Mainly if you didn't need the better screen on the MBP and if weight and cost was an issue for you as well. And if you didn't need the processing power for video editing or anything like that.
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Hands-On With the 2024 M3 MacBook Air
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How does the M3 MacBook Air compare to the M1 Max MacBook Pro for photography editing? I've been trying to find a comparison. I like the form factor and weight of the 15" MacBook Air and while the screen isn't as good, it's good enough to do basic editing on until I get home to my desktop. Thanks.
MacBook Air not perfect. I'm going with the m3 max studio. HEAT is a problem without Frans.
G5isAlive
Contributor
what you mean is you want the benefits of the pro at the price of an air. Not going to happen. Learn to live with a dongle.
Does Frans know that you dont like him? 😛
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
This is "Tim Cook Apple" operating exactly as intended
Pure SKU confusion -- just come in and "buy something" ... "anything"
It's 2024 and Apple is still stuck on WIFI 6e while the PC world moved on to WIFI 7 last year. Hello, Tim Apple???
needsomecoffee
macrumors 6502a
Thanks. Dan seemed to present it as a simple, equal approach to a solution. I had thought this was too easy, but did not know the nuts & bolts. Hopefully Apple will find a performant way to allow the screen to be up as this is not a "whole product" solution which is Apple's forte. NSC.
Just got my M3 Air today. LOVE it. But I'm an IT guy with a lot of tech, like a lot. Gaming PC with RTX 4090, ROG Ally, PS5, 32:9 ultra wide ... on and on. The one disappointment I have is the screen of the M3 Air. It's very good, don't get me wrong. But it's so far behind the Dell XPS 13's screen.
Here is the thing Apple, many of us will never want a laptop that weighs over 3lbs. The Pro is a device I will never want, ever. Give us that screen on the Air! I will pay for it, you want $2k+ for an Air with that screen, fine. Money isn't the issue. Weight and size is.
Here is the thing Apple, many of us will never want a laptop that weighs over 3lbs. The Pro is a device I will never want, ever. Give us that screen on the Air! I will pay for it, you want $2k+ for an Air with that screen, fine. Money isn't the issue. Weight and size is.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
Yep
For as good as the Air screens were when that panel spec was really new (over a decade ago on first rMBPs), it's starting to really be just "ok" relative to the amazing screen options on so many laptops, monitors, phones, TVs, etc
Apple needs to up the screen game on the MBA - at least optionally
Wanted797
macrumors 68020
You have to remember time begins ticking the moment apple stops selling the device in terms of support (parts and repairs) 5 years until obsolete. Not that any would be complaining about 5 years of use.
I actually ordered a M1 right before the announcement (I knew they'd kill it off) for $1349 on the Australian education pricing, which also gives a $240 card. So effectively $1109 - After the announcement though I was able to get the M2 for $1199 ($90 more). I'll use the $240 when USB C AirPods are out.
I went for M2 even with the slower SSD purely for the 2 years newer time line, its still going to be sold for awhile and thus supported.
Obviously if you're utilizing your CPU at 100% for extended periods of time, then buying an Air is not ideal.
But Air is targeting users that use the CPU in bursts, in which the CPU returns to idle. Theres no need for fans.
Even traditional tasks that used the CPU, like exporting movies, are now done on the media engine, so most computer users are well served by a MacBook Air—they won't ever feel heat.
I think the screen quality is more important (or should be) than performance for like 80% of users.
Someirishguy
macrumors 6502
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
For sure -- be nice to have the option to pay more and get something better though, as you were saying
Well I bought an M2 8/256 Mac mini about 3 months ago because it does everything I need it to do.
It never feels slow and
Memory pressure has never gone into the red.
Why would I want to pay more for additional ram and additional SSD space I don’t need?
Abazigal
Contributor
You value the extra ports and the convenience of not needing an adaptor whenever you want to plug in that HDMI cable (which depending on your profession, could be pretty often). Though I do feel that if you can find a refurbished M1 Pro MBP in the Apple Store, it does seem like a better deal in every aspect (including supporting for more screens).
Would I get the 13" MBP? Most probably not, but just because I can't see the use for something doesn't mean it has no reason to exist.
I don't understand why everyone is so enamored with the Macbook Pro screen.
I bought the 14" M1 model Macbook Pro when it first came out. I jumped on it. Finally, a replacement for my 2015 13" Macbook Pro. With Magsafe. But NO!
I saw a weird shimmering or glossiness on the screen. It's kinda hard to describe. It's especially noticeable when even slightly off axis. I couldn't stand it. Fortunately my daughter was eager to take it off my hands. I don't think the effect was because of the backlight PWM that people were complaining about, but maybe it was?
I recently went in to an Apple store with my old 2015 13" machine and compared screens against an M2 Macbook Air. Once I adjusted the newer machine to IIRC sRGB, the screens were very similar. I didn't feel the weird annoyance I previously had with the 14" Macbook Pro screen.
I now need to take my 2015 Macbook Pro back in and compare screens against the new M3 Macbook Air. Hopefully the display didn't change from the M2 version. My old machine is on its last legs, throwing up messages such as "Volume Hash Mismatch". I desperately need a replacement.
tl;dr: I like my old 2015 13" Macbook Pro screen much more than the M1 14" Macbook Pro screen.
I bought the 14" M1 model Macbook Pro when it first came out. I jumped on it. Finally, a replacement for my 2015 13" Macbook Pro. With Magsafe. But NO!
I saw a weird shimmering or glossiness on the screen. It's kinda hard to describe. It's especially noticeable when even slightly off axis. I couldn't stand it. Fortunately my daughter was eager to take it off my hands. I don't think the effect was because of the backlight PWM that people were complaining about, but maybe it was?
I recently went in to an Apple store with my old 2015 13" machine and compared screens against an M2 Macbook Air. Once I adjusted the newer machine to IIRC sRGB, the screens were very similar. I didn't feel the weird annoyance I previously had with the 14" Macbook Pro screen.
I now need to take my 2015 Macbook Pro back in and compare screens against the new M3 Macbook Air. Hopefully the display didn't change from the M2 version. My old machine is on its last legs, throwing up messages such as "Volume Hash Mismatch". I desperately need a replacement.
tl;dr: I like my old 2015 13" Macbook Pro screen much more than the M1 14" Macbook Pro screen.
Mac Fly (film)
macrumors 68040
I don't mind paying the money, I just want a thin in light form factor. MBA is an expensive computer. My friend's crappy PC has more ports. It's insulting.
bousozoku
Moderator emeritus
They have a two display limit, but they're making it available to two external displays instead of one internal, one external.
It's the low-end machine. They're not going to give everything to that level.