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Should you buy an Apple Mac? 4 reasons people are switching from Windows
Apple’s computers are powerful, but they don’t come cheap – which means moving from Windows isn’t a decision to take lightly
Apple fans aren’t like ordinary computer users; our research shows they’re real devotees. In our survey* of nearly 10,000 laptop users, we found that 90% of Apple owners said they’d stick with a Mac the next time they upgrade.
If you’re a Windows user, you might be tempted to make the switch yourself. After all, support ended for Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system in October 2025 with only a one-year extension for users who took action.
Below, we explore the various reasons why you might want to consider making the switch – and which Apple device could be your next computer, based on our tough lab tests. You can also listen to our podcast where we weigh up the pros and cons of joining the Apple ecosystem.
See which Apple laptop is right for you and your budget: best MacBooks.
*Online survey, Feb/Mar 2025, 9,791 Which? Connect panel members who own laptops
Podcast: Should you buy a Mac?
Listen here to the full episode, written by James O'Malley and read by James Rowe. We bring you new episodes of Which? Shorts every Wednesday, all hosted by our team of journalists. Go directly to Which? Shorts to find us in your favourite podcast app.
1. The Apple ecosystem
At a glance: Apple devices link seamlessly, letting you share photos, messages and calls, control multiple screens and use AirPods to automatically switch audio.
If you have an iPhone as well as a Mac, you’ll soon notice the advantages of your devices being part of the same brand’s ecosystem. If you’re signed in with the same Apple account on both, then they can work in tandem to make your life easier.
For example, if you use Apple’s iCloud storage service on your phone, your macOS Photos app will have all your iPhone photos inside it.
Similarly, you can use the Messages app on your Mac to send and receive text messages using your computer. And if a call comes in while you’re on your Mac, you can even answer on your desktop. You can use your iPhone as a webcam, too, and mirror it on your Mac's screen so you can control your phone from there.
These handy integrations also carry over to Apple’s other products. You can set up your iPad beside your computer, and use the Universal Control feature to seamlessly move the mouse and keyboard from controlling one device to the other, or use your iPad as an extended monitor or second screen.
If you have Apple AirPods, you can press 'pause' on the Spotify music app on your iPhone, then press 'play' on YouTube on your Mac - the sound in your headphones will instantly switch across without you having to do anything.
Are Apple's Airpods worth buying? Which? members can access our expert Apple AirPods Pro 3 review
2. A polished operating system
At a glance: compared to Windows, macOS arguably feels more polished and consistent as Apple tightly controls design, hardware and apps.
Spend some time with macOS and you’ll notice subtle design touches that add elegance, from the way windows animate when minimised to the use of transparency and shadows that show how on-screen elements interact, and the consistency of third-party apps that often match Apple’s own style.
Windows runs on everything from laptops to tablets to smart fridges, while macOS only works on Apple computers. This means Apple’s designers test their work on the same models users own. Unlike Microsoft’s team, which can’t account for every device. And when the design of Windows does change (like moving the Start menu), users are quick to voice their complaints.
Apple also enforces much stricter Human Interface Guidelines on outside developers than Windows. This can have downsides, as app developers may have less opportunity for customisation and creativity. But you can't deny that it all adds up to a much more pleasing experience.
Want to save money on your next laptop? We reveal our pick of the best laptop deals - including MacBooks
3. Protection against hackers and malware
At a glance: Macs are seen as more secure than Windows due to fewer users and Apple’s strict app controls.
Historically, Macs have always been considered more secure than Windows PCs. One reason for this is simply popularity: there are fewer Macs in the world, so they present a less attractive target for hackers and malware. However, this may change as Apple’s computers become more popular over time.
But even if this is the case, macOS still has a security advantage over Windows, as Apple exerts much tighter controls over apps that can run on its systems. In fact, if an app hasn’t been properly ‘notarised’ by Apple, by default macOS will refuse to run it. This also applies to apps installed both from Apple’s own Mac App Store and from elsewhere.
That said, Mac owners can still benefit from using antivirus software, as Apple’s built-in protections don’t guard against threats like phishing scams - see why your computer doesn't protect you from phishing.
