quality
- Good set of ports and connections
Cons
- Build could be better
Best budget MacBook deal
Amazon/AppleDeals are a great way to save money, but if you're looking for the most affordable savings, this MacBook Air is it. It's not quite as powerful or full of features as the most expensive models, but it's certainly no slouch.
The stand-out feature of this MacBook is its ventilation. The fans will have no difficulty keeping it cool, even during the hottest of days. Plus, despite their power, it actually runs relatively quietly.
Pros
- Amazing value
- Brilliant ventilation
- Quiet to operate
Cons
- Not as powerful as more recent models
Best M1 MacBook deal
LaptopsDirect/Applewww.laptopsdirect.co.uk
This MacBook has an M1 processor but is still on par with its peers. The build quality is brilliant. The bezels around the screen are nice and thin, so you can easily get absorbed in videos and shows. The screen also has a refresh rate of 120Hz, so motion always looks smooth.
The keyboard is backlit, which means it's a great choice for those with limited light in their room or those struggling to tell the keys apart at a glance.
Pros
- Thin bezels
- Backlit keyboard
- Consistent 120Hz refresh rate
Cons
- Shorter battery life than other options
Best M2 MacBook deal
Applewww.johnlewis.com
With 22 hours of battery life, this M2 MacBook Pro is ultra-dependable. It's a bit bulkier than others, but that's the only downside. In return, you get a powerful machine that can go a few days of average use without needing a charge. It makes for a good travel MacBook if you don't mind the weight.
Since the GPU has 19 cores, it's capable of taking on difficult tasks. If you often need to render large videos, you can count on this model. It also has 16GB of RAM, which always helps out.
Pros
- Impressive battery life
- Great RAM
- High number of cores means it's good for rendering
Cons
- Not the lightest
Best M3 MacBook deal
Applewww.very.co.uk
An M3 processor is a great feature of this MacBook Pro. It runs very smoothly, seemingly never slowing down and is always prepared to minimise load times. As for its other specs, a 512GB SSD and 10-core GPU definitely make it versatile.
Where this model really shines is in its screen quality, quite literally. It can reach a peak brightness of 1600 nits, more than 1000 over most TVs, so whatever the lighting conditions are around you, you'll be able to see what it's displaying clearly. This is further enhanced by the excellent contrast, which is also on par with many TVs.
Pros
- Very impressive 1600 nits peak brightness
- Runs consistently well with minimal load times
- Great contrast and colours
Cons
- Wish the keyboard was a bit bigger
FAQs
What are M1, M2, and M3?
The different Ms refer to the chipset of the MacBook, which entails its CPU and GPU. As a general rule, each subsequent number version is better, but an M1 is still a perfectly fine option. The M2 is fairly similar in terms of CPU performance to the M1, but the M3 is a fair step up in terms of speed and overall ability. As such, if you need to do anything intensive on a processor, such as rendering large projects, you'll want to go with an M3.
The different GPUs also have varying amounts of cores. In most cases, the more cores, the better, especially if you want to have multiple windows and apps open at once.
What makes a MacBook different from a laptop?
The main difference between Apple MacBooks and laptops is their operating system. MacBooks run on variations of MacOS, whereas the majority of laptops run on Windows. You can also find Chromebooks which run on ChromeOS. These different systems are the main way we interact with our devices, and you'll get a general feel for how much you like it after using it for a while. MacOS is pretty good, making it easy to keep files organised and find apps. It does have a few compatibility issues, as to be expected of any Apple product, but that's become increasingly less of an issue as time goes on.
Kyle Purves is a Commercial Content Writer for What’s The Best, with an avid interest in all things gaming and tech.
They’re well-versed in reviewing a variety of tech products, with a soft spot for speakers and earphones. They’re also no stranger to hunting down the best savings, always wanting to get the best deal possible. Outside of work, they can often be found playing through an RPG, listening to Japanese noise rock, or trying to catch up with their ever-expanding list of shows and anime to watch. If possible, they try to play Dungeons and Dragons a couple of times a week, but getting six adults to be free at the same time is easier said than done.
Subscribe to the What’s The Best Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews and recommendations from the rest of the What’s The Best team.