Macs are by far the best computers for graphic design work but which is the best of them all? We decided to test a range of Macs to see which one is the best one for graphic design in 2024.
Macs have always been the most popular computers for creative professionals especially in graphic design.
This is mainly because Macs have always been better than PCs when it comes to color accuracy, typography and layout design.
When it comes to the demands of the best graphic design software however, you need a lot of graphic processing power, RAM and screen estate.
In 2024, the best Macs for creative and design work are undoubtedly the new generation of Apple Silicon Macs which offer much faster graphics and processing power than the older Intel chip.
There’s now an impressive range of Apple Silicon chips to choose from with the M2 Mac Mini released in early 2023, the M2 Mac Studio, M2 MacBook Air and M2 Mac Pro released in summer 2023 and more recently, the M3 MacBook Pro and M3 iMac became the latest to join the lineup.
In our extensive testing and research, we found that the M3 MacBook Pro is the best choice for graphic design of 2024 due to its incredible power, display and portability.
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What To Look For In A Mac For Graphic Design
Display
Arguably the most important factor for any graphic designer is the size and quality of the display or monitor.
There’s no question that Apple makes the best displays on the market whether it’s the incredible Liquid Retina XDR screens on MacBooks, the amazing new 5K Apple Studio Display or the stunning (and incredibly expensive) 6K Pro XDR Apple Display.
Apple displays also offer other unique touches which are ideal for graphic designers including:
- True Tone which adjusts colors to the ambient light
- Wide Color (P3) ranging from 500 nits up to an incredible 1600 nits in the Pro XDR and 16 inch M3 MacBook Pro
- Automatic color calibration with Macs
The latest 16 inch M3 MacBook Pro has the best screen in any laptop out there with the mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR supporting:
- Stunning resolution of up to 254 ppi (pixels per inch).
- 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
- 3024 x 1964 pixel resolution
- (DCI-P3) color gamut and and professional precision (DeltaE <2).
- 1600 nits of brightness which previously, you could only get if you bough the Pro XDR display.
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) which provides greater contrast and depth of color compared to Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) displays.
However, the main drawback of the MacBook Pro for graphic designers is that the maximum display size is only 16 inches which is why many designer end up having to buy an external monitor for it or go for the desktop 24 inch M3 iMac instead.
Processor
The biggest change to the Mac range in recent years has been the replacement of the Intel chip with Apple’s own faster ARM Apple Silicon chips in November 2020.
All new Macs now have either the M1, M2 or M3 chip which has replaced the older Intel chip.
Apple Silicon chips are far more powerful than Intel chips offering up to 24 CPU cores in the M2 Ultra chip although the Ultra chip is only available in the M2 Mac Studio and Mac Pro at the moment.
In comparison the most powerful Intel CPU could only go up to 12 cores (apart from the incredibly powerful Intel Mac Pro which has 28 CPU cores).
Why is this important? Because the more cores you have, the more tasks your Mac can handle at once.
This means you can be running several powerful graphic design applications at once or have several projects running simultaneously and not notice any difference in performance.
At the moment, different versions of the M1, M2 and M3 chip are available in different models of Mac and the currently availability is as follows:
- M1 Chip with 8 CPU Cores: Available in the 24 inch iMac, MacBook Air, 13 inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini.
- M1 Pro Chip with 10 CPU Cores: Available in the 14 inch and 16 inch MacBook Pro.
- M1 Max Chip with 10 CPU Cores: Available in the 14 inch and 16 inch MacBook Pro and Mac Studio.
- M1/M2 Ultra Chip with 20/24 CPU Cores: Available in the Mac Studio and Mac Pro
- M2 Chip with 10 CPU Cores: Available in the 13 inch MacBook Air, 15 inch MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13 inch, Mac Mini
- M2 Pro Chip with 19 CPU Cores: Available in Mac Mini M2 Pro
- M2 Pro/Max Chip with 16 CPU Cores: Available in MacBook Pro M2 Pro/Max and M2 Max Mac Studio
- M3 Chip with 8 cores: Available in M3 MacBook Pro 14 inch
- M3 Pro/Max Chip with 12/18 CPU Cores: Available in M3 MacBook Pro 16 inch and M3 iMac 24 inch
Note that Apple only sells refurbished versions of the M1 chip Macs now. The M2 and M3 models are the only Macs Apple sell from new in the Apple Store.
There are however other retailers such as Amazon where you can still buy M1 chip Macs from new but we’d advise getting either an M2 or M3 chip where possible simply because they’re faster and the latest version of Apple’s Silicon chip.
