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Did you go for the 15” or 13” MacBook Air and why?

Did you buy a 13” or 15” MBA?

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    195
I'm about a week-in with my M4 13", and it's totally-fantastic. I charged to Full after he was delivered, and he's still at ~70% charge. I really loved my 2015 13" MBP, but I could easily kill the battery overnight just by closing the lid ;)

The potential for cordless, extended use is phenomenal.

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The real test will be using him over the Summer: I'm attending two Seminars (traveling by air), attending intensive classes for my Teaching Certification, and generally expect doing nothing too demanding.

BBEdit, Affinity Designer/Photo, and Transmit (Panic) will be my heaviest apps.

The fit/finish of the Air is extraordinary, and the weight is good.

More to come.
 
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splifingate said:
I'm about a week-in with my M4 13", and it's totally-fantastic. I charged to Full after he was delivered, and he's still at ~70% charge. I really loved my 2015 13" MBP, but I could easily kill the battery overnight just by closing the lid ;)

The potential for cordless, extended use is phenomenal.

View attachment 2511714

The real test will be using him over the Summer: I'm attending two Seminars (traveling by air), attending intensive classes for my Teaching Certification, and generally expect doing nothing too demanding.

BBEdit, Affinity Designer/Photo, and Transmit (Panic) will be my heaviest apps.

The fit/finish of the Air is extraordinary, and the weight is good.

More to come.
Click to expand...
My recent experience mirrors yours. The 13" is just perfect and flies compared to my 2012 MBP 13". Never owned a 15" laptop so perhaps can't miss what I never had.
 
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I recently pulled the trigger on a 13 M4 MBA (the base model) $850 from Best Buy. I've had 2 15MBP's since 2011. At that time I was doing professional media creation on those machines, but about 6 years ago I got an iMac. Then last year upgraded to a Mac mini M2 Pro with an Apple Studio display. All I did with my 15MBP is emails and administrative work like contracts, invoices, taxes, etc. I was always dead set against a 13 inch laptop. But after giving both a very good look - I decided on the 13. I'm 49 - so my eyes aren't the best, but the screen really is fine for what I do. I love the small, tight form factor and REALLY loved the price :) I'm very happy with my purchase. It fits my needs.
 
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ufgatorvet said:
I went into Best Buy (no Apple Store near me) two different times to spend 15 minutes with both 13" and 15". After that 30 mins, decided the 13" "felt" right to me. Very subjective, but sometimes you gotta go with the gut. :rolleyes:

Haven't opened it up and started using it quite yet, so I may revise my opinion soon!!

I did find that the silver's cosmetic appearance seemed to "hold up" better with all the (assuming) heavy Best Buy usage, so went with that. The midnight -- brand new, looks wow -- but the hand smudges were too much for me to look past. The silver hardly showed any use whatsoever.
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That's exactly my story - I was set on a 15, but after spending time with both at Best Buy - there was just something intriguing about the 13. It had a more tight, fit feel to it. I have a Mac mini/studio display for my professional media creation work. I only need a laptop for emails and other administrative work like contracts, invoices, taxes, etc. I got the 13 base model for $850.
 
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helloapple1 said:
Just curious to hear everyone’s decision on what screen size they went for and why.

I personally went for the 15” for side by side windows easier.
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Wanted the 15" for the larger screen but portability and compactness were a high priority for me. Can always connect to an external monitor if needed.
 
Ruggy said:
You can't get a 15" into a hotel room safe.
If you are using it at home on a desk, the 15" is fine.
Anytime you need to put it in a backpack, school bag, hand luggage etc, then go with the 13".
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This with the hotel safe is actually a really important hint for me - didn’t think of that.
 
I have a iPad Pro M4 13“ with Magic Keyboard and all but that was my companion when I would travel (very rarely) - at home I would be on a Mac Mini M2 Pro with Studio Display.

Now I am starting a new job where I need to be in the office and also have one intercontinental flight per month.

I actually do not plan to work on the plane with people seeing my screen and all.

In the office they have those windows PCs and those gigantic curved screens that I am not sure I want to use.
Hence my logic is to likely buy the 15“ MBA M4 myself and work with it at the desk and home hooked up to my Display.

When travelling I could almost leave my 15“ MBA home and just go with my iPad Pro 13“ - thats perfect for the plane (movies and mails) and I dont need to do tons of work in an office during those 4-5 days trips.

Selling the iPad Pro 13“ is unfortunately not really an option as I have a fall damage (power button broken and some scratches) and I would lose tons of money (its a 1TB with nano display by the way - I love that display).

15“ for the win? 24GB, 512GB?
 
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15 inch is perfect when using it as a main mobile machine. At home I have 2k 27 inch displays and will connect them in a matter of seconds if I need.
 
StoneJack said:
15 inch is perfect when using it as a main mobile machine. At home I have 2k 27 inch displays and will connect them in a matter of seconds if I need.
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Yeah the only thing is that the surface area it has hardly fits on a train or plane tray :)

But I agree for solely stationary use it’s a no brainier.
 
thhh said:
Yeah the only thing is that the surface area it has hardly fits on a train or plane tray :)

But I agree for solely stationary use it’s a no brainier.
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nothing works well on a plane except a 11" or smaller iPad
 
Have my Studio at home, so portability was the most important thing for me - hence the 13"
 
thhh said:
I have a iPad Pro M4 13“ with Magic Keyboard and all but that was my companion when I would travel (very rarely) - at home I would be on a Mac Mini M2 Pro with Studio Display.

Now I am starting a new job where I need to be in the office and also have one intercontinental flight per month.

