2020 MacBook Pro vs Air - Which to choose (see below)

[danb1979]

Morning all


I’m looking to get back to an Apple laptop and stuck between the MBP and MB Air - 2020 versions


On a day to day basis, it’ll be connected to my Dell 24” 2560x1440 monitor and the clamshell will be closed, in a dedicated stand etc.

I work and run my business from home and use the general applications (MS Office (Outlook for email); Adobe PDF, Chrome & Safari (Safari is better for LinkedIn etc)


I’ll also use it for my iTunes account for listening to music via my Topping DAC feeding my DAC C375BEE & Fyne Audio Hi-Fi system; so will be getting a USB-C hub so I can connect the necessary peripherals etc.


I don’t game (have an iPad Pro to play Real Racing 3 and 8-Ball pool etc)


So, who uld the 13” MBP be overkill for my needs, or would the MB Air suffice, or vice-versa?


FYI I’m looking at a 16GB 256/512GB SSD version


Thanks for all advice/opinions

 

[iRun26.2]

I think a MBA would be sufficient for your needs. The MBP would probably be overkill (you would not need the extra horsepower of the MBP).

 

[danb1979]

I think a MBA would be sufficient for your needs. The MBP would probably be overkill (you would not need the extra horsepower of the MBP).

Thanks; this is what I’m thinking. -I’m not a designer/developer nor do I do any photo or video stuff etc, just use it as a normal computer

I’ve just seen a 2019 version on the Refurbished store here in the UK too and it’s only £1400! Worth going for, or stick with the newer 2020 version?

 

[iRun26.2]

Thanks; this is what I’m thinking. -I’m not a designer/developer nor do I do any photo or video stuff etc, just use it as a normal computer

I’ve just seen a 2019 version on the Refurbished store here in the UK too and it’s only £1400! Worth going for, or stick with the newer 2020 version?

Well, I think I’d go with the newer model mainly because of the keyboard. The newer keyboard is much better to type on. I have been using the old keyboard on my 2015 MacBook for quite some time and gotten used to it but anytime I use a different keyboard I like it so much more. Some people hate the old keyboard so much that they have refused to buy a machine until it’s been fixed. In the 2020 MBA it had been fixed.

 

[danb1979]

Well, I think I’d go with the newer model mainly because of the keyboard. The newer keyboard is much better to type on. I have been using the old keyboard on my 2015 MacBook for quite some time and gotten used to it but anytime I use a different keyboard I like it so much more. Some people hate the old keyboard so much that they have refused to buy a machine until it’s been fixed. In the 2020 MBA it had been fixed.

Thanks; I’ve already got a TrackPad 2 and full QWERTY / numeric Magic keyboard; so the actual MacBook’s keypad will hardly be used

 

[sau93]

MBP only. Air is not for long work hours as it doesn't have air pipes to the core which the pro model has.

 

[iDarkTraveler]

Following your post, are there risks on the battery life in the long term if the MBAir / Pro is daily in the clamshell mode with the connected charger for 90 % of the time?

 

[Bulldog3777]

The MB Air is not as bright as the MBP.

 

[iRun26.2]

That is correct: The screen brightness of the MBA is only 400nits while the MBP screen is 500nits.

 

[monkeydax]

The lack of proper cooling in the MBA makes the MBP a clear clear choice for anything more than simple web browsing without an external display. For everything else, you’d appreciate the proper cooling in the MBP.

 

[Jack Neill]

If you're going to just leave it on a desk, maybe go for a Mac mini?

 

[LFC2020]

Base model 2020 MacBook Pro for the win.

P3 color gamut display, 500 nits brightness, better thermals.

Since you’ll be looking at the screen most of the day, I wouldn’t even consider the air since it doesn’t have a p3 color gamut screen.

 

[sundialsoft]

I sat side by side with my wife's 2019 MBA & my new 2020 MBA. The keyboards are not very different other than the arrangement of the arrow keys.

 

[one more]

The MB Air is not as bright as the MBP.

