The best MacBooks for photo editing in 2024: options to suit every budget

Investing in one of the best MacBooks for photo editing could be a great way to upgrade your workflow – especially if you're a photographer that needs a slim, yet powerful laptop. MacBooks are well-known for their photo editing capabilities, featuring powerful components that make image post-production a breeze.

The latest M3 MacBooks are a real force to be reckoned with: they can be specced with a whopping 128GB RAM, up to 8 terabytes of storage space, and their ultra-bright Liquid Retina XDR displays are truly stunning. The 16-inch version is the pick of the pair, offering a bigger, more comfortable screen size, although at a bigger price.

MacBooks tend to be fairly lightweight and slim, which makes them a great option for photographers who need to edit their images on the go. Plus, the macOS operating system is perfect for running both the best photo editing software and the best video editing software.

We've also found that the best MacBooks for photo editing tend to offer great battery life, which means that you can spend an entire day editing images without having to stop to find a power supply. One of a MacBook's best features is how supremely portable it is, but if you're more interested in raw power, then why not take a look at our guide to the best iMacs for photo and video editing?

In the meantime, we've broken down exactly what you should be looking for in your brand-new laptop at the bottom of this article. But first, take a look at our picks for the best MacBooks for photo editing below. 

Ben Andrews
Ben Andrews

Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys. 

Our Top Picks

The best MacBooks for photo editing in 2024

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Best 14-inch MacBook Pro

apple macbook pro laptop with m2 pro silicon

(Image credit: Gareth Bevan)
Simply the best MacBook for photo and video editing

Specifications

CPU: 10-Core CPU, up to 12-core
Graphics: 19-core GPU, up to 38-Core
RAM: 16GB – 96GB
Screen: 14-inch Liquid Crystal XDR
Storage: 512GB – 8TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
M2 Pro is unbelievably fast
+
Speakers are excellent
+
One of the best laptop screens around for color work
+
SD card slot!

Reasons to avoid

-
Notch still feels unnecessary 
-
Boxy shape feels big
-
Black keys on black keyboard not for everyone

Apple’s silicon keeps getting better and better, with the M2 Pro pushing the boundaries on what is possible in a 14-inch laptop. This thing flies, it is unbelievably fast, felt in everything from opening an app to exporting huge image and video files, the continued work on streamlining hardware and software is paying dividends for the Cupertino giant. 

With all the ports a creative will need, super fast WiFi for uploading and downloading large files, and improved speakers and webcam, there are some questionable design choices, but otherwise, this might just be MacBook near perfected. 

Read our full MacBook Pro 14 M2 Pro (2023) review.

Best 16-inch MacBook Pro

apple macbook pro 16 inch laptop on a wooden table

(Image credit: Gareth Bevan)
Best for hardcore video editing

Specifications

CPU: Up to 12-core CPU
Graphics: Up to 38-core GPU
RAM: 16GB – 96GB
Screen: 16-inch Retina display with True Tone
Storage: 1TB – 8TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
M2 Max is astonishing fast
+
Some of the best speakers on a laptop
+
Big beautiful color. Accurate screen
+
SD card slot is a very welcome edition

Reasons to avoid

-
Very very expensive
-
Notch isn't needed 
-
Chunkier shape feels bigger than previous Intel 16-inch design

The MacBook Pro 16 with M2 Max is an absolute monster of a laptop, it will tear through anything you can throw at it and still be ready for more. Unfortunately, it also comes with a monstrous price that is truly quite hard to recommend spending. 

What the M2 Max gives you in terms of raw power for content creation is amazing, but if it is a worthy upgrade over what can be achieved with Apple's M2 or M2 Pro chip, is debatable. Only users who need the absolute no compromise best for their workflow will use the M2 Max to its full potential. 

The MacBook Pro is also available with an M2 Pro processor, which might be a better option for photographers and videographers who want a bigger MacBook, but don't have deep pockets.

Processor aside, the MacBook Pro 16 is a fantastic laptop, with a lot going for it from the beautiful color-accurate screen, booming speakers, sharp webcams, and excellent keyboard and trackpad, it is a very worthy upgrade for anyone using Intel-based MacBooks.

