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2017 Macbook 12 or Air 2018

D

Dodgeman

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 30, 2016
1,355
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Tough choice.
It is about a $100 difference between the two machines.
I like the small fanless design of 12 inch Macbook with 256 memory.

However the 128gb seems ok for now on the new Air and I get slightly better performance and some new features and I keep $100 in my pocket.

The only things my computer will be used for is web browsing and light document work if even that.
If i decide to go back to iPhone I will use itunes for transfer and back up.

Part of me is saying spend the extra $100 get the more memory brighter screen and portability.
The other part says you may only browse the web say the $100.

Any thoughts here to help make me lean towars one direction or the other?
 
I would choose the Air for its bigger screen, extra port and TouchID. I also wouldn’t need 256GB SSD for the tasks you mentioned.

You know the specs, you can view them side by side on apple.com and you probably know what you prefer. What questions do you have left for us?
 
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sunapple said:
I would choose the Air for its bigger screen, extra port and TouchID. I also wouldn’t need 256GB SSD for the tasks you mentioned.

You know the specs, you can view them side by side on apple.com and you probably know what you prefer. What questions do you have left for us?
Click to expand...

Is the screen not as bright on the 2018 air vs 12 inch 2017 MB?
 
So I chose to give the MacBook 12 Inch a go. I am partial to the size, and the 256gb memory.
Not sure if the screen is brighter on the air or not, but the price difference for me between the 2018 Air and the MacBook 12 in is $100, so for the memory alone I guess that is worth it.

I am on day 1 of 14 so if I change my mind the Air will be the route I go.... I just hope the screen isn't as dim as folks say it is compared to this 12inch MacBook (I know it is dimmer when compared to the Pro) and I hope since it is a 128gb that if I do choose to go back the 2018 Air route that the memory will suffice.
 
I had a choice between the two and opted for the rMB. Picked it up at a lower price, it is brighter, and more portable. If I had passed on the rMB and rMBA, I would've gotten a nonTB MBP 13.
 
bambooshots said:
Get the MB.
Click to expand...

Macbook over the air. Thx for the feedback. What is your main viewpoint on your choice?
You definitely noticed a brighter screen on the MB?

Plutowillreturn said:
I had a choice between the two and opted for the rMB. Picked it up at a lower price, it is brighter, and more portable. If I had passed on the rMB and rMBA, I would've gotten a nonTB MBP 13.
Click to expand...

Nice what was your reason for the MB over the Air?
 
Last edited:
Might seem dumb to pay $1,300(!!!) for "old tech" but the 12-inch MacBook is still highly desirable even when compared to the new MacBook Air. The compact design is very compelling because my priority is having the smallest and lightest MacBook possible. Plus there's no fan. For me, the only compelling thing about the Air over the MacBook is TouchID. In fact, if I could comfortably replicate my workflow on an iPad Pro I'd switch to that, but macOS feels like home.
 
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Suttree said:
Might seem dumb to pay $1,300(!!!) for "old tech" but the 12-inch MacBook is still highly desirable even when compared to the new MacBook Air. The compact design is very compelling because my priority is having the smallest and lightest MacBook possible. Plus there's no fan. For me, the only compelling thing about the Air over the MacBook is TouchID. In fact, if I could comfortably replicate my workflow on an iPad Pro I'd switch to that, but macOS feels like home.
Click to expand...


Good point. I know a lot people mention the fan on the Air, but unless taxed does the Air really utilize the fan?
I am using the MacBook now and low the size but it feels a bit flimsy when typing like screen area does not have enough give on the machine. It I a tough call for sure, and I am going to have to compare....
[doublepost=1548719697][/doublepost]I am also curious if the MacBook is really that much brighter over the Air.
I think I am going to order an Air as well and do a side by side for a couple days and which ever one I like more I will just stick with and return the other. Really tough call at this point. They both seem great and have only minor differences.
 
Dodgeman said:
Macbook over the air. Thx for the feedback. What is your main viewpoint on your choice?
You definitely noticed a brighter screen on the MB?



Nice what was your reason for the MB over the Air?
Click to expand...

Portability, screen brightness, and performance. I don’t *need* the fastest computer, but I wanted something that I could tote around without being concerned about size. I carry my rMB almost everyday.

A huge part though, came down to price. I picked up 2017 m3 base model for 799 USD. Given the benchmarks of the 2018 rMBA and the lower nits, it was a no brained for me.
 