See our guide to the best Mac antivirus to keep your Apple devices safe from viruses, phishing and other online threats.
4. Powerful processors
At a glance: Apple’s switch to its own ARM-based Silicon chips made Macs faster and more efficient.
Until late 2020, Macs used to run on the same Intel x86 chips that were found in many Windows PCs. But Macs now run on custom-designed Apple Silicon, which is based on the ARM chips in many smartphones. At the time, the transition was a huge hassle for Apple as a company, as it meant rewriting not just macOS, but persuading every app developer to rewrite their code to work better with the new chips.
But it was a decision that’s paid off. This is because, deep within the internal workings, Apple Silicon chips run much faster than x86, generate less heat, and use less energy.
Microsoft has been trying to play catch-up. For example, some PCs that are branded Copilot+ have also moved over to use similar ARM-derived chips (Snapdragon X Plus and Snapdragon X Ultra, for example). But, unlike Apple, it can’t force the entire Windows ecosystem to move over in one go – which means that app and driver support for new chips has been patchier.
What Apple PC is right for you?
Mac mini
- Starting price: around £529
- Base spec: 16GB Ram, 256GB SSD, M4 processor, support for up to three displays
Apple has managed to pack a powerful chip, three Thunderbolt/USB ports for peripherals as well as separate ethernet and HDMI sockets for network and display, respectively, into the almost palm-sized M4 Mac mini. It even has a built-in speaker.
It's powerful and much cheaper than Apple's range of MacBooks. So if you have a monitor, keyboard and mouse you like, this could be the ideal device to make the leap into Apple's ecosystem.
For more details, how its performance compares to pricier MacBooks and whether you can use it as a laptop, see our full Apple Mac mini (M4) review.
MacBook Air M4 13-inch
- Starting price: around £879
- Base spec: 16GB Ram, 256GB SSD, M4 processor
Apple’s flagship laptop for everyday usage. At just 1.13cm thick, it’s ultra portable. Even more unusually, Apple actually reduced the price of the base model when it launched the M4 Air.
We particularly liked the ‘Liquid Retina’ LED display, and its premium look and feel. Although storage is pretty stingy, and expansion is limited with just two Thunderbolt/USB-C ports.
Is this the right laptop for you? See our expert Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M4 review.
You can save money by buying a refurbished or second-hand laptop.
iMac
- Starting price: around £1,299
- Base spec: 16GB Ram, 256GB SSD, M4 processor, 24-inch display
Apple’s all-in-one is ideal if you need something to liven up your desk. With a 24-inch display, you get much more screen to work on than a laptop.
There’s four USB-C ports – two double up as Thunderbolt ports for ultra-fast transfer speeds – and a separate wired network port hidden in the power cable, if you want a solid connection with your router. It even comes with Apple’s Magic Keyboard and Mouse, so you can take it out of the box, plug it in and start working.
We’re tested this model in our lab, along with rival Windows all-in-ones. Find out how it compared: best all-in-one PCs.
You (probably) don’t need these:
- MacBook Pro 14-inch (from £1,599) – 16GB Ram, 512 SSD, M4
- Mac Studio (from £2,099) – 36GB Ram, 512GB SSD, M4 Max
- Mac Pro (from £7,199) – 64GB Ram, 1TB SSD, M4 Ultra
Apple also makes these three extremely expensive computers. Unless you’re planning to edit a Hollywood blockbuster or train complicated AI models, you almost certainly can go without. Especially if all you’re doing is browsing the web, watching a few videos and answering emails.
However, if you’re a professional, then they will undoubtedly be great machines. That’s if you’re willing to pay what some jokingly call the ‘Apple Tax’ – as once you configure your new computer beyond the base specs, Apple really turns the screws on its customers.
For example, on the Apple website, it’s possible to configure a Mac Pro with all bells and whistles for an eye-watering £12,548. This includes £400 just for four wheels you can screw into the desktop tower, so that you can wheel it around. That’s perhaps a little overkill for when you just want to check Facebook.
Discover which tech devices we'd never buy
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A version of this article was originally published in the August / September 2025 issue of Which? Tech Magazine.
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Additional research by Tom Morgan.