Best 15-inch MacBook Air

(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)
Best portable laptop now in a bigger size

Specifications

CPU: Up to 8-core Apple M2
Graphics: Up to 10-Core Apple M2 GPU
RAM: 8GB – 24GB
Screen: 15.3-inch Retina display with True Tone
Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
M2 chip is all most people will need
+
Light stylish design
+
Gorgeous screen
+
Fanless design

Reasons to avoid

-
All that extra space and still only two ports
-
No SD card slot
-
Midnight color is fingerprint magnet

The MacBook Air 15 is probably the best laptop currently on the market for most people, and a superb decision for any photographer, videographer, or creative who wants a larger gorgeous screen, combined with enough power to comfortably run the latest editing software, and all wrapped up in a lightweight package that can easily slip into a backpack. 

There are more powerful Apple options for the most demanding editing situations, but for most people, the M2 chip inside the Air 15 will provide more than enough oomph to edit comfortably. The lack of abundant ports and an SD card slot holds this laptop back from being the ultimate laptop for content creators though, with the MacBook Pro holding a dongle-free existence hostage for now.  

Read our full MacBook Air 15.3-inch M2 (2023) review for more details.

Best 13-inch MacBook Air

Apple MacBook Air M2

(Image credit: Future)
Best portable package

Specifications

CPU: Up to 8-core Apple M2
Graphics: Up to 10-Core Apple M2 GPU
RAM: 8GB – 24GB
Screen: 13.6-inch Retina display with True Tone
Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Stylish and sturdy design
+
Fast processing speeds for photographers
+
Utterly silent and cool
+
Magsafe & 3.5mm headphone jack standard

Reasons to avoid

-
Midnight black color loves fingerprints
-
No SD card slot
-
Costly to spec up
-
Not user-upgradable in the future

The Macbook Air released in 2022 is the direct replacement to the Macbook Air of 2020 (number 4 on this list). While it looks incredibly similar to its predecessor, it has been redesigned and is now powered by a more powerful M2 chip (rather than 2020’s M1).

The base M2 chip packs an 8‑core CPU and 8‑core GPU, which can be upgraded to a 10-core GPU for an additional cost. You also get 8GB RAM and 256GB of SSD storage as standard, but photographers and other creatives will almost certainly want to get at least 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage.

With our 16GB test machine, we were astounded at how this little laptop could keep up with our most demanding image processing requests and not break a sweat. There are no fans to whir and it doesn’t seem to heat up under pressure. A crystal clear display and comfortable trackpad and keyboard are complemented by a Magsafe power connector and two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack for a minimal but utilitarian finish.

All in all, this is an incredible machine for on-the-go image or video editing. We'd still go for the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) model for its more comfortable screen size, but the new M2 Air comes a close second.

MacBook Air M2 (2022) full review

Best entry level MacBook Pro

(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)
The best entry level MacBook Pro

Specifications

CPU: 8-core Apple M3
Graphics: 10-Core Apple M3 GPU
RAM: 8GB – 24GB
Screen: 14-inch Retina display with True Tone
Storage: 256GB – 4TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Beautiful screen
+
M3 chip faster than ever 
+
SD Card slot and HDMI port return
+
Slim and lightweight design

Reasons to avoid

-
Marginal performance gains from standard M2 chip
-
Base 8GB RAM questionable for pros
-
Expensive to spec up

The newest iteration of the base MacBook Pro M3 model represents a significant design shift to the modern chassis but brings back sought-after features like the SD card and HDMI ports, although it does introduce the controversial screen notch. 

Speed-wise, the entry MacBook Pro is a beast, and while I've noticed that the M3 chip boasts gradual improvements over the M2 it isn't substantial enough to upgrade. However, Intel MacBook users should get excited – as the M3 MacBook Pro presents a huge leap from the older Intel-based MacBook Pro models.

My only major concern about this revamped MacBook Pro's position within the lineup. With 8GB of RAM, it might fall short for power users, nudging them toward the MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip for only slightly more money (Apple's plan all along?). Meanwhile, the MacBook Air could be a more attractive and budget-friendly option for users with lighter processing demands. This positioning dilemma leaves me wondering if this iteration adequately serves anyone perfectly.

