Whether you’re jumping into the Apple ecosystem or updating from an old machine, picking a new Mac can be a great way to supercharge your productivity. How do you decide which type of Mac is right for you? With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to find a variety of Macs that fit your setup and provide everything you need.
If you’re looking for a new Mac, carrying a desktop Mac may have some unique advantages over Apple’s portable MacBook options. Don’t get me wrong, all of these machines are capable of doing exactly what you need them to do, but there are places where desktop Macs are brighter than MacBooks. For example, here are five great reasons to choose a desktop Mac over a MacBook the next time you upgrade.
Port and extensibility
The biggest advantage of buying a desktop Mac over a MacBook is that desktop Macs tend to expand more options. Although the latest MacBook Pro has many more ports than it has in many years — three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, HDMI and an SDXC card slot — it’s still the Mac Mini (two USB ports) and Mac Studio (six Thunderbolt 4). Port and two USB-A ports), even the 24-inch iMac has two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports and two USB3 ports. An extra port may not seem like much, but it does allow you to connect hard drives, keyboards and more external devices you may need for your day-to-day work without hubs and dongles.
However, Tinker’s days with the desktop are over. Even if you get a Mac Mini or Mac Studio, Apple doesn’t allow Silicon Mac user-installable internal upgrades, desktops or laptops. RAM is integrated with the processor, so if you feel you need more RAM than your standard configuration, customize your order at the time of purchase. The same goes for SSDs for file storage, although with more ports you can easily add external storage.
Apple currently sells the only Mac with simple user-upgrade components, the Mac Pro. These computers, however, are designed with high-level professionals in mind and are expensive machines. Also, it is one of the two Mac models that still uses Intel processors. It is possible that Apple will release a new Mac Pro this year with its own Silicon which will be user upgradeable, but it could be locked up just like Mac Studio.
Bring your own display
Another great advantage for the desktop Mac is the versatility they offer with different displays. Yes it is true that you can connect a display to a MacBook, but you are paying a high price for the display built into it, which is more likely to be turned off if connected to an external display. If you’re parked at a desk most of the time or want the flexibility of multiple display setups, a desktop Mac is easily the smart choice.
Just make sure you have what you need. Apple’s Reminders may power more displays than the Intel Mac and Mac Studio, but the Apple Silicon Macs are different: the M1 Mac Mini is limited to a total of two displays (one via Thunderbolt and the other using HDMI). The 24-inch iMac can add a second display via the Thunderbolt. Still, it’s more than Apple’s M1 laptop – the MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro – which can only connect an extra display, making it difficult to run a proper multi-display setup and you’ll have to drop the থ 1,999 or more Thunderbolt 4 ( A 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro for external display up to four using USB-C) and HDMI ports.
So if you want the best value for your multi-display setup, choose a desktop Mac and shop for a better exterior display.
The highest speed
One of the main reasons to choose to go with a desktop Mac on a MacBook is Apple’s M1 Ultra processor. It’s the fastest, most powerful chip Apple has ever designed, and it’s only available at Mac Studio for $ 3,999.
Don’t get me wrong, MacBook programs offer excellent performance, especially on newer models, but they don’t offer the M1 Ultra, which makes Apple’s desktop Macs the company’s most powerful. And because of the cooling requirements of the M1 Ultra, it can never make it to a laptop.
Apple’s top-of-the-line M1 Ultra system on a chip is currently only available on the $ 3,999 Mac Studio desktop computer.
Willis Lie / Foundry
Matching design anywhere
While MacBooks can be extremely portable, they may not always fit directly into the style and space you have in your office, another area that can brighten up desktop Macs. While Apple has more basic look designs like the Mac Mini or Mac Studio, the 24-inch iMac gives Apple users multiple color options to choose from. That means you can choose a computer that fits your office color scheme without having to settle for a more minimal silver color in a standard MacBook.
Since there are smaller options like Mac Mini and Mac Studio, you can find a powerful computer that blends directly into your office space, even if you don’t have much space on your desk. This allows you to maximize your desk space without losing much on your computer.
Apple has designed the iMac to make it look good almost anywhere in your home.
Best value
MacBooks can be exceptionally expensive, especially if you’re looking for a more powerful model. But to get a great Mac computer you don’t have to settle for a bank break. Instead, there are multiple price options available for different desktop Macs. For example, the new Mac Studio is priced at the same price as some of the more powerful MacBook professionals, but you get more power, more ports and more features.
Plus, the 24-inch iMac that Apple launched with the M1 processor starts at just $ 1,299, which is cheaper than the new MacBook Pros with smaller display. Or you can pair a 24-inch 4K display with a Mac Mini at a much lower price. Macs aren’t cheap, but with the right combination of desktop and display, you can get plenty of computers without sacrificing your budget to buy an expensive MacBook Pro.