From free apps and utilities to professional music applications, these Mac apps will make even the best Mac better than ever. Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article. Kensington Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station SD5300t. $248.63 at Amazon. Kensington has a.
Well, the Late 2016 MacBook Pros are here, and they're…different. Putting it politely, Apple replaced useful 'legacy' ports like USB and HDMI with nothing but USB-C/Thunderbolt 3. Furthermore, prices went way up, upgradeability was stripped out, and RAM is capped at 16 GB. To make matters more tricky, Apple squished its previously great keyboards to within .5 mm of not moving at all. It's not all bad news, but it's easy to see how the shortcomings and omitted features have the Mac faithful feeling sore.
To make matters worse, the competition running Windows have never been better. If you're fed up with Apple putting thinness over utility, these are the best alternatives to the MacBook Pro lineup. And, guess what? Most of these awesome PCs are significantly cheaper and better-equipped.
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About the Late 2016 MacBook Pros
Here's something that few people realize: Apple now sells five different products with the MacBook Pro name. There are three new models for 2016, and two models that are holdovers from the previous generation.
Apple now sells five different products with the MacBook Pro name.
The new MacBook Pros are furthermore complicated by their choices in processor. The entry-level 13-inch (the one with two USB-C ports and no Touch Bar), that sells for $1,499, now uses the weaker 15W Intel processor, which previously was only in the MacBook Air line of products. Arguably, this model arguably shouldn't get the Pro moniker, but you're paying a Pro price for it anyway. Apple macbook pro mountain lion.
The middle-tier, $1,799 13-inch MacBook Pro has a slightly more powerful 28W dual-core Intel processor inside (with Iris 550 graphics), features double the ports of the entry-level, and also gives you Apple's new Touch Bar.
Boot Disk Utility Macbook Pro
Apple's big kahuna is the 15-inch MacBook Pro, which features quad-core Intel i7 chips, also from the 6th generation. This time around, Apple opted for AMD graphics in the 15-inch, putting it behind the latest generation of Nvidia graphics that are VR capable. Unlike the last-generation product, you can't get Iris Pro graphics for less money.
Alternative to the MacBook Pro (13-inch, no Touch Bar)
HP Spectre X360 (late 2016): $341–$600 cheaper
We loved HP's latest 2-in-1 laptop, and it's a serious contender for your next computer. Even though it's thin and made of high-quality metal, and includes advanced tech (HP's built in a camera that lets you log in with your face, whereas Apple makes you pay more for TouchID) that Apple left out of its least expensive Pro. Inside is a newer 7th gen Intel i7. Granted, the Mac has better Iris graphics, but Intel's given its new HD 620 graphics a solid boost, narrowing the gap a bit.
If you're concerned about ports, HP has two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports to match the entry-level MacBook Pro, but one-ups it with a standard USB 3.0 port. HP also hasn't forgotten that human beings need to be able to type on its keyboards, and the Spectre X360 one of the best we've typed on this year.
Since it's cheaper than the Mac you need not feel guilty when treating yo'self to the $1,300 Spectre X360, which gives you double the RAM and storage space. Ordering the low-end MacBook Pro with this much RAM and storage is almost $2,000 after tax, making it astonishingly overpriced.
Razer Blade Stealth: $550–$600 cheaper
The latest ultrabook from Razer is a big improvement over its first attempt early this year, sporting an updated 7th gen i7 processor as standard, and 16 GB RAM in every model except the cheapest. It's an awesome alternative to the cheap MacBook Pro.
When configured with a 12.5-inch QHD+ touchscreen, 16 GB RAM, and 256 GB of solid state storage, you're looking at saving $550 over the MacBook. Bump up to the bigger capacity 512 GB version and you're looking at a $600 savings. That's a lot of dough.
This Blade Stealth has Thunderbolt 3, just like the MacBook, but you'll also find normal USB ports, and an HDMI too. Look a little closer at the spec sheet, and you'll find that its single-core i7 performance outdoes the i5 in the Mac, and you get twice the RAM, all the while saving at least half a grand.
Alternatives to the MacBook Pro (13-inch, with Touch Bar)
Dell XPS 13 (9360) i7 QHD+: $200–$450 cheaper
Dell's awesome XPS 13 got a 7th generation makeover a little while ago, and as such, is totally worth considering. Its dual-core i7 option is a little slower than Apple's in the mid-tier version (the processor Apple uses here isn't common on the PC side), but the new 7th gen chips feature faster standard graphics than ever. Where Dell makes up for its shortcomings on sheer horsepower, is when it comes to versatility.