Plutowillreturn said:
Portability, screen brightness, and performance. I don’t *need* the fastest computer, but I wanted something that I could tote around without being concerned about size. I carry my rMB almost everyday.

A huge part though, came down to price. I picked up 2017 m3 base model for 799 USD. Given the benchmarks of the 2018 rMBA and the lower nits, it was a no brained for me.
Click to expand...

Where did u find one for $800?
I thought about going refurbished but just didn't want to do it.
 
Plutowillreturn said:
It was a Black Friday sale. The iPads and some Apple products that I’ve picked up have been refurbished. Have not had any issues.
Click to expand...

May have to consider that as well.
2018 Air I can't find refurbished.
No issues with a refurbished model?
 
DrJohnnyN said:
Not as crappy ;)
I've owned both, and returned the 2018 Air in the first week.
Click to expand...

Yeah tonight will be the test. I picked up a 2018 Air. Going to run it side by side with the MB and which ever 1 I don't like I won't keep. It'll make a great refurb for someone.
 
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Dodgeman said:
Yeah tonight will be the test. I picked up a 2018 Air. Going to run it side by side with the MB and which ever 1 I don't like I won't keep. It'll make a great refurb for someone.
Click to expand...
No judgment here. I do the same.
 
DrJohnnyN said:
No judgment here. I do the same.
Click to expand...

Yes I can notice the difference in the screen quality, the keyboard does make a bit more noise but not much. The computer overall does feel a bit more sturdier and I do prefer the bigger screen so far.
So far so good.
I do have my brightness up on this MacBook that is for sure, but outside of that issue and the 256 memory I have not seen much issue with it.... I will give it a bit more time though.
[doublepost=1548817844][/doublepost]Ok I will note that yes the screen is brighter on the MacBook, but I can achieve the same brightness by turning up the brightness on the 2018 Air a notch or 2 ahead of the the MacBook.
The keyboard is much quieter on the 2018 Air.
Only downside is the fan which I have not heard on the Air and the the memory size.... don't know... still a bit of a tough call but the Air is not so bad after all.
I will use them both for a few days and see how it turns out.
[doublepost=1548817922][/doublepost]One other important factor to me to note is the MacBook screens seems to be filled out more or more so a fullscreen vs. seen not a full screen as in I can see the desktop on the edge of the air... so I do prefer the screen to full screen to be utilize but that is something on the 2018 air I can adjust.
 
Another point I will mention that I can almost match the screen on the Air to the MB12inch by turning up the brightness by one notch (maybe 2) ahead of what I have it set on the MB.
I wonder if this will effect battery life on the Air if I have the screen set at almost near brightness.
Whatever choice I make I have to live with it for the next couple years and it is 1k so...
So now it boils down to the fan-less design and memory. (Size isn't doesn't play the biggest factor here.)
[doublepost=1548819485][/doublepost]How is 1 screen dimmer than the other if they are both rated the same??
 
I dont notice a big difference with the brightness. Touchid, faster cpu, more pixels, better battery life, t2 chip, 3rd gen keyboard, 2 thunderbolt ports... The mbair should hold me off until the macbook gets updated.
 
snazzybunny said:
I dont notice a big difference with the brightness. Touchid, faster cpu, more pixels, better battery life, t2 chip, 3rd gen keyboard, 2 thunderbolt ports... The mbair should hold me off until the macbook gets updated.
Click to expand...

You are saying you do not noticed a difference in the screen quality or brightness?
 
Dodgeman said:
You are saying you do not noticed a difference in the screen quality or brightness?
Click to expand...

Both. I have the mb pro 2018 as well and a lenovo t480. I think people are just nitpicking to be honest.
[doublepost=1549134068][/doublepost]Then again I dont do any creative stuff. I havent checked the color accuracy and all that stuff. For coding it is perfect though. Just wish it had more cores.
 
Dodgeman said:
Tough choice.
It is about a $100 difference between the two machines.
I like the small fanless design of 12 inch Macbook with 256 memory.

However the 128gb seems ok for now on the new Air and I get slightly better performance and some new features and I keep $100 in my pocket.

The only things my computer will be used for is web browsing and light document work if even that.
If i decide to go back to iPhone I will use itunes for transfer and back up.

Part of me is saying spend the extra $100 get the more memory brighter screen and portability.
The other part says you may only browse the web say the $100.

Any thoughts here to help make me lean towars one direction or the other?
Click to expand...


2018 MBA has almost the same processor as MB but has a fan, which makes useless noise without additional power compared to the MB

go for the MB (wait for the processor update, maybe soon?)
 
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