When it was introduced during the white plastic heyday of peak iPod-era Apple, the Mac mini was pitched as the cheapest way to buy into the Mac ecosystem. It was $499. And despite some fluctuation (as high as $799 for the entry-level 2018 mini, $599 for this year's refresh), the Mac mini has stayed the cheapest entry-level Mac ever since.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro is one of the most powerful laptops we've ever reviewed, offering the second-longest battery life of any laptop we've tested. If your budget can bear it, this laptop is hard to beat.