The MacBook Pro at this price level has four USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports, but Dell gives you a Thunderbolt 3, two USB 3.0, and an SD card reader. Where the XPS shines is if you want a big 1 TB SSD and 16 GB RAM—Apple makes you pay $450 more for both of these options compared to the Dell. Dell uses standard M.2 SSDs in its laptops, making storage upgrades a cinch.
Microsoft Surface Book i5: up to $100 cheaper
This is a wild-card pick that, for some, will be a weird comparison. That said, what Surface Book offers is a more advanced, flexible design that can double as a tablet for short periods of time. For artistic folks, the inclusion of a great digital pen makes it way more interesting than the comparable Macs.
Sporting a 6th generation dual-core i5, Surface Book loses out on the performance front but with its solid keyboard, 2 USB 3.0 ports, and SD card reader, it's immediately more familiar and useful. It has a super high-quality display that almost rivals that of the MacBook Pro, and instead of a measly Touch Bar, you're treated to a full touchscreen instead.
If you're unwilling to compromise on build quality and design, Surface Book is a Mac alternative that, for the right buyer, feels more futuristic and versatile.
Alternatives to the MacBook Pro (15-inch, with Touch Bar)
Razer Blade (late 2016): $300–$600 cheaper
Razer's hardware has never been better, and the new Blade really lands a solid right hook against the MacBook Pro. Built around much of the same hardware as the Mac, this looks for all the world like the evil mirror universe version of the 15-inch MacBook Pro.
Inside, you get a quad-core i7, like the MacBook Pro, but what makes the Blade sharper than the Mac is its GPU. The Radeon-based GPUs in the 15-inch Macs is notably weaker than the new Nvidia GTX 1060 in Razer's laptops. Not only is this Nvidia processor faster, but you also get triple the GDDR5 VRAM of the entry-level MacBook Pro and it's VR ready. So, it's cheaper, faster, but still thin and light. Storage is provided by an M.2 SSD, which you'll be able to replace down the road if you need more space.
The only thing you might not like is the polarizing, tribal snake logo on the back of the display, but that's about it.
Dell XPS 15 (9550): $550–$750 cheaper
We were suitably impressed by Dell's big, sleek 15-inch XPS 15 earlier this year. It has a wider array of options than what Apple offers on its 15-inch MacBook Pro, but the quad-core i7 models start at $1,649. That nets you the same quad chip as the $2,300 base MacBook Pro 15-inch, twice the PCIe storage space, and the same amount of RAM. What you don't get in this configuration is a high-res display, as Dell has opted for a more efficient HD matte, non-touch screen.
If you want a glorious 4K screen, Dell has that as an option, as well. In its $1,849 XPS 15, you'll get a smaller 255 GB SSD but everything else plus the addition of a gorgeous, borderless 4K touchscreen. That makes the Dell an awesome option for video editing since Apple's portable Retina screens don't hit that resolution quite yet. Dell makes the transition to USB-C easier by including 2 old-school USB ports, HDMI, and an SD card slot alongside Thunderbolt 3.
There's one sticking point for a lot of MacBook Pro shoppers, and that's the lack of RAM. Apple's options only come with 16 GB, and it's not upgradeable later on. Dell, on the other hand, has two DDR4 slots, and you can max out the XPS 15 with a whopping 32 GB. Also unlike the Mac, Dell's used industry-standard M.2 SSDs that you can easily swap out later, a huge plus for media professionals who never can have too much space.
Purchasing a new MacBook is much similar to buying a ticket to a land of fabulous software & apps. In addition to all the free programs offered by Apple to all the fresh Mac owners, there are some extras essential Mac apps too that help to make the most out of your Machine.
We’ve organized a list of the most useful Mac software and programs that are categorized into ten major categories, ranging from Best Mac Cleaning utility to Best Media Player & so on. Take a look at our best of bunch & let us know which of these suits the most for your needs!
Top 10 Best Mac Apps & Utilities for 2020
We’ve trawled the software market to find the most ideal Mac utilities & apps in every major category for better productivity and efficiency. Try them now!
1. Disk Clean Pro (Best Mac Cleaner & Optimizer)
An all-in-one solution to keep your Mac machine clean & optimized for smooth performance.
Disk Clean Pro is an affordable tune-up utility to help users maintain their system for a longer time. It features dedicated modules to remove junk files along with hidden redundant files to improve response time & speed up Mac. It’s ‘One-Click Care’ works like magic to keep your machine run clutter-free.