Graphics Card
When it comes to graphics cards, Apple Silicon Macs are again a much better option than Intel Macs.
In Apple Silicon Macs, the graphics card and the RAM are integrated (known as “Unified Memory”) for much faster performance.
In Intel Macs, these are separate meaning it doesn’t process data as efficiently.
The top of the range M2 Mac Studio with M2 ultra chip supports up to 192GB of unified memory which is more than enough for any professional graphic designer.
The only remaining advantage that Intel Macs have over Apple Silicon Macs is that you can boost the graphics capabilities with an external graphics card known as an eGPU.
eGPUs are incredibly powerful and in some cases can even outperform the capabilities of Apple Silicon Macs.
Apple Silicon Macs don’t work with eGPUs as Apple Silicon chips don’t support them and there seems no chance of them being supported in the future.
Memory
Apple Silicon Macs aren’t upgradable internally which means that you can’t upgrade the RAM in an Apple Silicon Mac after purchase.
None of the Apple Silicon Macs can be upgraded because the RAM is integrated into the M-series chips for faster performance known as “Unified Memory”.
An M-series Mac will easily outperform any Intel Mac with the same amount of RAM so we strongly recommend buying an Apple Silicon Mac.
It’s therefore important that you add as much RAM as possible when you customize and purchase any Apple Silicon Mac for the first time.
Base level M1, M2 and M3 Macs ship with 8GB of RAM as standard but you can upgrade to 16GB when you purchase them.
The M1/M2/M3 Pro can be upgraded to 32GB RAM, M1/M2/M3 Max up to 64GB RAM, M2 Max up to 96GB RAM, M3 Max up to 128GB RAM and M1/M2 Ultra up to 196GB RAM.
Nowadays, Apple has locked down Macs so that they are almost impossible to upgrade later although the latest M2 Mac Pro has six additional PCIe Gen 4 cards.
Storage Capacity
Graphic Designers have to deal with huge file sizes for images, layouts, multimedia content and more and your Mac’s internal storage will rarely be enough.
Like RAM, the hard drive or SSD in Apple Silicon Macs is not upgradable after purchase so it’s best to add as much as possible when you purchase the Mac.
You can customize the hard drive in higher-end Macs like the 16 inch M3 MacBook Pro with a whopping 8TB of internal storage space.
Unlike RAM however, all is not lost if you can’t afford to upgrade our storage space on purchase.
You can easily extend the storage capacity of your Mac with an external drive.
We strongly recommend going for an external Solid State Drive (SSD) for graphic design as they are much faster than traditional mechanical drives.
Even better are thunderbolt external drives which are capable of transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s.
Here then are the most suitable Macs for graphic design in 2024.
1. M3 MacBook Pro 16 inch (Best Overall)
The M3 MacBook Pro was released in November 2023 and is the best Mac for graphic design when it comes to power and portability.
The M3 MacBook Pro replaces the M2 MacBook Pro released in January 2023 and uses the same 3-nanometer process used in the latest iPhone 15 Pro with A17 Pro chips.
The new 3nn M3 Pro and M3 Max chips are even faster than the M2 versions delivering incredibly fast graphic processing performance.
If you get the MacBook Pro with M3 Max chip, you can customize it with up to 128GB of RAM. This means you can have multiple graphic design apps open and switch between them swiftly with no slow down or lag.
Whatever we threw at the 16 inch M3 MacBook Pro, it barely breaks a sweat and doesn’t get hot even when rendering 3D graphic designs.
The mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR Display looks truly amazing for graphic design with a stunning 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio using mini-LED technology that also supports HDR.
The display on the M3 MacBook Pro really is a graphic designer’s dream offering 3024 x 1964 pixel resolution, (DCI-P3) color gamut and and professional precision (DeltaE <2).
The M3 MacBook Pro display also features TrueTone to adapt colors according to light and with a maximum brightness support of up to 1600 nits, you can work without reflections even in direct sunlight.
The factory calibration is near perfect too so you won’t have to calibrate it like most laptops used for graphic design.
The M3 MacBook Pros also have Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and an HDMI 2.1 port with support for higher resolution external monitors including 4k displays up to 240Hz, 5K displays and 8K displays.
There are an additional three Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe charging connector and a headphone jack.
With a maximum of 22 hours battery life you can use it pretty much a whole day without having to charge it.
On top of this there’s a 1080p webcam and a six speaker surround system supporting spatial audio.
You can also order theM3 MacBook Pro in a new mark resistant space black anodized finish or silver.
