Looking to write the next best seller? We’ve got the Mac for you.

Whether you’re using Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, or another word processor to write your next term paper or best-selling novel, we’ve got you covered. The following are the best Macs for writers in 2022, starting with our favorite, the MacBook Air (M2, 2022), a portable, powerful solution. There are other noteworthy Macs, too. We’ve rounded up the best to help you choose the one that fits your needs best. Let’s dig in.

Best overall: MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

The all-new M2 MacBook Air has a different chassis design, fresh colors, a faster chipset, a larger screen, and the thinner borders we’ve been lusting over for years. Our M2 MacBook Air 2022 review gives a more thorough look at the specs and an in-depth look under the hood, plus a big thumbs up from us.

You’ll need to reach a little deeper in your pockets for the M2 MacBook Air because it’s priced a little higher than the Airs usually run. We think it’s worth it, though. We love the speedy M2 chip, the stronger-than-ever battery life, and the reintroduction of MagSafe charging.

Writers will dig the 2.7-pound lightweight build and the sleek flat design. If you do your writing on the road, even from time to time, the latest release MacBook Air fits nicely in a backpack or bag, and it’s so light that you’ll forget it’s there. And the keyboard is buttery smooth! The large Force Touch trackpad and clicky keys make typing a satisfying endeavor, even when you’re on a deadline. For most, this is the best Mac for writers out right now.

Pros:

13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display
18-hour battery life
Fast M2 chip
Comfortable keyboard and trackpad
New design looks phenomenal
Support fast-charging
MagSafe

Cons:

Only two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
A little more expensive than M1 MacBook Air

Best overall

MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

From $1,199 at Apple
From $1,199 at Best Buy
From $1,199 at B&H

The best Mac for writers this year

With the bigger screen, fast charging, and new M2 chip, this is the best Mac for writers this year.

Best performance: MacBook Pro (M2, 2022)

The MacBook Air is no slouch in the performance department, but if you need a little more oomph under the hood, you should go with the new MacBook Pro, which also sports the latest M2 chipset. Our MacBook Pro review gave high marks to Apple’s latest Pro for its strong battery life and reliable performance.

If your writing job also includes a bit of photography or videography editing, or you like to keep 10,000 browser windows open at a time, the MacBook Pro M2 is the one laptop up to those tasks. Apple’s second-generation silicon M2 chipset is blazing fast, and it has active cooling fans built in so you can run this machine under a heavier load than an entry-level Mac or even the 2020 MackBook Pro with an M1 chip.

The MacBook Pro also comes with the love-it-or-hate-it Touch Bar seen in previous generation MBPs. And speaking of things seen before, all the externals on the latest MBP will look familiar because they are, unfortunately, identical. The MBP is long overdue for a makeover, but it didn’t make the cut this year, nor did MagSafe. Still, if you need a lightning-fast laptop that can handle writing, editing, and processor-heavy video work, this is among the best Macs of the year.

Pros:

13.3-inch screen
Solid battery
Excellent performance
Touch Bar

Cons:

Tired design
720p FaceTime HD camera

Best performance

MacBook Pro (M2, 2022)

From $1,299 at Amazon
From $1,299 at Best Buy
From $1,299 at Apple

Best performance for your money

It’s powerful, up to any task, and the only new MB to still have the Touch Bar.

Best value: MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

At 2.8 pounds, the 2020 13-inch MacBook Air is still one of the lightest and most portable MacBooks on the market. It may not sport the chassis update found in this year’s model, but it holds its own, and it’s perfect for writers on a budget who need a high-performance laptop in their arsenal of tools.

The 2020 MacBook Air has Apple’s speedy M1 chipset, a backlit Magic Keyboard, and a Touch ID sensor. The battery is strong, holding out for up to 18 hours of use between charges, and it’s the best deal going right now, especially with the release of the newer MacBook Air.

This entry-level model is just right for those who spend all day drowning in documents, though it certainly has enough power to edit photos, make video calls, and perform your other daily duties. On the downside, the 2020 MacBook Air has only two Thunderbolt ports, one of which is taken up while charging, and its display and speakers are inferior to the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. None of that should hold writers back from grabbing this solid little laptop. This is still a worthy MacBook, and it rings up cheaper at the register.

