I'm currently weighing my options for purchasing a MacBook, and I'm having trouble deciding which model would be the best fit for my needs. Primarily, I'll be using it for tasks such as browsing the web, working on documents (Word and Excel), and also for photo editing. Initially, I was inclined towards the MacBook Air 15-inch, but I can't help but wonder if the MacBook Pro might offer better value, not necessarily due to performance requirements, but possibly in terms of build quality. It seems that the Pro's enhanced cooling system could potentially lead to a longer-lasting machine. However, I'm also concerned about the Pro's greater number of moving parts, which could make it more prone to damage. Despite visiting the Apple Store, I found that the sales representative was more focused on discussing available colors and speaker performance, rather than providing insights into durability. Any thoughts or advice on which computer would be the most durable in the long run?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Build quality Air vs Pro
- Thread starter Southernbreeze
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Keep in mind that Airs are wholly incapable of reproducing black vs. the Pro’s admittedly imperfect mini-LED XDR displays. The HDR-capable Pro screens completely obliterate the Air’s frankly ancient backlighting technology, and this could be a big factor in photo editing. It definitely is in media consumption.
Thank you for response. Those are the two options I am considering. I just struggle to make up my mind between the two. Thinking the >8ram is making me leaning towards the pro.
I have a 16“ M1 Max MBPro and a 15” MBA. Although there are significant differences in technology, I believe the build quality of both are very good and neither is better than the other in that respect. I removed the baseplate on both machines and construction is of an extremely high quality. It looks as if the difference in price is entirely due to the differences in components e.g. screen, fans, battery size, processor (the motherboard on the MPBro is substantially larger and more complex). So I think you should chose between the two based entirely on requirements for performance, ports, screen and not on built quality.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
OP, MBair for the apparent win here. Only the photo editing use has much potential to need MBpro horses... and that would need to be some intensive editing, which most people do not do. If "photo editing" is working on one photo, either is going to be fine. If you are optimizing hundreds of photos at a time, you prob need MBpro, if not Mac Studio.
Durability is not typically a big concern with Macs. They usually last at least 7+ years, which is about how long macOS will be updated for them. I've got a fully functional 2012 MBpro and a fully functional 2010 iMac still going strong. That 2012 has taken a lot of travel-related beatings. macOS has left both behind but the hardware itself is still just fine, running older generations of macOS just fine too. One thing the Apple Premium certainly buys is well-built computers that tend to last.
Apple Store employees and Apple fans are never going to discuss Apple durability, unless it's gushing praise. So you'll get little in that topic to help drive this decision. To 5 guys who can chime in with their horror story of failed Macs, there's 5 counters that someone's Apple II is still kicking about 40 years later. Besides, with Silicon Macs so very new, there's not enough history to pass much judgement on Silicon Mac durability model vs. model. Buyers basically gamble on the assumption that Silicon Macs will be as durable as Intel Macs. We'll all learn if that is true or false after a few more years.
Either Air or Pro will likely be durable enough to outlast how long you want to use them. Your stated usage is such that either Air or Pro should be fine for you. Some other more intense use objective in the future might tip the decision in favor or Pro... else "hot deals" for older Pros might make one more appealing than a newer Air.
I know when I specced up MBair on launch day, final pricing banged into "deal" pricing for various MBpros... and that derailed the purchase for me. When spec pricing gets close, may as well get the added horses.
Durability is not typically a big concern with Macs. They usually last at least 7+ years, which is about how long macOS will be updated for them. I've got a fully functional 2012 MBpro and a fully functional 2010 iMac still going strong. That 2012 has taken a lot of travel-related beatings. macOS has left both behind but the hardware itself is still just fine, running older generations of macOS just fine too. One thing the Apple Premium certainly buys is well-built computers that tend to last.
Apple Store employees and Apple fans are never going to discuss Apple durability, unless it's gushing praise. So you'll get little in that topic to help drive this decision. To 5 guys who can chime in with their horror story of failed Macs, there's 5 counters that someone's Apple II is still kicking about 40 years later. Besides, with Silicon Macs so very new, there's not enough history to pass much judgement on Silicon Mac durability model vs. model. Buyers basically gamble on the assumption that Silicon Macs will be as durable as Intel Macs. We'll all learn if that is true or false after a few more years.
