Ruby Mac is on the small side of large, classically shaped with varying degrees of ribbing (one very ribbed, the other moderately so). The dark red blush is a little dull and more even than that of many in the McIntosh family. Coverage is nearly complete, with just a few spots of light yellow-green peel where the sun didn't shine. Tiny light lenticels are nearly invisible in the darkest regions of the blush, and the peel has a satiny finish. A dusty bloom, patchy and thin, adds more visual interest. The apple itself is pretty firm in hand.
An amateur explores the pomaceous fruit