- Macbook Pro For Developers
- Best Macbook For Android Development Software
- Best Macbook For Android Development 2019
- Best Macbook For Android Development
- Best Mac For Ios Development
- Apple, as usual, upgraded their MacBook lineup with the new series of 2019 MacBooks, Air, and Pro. The new series of MacBook Pro is aesthetically similar to the older variants of the MacBook Pro.
- Now Kotlin is the official language for Android App Development declared by Google since 2019. Kotlin is a cross-platform programming language that may be used as an alternative to Java for Android App Development. It has also been introduced as a secondary “official” Java language in 2017. Kotlin can interoperate with Java.
The best MacBook for you and your needs is a tricky thing to figure out, especially now that Apple is rolling out new MacBook Pro models with entirely new processors and a different design. With the Apple M1 chip now joined by the M1 Pro and M1 Max, MacBooks as we know them are changing.
But once you take a closer look at the best MacBooks you can see that one size doesn't fit all. There are specific reasons why many should pay more for the M1-based MacBook Pro, and on the newer 14- and 16-inch systems, you have a choice between the M1 Pro and M1 Max.
- MacBook Air vs Pro: What's right for you?
- The best laptops to buy now
Xamarin Android Player has deep integration with Visual Studio and Xamarin Studio and a native user interface on both Mac & Windows. Running Android on an x86 virtual machine using hardware accelerated virtualization and OpenGL, Xamarin Android Player is significantly faster than the stock Android Emulator.
Apple's M1-equipped MacBook Air 2020 is our top recommendation for the best MacBook overall. The Apple M1 chip makes it faster than we ever expected the Air to get, and its power efficiency enables much longer battery life, lasting over 14 hours on a charge.
But if you want more power, consider upgrading to the new 2021 MacBook Pros. Available in either 14-inch or 16-inch versions, these beefy MacBooks deliver unprecedented power with remarkable power efficiency thanks to Apple's new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. They're the best MacBook Pros Apple has released in years, and a good investment if you can afford the $2-3k asking price.
Beyond that, there's the talk of the MacBook Air 2022, which looks to be a higher-end version of the M1 model released last year. We're to expect smaller bezels and MagSafe charging, at the least.
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The best MacBook for most people
Specifications
CPU: Apple M1
RAM: 8GB-16GB
Weight: 2.8 pounds
Reasons to buy
+Super-fast performance+Incredibly long battery life+Comfortable keyboard
Reasons to avoid
The MacBook Air was always the best MacBook for most people, but now it's better for even more people than ever before. Apple's decision to replace its Intel processors with its own Apple Silicon, starting with the M1 chip in the MacBook Air, is reaping serious rewards. This laptop's 14 hours and 41 minutes of battery life n the Tom's Guide battery test is the best for a MacBook Air ever. Plus, the M1 delivers crazy-fast performance, so much so that it can run serious games smoothly.
The MacBook Air's webcam has also been upgraded, as the M1 chip provides signal processing tricks to improve clarity and color accuracy. And, of course, the Magic Keyboard is still here, which provides a comfy typing experience. Dolby Atmos audio support means that some movies and TV shows will sound even better than before. The MacBook Air is now not just the best MacBook for your average Apple user, but it's closer to the title of the king of the laptops than it's been in years. It's so good it won recommendations for best laptop and longest-lasting laptop in our Tom's Guide Awards 2021.
Read our full MacBook Air with M1 review.
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The best MacBook for people who need more ports
Specifications
CPU: Apple M1 Pro or Max with 10-core CPU
RAM: 16GB to 64GB
Weight: 3.5 pounds
Reasons to buy
+Amazingly fast+Beautiful mini-LED display+Fantastic battery life
Reasons to avoid
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro is the Mac to get if you have 1) the budget and 2) the need for more ports. That's simply because its new Liquid Retina XDR display with a 120Hz refresh rate is gorgeous. Your favorite movies, and everything else, will simply look better. Oh, and the new M1 Pro (and pricier M1 Max) chips deliver even more speed than ever before, while still enabling all-day battery life.
On top of that, Apple's brought MagSafe charging, HDMI-out and a SD memory reader back to the MacBook Pro. This means you won't need to bring a USB-C dongle to connect to a display or use external memory. That said, there's still no USB-A, which is something we're starting to realize Apple has no plans of bringing back. Other notable changes include the death of the Touch Bar (which never proved its worth), which has been swapped out for physical F1-F12 keys. Apple's also bumped up the internal webcam to 1080p, from 720p. The MacBook Pro 2021 definitely feels like a Pro-level laptop again.
Read our full MacBook Pro 2021 (14-inch) review.
