Has anybody switched from a MacBook Pro to a MacBook Air?

[ruslan120]

Lo and behold, I thought I was going to weather this pandemic without misfortunes.

Accepted an offer last week and starting on Monday at a new company, and they sent me a 2020 MacBook Air as a work computer!!

I wasn’t planning on using a MacBook Air but just wanted to share that I’m excited to join the club and was wondering:

Has anybody switched from a MacBook Pro to a MacBook Air? What were differences you noticed? Which machine did you like better?

 

[dukebound85]

congrats on the job! more important than a computer

 

[synicalx1]

Hey congratulations on landing the job!

I haven't actually moved from a MBP to an MBA, but I use a MBP at work and as of last week an MBA at home. Personally I WISH I had the Air at work as well - I can spec one out enough that I can still do all my work, but I'd have a much lighter, smaller device. For me the biggest difference is definitely the size/weight, but based on my limited testing so far I'd say the Air has better battery life as well compared to my MBP (2018 model, maybe).

For my at-home setup, if I was super limited on space and could only get one computer I'd probably have gone with a Pro for home as well since I do a bit of gaming and the dedicated GPU on the 15" Pro's makes a big difference for that. But for me personally I have plenty of room in my office so I opted to get the MBA, and with the price difference between an MBA and an MBP (about $1700AUD) I also built a new gaming desktop which I'm very happy with.

 

[tranceking26]

Can't help you, but congrats on the new job.

 

[jbachandouris]

I was also laid off a week or so before you, but have not found a new job yet.

Congratulations though.

 

[Donnation]

Congrats on the new job. We have both a MacBook Pro and a MacBook Air in our household and I think you will be very pleased. Its a great machine and I don't ever see it struggle as it handles everything we throw at it very well. There is obviously some speed improvements with the Pro, but I wouldn't bat an eye if I went Air full time as it is a very capable machine.

 

[ghanwani]

I moved from a 2017 MBP nTB to a 2019 MBA. I find it runs much cooler, it is noticeably lighter, and I prefer the form factor. In terms of performance, the pro was noticeably better at graphics.

 

[trevpimp]

Wow thats cool you must have a good supporting company to work with

I sold my 2014 15" Macbook Pro 2.5Ghz and Im currently looking into purchasing a Macbook Air or an iMac but curious to see how things will change with difference if I purchase the air

 

[ruslan120]

The iMac will probably be much faster but it will only be noticeable in video edits or games or intense tasks. Air wins for portability

 

[edubfromktown]

Congratulations on the new job.

2020 Air vs Pro is not a dramatic difference unless you are doing sustained processor and or I/O workload stuff

 

[dmccloud]

I switched from a 2014 15" MBP to a base model MBA last month. I have a Windows based machine that outperforms even the current i9 MBP, so I did not need another $2500+ machine to replace the Pro. For what I use the MBA for (research, writing papers for school, web and app design), the Air does everything I need it to do. For anything that requires more horsepower, I'll switch to my MSI laptop. I also will take my Air with me and leave the MSI plugged in at the house. If I need a second screen while using the MacBook Air, I just use my iPad Pro in Sidecar mode.

 

[Robbosan]

I was going to get a 12.9 iPad pro when covid started but got a base model Air instead, was same price here v the 128gb 4g iPad and no need to buy a magic keyboard and 256gb, i do have a 11" pro and late 2015 27" 5K iMac with 2tb fusion and 24gb ram.
From speed tests i have done the Air is faster.
We do have a 2012 and 2013 MBPr in the house still going good.

 

[ctjack]

I switched from a 2014 15" MBP to a base model MBA last month.

Thanks for sharing. Saw your review also on B&H. It was quite assuring to hear this words.

 

[dmccloud]

Thanks for sharing. Saw your review also on B&H. It was quite assuring to hear this words.

I don't use B&H, so any review was not from me...

 

[ilikewhey]

I tried, the fan kicked up a lot quicker and system had periodic stutter compared to my mbp, my fiancée is using it and she is a much lighter user than me so it works out for her

 

[thadoggfather]

2016 NTB Silver to 2020 Air Space Grey

8/dual/256 to 8/quad/512

Happy! Would've stay put if not for the substantial keyboard upgrade. Double storage comes in handy too

 

[Macdctr]

I go between my Early2015 13inch MBP i5 and Early 2015 11inch MBA i7. If I don't feel like firing up my 2012MP desktop then I'm usually using my MBP but if I am traveling or if I want to hang out in my patio then I grab my 11inch and use it. My workload is not intense in that I need to have anything more powerful where laptops are concerned but if I want to do photo processing work then I will fire up my MP and do the work there... For me it is more a matter of convenience.