Disk Clean Pro is an excellent Mac optimizer, packed with all the advanced features that several Mac Cleaning utilities miss. Packed with various tools like Junk Cleaner, Logs Cleaner, Crash Reports, Partial Downloads remover, Duplicate Finder, Large & Old Files Cleaner & more. Moreover, it offers a module, Internet Privacy Protector, that works efficiently to remove traces of your browsing history for best-in-class Mac security.
The best part? Disk Clean Pro is available at just $0.99, & it’s a limited time offer, so what are you waiting for? Optimize the storage space in a single scan & make the most of Mac’s disk space.
Several websites have reported Disk Clean Pro, as the #1 Mac Cleaning & Optimization Utility!
2. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard (Best Data Recovery Tool for Mac)
An advanced data recovery tool to retrieve accidentally deleted files, documents, music, videos and much more.
Losing data & important files is the kind of nightmare no one would ever want to experience. But unfortunately, it has been known to happen for a variety of reasons such as, drive failure, human error & viruses. However, the “good thing” is the availability of a Data Recovery Software that makes restoring lost files effortless.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is one such data recovery service that lives up to its name, by offering easy yet effective recovery solutions that makes users task super simple. The tool not only helps in locating recently deleted files from corrupted & critical file systems, but also helps in restoring data from external storage devices such as memory sticks, USB drives etc.
There are three different versions available with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: Free, Pro & Unlimited. Free edition allows you to recover data up to 200 MB. Get this Best Mac App for your system now!
3. Systweak Anti-Malware (Best Anti-Malware for Mac)
The 24/7 malware protection against your Mac.
Systweak Anti-Malware is a robust Mac security software that does a fantastic job of detecting any type of malicious content hiding in your system. Its smart algorithms understand which types of threats can put your Mac Machine at risk, and hence keep a close check that no suspicious program, malware, adware or spyware could bypass Mac’s defenses.
The antivirus software claims to have a 100% success rate for detecting dangerous malware and viruses. The lightweight application offers multiple scanning methods to make sure you have an ultimate protection against malware and other infections.
To keep your Mac safe, the antivirus software regularly updates its malware database, so that no latest suspicious threat can bypass you Mac’s security. It not only shields your Machine from online threats but also optimizes it for smooth-functioning, which probably makes it one of the best anti-virus programs in the market. Download easy video editing software.
4. CyberGhost VPN Mac (Best VPN App for Mac)
A feature-rich, powerful VPN for PC with an easy-to-use interface, suitable for both novices & professionals.
CyberGhost is one of the most reliable VPN services for Mac. It boasts a really easy set-up process. In fact, all you have to do is download the VPN for your OS from the below button and launch it with one-click on your system. The VPN software boasts more than 3,700 servers across 60+ countries, including optimized servers for torrenting & other streaming services.
The VPN solution comes with a bundle of extra tools to block unnecessary ads, track malicious websites that attempts to make unauthorized access on your system and an automated HTTPS redirection that ensure most secure connection.
It’s one-month plan costs $12.99 which is a bit higher than other standard VPN services in the market. But that’s totally worthy as it supports connecting up to seven devices simultaneously.
5. Duplicate Files Fixer (Best Duplicate Files Cleaner for Mac)
An efficient, fast and easy-to-use duplicate file cleaner to get rid of identical documents, photos, videos, music and other digital media files. Framing software for mac.
Duplicate Files Fixer by Systweak Software is an awesome duplicate cleaner that helps you reclaim chunks of occupied hard drive space, clogged with unnecessary duplicates such as Documents, Videos, Music, Photos and other files. It’s one of the Best Mac Software for both professional and novice users for finding exact and similar-looking files.
This duplicate file finder comes with a robust set of functionalities for scanning different file types in just a few moments. The Mac utility has a sleek & intuitive interface for great navigation experience. It lets you create a backup of all your duplicate files before you delete them. The application is capable of scanning external devices as well for finding duplicates.
To use this Mac software all you have to do is download it > Add files or folders containing duplicates > click the Scan button to begin sorting > Remove to clean all the duplicate files at once! Enjoy deduplicate library in three-clicks. Duplicate Files Fixer is a must have mac application to fill your bucket of Best Mac Utilities 2020.
6. Stellar Drive Clone (Best Disk Cloning App for Mac)
A robust Mac utility to help you clone & restore all the files on your hard drive, so you can always have your peace of mind.