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Best MacBook for editing video
Specifications
CPU: M1 Pro (10-core CPU) | M1 Max (10-core CPU)
RAM: 16GB to 64GB
Weight: 4.7 pounds (M1 Pro) | 4.8 pounds (M1 Max)
Reasons to buy
+Beautiful Liquid Retina XDR display+Incredible performance trounces competition+Outstanding battery life
Reasons to avoid
Want it all? Then you may be looking for the beastly 16-inch MacBook Pro, which sports either M1 Pro or M1 Max chips, that deliver shocking amounts of performance. An upgrade over the previous intel-based model, this model features thinner bezels to give more space to the gorgeous mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR displays. Once you get over the notch, you'll be wowed by its contrast and smoothness, especially with its 120Hz refresh rate.
On top of that, you get the return of the ports that pros demand. That's not just the safety-focused MagSafe 3 charging port, but HDMI-out for connecting to displays and an SD memory reader for connecting memory cards for real-deal cameras. Oh, and don't think MagSafe will take USB-C charging out of the picture: the MacBook Pro's trio of Thunderbolt 4/USB4 ports also draw power. On top of that, you've got a 1080p webcam, a trio of improved microphones and a stellar six-point speaker system.
Read our full MacBook Pro (16-inch) review.
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Best MacBook for long battery life
Specifications
CPU: Apple M1 8-core CPU
RAM: 8GB to 16GB
Weight: 3.0 pounds
Reasons to buy
+Stellar overall and gaming performance+Excellent battery life+Lightning-fast SSD
Reasons to avoid
The MacBook Pro with M1 takes everything we like about the M1-based MacBook Air, and then kicks it up a notch or two. For example, it lasted a whopping 16 hours and 32 minutes on the Tom's Guide battery test, beating the M1 Air (14:41) by nearly 2 whole hours.
On top of that, the MacBook Pro's 434.8-nit display is brighter than the Air's 365.8-nit panel. And on the Handbrake video transcoding test, it converted a 4K movie to 1080p in 7 minutes and 44 seconds, beating the already speedy MacBook Air's 9:15.
Other perks include Dolby Atmos sound, improved webcam video quality (thanks to the M1's new signal-processing chip), the sharp 2560x1600-pixel Retina display and iOS and iPadOS app support. And don't forget the Magic Keyboard, which is an actual joy to type on. We like the M1 Pro so much we awarded it longest-lasting laptop in our Tom's Guide Awards 2021.
Even with Apple adding M1 Pro- and M1 Max-powered 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros to its lineup, this 13-inch model remains available.
Read our full MacBook Pro with M1 review.
How to choose the best MacBook for you
Performance: If you know you don't push your laptops to their limits, get the MacBook Air and get the entry-level model. Its 8-core M1 chip and 8GB of RAM are going to surprise you with their speed. Upgrade that RAM to 16GB if you keep a lot of applications open at once. Those who work with more demanding applications will either want to get the M1 MacBook Pro (check with your favorite applications to see if they're updated for Apple silicon) with 16GB of RAM, or consider getting an Intel-based MacBook with 32GB of RAM. Storage is fast up and down the lineup.
Graphics and gaming: For M1-based MacBooks, you either get a 7-core or 8-core integrated GPU, and we've seen amazing results on the 8-core version — so upgrade if you want to game on your Mac. Yes, you can play serious video games on the Mac now. It's impressive.
Size and weight: The 13-inch MacBook Air and Pro are only distinguished by the Air's wedge shape and slightly lighter weight. The MacBook Pro (3.0 pounds for M1, 3.1 pounds for Intel) is 0.2 – 0.3 pounds heavier than the 2.8-pound MacBook Air. Unsurprisingly, the 16-inch MacBook Pro — which is a heavier 4.3 pounds — is best for those who either don't mind the heft in their bag or don't move around as often.
Battery life: The M1 MacBook Pro is the longest lasting MacBook there is, posting a Tom's Guide battery test time of 16:32. This beats the M1 Air (14:41), Intel-based 13-inch Pro (10:21) and the 16-inch Pro (10:55).
How we test the best MacBooks
To find the best MacBook, we run each through our gauntlet of benchmarks and real-world tests, and then use them as our main computer for as well. Only then are we comfortable recommending them (or not) for your purchase.
We use a Klein K-10A colorimeter to test each MacBook's screen to find its average brightness and color quality (so we don't just assume Apple's ratings are correct). When it comes to general performance, we use the Geekbench 5 (CPU performance) benchmark, and time how long the Macs will take to transcode a 4K video to 1080p.
We also run the BlackMagic storage speeds test to see how fast these MacBooks' SSDs are (spoiler alert: they're all pretty fast). Then, we run our custom battery test to see how long each MacBook (at 150 nits of brightness) can last browsing the web over Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.