Either Air or Pro will likely be durable enough to outlast how long you want to use them. Your stated usage is such that either Air or Pro should be fine for you. Some other more intense use objective in the future might tip the decision in favor or Pro... else "hot deals" for older Pros might make one more appealing than a newer Air.
I know when I specced up MBair on launch day, final pricing banged into "deal" pricing for various MBpros... and that derailed the purchase for me. When spec pricing gets close, may as well get the added horses.
Last edited:
Nice, soon I will hopefully have mine.
Thank you, this is the type of comment I was hoping for.
Th
Thank you for taking the time to reply. This will be my first Apple computer- using IPadPro for daily browsing. I think I will go for the 14inch Pro 16gb ram M1 which will cost me the same as the AIR15 8gb ram M2 here is South Africa.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
You will love the 14 pro. Also it's worth mentioning sine you have an iPad Pro, the screen quality will match, thats something that would have been lacking with an air. Final note, remember you can use continuity and screen share with iPads and apple computers so thats extra screen space to use.
OP you are going to love it and getting to learn MacOS, good choice! The previous poster was correct with regards to screens, the keyboard can cause micro scratches when closed. Easily solved by putting a piece paper between the screen and keyboard when closed and carrying it around.
I am actually talking that the screens come scratched out of the factory. Big deal that Apple is not fixing.
OK lets get something clear:
"build quality" = how well the thing is screwed together, how solid it feels, how well the keyboard and trackpad work, etc.
in terms of that they're both pretty much the same. Apple doesn't do a bad job of manufacturing these things.
in terms of spec, screen image quality, processing speed, etc. - well yeah the pro is better because it has more expensive components in it.
You're right - the Air has less to go wrong, and if it DOES break will be cheaper to fix or replace.
I got my M4 Pro yesterday and it seems more solid than my M3 Air. Though I'm not going to put pressure anywhere to test it, just using it normally it seems very solid. I test built quality by going to Best Buy and putting all my strength and weight into their laptops to test build quality.
I tested their M4 yesterday when I was there and I put a lot of pressure on the keyboard and the palm rest and it was solid. There was a bit of flex when I put all my body weight into it. Otherwise very solid. The Air will flex a bit more and that's normal due to the thinner chasis.
You DO realize that the machines are there for people to try, not for you to destroy?
MacBook Air quality is worse. For example, Apple solved the uneven backlight display issue on the Intel MacBook Pro many years ago. So Apple had this quality control issue sorted with the MacBook Pro lineup.
Now with these MacBook Air’s, this backlight bleeding issue is brought back.
So Apple has lower quality control standards with the MacBook Air line.
Now with these MacBook Air’s, this backlight bleeding issue is brought back.
So Apple has lower quality control standards with the MacBook Air line.
my experience is the build quality has reached top level for the Macbook Pro since M3. However the screen still had microscratches one more than the other if you check with a flashlight, it is unacceptable . Gonna check the M4 soon how the screen quality is.
See, that's a spec change, not so much a build quality change.
The air uses cheaper panels to meet a price point (and this is the result), the pro doesn't.
If you need the higher quality display, buy a pro. The air is aimed at casual users who aren't so sensitive to things like display quality, but ARE more sensitive to things like weight and device price. Its a different tier of device.
The air is still "well built" for the spec it contains.
To use a car analogy to illustrate performance vs. build quality:
- a Ferrari F40 for example is a high performance vehicle from the 1980s but the build quality is total crap. thin paint, exposed glue holding the carbon tub together, etc. Think: self built PC from parts, putting most of the budget into internal component spec with no care put towards case or peripherals.
- a contemporary car of lower spec/performance for example a Mercedes W126 500SEL whilst slower is much better screwed together. It's the top end model of what is considered to be one of the best cars ever made. But its power spec and performance is not as good. think: Mac, or self built PC spending much more money on things like quality case, PSU, cooling, etc.
Last edited:
Did you check for microscratches in the screen with a flashlight?
I'm not destroying anything. I'm just checking build quality. And if you really want to check it you have to put heavy amounts of pressure/weight on certain points of the laptop.