Does MBA output less heat than MBP?

[danny234]

MBA is sufficiently powerful for my needs. But I'm trying to find a laptop, one that I can literally use on my lap without burning my feet. Does anyone have any experience with the two machines?
Usage would probably be 99% Chrome browsing.
Also, asking about the 2019 models.

 

[casperes1996]

Yes. Yes it does. The CPU is lower wattage, does produce less heat. If not loaded however the difference isn’t really that big. It’s only when the CPU is asked to do stuff the difference begins to kick in. Though Chrome isn’t exactly always so good about idling either.

 

[Kraizelburg]

I have had 2018 MBA which I sold it a month ago because I couldn't bear the keyboard and now I own a 2015 MBP 13" and in my opinion the MBA gets hotter but not by much.
The problem here is not the chip itself but the cooling. 2018 and 2019 models only have a heatsink and the fan inside the case is not connected via heatpipe to the chip.
So it'll get hotter, especially in chrome, which is not very power efficient. I mean hotter but definitely not uncomfortable.

 

[AustinIllini]

Yes. Yes it does. The CPU is lower wattage, does produce less heat. If not loaded however the difference isn’t really that big. It’s only when the CPU is asked to do stuff the difference begins to kick in. Though Chrome isn’t exactly always so good about idling either.

This. MBA has a lower power processor which will deliver far less performance but is less likely to overheat.

 

[Jimmy James]

It’s a difficult question to answer subjectively. There’s no direct thermal path for heat management in the Air. At the same case temperature the cpu in the Air is running hotter. Someone would need to monitor temps running the same process to give a meaningful indication.

 

[ghanwani]

I have had all three 2019 13" laptops -- pro, base pro, and now air. I can definitely say that the air runs significantly cooler than either of the pros. The pros tended to heat up quite a bit when watching videos or when on zoom/skype conference calls. I can barely feel any heat with the air.