I actually do not plan to work on the plane with people seeing my screen and all.

In the office they have those windows PCs and those gigantic curved screens that I am not sure I want to use.
Hence my logic is to likely buy the 15“ MBA M4 myself and work with it at the desk and home hooked up to my Display.

When travelling I could almost leave my 15“ MBA home and just go with my iPad Pro 13“ - thats perfect for the plane (movies and mails) and I dont need to do tons of work in an office during those 4-5 days trips.

Selling the iPad Pro 13“ is unfortunately not really an option as I have a fall damage (power button broken and some scratches) and I would lose tons of money (its a 1TB with nano display by the way - I love that display).

15“ for the win? 24GB, 512GB?
Click to expand...
I have a 13 inch M4 Pro as well (what a great ipad). I think it's PERFECT for travelling. I actually don't use it with the magic keyboard as much but have a very small Keys 2 Go 2 by logitech that works with it really well because it's light weight. I used it during my travelling last week and it did great and able to fit into hotel safes as noted by someone above about the 15 inch laptop.

At home, I have the 15 inch macbook air and it's great. Honestly great. Super smooth and can do everything including having my phone on the screen (through continuity). Also easy on your lap too even though gives all that space.

Honestly great combo.
 
TorontoSS said:
I have a 13 inch M4 Pro as well (what a great ipad). I think it's PERFECT for travelling. I actually don't use it with the magic keyboard as much but have a very small Keys 2 Go 2 by logitech that works with it really well because it's light weight. I used it during my travelling last week and it did great and able to fit into hotel safes as noted by someone above about the 15 inch laptop.

At home, I have the 15 inch macbook air and it's great. Honestly great. Super smooth and can do everything including having my phone on the screen (through continuity). Also easy on your lap too even though gives all that space.

Honestly great combo.
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Thats the combination I am looking at as well. I will not travel more than once a month but thise travels go to places like latin america where I wouldnt mind to lock it in a safe.

I dont mind being on my iPad Pro 13" only for a few days but then I have the MBA 15 for office and travel within Europe.

However I keep falling into the upselling trap of Apple.

First I was eyeing a MBA 13, then I found it to my iPad Pro 13 and planned a 15". Now I am thinking I would love to have a USB-C on the right side and would not mind HDMI so why not a MBP 14" ?

And then I LOVE the nano coating on my iPad Pro - hence why not also go for the nano on MBP... ARGH:::::

And then if you do the wrong thing and watch Youtube Reviews they come with statements like "The MBA M4 is great for students or browsing or youtube and if you are a PRO then you might want to look at the MBP." That just sounds like a lot of BS - how many people outside of Youtube to Video rendering etc.

I do LOVE great screens but I do 90% office work (Office 365, Safari, GPT,....) and I suppose the MBA M4 16GB, 512GB will deliver that for many years to come.

Lightroom I use in my private time, when I dont use Teams etc - so I suppose RAM of 16GB would suffice.
 
thhh said:
Thats the combination I am looking at as well. I will not travel more than once a month but thise travels go to places like latin america where I wouldnt mind to lock it in a safe.

I dont mind being on my iPad Pro 13" only for a few days but then I have the MBA 15 for office and travel within Europe.

However I keep falling into the upselling trap of Apple.

First I was eyeing a MBA 13, then I found it to my iPad Pro 13 and planned a 15". Now I am thinking I would love to have a USB-C on the right side and would not mind HDMI so why not a MBP 14" ?

And then I LOVE the nano coating on my iPad Pro - hence why not also go for the nano on MBP... ARGH:::::

And then if you do the wrong thing and watch Youtube Reviews they come with statements like "The MBA M4 is great for students or browsing or youtube and if you are a PRO then you might want to look at the MBP." That just sounds like a lot of BS - how many people outside of Youtube to Video rendering etc.

I do LOVE great screens but I do 90% office work (Office 365, Safari, GPT,....) and I suppose the MBA M4 16GB, 512GB will deliver that for many years to come.

Lightroom I use in my private time, when I dont use Teams etc - so I suppose RAM of 16GB would suffice.
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I know exactly what you mean. My heart actually told me to get a 14 inch MBP. I'm not a pro by the way - I'm just a normal person who has a macbook for home for things like emails/youtube/websites. What was driving me to the MBP was the speakers and the screen but i figured I'd take advantage of the ipad screen for things like movies/shows etc. I don't actually watch much in my room or anything. I'm an adult with a 60 inch tv and a soundbar. I only use my ipad etc if the kitchen tv and living room tv are used (at home). What i did find was that my 13 inch was genuinely scrunched up when I tried to use it more so when I found a good deal on the 15 air, I went for it. I was basically telling myself, the deals will tell me which way to go. I was looking for an open box one with applecare still there - and I ended up getting that.

After getting it, I think the MBA does have an excellent screen and for things like reading and websites, honestly it's perfect. When you're really after a smooth pro motion screen - you do have the ipad!
 
As always, the bigger laptop is best when open, and the smaller laptop is best when closed (there’s always exceptions, like on airplane tray tables). How much of the time are you using it (big screen better) vs. carrying it (compact closed size/weight better)?

I’ve owned and appreciated both, but the 15” MBA is the machine I’ve dreamed of for years, big screen with MBA thickness/weight. Hated having to buy a 15/16/17” MBP just for the big screen for so many years.

15” MBA M3 is fantastic, love that thing.
FWIW, 13” iPad Pro M4 also slays for when I need a more-compact setup, annoying it’s heavier than an MBA 13 with the Magic Keyboard, though.
 
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