How to Choose the Right Configuration for a MacBook?

Adding to the already solid advice you already received...

I don't think my use of a laptop will change much over the next 5 years.

Ok, but bear in mind it's very common for people to keep their Macs in service for much, much longer than Windows PCs. Ten years is not uncommon. Don't take my word for it, read questions from others using this site whose Macs are that old or more. For example the Mac I use most often (a MBA, since it's portable) is now thirteen years old and working as well as it did when it was new. I have Macs much older than that and they still work, although recent WWW changes present challenges finding browsers that have kept up with those changes. Firefox's latest ESR release still works with every website I can find. That Mac is now sixteen years old.

The reason that MBA still works to this day is that I decided to configure that Mac with its maximum amount of storage and RAM. If I had chosen its base configuration (64 GB / 2 GB respectively) it would have ceased to be functionally useful several years ago.

Summary:

1. Reconsider your planned economic life of five years. It's likely to be more than that. Macs last a long time.
2. Depending on that answer the "right" configuration for you is likely to be somewhere between its base configuration (adequate) and its maximum configuration (overkill).

Lastly consider contacting Apple by phone or chat and discuss your specific needs with them. Start with Apple's home page, go to the Apple Store Online - Apple, and then look for Ask a Specialist.

Ronasara wrote:

I would try to get a Mac that has the ability to increase RAM as well. Many laptops do not.

Apple has been soldering RAM into Mac notebooks since 2012, long before the switch from Intel processors to Apple Silicon ones. With any Mac notebook the OP might be considering, the rule is: make sure it has all of the RAM that you need, since you won't be able to add any more later.

No Apple Silicon Mac of any sort – whether desktop or notebook – has expandable RAM.

ada8124 wrote:

Chip (Processor): 20, 32, 40 - core GPU

Here, I don't know how to choose the right GPU. I use my current laptop for Microsoft Office, internet browsing (searching, YouTube, Netflix), MATLAB & Python, email, and messaging apps like WhatsApp. I don't think my use of a laptop will change much over the next 5 years.

A high-end GPU could come in useful for playing high-end games, and also perhaps for doing heavy-duty photo processing work using Adobe Photoshop and similar applications.

I don't know what your gaming plans are – but it does not sound like you plan to run any productivity applications that require a high-end GPU. So I'll put the question this way. Do you think that you may want to use two external monitors with your Mac notebook – either now or in the future.

If the answer to that is "Yes", I would urge you to get

• A 14" or 16" MacBook Pro with a Pro or Max chip, or
• A 14" MacBook Pro with a plain M4 chip.

These are the only Mac notebooks that can drive two external displays with the lid open. MacBook Airs and Pros with plain M3 chips can only drive two external displays, with limitations, when their lids are closed. Those based on plain M1 and M2 chips cannot drive two external displays at all.

Of all of the Mac notebooks that have "proper" support for two external displays, 14" MacBook Pros with plain M4 chips would best fit within a budget. A 14" M4 MacBook Pro costs slightly more than a 15" M3 MacBook Air - but comes with more ports, and a mini-LED-backlit display, in addition to the improved external display support.

Memory: If I choose 40-core GPU ( max), I can have from 48 Gb. isn't enough? But then I dont know if I need 40 GPU

I would recommend getting at least 16 GB of RAM. Recently, Apple increased the minimum amount of RAM which they include with new Mac notebooks to 16 GB of RAM – but retailers might still have some machines with only 8 GB. You cannot add RAM to any Apple Silicon Mac after purchase – so do not buy an 8 GB "Black Friday special" under the assumption that you can add RAM later.

FYI, the MATLAB vendor says that MATLAB requires a minimum of 8 GB of RAM, but that 16 GB is recommended.

https://www.mathworks.com/support/requirements/matlab-mac.html

ada8124 wrote:

Guys, could you please guide me in the world of laptop configurations? How do I choose the right configuration without overpaying for unnecessary features?

I'm guessing that, if you're on a budget, the Mac notebooks of most interest to you will be:

• 13" and 15" MacBook Airs with plain M2 or M3 chips.
• 14" MacBook Pros with plain M4 chips. These have newer-generation processors, a mini-LED-backlit screen, more ports (extra Thunderbolt port, HDMI port, SDXC card slot), and better external display support.

At this point, it would likely be a false economy to buy a M1 MacBook Air, or a 13" MacBook Pro with a plain M1 or M2 chip. None of those have MagSafe 3 ports, to help take any of the burden off of the two USB-C / Thunderbolt ports that you use for charging and for connecting everything.

Also, once a Mac has been discontinued for 5 – 7 years, Apple may stop carrying repair parts and providing repair service for it. M1 models are much closer to reaching that point than M3 and M4 models are.

The two main things are to get a hard drive that is large enough to hold the data you will be importing, the apps you plan to install and an allowance for future additional needs. Space needs to be available also when installing OS updates and upgrades. Second enough RAM should be installed. Most likely 16 GB should do unless you are heavily into using Adobe products or games. I would try to get a Mac that has the ability to increase RAM as well. Many laptops do not.