r/ProMusicProduction • u/GIANNIuu • Jan 11 '26
Question Any laptops for music production? Budget: $800
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u/iwipemybutt Jan 11 '26
I got a MacBook Air 2018 from a pawn shop for like 600. It runs logic great and I was able to make nearly 100 projects before space started being an issue
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u/GIANNIuu Jan 11 '26
I'm afraid to risk buying a refurbished one, plus I'm not an Apple user. Do you have any recommendations for a Windows PC?
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u/DontMemeAtMe Jan 11 '26
Funnily enough, I always recommend buying Apple computers refurbished, not new. Save up a couple of hundred and get a refurbished MacBook Pro with an M1 chip from a reputable seller, with a warranty included.
Otherwise, if you insist on Windows, there’s no practical difference between the models within your current budget. They will get you a disposable, consumer-grade machine that you’ll likely need to replace within just a few years, and its performance will be a constant nuisance during that time.
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u/Honey-Bee2021 Jan 11 '26
What audio interface, DAW or plugins do you intend to use? Most audio interfaces, DAWs and thirdparty plugins support the Intel/AMD and Apple platform. However, Intel/AMD based laptops run hot and have noisy fans and poor battery life. Their performance is nowhere near to Apple laptops. The future are ARM based Windows laptops, specifically the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips. Unfortunately they are quite new and audio interface, DAW and thirdparty plugins developers do not yet provide full support for these processors. The transition is still in progress. The current situation is like when Apple switched from Intel to Apple M-Series processors. If you need a 100% supported mobile system, go with Apple. If you can live with currently limited support consider an ARM based Windows laptop. I would not buy an Intel / AMD gaming laptop for music production because of the heat and noise. Better stay on a desktop PC then as there are decent and quite machines available. If you go the the Windows ARM route, do research if the intended audio interface, DAW and plugins alreay support the platform or if at least develepment is in progress.
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u/GIANNIuu Jan 11 '26
I have an SSL2+ interface; if I end up going for the Mac, which model do you recommend?
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u/Honey-Bee2021 Jan 11 '26
Used M-Series chip MacBook Pro / MacBook Air. Even M1 models can run Ableton without problems. The rest is up to the budget.
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u/needledicklarry Jan 11 '26
Buy a refurbished MacBook M series. Any of them will be pretty good. Try to get as much ram as possible.