We've tested various computer games on MacBooks, with Civilization VI being one of our current favorites to run.
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Part 2. Top 3 Android Emulator for Mac
- • BlueStacks
- • Genymotion
- • Andy
1. BlueStacks
BlueStacks App Player is probably the most popular emulator for running Android apps on Mac. It is available for both Mac and Windows. It creates a virtual copy of Android OS apps on the guest OS. It uses the unique 'LayerCake' technology that allows you to run android apps on your PC without any external Virtual Desktop Application. Once install user can enjoy Android games and apps such as News Feeds, Social Network on a large screen.
BlueStacks maintain an internal search manager that allows any apk, the package file format that is used to distribute and install application and middleware on any Android device, to install within it. It can be
Advantage
- • .apk files can be installed into BlueStacks from Mac simply by double clicking.
- • It can also sync between the apps on Mac and the android phone or tablet by installing BlueStacks Cloud Connect app on Android Device.
- • Apps can be launched directly from Mac dashboard.
- • No need to configure additional Internet connection as it automatically gets the Internet connection of host computer.
- • BlueStacks App Player is available for both Windows and Mac.
Disadvantage
- When running complex graphic apps it fails to respond to the input in a timely fashion.
- It does not provide any mechanism to uninstall cleanly from the host computer.
Download
- • It can be downloaded from the official website of BlueStacks. It is absolutely free.
How to use
Download BlueStacks for Mac OS X from the official website of BlueStacks and install it like any other software on your PC. Once installed, it will boot up to its Home Screen. From there you can find the installed apps, find new apps in the 'Top Charts', search apps, play games and change settings. Mouse will be the basic touch controller. To access Google Play you will have to associate a Google Account with BlueStacks.
2. Genymotion
Genymotion is a fast and wonderful third party emulator that can be used to create a virtual environment for Android. It is the fastest Android emulator on the earth. It can be used to develop, test and run Android apps on Mac PC. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux machine. It is easy to install and can create a customized android device. You can start multiple virtual devices at the same time. It has the pixel perfect functionality so you can be precise to your UI development. By using the OpenGL acceleration it can achieve the best 3D performance. It directly commands the virtual devices sensors with Genymotion sensors. It is evolution of the Android open source project and already trusted by about 300,000 developers around the globe.
Advantage
- • Best 3D performance is achieved through OpenGL acceleration.
- • Support full screen option.
- • Can start multiple virtual devices at the same time.
- • Fully compatible with ADB.
- • Available for Mac, Windows and Linux machine.
Macbook Pro For Developers
Disadvantage
- • Require virtual Box to run Genymotion.
- • Cannot deploy Android machine offline.
Best Macbook For Android Development Software
Download
- Genymotion can be downloaded from the official website of Genymotion. The latest version of Genymotion is 2.2.2. You have to choose a package that meets your requirements.
How to use
- 1. Download Genymotion. You have to create an account to download it.
- 2. Open the .dmg installer. It will also install Oracle VM Virtual Box on your computer.
- 3. Move the Genymotion and Genymotion Shell to application directory.
- 4. Click the icon from Application directory and the following window will appear.
- 5. To add virtual device click on the add button.
- 6. Click on the connect button.
- 7. Enter your user name and password to connect to the Genymotion Cloud and click on the connect button. After connecting with the Genymotion cloud the following screen will appear.
- 8. Select a virtual machine and click on Next.
- 9. Give a name for the Virtual machine like below and click on Next.
- 10. Your virtual device will be now be downloaded and deployed. Click on the Finish button after successful deployment of your virtual machine.
- 11. Click on the Play button to start the new virtual machine and enjoy.
3. Andy
Andy is an open source emulator that allows developers and users to enjoy more robust apps, to experience them in multiple device environments, and to stop being constraint by the limits of device storage, screen size or separate OS. User can update their Android through Andy. It provides seamless sync between desktop and mobile device. User can use their phone as joystick while playing games.
Advantage
- • It provides a seamless sync between desktop and mobile device.
- • Enable Android OS update.
- • Enable app download from any desktop browser to Andy OS.
- • Phones can be used as joystick while playing games.
- • Unlimited storage expansion.
Disadvantage
- • Increase CPU usage.
- • Consumes a lot of physical memory.
Download
Best Macbook For Android Development 2019
- • You can download Andy from www.andyroid.net.
Best Macbook For Android Development
How to Use
Best Mac For Ios Development
- 1. Download and install Andy.
- 2. Launch Andy. It will take about a minute to boot and then it should see a welcome screen.
- 3. Sign into your Google Account and complete the rest of the setup screen. You will be asked to provide your Google Account Information to 1ClickSync, the app that let's you sync between Andy and the mobile device