Buyer's guide
Mac buyer's guide: buy or wait?
Recommendation
Wait (if you can)
Apple's M3 rollout is only four months old, but suppliers are signaling M4 production tests for late summer. If your fleet can hold another quarter, waiting should unlock more unified memory options and the next-gen Neural Engine. Refresh now only if battery cycles or expiring leases demand it.
Our newsroom tracks silicon roadmaps, supply chain guidance, and enterprise financing programs. Use this guide to decide when to pull the trigger, which SKUs to standardize on, and how to pair new Macs with your deployment and data science workflows.
Current deals worth watching
Apple and reseller partners
Check current offers
Deals include MacBook deployment bundles from CDW, Insight, and Apple's Configure-to-Order promotions for business accounts.
Key specs at a glance
- M3 chips now support up to 128GB of unified memory on the Pro and Max tiers—critical for data teams applying the Notebook to Production framework.
- Dual external display support finally returns to the base MacBook Pro, cutting the need for DisplayLink adapters in hot desks.
- Wi-Fi 7 arrives on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, aligning with the resiliency practices we explore in the Cyber Resilience Playbook.
- TCO drops as Apple extends standard battery service coverage on AppleCare+ for Business Essentials agreements.
Best models by budget tier
MacBook Air 13-inch (M3)
Balanced for traveling analysts with long battery life and the ability to run containerized workloads described in our MLOps Fundamentals guide.
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3 Pro)
Offers the best mix of GPU cores, memory ceilings, and port flexibility for engineering leads and creative directors.
MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max)
Ideal for ML teams that need sustained performance. Pair it with the evaluation criteria in our Neurochip Studio review when testing accelerator workflows.
Deployment FAQ
Will the M4 cycle invalidate today's purchases?
Expect incremental gains in the Neural Engine and media engines. Most IT buyers can extend M3 hardware for four to five years. Plan to enable new features through macOS upgrades rather than wholesale refreshes.
How much memory should we standardize on?
For general knowledge work, 16GB unified memory remains fine. Data and ML teams benefit from 32GB+, especially when following our Data Science in the Real World guidance to keep local experiments fast.
What's the best way to finance a fleet refresh?
Apple's Financing through Business Essentials spreads payments over 36 months. Compare it with channel leasing programs and the incentive math we cover on the Deals hub.