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Speakers: definitely better on MBP.
Doesn’t really matter: how often are you really playing something out of the speakers?! AirPods or HomePods all the way.

Literally everything I play is out of my MacBook Pro's speakers. I'm not wasting money on HomePods when my MBP's speakers sound just as good if not better

Display: exactly the same on day to day content, browsing. In fact the deeper blacks create issues when online shopping for clothes, for example. Black isn’t as well defined. Standard OLED type issue.

Cap. The Macbook Pro is 1440p 120hz with Promotion and MiniLED, not OLED.

However, the display is better for movies, yes.
Doesn’t really matter: because I rarely watch movies on my laptop 😂 got a massive LG OLED tv for that. Same for most people. It’s a small usage %.

That extra space is better for more than just movies. Means you can fit more on screen and it's optimal for pro software like Photoshop and Final Cut.

What else? The MBP is a chunky monkey. Not as portable as the Air. Much bigger than the last Pro’s too.

The 16 inch is the chunky monkey. The 14 inch is 3.5 pounds while the M2 Air is 2.7 lmao. If you're complaining about the size and weight of the 14 inch Pro, that's a skill issue plain and simple 🥴

I’d pay more for portability, weight and slim design than power. Most people don’t need the Pro power at all.

I don't either but I still have a MacBook Pro just for the display and speakers alone, and the fact I don't need dongles on my MacBook Pro to read my SD cards like I would on a MacBook Air. It's so nice to be able to just plug my Mac into a monitor/TV wouldn't needing a dongle for that too.

In fact, my designer friend is using the M2 Air with heavy usage; Indesign, WordPress, GarageBand (he’s a drummer) all open at the same time, doing heavy design work. His Air hasn’t got hit once. It’s lightening quick.

Yeah because he's using software that isn't CPU intensive. Now try using Final Cut or CPU intensive games like Cities Skylines or Factorio.

Mine is lightening quick.

Every Apple Silicon Mac is.

I compared mine to a colleagues M1 Pro 14 and mine loaded every website QUICKER. That’s bonkers. Websites are the most common thing we all go to on laptops. The fact that the most popular common thing is QUICKER on the M2 Air says a lot.

That's not a fair comparison as chances are you were on a faster network than your colleague was. A more fair comparison would be using Compressor to convert a file to another format.

Overall, M2 Air is better for most people. The Pro is best for people who need that power, such as my bro who renders 3d design. Speakers are better on the Pro and display better on HDR a content (rare usage).

No one is arguing that the M2 MacBook Air is better for most people. It is the consumer laptop after all. However there are a lot of other people who want great displays or need proper cooling, something the Air does not provide.

(P.S, I'd personally put a podcast on my iPhone whilst having breakfast. Way to clunky to be doing it on a laptop. And also, podcast?! Sound is just fine on the Air for that stuff)

You yourself acknowledged the speakers were better on the Pro though. Sure it's fine but for some they'd prefer better.
 
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>Sigh< Observing how even such an innocuous topic as this can lead to arguments makes me doubtful that world peace could ever be achieved. An if it did, it would probably only last for 15 minutes.
Yeah, I mean, the guy just started this thread to share his personal opinion as to why he chose one over the other, not berating and belittling other peoples choices, yet, someone felt as it was personal insult towards them and panicked, out of the blue, started arguing about almost every aspect one person shared as their personal experience and thoughts and feelings about their choice. Like as if that person would try to convince the whole world how wrong the OP's choice was!
Its really puzzling, what the foxtrot?
 
>Sigh< Observing how even such an innocuous topic as this can lead to arguments makes me doubtful that world peace could ever be achieved. An if it did, it would probably only last for 15 minutes.
I took the time to write it because I thought some might find it useful to hear from real world experiences. It's when people start to argue that their opinion or use-case is the only one that matters that it all falls apart. The speakers were a great example - I don't understand the "just use high-end headphones/high-end speakers/AirPods/HomePod" argument. A MacBook is designed to be a portable device that travels with you, hence why speakers are built-in.
 
