Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

14-inch MacBook Pro to M2 MacBook Air?

dizmonk said:
okay, I may have missed this but... here's another dilemma.. 16gb/512gb refurbed 14" m1 Pro is vs. the m2 MBA 24gb/1tb with edu discount are almost the same cost.. ($1799 vs. $1839)... This is a dilemma... Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
I think it comes down to whether you need/want the better multicore, sustained performance, or something specific that only the MBP can do - multi-monitor support; speakers; HDR etc.

If you don't need those things or just want a lighter laptop, you can go for the Air.
 
Fascinating to read back on this thread after using an actual M2 MBA for a couple of days. Most of this stuff missed the mark so much, it is laughable.
 
I’m considering this change actually.

I swapped out my MBP 16 inch for a MBP 14 inch M1 as I wanted better portability and less heat/noise. I’ve used it for work and as my personal laptop since. It’s a great laptop.

Work policy has since changed and I’m now forced to use the work supplied Windows laptop. Which is actually fine as it’s a new Lenovo X1 Carbon, cracking little laptop, noisier than the MBP but smaller, lighter and all round decent machine.

So, my MBP 14 M1 is now only used for personal use - Photos, Browsing, Personal docs using MS Office. It’s probably overkill for what I now need it for. So perhaps, for me, the MBA M2 would be a decent option.

The only thing that’s stopped me doing this change is that the X1 main board failed (laptop was dead) and took a couple of weeks to get replaced via Lenovo, so the MBP stepped in to resume its role as a workhorse while the X1 got repaired. Given I use a 34 inch ultrawide monitor for work, I’m not sure the MBA M2 could do the same if that happens again.
 
Wont you lose considerable amount of money, you got rid of 16", now you consider to get rid of 14 and buy new Air?
Just thinking how much money would be lost in less than one year 😃!
Then again, if you cant live with 14 and its too heavy and big for you, then there isnt much to do other than getting M2 Air.
 
VaruLV said:
Wont you lose considerable amount of money, you got rid of 16", now you consider to get rid of 14 and buy new Air?
Just thinking how much money would be lost in less than one year 😃!
Then again, if you cant live with 14 and its too heavy and big for you, then there isnt much to do other than getting M2 Air.
Click to expand...

The 14 is definitely not too heavy / big, it’s very portable, one of the reasons I bought it. The 16 was bigger but it was the heat and noise that it produced when connected to an external monitor that mainly persuaded me to switch.

You are correct on the financial
point. I will more than likely stick with the MBP 14 as I have it and it’s great. While overkill for my personal use, it’s a fine option to have in reserve if my work laptop fails again - 2 replacement main boards in 6 months isn’t a good start for the X1.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TSE, Misheemee and VaruLV
interbear said:
The 14 is definitely not too heavy / big, it’s very portable, one of the reasons I bought it. The 16 was bigger but it was the heat and noise that it produced when connected to an external monitor that mainly persuaded me to switch.

You are correct on the financial
point. I will more than likely stick with the MBP 14 as I have it and it’s great. While overkill for my personal use, it’s a fine option to have in reserve if my work laptop fails again - 2 replacement main boards in 6 months isn’t a good start for the X1.
Click to expand...
The mainboard stats for Lenovo Carbon are horrible :(
 
StoneJack said:
The mainboard stats for Lenovo Carbon are horrible :(
Click to expand...

My assumption when the X1 Carbon board went the first time was, “that’s unlucky, it happens though”. When the replacement board went 3 months later, I was thinking “am I unlucky or is the build quality awful?”. It’s a shame, cracking little laptop for a Windows machine. Maybe mine is just a lemon?

Are the stats you refer to indicative of a broader issue?
 
It's interesting as I had the 14" for a trial (to decide between that and the m2). My kid ran Sims 4 on both the 14" and my M1 MBA. Fan kicked in on the 14" and the game was sluggish. No fan on the M1 MBA and the game was flawless... I don't get it.
 
CalMin said:
I'll let KPOM speak for themself, but the reason I want an M2 Air is for travel (and, yes, the svelte industrial design of the thing).

When I was rocking a 15-16" MBP as my main machine - a secondary smaller, lighter travel laptop made more sense. The bigger laptop doesn't work in an economy seat and if I had a current 16" MBP, I would be hovering over the buy button tomorrow. With the 14" I can totally use it for travel, so even though I want the M2 Air, there is no reasonable justification to get one. Curse you 'logic'!

But, oh that sexy Midnight Blooooo!
Click to expand...

None of the Apple laptops are good for air travel. An iPad is much better for that. Unless you fly business class.
 
interbear said:
.... so the MBP stepped in to resume its role as a workhorse while the X1 got repaired. Given I use a 34 inch ultrawide monitor for work, I’m not sure the MBA M2 could do the same if that happens again.
Click to expand...

I have an Ultrawide 34" (3440x1440) monitor and was considering buying a Macbook Air M2 to use with it. Is there a reason you think the M2 Air would struggle to run it?

