The world of Apple MacBooks can be a daunting one to enter, with so much choice out there and a plethora of models, years, storage sizes, RAM sizes and colours to decide between we know choosing a new device can be overwhelming. Understanding these attributes is key to ensuring you find a device that meets your needs, so how do you begin to narrow down your options? Should you buy refurbished devices rather than a new one, and what does this mean in reality? What do the various models have to offer and what difference will choosing one hard drive or RAM size over another make to your computer? We’ll explore all of these to help you find a MacBook that is perfect for your needs.
Firstly, should you purchase a refurbished MacBook and what does this mean for you as a buyer? Refurbished devices are 2nd hand products that have been traded in by their previous owners and have been given a new lease of life by their sellers. They are fully tested, with any faults being repaired before going on to be sold to a new owner. It’s a fantastic way to help the environment because in purchasing a second-hand device, you are helping to preserve and recycle the machine rather than seeing it simply thrown away; an outcome that can be both harmful to the world around us and a real waste of a perfectly good piece of tech. Having been fully checked and tested before being sold on, refurbished devices are also an excellent way to save money, as they provide you with a fully functional device at a fraction of the cost of buying brand new. Refurbished devices even come with a warranty for peace of mind, and all the accessories you need to get up and running from the moment you receive it. All in all, purchasing a refurbished MacBook offers a brilliant way to obtain a genuine Apple product at an excellent price, without compromising on quality or functionality, whilst helping the environment at the same time!
So you’re heading into the refurbished market for your next MacBook, but which model should you choose and which attributes do you need to look out for? Looking up the specifications of these devices can bombard you with complicated technical jargon, making it confusing and difficult to understand which parts are important. It is very easy to become bogged down in screen resolutions, graphics cards and processors, but fortunately, there are some key attributes we can focus on which will quickly give you an idea of whether a particular MacBook will be suitable for your needs or not.
The first of these is the RAM size, which for MacBooks come in either 4GB, 8GB or 16GB variants. The more RAM a device has, the easier it will be for the device to handle multiple programs/apps simultaneously, as well as helping it to run larger pieces of software more smoothly. If you are simply looking for a MacBook to handle your normal day-to-day usage of web browsing, emails, documents, etc, then 4GB RAM will suffice and you may wish to consider a MacBook Air, which usually come with 4GB RAM built-in and are strong enough to comfortably handle these tasks, whilst also offering you a cheaper entry point into the market. If you are looking to run larger/more intensive software and apps (such as video editing, graphic design, music production, etc) then you would need a minimum of 8GB but ideally 16GB, which are built into the MacBook Pro range.
It’s not just RAM where the MacBook Pro range leads the way, but they also come out on top when it comes to the processing power, too – another of the key attributes you’ll want to factor into your decision. MacBook processors are measured in GHz and range from 1.1 – 3.5 GHz. Essentially, the higher the number here, the more powerful the MacBook will be and similarly to RAM, this will allow you to run more programs/apps simultaneously and will help larger pieces of software to run smoothly. The 12” screen MacBook range, as well as the MacBook Airs, come in between 1.1 – 2.2 GHz, while the MacBook Pros start from 2.0 and go up to the maximum of 3.5 GHz. Again, if you’re looking for your MacBook to take care of your everyday computing needs, or perhaps school/uni work, then the processors built into 12” MacBooks or MacBook Air range will comfortably handle your usage. For bigger tasks, look to the MacBook Pro range with processors of 2.2 GHz and above, to ensure the computer can handle the increased demands of these larger apps/software.
The other important attribute to consider is the hard drive size, which for MacBooks are usually either 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB. The hard drive size dictates the amount of space you have available to save your files, photos and documents, so it is vital you select the right one for your needs. It’s also important to note that the operating system of the device is also stored on your hard drive: if you purchased a MacBook with a 128GB hard drive, for instance, the operating system may take up 20GB or so approximately from the outset, meaning the actual amount of space available for you to use is more like 100GB. If you are only planning to use the device for light work without storing vast quantities of files and data, then a 128GB or 256GB model would suffice, but if you have a lot of photos and documents to store, you may wish to consider a 512GB or 1TB model. MacBook Airs are often built with 128GB or 256GB hard drives, with the larger ones usually found in the MacBook Pro range.
There are of course many more attributes and technical specifications that you can scrutinise and compare, but if you weigh up the RAM, processor and hard drive against your needs, you’ll gain a solid idea as to whether a particular device could be a good fit for you or not. Luckily, all of our MacBooks here at The iOutlet include all three of these attributes (as well as the MacBook’s colour and cosmetic grade) within the product title, making it easy for you to narrow down your options and find your perfect MacBook at a glance. For an everyday computer that can comfortably handle daily tasks without breaking the bank, take a look at the 12” MacBooks or MacBook Airs. If it’s power you need, check out our MacBook Pros. With models that range across the power, RAM and hard drive spectrums at prices to suit all budgets, you’ll be sure to find your perfect MacBook at The iOutlet!