I took the time to write it because I thought some might find it useful to hear from real world experiences. It's when people start to argue that their opinion or use-case is the only one that matters where it all falls apart. Real shame.
how much thicker are the bezels on the air compared to the pro?
 
The jealousy of Pro owners is incredible. As soon as they saw the unveil of the M2 Air they’ve been like this ever since.

The M2 Air was their dream laptop. It has everything and nothing on it is poor.

They don’t actually use their speakers that often and the display only comes into play on HDR video.

No, most of us don’t use Final Cut Pro. So that’s a moot point, unless you are a seriously heavy user.

Air wins, quite easily. The fact it loads websites quicker is hilarious.
 
The jealousy of Pro owners is incredible. As soon as they saw the unveil of the M2 Air they’ve been like this ever since.

The M2 Air was their dream laptop. It has everything and nothing on it is poor.

You do realize that MBP owners could exchange their laptop for an Air and have spare money left, don't you?
 
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The jealousy of Pro owners is incredible. As soon as they saw the unveil of the M2 Air they’ve been like this ever since.
What on earth are you taking about? There’s no tribalism about choosing computers from the same brand. Customers who bought MBP also had the opportunity to buy an M1 Air, and they chose not to.

There’s nothing right or wrong about this, nothing ‘sporting’. It’s just a computer.

The M2 Air was their dream laptop. It has everything and nothing on it is poor.
At this point you’re just trolling, which is a real shame.

Air wins, quite easily. The fact it loads websites quicker is hilarious.
M2 is a newer generation than M1, so it should not be a surprise that web loading is quicker.
 
The jealousy of Pro owners is incredible. As soon as they saw the unveil of the M2 Air they’ve been like this ever since.

I'm not jealous. If I wanted a MacBook Air, I'd buy a MacBook Air. I am moreso annoyed by people like you who invalidate the Pro because of the M2 Air's existence.

The M2 Air was their dream laptop. It has everything and nothing on it is poor.

The 14/16 inch Pro was my dream laptop. No touch bar, Magsafe back, legacy ports back, a gorgeous 120hz display, a fullsized keyboard, and massive performance in a small package. I used to be a Mac hater back during Mac vs PC, and the new Pros are my favorite laptops. The Apple Silicon Macs in general are my favorite, which is why I switched in the first place and why the Mac is the only Apple thing I care about anymore.

They don’t actually use their speakers that often and the display only comes into play on HDR video.

Uhhh what? The hell are you talking about? 🥴

No, most of us don’t use Final Cut Pro. So that’s a moot point, unless you are a seriously heavy user.

I'm not a creative professional and I still use Final Cut.

Air wins, quite easily. The fact it loads websites quicker is hilarious.

Dude it's not a contest. What is this Pro vs Air fight you're trying to have?

Fail troll is fail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200
 
I had both as well and I agree with most of this review, however, I think you’re significantly underselling how much better the MBP screen is, even in day to day use. It having a true retina resolution so text doesn’t have to be scaled to a lower resolution makes such an obvious difference. Everything looks better on this screen, like it’s painted on and the text is so crispy.
 
Yet you felt the need to post your review in the MacBook Air section. Why not post this in the MacBook Pro forum? Who are you trying to convince?
If you read through my post, you’ll note that I’m not attempting to convince anyone to buy anything. It was a reflection on my own experiences of using the two said devices and I felt it might be beneficial for those who haven’t yet decided which Mac to buy.

If I posted this in the MacBook Pro, I would then have users asking the same question; Why have you posted this (here) rather than (there)? I assumed that most MacBook Pro owners would have more of a firm reason to purchase their devices.

If you disagree with my thoughts then give it a thumbs down.
 
If you read through my post, you’ll note that I’m not attempting to convince anyone to buy anything. It was a reflection on my own experiences of using the two said devices and I felt it might be beneficial for those who haven’t yet decided which Mac to buy.

