This is a new blog post series that I am starting. I will be explaining about each product in the current 2021 Lineups in Apple. This first one will be the Mac's since they are probably the most significant change Apple has done to a product in a while. I will be giving a winner in each section. This is a slightly longer post, so I have put subtitles so you can jump to what you want to read about.
Laptops. (One winner):
13" MacBook Air. £999: This is Apple's cheapest laptop. Not to say it's the worst, though. The MBA is a lightweight and powerful computer with the M1 chip. It is also relatively affordable. This is an excellent computer for its price.
13" MacBook Pro. £1299: This is the computer for people who want something better than a MacBook Air but not needing the full 16" MacBook Pro. It has the M1 chip in it, and it has the full 8-Core GPU without having to spend extra for it. Although, I would still go for the MBA because other than a Touch Bar, you're not getting much more for the additional £300.
16" MacBook Pro. £2300: This computer may have 16GB of memory and can be upgraded to 64GB and can have up to an 8TB SSD; it is not worth £1000 extra over the 13". Especially, because battery life is, according to Apple, a whopping 9 hours less, it also only comes with an Intel processor. I would wait for the M1X 16" in October rather than getting this. However, if you are desperate, try looking on eBay for some good deals.
Winner: 13" MacBook Air.
Desktops. (Two winners):
21.5" iMac. £1099: This computer is already replaced, but you can still purchase it from the Apple store. In a few words, please do not buy this computer. It has a dual-core i5 chip in it and was released in 2017. It was never a good computer in the first place. It is slow and will drive you crazy!
24" iMac. £1299: This computer is the only Apple silicon iMac at the moment. However, it is an excellent one. I am currently using this as my main computer, and I am writing this post on it. It comes in many colours and is very powerful. It doesn't come with the 8-Core GPU as standard, but you can upgrade to the mid-tier, which does. I would consider doing that because not only do you get the entire M1 chip, but you also get Ethernet in the power brick, two extra USB-C non-thunderbolt ports, and you also get touch-id in the magic keyboard. This is for an additional £200. This computer is also very thin. However, the design may not be so appealing to everyone. I personally love it, but the white bezels and the chin may not be to everyone's taste. If you want an M1 desktop with a different display, you will need to look at the 4th one on this list.
27" iMac. £1799: This is the biggest iMac and has been a popular desktop. It has a retina 5K display and can be upgraded to 128GB of memory. However, I do not think it is worth getting now. Like the 16" MBP, you might want to wait for the M1X 27" iMac. Although, if you are desperate, there is no problem getting your hands onto one. However, buying them new might not be the best option. Though Apple has a refurbished section on their store where you can buy Apple approved refurbished 27" iMac's. This is a great way to save some money on one.
M1 Mac Mini. £699: The Mac mini has always been a popular desktop. It is built to be customisable. You need to buy your own display to your choice, and you can buy speakers, a camera and a mic of your choosing. However, the downside is that all of these will add to the price. In total, the cost will come to around £1600. Although, if you are buying a Mac mini, you probably already have thought of that, so it doesn't matter that much. Also, another upside to the Mac mini is that you can re-use your accessories. If you want to buy the new M1X Mac mini coming in October, hopefully, you can trade the old one in and buy the new one without having to sell your camera, mic, display etc. This is the selling point of the Mac Mini.
Intel Mac Mini. £1099: This Mac mini is not worth buying now. This is because it is going to be replaced by the M1X Mac mini. However, if you are desperate, get the M1 Mac mini. It will perform better in most areas than this one, even though this one can be upgraded to 64 GB of memory. In most sections, the M1 Mac mini will do just fine.
Mac Pro. £5499: This is the only intel computer that I would recommend buying in Apple's current range. This is because the Apple Silicon Mac Pro isn't to be expected this year. Therefore, if you are thinking of getting a Mac Pro, this is your only option. You can also sell it immediately when the Apple Silicon Mac Pro comes out, and you don't have to sell your accessories.
Pro Display XDR. £4599: While not technically a Mac, it is still in their Mac section, so I will include it. This will probably not get replaced in a long time, so if you're looking for a top-notch display, then go ahead and buy the Pro Display XDR. It is incredibly high quality and can get very bright, and it is perfect for multi-display setups.
Winner: 24" iMac.
Winner: M1 Mac Mini.
To summarise, Apple's Mac lineups, they are very competitive. The transition to Apple Silicon is very successful and will allow Apple to provide more in the Apple Ecosystem for Macs. There are definitely some exciting new products to come. The winners were the 13" MacBook Air, the 24" iMac and the M1 Mac Mini. These are currently, in my option, the best Mac's that Apple now sell.