The OP is thinking of connecting their new MB to a “Dell 24” 2560x1440” monitor. Would it still be an issue then?

 

[danb1979]

If you're going to just leave it on a desk, maybe go for a Mac mini?

I want the flexibility of the portability side of the MacBook too; as my work goes with me and it’s easier to cart that around than my iPad Pro with another keyboard etc...

Just sold my 2018 Mini to fund this purchase

 

[LFC2020]

I sat side by side with my wife's 2019 MBA & my new 2020 MBA. The keyboards are not very different other than the arrangement of the arrow keys.

reliability on the other hand, my 2016 13” pro has some keys starting to play up, blowing some air into the keys seems to fix them.

Mini led refresh can’t come fast enough, hopefully my keyboard keeps working till then. ?

 

[danb1979]

Base model 2020 MacBook Pro for the win.

P3 color gamut display, 500 nits brightness, better thermals.

Since you’ll be looking at the screen most of the day, I wouldn’t even consider the air since it doesn’t have a p3 color gamut screen.

I’ll be connecting it to an external Dell monitor; as stated in my initial post

 

[LFC2020]

I’ll be connecting it to an external Dell monitor; as stated in my initial post

Can always test out both models, then send the one you don’t like back to Apple.

 

[edubfromktown]

I’ve run both an i7 MBA and i5 MBP in clamshell mode connected to a 31.5” UHD display all day long and neither had excessive heat issues.

If you are not running sustained heavy workloads (as it sounds like), the MBA would be fine for your purposes.

I do not notice much of a difference in screen brightness between the two. I run in clamshell mode ~60% of the time during a typical week.

 

[danb1979]

I’ve run both an i7 MBA and i5 MBP in clamshell mode connected to a 31.5” UHD display all day long and neither had excessive heat issues.

If you are not running sustained heavy workloads (as it sounds like), the MBA would be fine for your purposes.

I do not notice much of a difference in screen brightness between the two. I run in clamshell mode ~60% of the time during a typical week.

Thanks; it’ll simply be used for standard internet tasks, iTunes, MS Office package (namely Word, Outlook and Excel) and that’s about it

 

[iDarkTraveler]

I’ve run both an i7 MBA and i5 MBP in clamshell mode connected to a 31.5” UHD display all day long and neither had excessive heat issues.

If you are not running sustained heavy workloads (as it sounds like), the MBA would be fine for your purposes.

I do not notice much of a difference in screen brightness between the two. I run in clamshell mode ~60% of the time during a typical week.

Do you have any experienced, how well MBAir handles larger Excel files and bit of a programming: C++, Python or Matlab while being connected to one 4K monitor in clamshell mode?

 

[edubfromktown]

Do you have any experienced, how well MBAir handles larger Excel files and bit of a programming: C++, Python or Matlab while being connected to one 4K monitor in clamshell mode?

Nope- I’m typically using Adobe Lightroom, MS Word, terminal/docker, Opera browser with ~10 windows open and a few other small apps.

Excel is a bloated pig of an app on its own but should do fine. Haven’t used Matlab in years (same with SAS and SPSS).

 

[iDarkTraveler]

Nope- I’m typically using Adobe Lightroom, MS Word, terminal/docker, Opera browser with ~10 windows open and a few other small apps.

Excel is a bloated pig of an app on its own but should do fine. Haven’t used Matlab in years (same with SAS and SPSS).

I see. I think (and HOPE) that it should be fine, even the base config. I am not doing any intensive debug which is usually an issue.

 

[danb1979]

What would folks opinions be of a 2019 15.4” MBP with 9th gen 2.3 GHz,16GB RAM / 512GB SSD?

Still in full AppleCare warranty and can get for a lot less than either the MBP OR MBA new from Apple?

 

[LFC2020]

What would folks opinions be of a 2019 MBP with 9th gen 2.3 GHz,16GB RAM / 512GB SSD?

Still in full AppleCare warranty and can get for a lot less than either the MBP OR MBA new from Apple?

Any MacBook with a butterfly keyboard, STAY AWAY!!! ?