If I posted this in the MacBook Pro, I would then have users asking the same question; Why have you posted this (here) rather than (there)? I assumed that most MacBook Pro owners would have more of a firm reason to purchase their devices.

If you disagree with my thoughts then give it a thumbs down.
I don't disagree with anything you wrote. Your choice was very rational and well thought out. I just can't understand why you felt the need to post in the MacBook Air forum a bunch of specifications of the 14" M1 MacBook Pro that have been repeated repeatedly since the release of the M2 MBA. Does anyone in this forum not know that the screen on the 14" MBP is better than the MBA or that it has ports that the M2 MBA doesn't?

Maybe you haven't noticed but since the release of the M2 MBA there has been a incessant drumbeat that M2 MBA users should buy a 14" M1 MacBook Air instead. It's weird. I don't see anyone posting in the MacBook Pro forums that 14" M1 MBP users should buy an M2 MacBook Air. It's a strange one way street. If someone asks in the MBA forum what they should buy that is entirely different. It's a reasonable question. But this constant, the 14" MacBook Pro is better narrative is just annoying.
 
Just some thoughts on my experience of owning both a 14" MacBook Pro 8/14 core, 16/512 (which I decided to keep) and the new M2 MacBook Air (8/8, 16/512).

Little things...
- MagSafe on the MBP is more secure than on the MBA. This is because the connector on the MBA doesn't sit flush with the enclosure since it is so thin, meaning that it actually disconnects a lot easier (though the opposite argument is that this is benefit).
- Perhaps subjective, but I prefer the key action of the MBP. The key travel is slightly longer and they bottom-out a little more softly.
- The trackpad is noticeably quieter on the MBP. The MBA's is louder and has a hollowness about it.

Display
Blooming isn't a big issue on the MBP provided you keep the screen brightness at a sensible setting, relative to the environment. But the quality... It's simply outstanding and perfectly suited for photography (one of my hustles) and video work. Those without a keen eye for colours and contrast may not notice or appreciate/require the difference, so for everything else I don't believe an owner would make use of it.

The same goes for ProMotion - this is not so much a quality of life improvement as it is a feature for video work. The adaptive refresh works really well and provides a true feel for the content's actual frame rate. Outside of creative work the UI is clearly smoother in motion, but I wouldn't consider this a 'need' over the MBA.

The increase is display size and resolution is noticeable on the MBP. It just allows you eek out more of your content, which I believe for a device of this size is important in getting as much screen estate as possible. The bezels on the MBP are also slightly slimmer.

None of this is to say that the MBA scree is a lesser component in anyway. In fact, it's actually a significant improvement over the previous generation with more colours, better contrast and higher maximum brightness.

Speakers and microphone
I find this to be an interesting area today given how our listening habits have changed. There are users who no doubt won't care what the quality of the speakers are provided they do the bare minimum for productivity; some will need high quality audio as a backup for creative content; others may use them a lot for listening to music.

One thing that is certain however; how difficult it is to put into words just how much better the MBP speakers are than than the MBA.

They sound big, full and wide, with excellent clarity and yet bass that shouldn't be so solid on a device this thin. If you're wanting to enjoy music in a small room then there's honestly no need to use a Bluetooth speaker (within a sensible distance), and the quality is good enough that I would feel confident doing some basic initial mastering for production.

Dolby Atmos is mesmerising. Combined with the XDR display, watching compatible movies is just fantastic. I have some HDR + DA movies that I've purchased and it literally does bring new life to them - specifically older titles that I have had good remasters (Top Gun, Total Recall for example)

FaceTime camera
Very good on both devices, relative to the sensor size. Performance appears very similar on both, with the MBA edging out just slightly with more natural colours and slightly better low light performance. I'm guessing this has something to do with the M2 chip. Not a deal-breaker by any means - they're both perfectly serviceable. And keep in mind that once you view the video on a larger display, for instance an iMac - the stream is almost potato quality anyway and comparable to the Studio Display.