There’s very little not to like about this Mac for graphic design although it doesn’t support full Adobe RGB coverage which could be an issue for those that need it for printed publications.
Pricing for the 16 inch M3 MacBook Pro starts at $2,499 which isn’t cheap but for graphic designers that want the ultimate in mobility and power, it’s definitely worth it.
Note that there is also a cheaper 14 inch M3 MacBook Pro from Apple but we don’t recommend it for graphic design.
It only comes with a measly 8GB of RAM, the screen alone is too small and it only supports connecting one additional display.
Check our full M3 MacBook Pro review for our thoughts on this amazing MacBook.
Pros:
- Apple’s latest and most powerful MacBook Pro
- Incredible liquid retina display
- 1600 nits of brightness
- Amazing battery life
- Up to 128GB of RAM
- Upgraded HDMI 2.1 ports
- Supports multiple displays
- Lots of ports for connecting external devices
Cons:
- Price
- Not upgradable after purchase
- No Ultra chip option
- Doesn’t support full Adobe RGB coverage
2. M2 Mac Studio (Best For Pros)
The M2 Mac Studio is Apple’s latest desktop offering, designed specifically for creative professionals and widely regarded as one of the best Macs for graphic design.
This model combines exceptional performance and extensive connectivity, making it a top choice for those in fields like graphic design, video editing, music production, virtual reality, and game development.
The original Mac Studio debuted in 2022 with the M1 chip, alongside the impressive 5K Apple Studio Display.
When paired, these two products create an ideal setup for creative work. At WWDC 2023, Apple introduced the upgraded M2 Mac Studio, featuring the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips, along with support for HDMI 2.1, enabling the connection of multiple external displays.
Currently, only the M2 version of the Mac Studio is available new from Apple, although refurbished M1 Mac Studios can still be found through Apple’s refurbished store.
Aside from the Mac Pro, the Mac Studio is the only desktop Mac equipped with the powerful M2 Ultra chip, offering 24-core CPU and up to 76-core GPU options. Even the base version without the M2 Max or Ultra chips boasts a 12-core CPU and up to 38-core GPU.
The M2 Ultra Mac Studio delivers a 24-core CPU and up to 76-core GPU, providing significant performance improvements—Apple claims up to 20% faster CPU performance and up to 30% better GPU performance compared to its predecessor, the M1 Ultra.
The M2 Max version of the Mac Studio supports up to 96GB of unified memory, while the M2 Ultra variant can handle up to 192GB of unified memory with 800GB/s memory bandwidth, far surpassing the capabilities of both the M2 Mac Mini and M2 MacBook Pro.
Storage can be configured up to 8TB SSD, and for those needing even more, external SSDs can be easily added.
In terms of connectivity, the M2 Mac Studio comes loaded with ports, including four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 10GB Ethernet port, two USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, and a Pro audio jack.
Pricing for the M2 Max Mac Studio starts at $1,999, while the M2 Ultra version begins at $3,999. A fully loaded M2 Ultra model with 8TB SSD can cost up to $7,999, but this level of power and performance means that upgrades won’t be necessary for quite some time.
For the best experience, pairing the Mac Studio with the 27-inch 5K Apple Studio Display, priced at $1,599, is highly recommended, although there are many alternative displays compatible with the Mac Studio.
You can explore more display options in our guide to the best monitors for the Mac Studio.
Check out our full review of the M2 Mac Studio to see how it performs and why it’s one of the most powerful compact Macs available today.
Pros:
- Features Apple’s powerful M2 Ultra chip
- Offers up to 76-core processing power
- Supports up to 8TB of internal SSD storage
- Provides up to 192GB of unified memory
- Can connect to up to 5 external monitors
- Delivers exceptional image quality when used with the Apple Studio Display
Cons:
- Expensive
- Cannot be upgraded after purchase
- Requires purchasing a monitor, keyboard, and mouse separately
3. M2 Mac Mini (Best Budget)
The M2 Mac Mini is the smallest Mac available, yet it delivers impressive power, making it the best budget Mac for graphic design.
Launched in January 2023, the M2 Mac Mini starts at just $599, which is $100 cheaper than the original M1 Mac Mini released in 2020.
When purchasing the M2 Mac Mini with the M2 Pro chip, you can upgrade it to 32GB of unified memory and get up to 8TB of storage.
Keep in mind, the M2 Mac Mini doesn’t come with a monitor, keyboard, or mouse, so you’ll need to purchase those separately. The good news is that it works with almost any monitor, keyboard, or mouse.