Pros:

Lightweight
Battery lasts up to 18 hours
Speedy M1 chip
Excellent price

Cons:

Only two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports

Best value

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

From $998 at Amazon
$1,000 at Best Buy
From $999 at Apple

Save money and still get a Mac

Whether for work or school, this is a great MacBook for writers and almost everyone else too.

Best alternative: 13-inch MacBook Pro M1 (2020)

The 13-inch MacBook Pro may have a couple of years behind it, but it’s still a powerful machine that’s up to your workload and then some. If you’re a writer who catalogs every story and article written, you’ll appreciate the storage options in this model. The M1 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2020 offers up to 4TB of storage and 32GB of memory.

This base M1 MacBook Pro has two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, a backlit keyboard, Touch Bar and Touch ID, and even though it’s not the latest and greatest, it’s still a speed demon. If you need to add more memory or a bigger hard drive, be aware the cost of this machine goes up quickly.

The M1 MBP has a little more processing than the MacBook Air of 2020, and it’s certainly cheaper than investing in this year’s MBP. If you want all the goodies that come with a MBP but don’t want to pay a premium, this is the best Mac for you.

Pros:

Lots of options and color choices
Great mobility
It’s much cheaper than the 16-inch MBP model

Cons:

Price can rise quickly as you add components

Best alternative

13-inch MacBook Pro (2020)

$1,228 at Amazon
$1,050 at Best Buy
$1,299 at B&H

A step up

There’s much to love about this model, which offers better internals than the 2020 MacBook Air.

Best premium: 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021)

If you’re looking for a MacBook with the largest possible display and the heaviest specs, this is the one to get. The 16-inch MacBook Pro features a Liquid Retina XDR display and at least 16GB of unified memory. Upgrades cost more, of course, and these could set you back thousands of dollars extra if you’re not careful.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is a terrific choice for writers looking for a larger display and a little extra power for other tasks like editing photos. The 16-inch MacBook Pro has three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, and an SDXC card slot. You’ll need deep pockets for this model, but it’s worth every penny.

Pros:

Largest MacBook Pro to date
M1
Beautiful Liquid Retina XDR display
Tons of power

Cons:

Most expensive MacBook Pro on the market

Best premium

16-inch MacBook Pro (2021)

$2,476 at Amazon
$2,499 at Best Buy
From $2,499 at Apple

When screen size matters

If you’re okay with the price, no doubt this is the MacBook to get. Happy writing!

Best desktop: iMac 24-inch (2021)

We reviewed the newish iMac 24-inch and loved it. The processor, graphics, and memory are integrated into the new M1 chip.

The entry-level model is the one we recommend for writers. It features an 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU. There are three mics onboard for studio-quality sound and a 1080P FaceTime HD camera. Best of all, it comes in four new colors, so you can finally ditch Apple White or space gray.

If a desktop computer is in your future as a writer, this is the one you should get, case closed.

Pros:

Great price
Plenty of add-ons
Beautiful display
M1

Cons:

Obviously, not portable
Is the screen too big for what you want to do?

Best desktop

iMac 24-inch

$1,229 at Amazon
$1,229 at B&H
From $1,229 at Apple

Massive size

The whole family will love this desktop computer. It comes in some cool colors and has enough power to do anything.

Best Mac for writers

Whether for school, business, or home use, a Mac is a great choice. For writers especially, you can’t go wrong, no matter which model you select. Our favorite, the MacBook Air (M2, 2022), sports a fresh design, blisteringly-fast M2 chip, and comes in four color choices.

The hot-off-the-presses MacBook Air is the lightest Apple laptop on the market and also the one that offers the most battery life between charges. It’s also the thinnest so you can bring it with you at any time.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Bryan M. Wolfe is a dad who loves technology, especially anything new from Apple. Penn State (go Nittany Lions) graduate here, also a huge fan of the New England Patriots. Thanks for reading. @bryanmwolfe