But if you are after the cheapest way to get into the MacBook Pro family, or you are just exited by the M3 chip then don't get me wrong, despite my moaning – you won't be disappointed. 

Read our full Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023) review

Older MacBooks

These MacBooks are no longer the latest models, but they still pack a punch, cost less, and are still available new... albeit with limited stock. So if you see a bargain here, it may not be around for long.

(Image credit: Future)
The best small MacBook Pro ever... technically

Specifications

CPU: 8-core Apple M2
Graphics: 10-Core Apple M2 GPU
RAM: 8GB – 24GB
Screen: 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone
Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Great screen quality
+
Superb performance
+
Excellent portability

Reasons to avoid

-
2 USB ports isn't enough
-
Little benefit over M2 Air
-
13" screen size not ideal

The 13-inch MacBook Pro has always been an easy sell for anyone wanting a highly portable, exquisitely well made laptop that performs brilliantly and sports a stunning screen. The M2 MacBook Pro is all of these things, and with prices starting at a very fair $1,299/£1,349, it's excellent value for money, especially when compared to the pricier 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks. However, there are compromises to be made. We found the 13.3-inch screen to be a little small for extended periods of editing, and with just two USB ports (one taken by the charger), a dongle is an inconvenient necessity.

MacBook Pro M2 (13.3-inch, 2022) full review

Editor's Choice

(Image credit: Future)
Last years option is still a powerful editing machine

Specifications

CPU: Up to 10-core Apple M1 Max
Graphics: Up to 32-Core Apple M1 Max GPU
RAM: 16GB – 64GB
Screen: 16-inch Retina display with True Tone
Storage: 1TB – 8TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Awesome M1 Pro and Max chips
+
M1 SoC now supports 64GB RAM

Reasons to avoid

-
Hugely expensive
-
Some may miss the Touchbar

We love the original (13-inch) M1 MacBook, but with a maximum 16GB RAM, it could never quite topple the older Intel-powered MacBook Pro to be a truly futureproofed image/video-editing powerhouse. Not any more! Apple has addressed these concerns, big time.

The 2021 MacBook Pro not only smashes any RAM limitations courtesy of its M1 Max chip, which can be had with 64GB RAM, it also comes with a 16-inch screen size, which is noticeably more comfortable for long editing sessions than a 13-inch panel. This incredible Liquid Retina XDR display boasts an insane 1,600-nit peak brightness, making HDR content come alive, and it can display a high DCI-P3 color space coverage for accurate video editing. 

The new 16-inch MacBook Pro is also available with an M1 Pro chip (rather than M1 Max) if you want to save some cash, though RAM capacity is restricted to 16GB or 32GB, and its speed is lower.

Despite all this power, the supreme efficiency of the M1 chip architecture, combined with a large 100-watt-hour battery, means battery life is up to an incredible 21 hours.

The 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro is far from cheap no matter how you spec one, but your money is buying one of the most technically advanced laptops on the market right now.

MacBook Pro M1 (16-inch, 2021) full review

Recommended

(Image credit: Matt Hanson /. Digital Camera World)
A slightly smaller MacBook Pro, but with no reduction in power

Specifications

CPU: Up to 10-core Apple M1 Max
Graphics: Up to 32-Core Apple M1 Max GPU
RAM: 16GB – 64GB
Screen: 14-inch Retina display with True Tone
Storage: 1TB – 8TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Awesome M1 Pro and Max chips
+
M1 SoC now supports 64GB RAM

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricey
-
Screen size could be restrictive

Need the power of the 2021 MacBook Pro 16-inch but in a more portable package? Apple has you covered with this 14-inch version, and unlike some MacBooks of old, you don't have to sacrifice any speed to get the enhanced portability.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro can be specced up with Apple's powerful M1 Max system-on-chip, giving you 32 graphics cores and up to 64GB RAM. The screen is just as bright too, with the same retina-searing 1,600-nit peak brightness and 1,000-nit sustained brightness. Resolution is obviously lower, at 3024 x 1964 pixels, but the pixel density is equally crisp at 254ppi, so your images will look just as sharp as on the 16-incher.

