Choosing the right laptop for a company's workforce is a high-stakes decision — balancing performance, total cost of ownership, and hardware longevity. With Apple's 2026 MacBook lineup now complete, procurement leaders have three distinct options: the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and the new entry-level MacBook Neo. WIRED's Luke Larsen, who has tested MacBooks for a decade, provides guidance on navigating the lineup amid recent price increases and an emerging memory shortage driven by AI data center demand.
Is Now a Good Time to Buy?
Yes, according to WIRED. Every MacBook has been refreshed as of March 2026, so buyers get the latest hardware and maximum software support years. However, pricing is at an all-time high — Apple recently increased MacBook prices due to rising costs of memory and storage chips. Discounts will be rare. Additionally, a serious memory shortage is building because of tremendous demand for memory in AI data centers, which will affect laptop prices starting in 2026 and beyond. Companies like HP and Lenovo have already issued official statements about addressing this. Waiting for a big sale may not yield much relief.
Breakdown of Each M-Series Chip
The M5 series is the latest, starting in late 2025 on the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro. The base M5 offers up to a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU (with a lower-tier 9-core CPU variant for iPad Pro). It is about 10 to 15 percent faster in CPU performance, with significant gains in GPU, AI workloads, and storage speed. The M5 Pro is exclusive to the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, with up to an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU (base config: 15-core CPU, 16-core GPU). It adds more cores and improved memory bandwidth, with the biggest advantage in GPU and overall throughput.
| Chip | Max CPU Cores | Max GPU Cores | Key Improvements |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5 | 10 (or 9 low-tier) | 10 | 10-15% CPU boost; GPU, AI, storage speed gains |
| M5 Pro | 18 | 20 | More cores, better memory bandwidth; GPU-focused |
Which MacBook for Which Role?
- MacBook Neo: The new cheaper option introduced in March 2026, ideal for budget-conscious deployments where basic productivity tasks are priority.
- MacBook Air: Balances performance and portability; now available with the M5 chip. Suitable for most mobile workers.
- MacBook Pro: Available in 14-inch and 16-inch with M5 or M5 Pro. Best for power users needing GPU-intensive work, such as development, data analysis, or content creation.
macOS 27 Golden Gate and Apple Intelligence
The article is updated June 2026 with notes about macOS 27 Golden Gate. Compatibility with this new OS and Apple Intelligence features are important considerations. Both the MacBook Air and Pro support these, but older models may not. Apple Intelligence appears to be a system-wide AI capability that benefits from the M5's enhanced AI workload performance.
Accessories and Protection
WIRED recommends AppleCare+ to protect devices, especially for enterprise fleets. The guide also lists great MacBook accessories, though specifics are not detailed in the source. Apple’s Education discounts can reduce costs for qualifying organizations, and refurbished MacBooks are noted as options to consider or avoid — implying some older models may offer savings but with trade-offs in longevity.
Bottom Line for Enterprise Buyers
For technology procurement leaders, the key takeaway is that now is a favorable time to buy due to the recent refresh, but prices are elevated and may rise further due to memory shortages. The MacBook Neo offers a lower entry point, while the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro delivers maximum performance. All models support the latest macOS and Apple Intelligence, ensuring software compatibility for years to come.
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