Last Updated on June 28, 2022 by srinivas
Our verdict
At this point, we recommend the MacBook Pro models – 13-inch, 14-inch, and 16-inch over the iMac. The 13-inch MacBook Pro offers better value for money and better chips than the 24-inch iMac, and the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro have the M1 Pro and M1 Max options that are superior to the M1 and the M2.
Price at review
13-inch MacBook Pro M2 (2022): $1,299
24-inch iMac vs. 13-inch and 27-inch iMac vs. 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro: Starting at $1,299
Best price today for 14 inch MacBook Pro, M2
$1299
$1,299.00
Free
$1299.00
Free
We’re comparing the 24-inch iMac to all sizes of Apple’s MacBook Pro here, but there’s more to it than a simple desktop vs. laptop comparison. There are variants for every Apple product that suit different customers. Some of you reading this might be hoping for some advice on choosing a new 24-inch iMac or a 13-inch MacBook Pro, while others might be looking for a little more power and wondering if there’s any good reason to buy the iMac. preferable to 14″ or 16″-inch MacBook Pro.
For the spring of 2022, Apple also sold a 27-inch iMac and in the past it has also sold an iMac Pro, these targeted Macs are no longer sold by Apple, although you may still be able to purchase one from a reseller that still has stock. has. However, since they are powered by an Intel chip rather than the Apple M series, we do not recommend buying one now. There’s a chance the iMac Pro will be reborn at some point in the future, but so far that’s just a rumor.
Historically, a Mac laptop, even if it had similar specs to a desktop, cost a little more because you’re paying extra for a laptop’s compact form factor. However, that is not necessarily true at the moment. In the case of the 13-inch MacBook Pro versus the 24-inch iMac, the iMac has a higher price tag despite the worst specs (an M1 instead of the M2).
the 14-inches and 16-inch MacBook Pro have higher prices, but the specs are superior and there are some other advantages compared to the iMac.
For the latest discounted deals on all these Macs, read: Best iMac Deals and Best MacBook Pro Deals.
Read our reviews of the mentioned products here:
13-inch MacBook Pro vs 24-inch iMac
We’ll start with the consumer-oriented MacBook Pro and see how it compares to the 24-inch iMac. If you’re looking for a powerful Mac that doesn’t cost a fortune, the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the 24-inch iMac are a good place to start.
Before June 2022, both Macs had the same Apple processor – the M1. However, in June 2022, Apple began selling a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 chip, which is superior to the M1 still used in the iMac. Read our 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2) review. The M2 MacBook Pro is the only MacBook in Apple’s lineup with the Touch Bar.
The 24-inch iMac was introduced in April 2021. It features an all-new design in seven colors and features Apple’s M1 chip. There are three 24-inch iMacs to choose from with different specs as standard (and many more build-to-order options). Read our 24-inch iMac (M1) review.
Both the 24-inch iMac and 13-inch MacBook Pro has decent specs for the most part, and both have reasonably priced entry-level models, which can mean you shouldn’t break your budget. We will discuss the price and specifications in more detail below.
Foundry
What do you get for your money?
In the US, the 13-inch MacBook Pro and iMac are the same price: $1,299. However, in the UK and elsewhere the prices are not the same. In the UK, the iMac is the cheaper option at £1,249, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro costs £100 more at £1,349. It’s a similar story in Canada, where the iMac costs $1,599 and the M2 MacBook Pro, $1,699, and in Australia, where the iMac costs $1,899 and the M2 MacBook Pro, $1,999. So as you can see the question of value for money depends on where you are! If you’re not in the US, the iMac has the advantage of being cheaper than the MacBook Pro (at least for now).
This is what you get for your money:
- 24-inch iMac, M1, 8-core CPU/7-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Retina 4.5K display, for $1,299 / £1,249 / C$1,599 / A$1,899.
- 13-inch MacBook Pro, M2, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD for $1,299 / £1,349 / C$1,699 / A$1,999
Note that if you choose the iMac, you will have one less graphics core and the M1 is an older generation Apple processor than the M2. Read: M2 vs. M1 Pro, Max and Ultra.