Performance
Outside of video editing - which is not my domain, but I have played around with it - speed is virtually identical for both devices during everyday productivity (Office, iWork, Safari, email, and many apps in between). Little to no lag or waiting for anything to happen. OS updates were quicker on the MBP which is to be expected, but I honestly can't recommend M2 chip highly enough for most users.

Where the MBP was quicker in creative content (Lightroom, Photoshop, Logic Pro), it was only marginally. If you're thinking of holding out for the M2 Pro/Max I seriously wouldn't bother.

The fans on the MBP have only ever come once, during its first OS update. Other than this is has remained cool to the touch. The MBA also remains cool to the touch and again has only ever heated up during the initial setup and OS update process. As far as I'm concerned the debacle over this device 'overheating' (Thanks Max Tech! /S ) is unfounded.

Enclosure
Both devices feel as though they have thinner enclosures than the previous generations, not necessarily a bad thing but just something to keep in mind. The MBA is so thin that the back plate and keyboard plate can actually flex with enough force.

Both are absolutely beautiful both aesthetically and in engineering terms. I couldn't stop holding and looking at them, just appreciating their beauty. The MBP in particular has a slightly retro feel to it that I'm fond of.

The weight is substantially different. The MBP weighs just a touch more than the outgoing 13" model, but not to the point where it would discourage you from travelling with it. For the specs it's still an impressively compact and light device. The MBA on the other hand is so thin and light that it's an absolute joy to carry around. It's almost like an iPad! In fact it's so light it can wobble around a bit when you're typing on your lap.

Though the MBP keyboard is (in my opinion) nicer, typing does need a little settling in period because the enclosure is raised off the surface more than the MBA. If you're used to this from previous MBPs then it's a non-issue.

So, why did I choose the MBP?
I use a Mac for a number of things, including my main job (working with clients for coaching, delivering presentations) and side hustles (photography, product design). The two features that sold the MBP for me were the screen and the speakers. These are the most impressive that I've ever come across on a portable computer and they significantly gave me a leg-up when it came to editing photos, sharing video with clients and simply enjoying my music collection.

The addition of HDMI is convenient for plugging into projectors and TV whenever I travel anywhere, and means I can forget about bringing adapters. And the SD card slot makes my camera workflow a lot quicker, as well as being able to take project files from my 3D printer and audio from my audio recorder!

I will miss just how 'airy' the MBA was, though equally I'm now more aware of how overblown the concept of weight is. For its class, there really is nothing that you can compare the 14" MBP to in the Windows world when you combine the performance with the thickness and weight. It's a beautiful product and easily the best Mac notebook I think Apple has ever made. The Pro chip at 8/14 cores has completely exceeded my expectations.

Finally, the difference in pricing between the models was £180. For that additional cost I felt the additional screen improvements, speaker quality and keyboard was worth it.

Hope this was useful!
Could you comment on the 14 inch display in regards to the dimple/denting issue some people are experiencing? It appears some of the 14 and 16 inch Pro's have this issue despite people taking care of their devices.
 
I've been enjoying my Macbook Pro 16 in with the M1 max 64GB RAM since launch day.
My children in college all changed to the M2 Air because they wanted the color. The most they do is word processing, some python here and there, and capture one for their photography. With bursty workload, the Air is perfectly fine for their needs.
For their needs, the perfect setup is M2 Macbook Air and 12 in M1 iPad Pro with Apple pencil. They call it the dead silent setup.
have you had any issues with your display with regards to denting/dimpling? seems to be a common problem on 2021 pro's
 
Real life story:
Time and time again I read about the displays. Having compared them both side by side, I'm convinced by it too. There's not enough difference (apart from in HDR video) to warrant a larger chunky laptop if you don't need it's extra power. The M2 is powerful enough for most stuff.
None of the stuff in the story is unexpected or it shouldn't be. The M2 is faster at single core and a lot of everyday computing is still single threaded. If you aren't doing massively parallel workloads, the M2 is going to seem faster until it throttles and for most workloads, the M2 MBA won't throttle.
 
unless you get the half speed base model lol
air 2 people are like iPhone mini people, get but hurt very easily
I know the reason for this but cant post here :)
 
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Real life story:
Time and time again I read about the displays. Having compared them both side by side, I'm convinced by it too. There's not enough difference (apart from in HDR video) to warrant a larger chunky laptop if you don't need it's extra power. The M2 is powerful enough for most stuff.
That post solidly makes the case for the M2 15" MacBook Air. Many people I know would prefer the larger display.
 
