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The short answer is: it depends.
I know, I know, what kind of an answer is that? But hear me out.
MacBooks provide an awesome gaming experience for compatible games.
The problem is that not many games are available for macOS. But you can get around this problem with a virtual machine like Parallels or the newest NVIDIA GeForce NOW platform.
So from a hardware perspective, they can handle AAA titles – in fact, some of the AAA games I play look gorgeous on Mac.
If you’re interested in learning more about gaming on MacBooks and what it looks like, keep reading!
Table of Contents
What is the Difference Between a MacBook and a Gaming Laptop?
The biggest difference between Windows-based gaming laptops and MacBooks is that there are many more games for Windows. While more developers are working on MacOS versions, some of the best games are still only available through Parallels.
The M1-series of MacBooks has closed the hardware performance gap. Yes, MacBooks are primarily productivity machines. But, for example, I don’t see much of a difference between a MacBook Pro 16 and a strong Windows gaming laptop with RTX 3060 in terms of gaming prowess (and I tried both).
Gaming laptops do come with powerful GPUs, processors, and RAM to specifically provide smooth gameplay even with demanding titles. And, sure, the RTX 40-series is a beast any pro gamer will appreciate. But if you play AAA games in free time, you’d hardly be able to tell a difference between a MacBook Pro GPU and RTX 30-series.
Benefits of a MacBook for Gaming
Great display
The Retina displays on modern MacBooks just look amazing. The colors are vivid, the resolution crisp and clear, and you won’t have to worry about eye strain or fatigue.
Portability
Macs are much more portable than gaming laptops. They’re lightweight, slim, and can easily be tucked into a bag. With the exception of a few gaming laptops, like ASUS ROG Zephyrus, the MacBooks win in this department.
Long battery life
You can expect 14-16 hours of battery life on a single charge. That’s plenty of time for more than a few rounds of light gaming and other activities.
Don’t expect the full 14 hours of course. Still, my MacBook Pro will easily outlast any of the gaming laptops I tested.
Quality speakers
MacBooks have some of the best speakers for the gaming experience. Seriously, playing games with beautiful music just hits differently. For example, in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, I got chills with the White Queen puzzle.
Silly, I know, but the only laptops that come close to MacBooks in terms of sound quality, at least for me, were Dell XPS, ROG Zephyrus and maybe HP Omen.
Great cooling system and/or fanless system
Modern MacBooks have advanced cooling systems, including some of the best fanless designs (on MacBook Air). This means you won’t worry about your laptop overheating or getting too loud while gaming.
And frankly, it’s kinda great that MacBooks won’t scorch your lap and distract you from the gameplay.
Drawbacks of a MacBook for Gaming
OS compatibility
This is the biggest drawback by far. Games are typically designed for Windows.
With Parallels and GeForce NOW, there are more titles to play. But the selection is still limited.
Price
MacBooks are generally more expensive than most gaming laptops, and you may get less bang for your buck. For example, most gaming laptops have more RAM and storage than MacBooks. This is relative though – for example, I used to have MacBook Air M1 with 8GB RAM and it worked like a charm with heavy photo editing.
GPU
This is an important consideration for gamers. While the MacBook Air comes with a Retina display and great build quality, its GPU is less powerful than those of gaming laptops. However, M2 MacBooks have a much better GPU.
So, a MacBook Pro 14 or 16 is a better choice if you’re looking for a Mac specifically for gaming. The caveat is that you’ll also have to pay more for better specs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MacBook Air Good for Gaming?
No, it isn’t the best choice for gaming due to the limited number of games for MacOS.
The Air M2 features a 10-core GPU, which can easily run casual and lighter games – like Minecraft – but sometimes struggles with more intensive titles.
However, Steam and other online game libraries do offer some titles that run well on the Air’s integrated GPU.
Is MacBook Pro 13 Good for Gaming?
Yes, MBP 13 can be a good choice for gaming, as it features dedicated graphics cards that can handle most modern games. The base M2 model comes with a 10-core GPU, which can run some of the lighter titles.
If you upgrade to the higher-end models, you can get up to a 16-core graphics card. This does increase the power and it shows in gaming.
As mentioned above, though, don’t forget to check if the game you want to play is compatible with macOS.
What is the Best MacBook for Gaming?
The best MacBook for gaming is the MacBook Pro 16″, with powerful dedicated graphics cards and a large Retina XDR display. The base M2 model comes with a 19-core GPU, which can handle most modern titles on high settings.
MBP 16 features the largest battery capacity of all MacBooks, which makes it ideal for long gaming sessions on the go. However, all this power comes with a hefty price tag; the Pro 16″ is one of the most expensive MacBooks on the market.
Conclusion
Overall, there are better choices than MacBooks for gaming. You can always check if a game you want to play is available on the Mac App Store. Then, depending on the MacBook, check the game’s system requirements.
Additionally, there are exceptions when using Parallels to play Windows games on your Mac. Some games, for example, won’t work because they require DirectX 12 or other features unavailable on macOS.
So, even though Parallels is a great solution for gaming on a MacBook, it’s not perfect.
Another solution to try is the NVIDIA GeForce NOW platform for streaming games on MacBooks and other devices.
Champion Either Way: Choose Your Priority
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if the MacBook suits your needs. If you’re not a professional gamer, and you care about portability and mobility, you should go with a MacBook. On the other hand, if you stream your gameplay and participate in competitive gaming, some of the top gaming laptops might be a better choice.