Stellar Drive Clone is a complete suite to create a Clone or Image of your Mac hard drive. The Cloned copy can be used as a ‘read-to-use’ copy of the original hard drive. And, the Image file can be used for ‘restoring purpose’ in case any data mishap happens.
The advanced Mac cloning tool supports various types of cloning including, HFS-to-HFS, FAT-to-FAT & NTFS-to-EXFAT. Stellar Drive Clone is a must-have Mac app if you wish to clone an encrypted Mac drive and volumes as well. You can also choose to ‘Schedule’ Periodic Backup’ to create timely backups.
This amazing disk cloning service stands out for two reasons, it’s ease-of-use and high compatibility. It supports all the commonly used OS X versions including the latest MacOS Mojave. Download this app for MacBook Pro now!
7. Photos Exif Editor (Best Exif Data & Editor For Mac)
Editing photo metadata or EXIF data was never this easy. Meet Photos Exif Editor, an ultimate batch photo editing tool for your Mac.
For people unaware what EXIF Data is, it’s basically a set of data attached to every image you capture. It includes basic parameters such as date, time, location, camera settings etc. This can be immensely useful info, when you might want to examine how a particular picture is taken, what are its shutter speed or ISO. Moreover, you can certainly edit and modify those set of info using an Exif data editor.
Presenting, Photos Exif Editor a fast and easy-to-use Mac software to read, write and modify metadata of single or thousands of images in one-go. You can manually manipulate the GPS coordinates of images to change its location. Rename multiple files at once, create EXIF Presets for repeated metadata editing to speed up the process.
It’s one of the best Mac apps to view, edit and modify EXIF, IPTC & XMP metadata. The Mac software supports various common photo formats including RAW image file format.
8. Cisdem Video Player for Mac (Best Media Player on Mac)
A universal video player with an impressive set of features to play up to 5K resolution videos without any jerks or tearing.
You saw that coming, right? Talking about the Best media player and not mentioning Cisdem’s Video Player is certainly not possible. It’s one of the most popular and utilized OS X apps that comes with interactive interface to play both audio and video. The video player is known for its smooth playback assistance offering crystal clear views.
Macbook Pro Disk Utility Startup
With Cisdem Video Player, you don’t require to download any Codec pack, it lets you directly play WMV, FLV, MKV, AVCHD, AVI etc. videos on your Mac Machine. Best part? Unlike other media player for Mac, Cisdem allows you to automatically load subtitle files for the movie.
Looking to convert your video files for other Apple devices? Cisdem does that too for you with an optional in-app purchase. The video player is designed to support more than 50 audio and video formats. As soon as install the app, it’s ready to go!
9. Tweak Photos (Best Batch Photos Editor for Mac)
Most popular photo editing app that lets you brighten single or thousands of photos in a few clicks.
Tweak Photos is a brilliant package featuring an attractive interface, powerful filters, plethora of customization, adjustment tools and a lot more. This OS X app is available for just $4.99 on Mac app store.
Best Macbook Pro Utilities Software
From performing basic editing like renaming, resizing, cropping, simple color fixes, format conversions to advanced editing like applying complex photo filters, watermarking, multi-layer management, Tweak Photos does all for you.
You can download this amazing photo editor for Mac to de-noise bulk images, change texture/stylize, auto-correct orientations, blur multiple images, add frames and other artistic elements to batch photos at once. And just everything to create vivid and dazzling photo collection.
10. iSkysoft PDF Editor (Best PDF File Editor for Mac)
A super-smooth Mac software for editing PDF files easily & quickly.
iSkysoft’s PDF Editor is an ultimate solution to edit PDF documents without compromising file formatting. You can download this OS X app to get a complete suit of PDF editing tools to manipulate texts, images, links and other elements present in a PDF file.
Considered as one of the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat, you can download this Mac software for easy editing, cropping, rotating, extracting, splitting, adding watermarks, altering background colours and a lot more.
Download this free PDF File Editor to quickly edit, convert, create, merge & convert scanned PDF files with ease. Not only this, iSkysoft enables you to protect your PDF files with passwords, you can set permissions for other users to perform specific functions like editing, commenting or printing. It’s one of the best Mac app available to share your PDFs to Email, Google Drive, Evernote and Dropbox in one-click.
Best Mac Apps You Need To Install On Your New Machine!
The MacOS app ecosystem is certainly packed with a lot of hidden gems. All the aforementioned Mac software & utilities are great to get you started. For the least frustration and better efficiency, download these handy extras now!