Biggest difference for me between M2 Air and MBP 14"

[bobjonesco]

The typing experience.

I just picked up a starlight base model at the Apple store to have a play around with it, and compared to my 14" MBP - the typing feels and sounds a lot more solid. Even the trackpad is more satisfying on the compact air. It feels like the MBP is hollow when you compare the two.

Other than that, the only thing I miss from the MBP are the speakers. Not that these are bad, but they're just not as good.

Then again, I use headphone 90% of the time anyway.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Do you plan on keeping both?

 

[yassin1988]

What about the display difference? Is it a huge downgrade?

 

[Dealmans]

agree on the speakers

 

[maka344]

What about the display difference? Is it a huge downgrade?

Id like to know this, too.

 

[YanniDepp]

Also, you can only hook one external display up to the new MacBook Air (but it can be up to 6K).

You can hook two external displays up to the M1 Pro Pro and three up to the M1 Max Pro.

This is what is keeping me away from the MacBook Air - the two external monitors on my desk at work.

 

[Misheemee]

The typing experience.

I just picked up a starlight base model at the Apple store to have a play around with it, and compared to my 14" MBP - the typing feels and sounds a lot more solid. Even the trackpad is more satisfying on the compact air. It feels like the MBP is hollow when you compare the two.

Other than that, the only thing I miss from the MBP are the speakers. Not that these are bad, but they're just not as good.

Then again, I use headphone 90% of the time anyway.

From your pics, there’s not as much size difference between the two as I thought. Do you have any more pics you can share? Thx!

 

[bobjonesco]

Do you plan on keeping both?

I think I might sell the MBP. It’s too much machine for what I use it for. Much prefer the smaller footprint of the Air and 2.5x the battery.

 

[UltimateSyn]

What about the display difference? Is it a huge downgrade?

Of course it is. You lose mini-LED and ProMotion.

 

[bobjonesco]

What about the display difference? Is it a huge downgrade?

Not really. It’s crispy and sharp. Of course ever so slightly smaller and no 120Hz, but that’s never really bothered me. The bezels are a little thicker too, but the screen size is perfectly usable for what I do. On the 14” I was getting a lot of white space anyway.

 

[UltimateSyn]

My 14" MBP is my favorite computer ever to type on so I'll be interested to experience the typing on my wife's MBA that's on the way. I'm surprised that you find the thinner computer to have a superior typing experience - I would've thought the opposite.

The speakers and loss of mini-LED are the two biggest things that kept me from ordering one for myself.

 

[ascender]

What about the display difference? Is it a huge downgrade?

Side by side, the difference is noticeable as you'd expect. Having used the Air for two hours, the screen is very nice. It gets more than bright enough, so I guess it comes down to how much HDR you're watching or grading as to whether you need the MBP screen or not.

 

[tim1000]

Not really. It’s crispy and sharp. Of course ever so slightly smaller and no 120Hz, but that’s never really bothered me. The bezels are a little thicker too, but the screen size is perfectly usable for what I do. On the 14” I was getting a lot of white space anyway.

how much thicker are the bezels? also your side by side its hard to tell the difference in thickness between the actual machines.

 

[Dealmans]

The m2 is easier to hold one handed by the corner while open

 

[tweaknmod]

I find we've all become a little to quick to believe opinions of those posting online these days. We need to re-introduce some scientific rigour in the form of peer review.

@bobjonesco, if you mail me both of your MacBooks, I'd be happy to review your claims, and report back to this forum for further review and debate. You know, for science.

 

[ascender]

To me, the screen lid feels the same as that on the 14" MBP, but the base/body feels about half the thickness & weight of the MBP.

Not that the MBP is heavy by any means, but I can easily pick this up one handed from the corner without even thinking about it whereas even with the 14", its still feels like a chunky bit of metal (relatively speaking). This isn't like a 12" MacBook, but carrying it or having it on your lap, its clearly a much lighter machine than the 14" MBP.

 

[SupremeMayo]

Just a theory, the Air may feel better to type on because the keyboard hasn't been broken in yet.

 

[bobjonesco]

Just a theory, the Air may feel better to type on because the keyboard hasn't been broken in yet.

Nah, I think its because the design is more compact, so it feels sturdier to type on.

 

[RCElectricFlyer]

I find we've all become a little to quick to believe opinions of those posting online these days. We need to re-introduce some scientific rigour in the form of peer review.

@bobjonesco, if you mail me both of your MacBooks, I'd be happy to review your claims, and report back to this forum for further review and debate. You know, for science.

Wiser words have rarely been spoken.