In fact, the only performance downside with the 14-inch 'Pro is there's less room inside for a big battery. Where the 16-inch version can pack a 100-watt-hour cell, the 14-inch model has to make do with a 70-watt-hour battery, equating to approximately 4 hours less runtime.

You'll also have to weigh up whether the 2-inch drop in screen size could prove restrictive for comfortable image editing over long periods, but otherwise this is a mobile creative's dream MacBook!

MacBook Pro M1 (14-inch, 2021) full review

(Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World)
Great for on-the-go photo editing on a tighter budget

Specifications

Processor: Apple M1 8-core
RAM: 8-16GB
Storage: 256GB-2TB SSD
Screen: 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS Retina

Reasons to buy

+
Finish, design, low weight
+
Excellent Retina display
+
Silent, fanless design

Reasons to avoid

-
No HDMI port or memory card slot
-
8-core GPU model costs more
-
Barely lighter than MacBook Pro M1

The MacBook Air 13-in M1 has technically been superseded by the M2 version, but Apple is still selling the M1 as an entry-level Air, and it's well worth considering if you're on a tighter budget. It's impressive in three main areas: first, its design, finish and ergonomics; second, its sheer performance for a lightweight laptop; third, its value for money given those other two things.

Its Retina screen is, as ever, just beautiful. Apple says it has a 25% wider color range than sRGB, but doesn’t mention Adobe RGB, which leads us to assume it’s somewhere in the middle. The contrast, definition and brightness are stellar, and while the 2560 x 1600 resolution isn’t 4K, it’s an important step up from a regular 1920 x 1080 screen. It has that ‘Retina’ effect where you just don’t see the dots any more and makes a surprising and subtle difference to the way you view, edit and evaluate digital images.

There are just two USB ports, which is annoying, it’s not really a lot smaller than a regular MacBook, even though it looks like it, and the 7-core entry level model is a bit of an odd proposition, but these are pretty minor complaints. This is a beautifully made notebook computer that's great for mobile image editing if you need supreme portability over a larger screen size.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1 full review

How to choose the best MacBook for photo editing

When you're looking for the best MacBook for photo editing, there isn't necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution. Aspects such as power, portability, affordability and more can all weigh on a user's decision. However, these are the key things you should be considering in your search.

What processor should I choose?

Older MacBooks used to use Intel processors, but these days Apple's own M-series system-on-chip processors rule the roost. The latest M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max offerings are incredibly fast while also being incredibly power-efficient. The preceding M2 and M1 chips were also highly regarded when released though, so don't rule out an M1- or M2-based MacBook if the price is right.

How much RAM (memory) do I need?

The amount of RAM you decide to invest in is hugely important. We would recommend a minimum of 16GB, as this will help your MacBook load applications more quickly (and keep more open at the same time). You might initially think that 16GB of RAM is overkill for your needs, but it's important to remember that you can't upgrade a MacBook's RAM further down the line – so plan ahead for the future!

How much storage should I spec?

Storage space is definitely something important to consider. Unfortunately, while you can replace the hard drive of most Windows laptops, it's impossible to do this with a MacBook. While you can certainly add the best portable hard drive or best portable SSD to the mix, we'd recommend starting off with a minimum of 500GB of internal storage to give you plenty of space to play with.

What screen size is best?

Don't forget to consider the screen that you want. The larger screen you have, the easier it will be to see and inspect the photo you're working on (although, keep in mind that the larger a laptop is, the harder it will be to lug around). For the last few years MacBooks have featured high resolution 'Retina' displays, which are fantastic for seeing your images in all of their stunning detail.

How we test the best MacBooks for photo editing

When reviewing a laptop, we assess its internal hardware features, build quality, ergonomics, performance in a variety of usage scenarios, value for money, and its overall suitability for its target buyer. Although we'll evaluate a laptop with a typical user in mind, we will also pay particular attention to the perspective of photo and video enthusiasts, with special focus given to screen quality and color space coverage. Where possible, a monitor calibrator will be used to measure a laptop's display performance to assess whether it matches a manufacturer's claims, and software benchmarks like GeekBench are used to measure a laptop's processor and graphics card capabilities.

Ben Andrews

Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys. 

With contributions from