My Macbook Air 2019 is pretty laggy when connected to it however I though those performance issues would be fixed with the M2 as it's roughly 3 times as powerful as the i3 in my current Macbook Air?
 
Last edited:
0906742 said:
That's what I'm doing every time I get a new Mac. But then I get "upgraditis", and now I want to get rid of my year old Mac Mini M1 and 1.5 year old MBA M1... :D
Click to expand...
I’m guilty. Longest Mac I used was a 2017 mbp. Held it till 2020. Then got an 2019 16 in, then a 14 now want the mba haha
 
interbear said:
My assumption when the X1 Carbon board went the first time was, “that’s unlucky, it happens though”. When the replacement board went 3 months later, I was thinking “am I unlucky or is the build quality awful?”. It’s a shame, cracking little laptop for a Windows machine. Maybe mine is just a lemon?

Are the stats you refer to indicative of a broader issue?
Click to expand...
I meant your stats of usage
 
rogueGT said:
I have cancelled my order for the MBA M2/16GB/1TB.

I am still using an Intel i5 MBA from 2020, and wanted to get on to Apple silicon. but i think the 'upgrade' is too minimal , and the proper 'upgrade' path is to a 14" MBP, with 'quality' components. I may wait to see what the new 14" MBP will look like before deciding.

do not underestimate thermals and display technology - these 2 alone are what will be the longevity/usefulness of a pc, no matter whether you're a light/pro/heavy user.. if your computer starts overheating/throttling, etc the life span starts to degrade ..
Click to expand...
You’ve got it all wrong. The M2 Mba is in another universe than the intel machine. Arguably better than the 14 mbp.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HappyInCalgary, Technerd108, dizmonk and 1 other person
0906742 said:
Wise choice. I'm waiting for my MBP 14" to arrive soon.


Interesting, exactly how is the MBA M2 better than the MBP 14"? Why did not Apple name it MBP then?
Click to expand...
I said arguably which means an argument could be made in its favor. If portability is priority one, it’s the better machine. The screen is amazing. I know it doesn’t have pro motion but so far i’m not missing it when i jump to this from my m1 max mbp.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Technerd108 and Chateaunole-du-Pape
hungryghosty said:
I have an Ultrawide 34" (3440x1440) monitor and was considering buying a Macbook Air M2 to use with it. Is there a reason you think the M2 Air would struggle to run it?

My Macbook Air 2019 is pretty laggy when connected to it however I though those performance issues would be fixed with the M2 as it's roughly 3 times as powerful as the i3 in my current Macbook Air?
Click to expand...

No, my mistake. It’ll be fine. I was sure I read it may be an issue but I think the issue is more when trying to run multiple monitors. An ultrawide should be fine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hungryghosty
flapflapflap said:
The M2 MacBook Air cannot support more than one external display. It also likely cannot support higher scaled resolutions on certain monitors like ultra-wides.
Click to expand...
That’s the point of the post you replied to…unneeded features. Do you know how many laptop owners even hook their computers up to displays? I’ll put money on it being less than 10%
 
  • Like
Reactions: Technerd108 and lyngo
Hi All. I am looking into either a refurb MBA M2, 16GB, 1TB, OR, I keep thinking about the M1 MBP.

The issue I have is that I understand the MBA it can only drive 1 external monitor natively. Now having done a bit of searching here, I found there are enough docks/hubs that can address that issue (i believe). I am coming from my Late 2013 MBP i7 16gb. It's a fantastic laptop and handles everything I throw at it, but software shelf life is becoming limited and things like trackpad has stopped working.

I would rather have a more portable laptop now, that I can dock to my office hub with the monitors. My usage is mainly IT tasks, loads of terminal sessions, web pages, some light photoshop (nothing hardcore). And I use vmware a lot.

I dont really care for benchmarks, as in my view, this doesnt give me a real feeling of how a laptop would work for me. So I figure coming from the Core i7 (2013) to at least an M1 would be a considerable upgrade, right?

I have played with both the MBP and MBA2, and I just love the smaller package of the MBA. I heard various people complain about thermal throttling on the MBA2, but again, maybe for the way I use it, it wont be a problem.

So, I guess after that somewhat boring description above. I am thinking of anyone here that bought the MBA 2, that might use the laptop in a simlar way, but now wishes they simply compromised with the slightly heavier MBP M1. ?

Thanks.
Colin.
 
colinwyatt said:
So, I guess after that somewhat boring description above. I am thinking of anyone here that bought the MBA 2, that might use the laptop in a simlar way, but now wishes they simply compromised with the slightly heavier MBP M1. ?
Click to expand...
Forget about the power and battery not as long unless you live in a jungle, here's a few why air 2 is average v 14" mbp.
Screen not as bright, not black but grey, light bleed almost guaranteed, speakers are rubbish 11" iPad is better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back