For display options, the M2 Pro Mac Mini supports up to three external monitors—two via Thunderbolt and one through HDMI.
The basic M2 version supports up to two external displays, with one connected via Thunderbolt and the other through HDMI.
Both models feature an HDMI 2.1 port, allowing you to connect the Mac Mini to a TV or use it for gaming with a higher refresh rate.
Unlike the older Intel Mac Minis, the M2 Mac Mini doesn’t support external GPUs (eGPUs), as they are not compatible with the M1/M2 chips.
For graphic designers seeking the best budget Mac, the M2 Mac Mini is an excellent choice, offering affordability and portability.
You can read our full M2 Mac Mini review for more on this budget powerhouse.
Pros:
- Affordable price point
- Ideal for budget-conscious graphic designers
- Supports up to three external displays
- Up to 8TB of storage
- Can be upgraded to 32GB of memory
- Highly portable
Cons:
- Requires separate purchase of a keyboard, monitor, and mouse
- Cannot be upgraded with the M2 Ultra chip
4. M3 iMac 24 inch (Best Value)
If you’re looking for a desktop Mac for graphic design but don’t have the budget for the Mac Studio, the 24-inch M3 iMac is an excellent alternative. Perfect for home or studio setups, it combines powerful performance with great value.
Released in November 2023, the M3 iMac replaces the 2021 version (there was no M2 iMac) and is the fastest iMac to date. According to Apple, the new iMac is twice as fast as the previous M1 model. It also features an improved 4.5K Retina Display that supports 1 billion colors—the same color range as the Apple Studio Display—along with a 1080p webcam.
True to iMac tradition, the M3 iMac is available in six vibrant colors: silver, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and blue.
For graphic designers who don’t want the added expense of purchasing an external monitor like with a Mac Mini or Mac Studio, the 24-inch M3 iMac is the best value all-in-one Mac for desktop design. It includes everything you need, with its built-in 4.5K display, Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Touch ID—ready to use straight out of the box.
The iMac’s silent SSD drives can be configured with up to 2TB of storage, but professional designers may still need an external SSD for additional space. It also supports up to 24GB of unified memory (RAM), which should be sufficient for most graphic design tasks.
In terms of connectivity, the M3 iMac comes with three USB ports and two Thunderbolt ports, providing ample options for connecting peripherals.
Keep in mind that there is no 27-inch M3 iMac—Apple discontinued the 27-inch iMac, effectively replacing it with the Mac Studio paired with the Apple Studio Display.
Pricing for the M3 iMac starts at $1,299 for the 8-core CPU base model and $1,499 for the 10-core version.
Pros:
- Great all-in-one Mac for graphic design
- Ready to use out of the box with included accessories
- Stunning 24-inch 4.5K Retina display
- Super fast M3 chip performance
- Available in a range of colors
- Up to 2TB of internal storage
- Up to 24GB of RAM
Cons:
- Not portable
- 27-inch and 21-inch models discontinued
- No Ultra chip option
5. M2 MacBook Air (Best For Portability)
Although the MacBook Air is the least powerful MacBook on the market, it’s also the cheapest MacBook for graphic design and offers the ultimate in lightweight portability for graphic designers on the move.
Apple released the new M2 MacBook Air in 2023 and for the first time, gave it a 15 inch screen making it the biggest MacBook Air and yet still light as a feather.
The smaller 13-inch MacBook Air isn’t ideal for graphic design as the screen is so small but it is the cheapest starting at just $1,199.
However, a maxed-out 15 inch M2 MacBook Air starts at $2,499 and you might want to consider the M2 MacBook Pro instead once you start approaching this price point.
The 15-inch screen provides a decent amount of screen estate although you may want to consider getting an external monitor for when you’re in a studio or using it at home although one drawback is the M2 MacBook Air only supports one external display.
However, there are ways to connect multiple displays to M1 and M2 Macs that by default, only support one external monitor.
If you’re looking for a lightweight, portable laptop for graphic design, then the 15 inch MacBook Air is the best light and portable laptop for graphic designers on the market.
Pros:
- Incredibly light and portable
- New 15 inch screen in the M2 model
- No fans makes it totally silent
- Price
Cons:
- Lacks processing power and spec of the MacBook Pro
- Not upgradable after purchase
- Only supports one external display
Best Macs For Graphic Design Price Comparison
If you’re still unsure what to do after reading these reviews, here’s how these Macs compare side-by-side in terms of pricing.
This comparison excludes the Mac Studio which isn’t available from Amazon but pricing starts at $1,999.
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