Changing MBP TB i5 2016 to MBA i3 2020 ?

[rhaatou]

Wondering if anyone has gone from a MBP TB i5 base model (256gb) to the MBA 2020 i3 base model ?

Usage is basically surfing the internet, watching youtube, writing emails. Basically a sofa macbook.

I have a MBP 16 i9 for my heavy use duties and 2019 iPad pro for even more basic surfing.

My MBP 2016 has already gone through 3 repairs, getting a bit warm and once again has butterfly keyboard problems - I've had 2 logic boards replaced and 1 screen replacement. I'm approaching the end of my extended warranty with my credit card.

I have a retailer who is giving me a solid offer for my existing MBP 13, so the cost to upgrade would be about $250. I figure it might be worthwhile for warranty - but have read some reviews that aren't all that positive.

Wondering what everyone might do if in my shoes ?

 

[Supra Mac]

I went from the 2016 nTB to 2020 i3 base MBA. For similar tasks and its all good here. Enjoying the longer battery life.

For the basics you are doing, Geekbench is a good indicator for performance comparison.

Stock average GB scores are:

2016 i5 MBP

Single 730 Multi 1698


2020 i3 MBA

Single 1003 Multi 2000

And that is average, it may score higher. Mine is modified (shim) but my best score is single 1101 and multi 2451.

If that is all you going to be doing then go for the i3. The i5 upgrade is hard to beat but if you are not going to use that extra power then you might as well enjoy longer battery life with the i3.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I can understand wanting to get rid of the troubled MBP

Why not pocket the money from the sale? It sounds like the iPad Pro more than fit the basic use / internet use need. Your post doesn’t reflect a need for another laptop.

 

[ghanwani]

I went from the 2016 nTB to 2020 i3 base MBA. For similar tasks and its all good here. Enjoying the longer battery life.

For the basics you are doing, Geekbench is a good indicator for performance comparison.

Stock average GB scores are:

2016 i5 MBP

Single 730 Multi 1698


2020 i3 MBA

Single 1003 Multi 2000

And that is average, it may score higher. Mine is modified (shim) but my best score is single 1101 and multi 2451.

If that is all you going to be doing then go for the i3. The i5 upgrade is hard to beat but if you are not going to use that extra power then you might as well enjoy longer battery life with the i3.

Is there a way to compare graphics performance of the two? That's the main area I find the MBA (at least my 2019) to be weak.

 

[Supra Mac]

See min 7 in this video. If you want an air and better graphics, i5 will help.

Air vs Pro Comparison

 

[hungryghosty]

I actually bought the 2020 10th gen MacBook Pro but returned it as I didn't feel it was powerful/featured enough to justify the price tag and 'pro' label. Also there was an issue with the display on the model I had.

Bought a 2020 MacBook Air i3 and to be honest I think it's just as good despite costing half as much. Providing you don't need to for video editing, CAD work, etc I think it's probably the best Mac for most people.

 

[ghanwani]

I actually bought the 2020 10th gen MacBook Pro but returned it as I didn't feel it was powerful/featured enough to justify the price tag and 'pro' label. Also there was an issue with the display on the model I had.

Bought a 2020 MacBook Air i3 and to be honest I think it's just as good despite costing half as much. Providing you don't need to for video editing, CAD work, etc I think it's probably the best Mac for most people.

I came to a similar conclusion. When upgrading my 2017 MBP nTB, I went 2019 MBP 4TB -> 2019 MBP 2TB -> 2019 MBA. The MBPs were getting hot during skype/zoom conference calls (without video) and when watching videos in Chrome. The MBA runs cool but is a little slow/jerky when loading pages with lots of images.

 

[heycal]

I came to a similar conclusion. When upgrading my 2017 MBP nTB, I went 2019 MBP 4TB -> 2019 MBP 2TB -> 2019 MBA. The MBPs were getting hot during skype/zoom conference calls (without video) and when watching videos in Chrome. The MBA runs cool but is a little slow/jerky when loading pages with lots of images.

So you've had less heat issues with the MBA i3 than the MacBook Pro? I've recently got a MBA i5, but it got so hot and noisy. Switched to MBP i5 one, and that also runs hot but maybe less so, and no fan noise yet. I'm coming from 2013 that got hot a handful of times and where I heard the fan rarely in 7 years.

 

[ghanwani]

So you've had less heat issues with the MBA i3 than the MacBook Pro? I've recently got a MBA i5, but it got so hot and noisy. Switched to MBP i5 one, and that also runs hot but maybe less so, and no fan noise yet. I'm coming from 2013 that got hot a handful of times and where I heard the fan rarely in 7 years.

I don't have a 2020. This was about my experience with all the 2019's. When the 2020's were announced, I was excited about the quad core, but then many of the reviews pointed out that the i5 runs hotter than the i3 (just search youtube for "i3 cooler than i5"). Going from a 2019 to a 2020 i3 didn't seem worth it, so I decided to stick with the 2019.

 

[hungryghosty]

Whilst I'm impressed with my i3 2020 air I feel that the 2020 Pro had better thermals and was quieter than the Air when running more intensive tasks.

 

[heycal]

Whilst I'm impressed with my i3 2020 air I feel that the 2020 Pro had better thermals and was quieter than the Air when running more intensive tasks.

Interesting. So your 2020 MBP is quieter and cooler than your i3 2020 Air?

 

[hungryghosty]

Interesting. So your 2020 MBP is quieter and cooler than your i3 2020 Air?

Under CPU load yes I would say the fans in the Pro are generally quieter. Probably because the cooling system in the Pro is better.

They're both quiet generally when just browsing the web or doing word/spreadsheets/etc.