If you have a little more to spend, you have the following choices:
- 24-inch iMac, M1, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Retina 4.5K display, for $1,499 / £1,449 / C$1,849 / A$2,199
- 13-inch MacBook Pro, M2, 8-core CPU/10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD for $1,499 / £1,549 / C$1,699 / A$2,299
Again, the price in the US is the same for the iMac and MacBook Pro, while in the UK and Australia the MacBook Pro costs more. Somewhat confusingly, this iMac costs more in Canada than the comparable MacBook Pro. Not only is the processor in the MacBook Pro better here, you also get twice the storage. So even though the iMac costs less in the UK and Australia, it’s not worth the savings. If you’re in the US or Canada, the choice is clear: the MacBook Pro is more affordable.
14-inch & 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 24-inch iMac
If you need a more powerful Mac and have the budget, you may have considered the 27-inch iMac in the past, or even the iMac Pro, but Apple has discontinued both models and introduced the Mac Studio instead.
The Mac Studio is a great option if you need a powerful Mac, but if you’re looking for a Mac with a built-in display, the Mac Studio lacks one. If a built-in display is important to you, you might consider the iMac for its 24-inch display compared to the larger MacBook Pro models that offer 14-inch and 16-inch displays.
What you get for your money
You might consider one of the iMacs we mentioned above, but since the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros have a higher starting price than both options, we’ll compare the McBook Pro to the more expensive iMac option below:
- 24-inch iMac, M1, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Retina 4.5K display, for $1,699 / £1,649 / C$2,099 / A$2,499
- 14-inch MacBook Pro, M1 Pro, 8-core CPU/14-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD for $1,999 / £1,899 / C$2,499 / A$2,999
The cheapest 14-inch MacBook Pro costs more than the most expensive iMac – is it worth the extra money? One factor in favor of the 14-inch MacBook Pro is the M1 Pro, a processor that is superior to the M1 in the iMac. We explain in a separate article how the M1 compares to the M1 Pro. For more information, read Which Mac processor do I need?
There’s really no escaping the fact that the iMac and MacBook Pro with M1 Pro or M1 Max don’t compare very favorably at the moment. That could change, though, when Apple reintroduces the 27-inch iMac. Learn what we expect from Apple with the pro version of the iMac.
Read more about the differences between the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
verdict
At this point, we recommend all models of the MacBook Pro over the 24-inch iMac, despite the iMac being the cheaper option in some parts of the world.
If you have more to spend it’s worth the 14. to consider-inches and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
However, the MacBook Pro isn’t necessarily the best Mac laptop you could buy – the MacBook Air can do the job just as well for even less money, so check out our MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air comparison.
Best prices now:
The best prices for the cheapest 13-inch MacBook Pro can be found at the top of this article.
13-inch MacBook Pro, 8-core, 10-core, 512GB – MSRP $1.499 / £1,549 / C$1,949 / A$2,299
$1499
$1499.00
Free
24-inch iMac 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU, 256GB SSD – Recommended retail price from $1,299 / £1,249 / C$1,599 / AU$1,899
$1,294.00
Free
$1299
$1299.00
Free
$1299.99
Free
24-inch iMac 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 256GB SSD – Recommended retail price $1,499 / £1,449 / AU$2,199
$1,479
$1499.00
Free
$1499.99
Free
24-inch iMac 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 512GB SSD – Recommended retail price $1,699 / £1,649 / AU$2,499
$1,649
Free
$1699.00
Free
$1699.99
Free
2021 14-inch MacBook Pro M1 Pro 8-core CPU/14-core GPU Recommended retail price: $1,999 / £1,899
$1999
B&H Photo and Video
$1999
$1,999.00
adorama
Not available
Free
2021 14-inch MacBook Pro M1 Pro 10-core CPU/16-core GPU Recommended retail price: $2,499 / £2,399
$2,299.00
Free
$2499
2021 16-inch MacBook Pro M1 Pro 10-core CPU/16-core GPU Recommended retail price: $2,499 / £2,399
$2,299.00
Free
$2499