The jealousy of Pro owners is incredible. As soon as they saw the unveil of the M2 Air they’ve been like this ever since.

Wow, you are really taking this way too personally. People have various reasons for choosing one machine over the other. They're not picking sides in a war. People can own either machine, both, or neither. It's really ok.
 
Just some thoughts on my experience of owning both a 14" MacBook Pro 8/14 core, 16/512 (which I decided to keep) and the new M2 MacBook Air (8/8, 16/512).

Little things...
- MagSafe on the MBP is more secure than on the MBA. This is because the connector on the MBA doesn't sit flush with the enclosure since it is so thin, meaning that it actually disconnects a lot easier (though the opposite argument is that this is benefit).
- Perhaps subjective, but I prefer the key action of the MBP. The key travel is slightly longer and they bottom-out a little more softly.
- The trackpad is noticeably quieter on the MBP. The MBA's is louder and has a hollowness about it.

Display
Blooming isn't a big issue on the MBP provided you keep the screen brightness at a sensible setting, relative to the environment. But the quality... It's simply outstanding and perfectly suited for photography (one of my hustles) and video work. Those without a keen eye for colours and contrast may not notice or appreciate/require the difference, so for everything else I don't believe an owner would make use of it.

The same goes for ProMotion - this is not so much a quality of life improvement as it is a feature for video work. The adaptive refresh works really well and provides a true feel for the content's actual frame rate. Outside of creative work the UI is clearly smoother in motion, but I wouldn't consider this a 'need' over the MBA.

The increase is display size and resolution is noticeable on the MBP. It just allows you eek out more of your content, which I believe for a device of this size is important in getting as much screen estate as possible. The bezels on the MBP are also slightly slimmer.

None of this is to say that the MBA scree is a lesser component in anyway. In fact, it's actually a significant improvement over the previous generation with more colours, better contrast and higher maximum brightness.

Speakers and microphone
I find this to be an interesting area today given how our listening habits have changed. There are users who no doubt won't care what the quality of the speakers are provided they do the bare minimum for productivity; some will need high quality audio as a backup for creative content; others may use them a lot for listening to music.

One thing that is certain however; how difficult it is to put into words just how much better the MBP speakers are than than the MBA.

They sound big, full and wide, with excellent clarity and yet bass that shouldn't be so solid on a device this thin. If you're wanting to enjoy music in a small room then there's honestly no need to use a Bluetooth speaker (within a sensible distance), and the quality is good enough that I would feel confident doing some basic initial mastering for production.

Dolby Atmos is mesmerising. Combined with the XDR display, watching compatible movies is just fantastic. I have some HDR + DA movies that I've purchased and it literally does bring new life to them - specifically older titles that I have had good remasters (Top Gun, Total Recall for example)

FaceTime camera
Very good on both devices, relative to the sensor size. Performance appears very similar on both, with the MBA edging out just slightly with more natural colours and slightly better low light performance. I'm guessing this has something to do with the M2 chip. Not a deal-breaker by any means - they're both perfectly serviceable. And keep in mind that once you view the video on a larger display, for instance an iMac - the stream is almost potato quality anyway and comparable to the Studio Display.

Performance
Outside of video editing - which is not my domain, but I have played around with it - speed is virtually identical for both devices during everyday productivity (Office, iWork, Safari, email, and many apps in between). Little to no lag or waiting for anything to happen. OS updates were quicker on the MBP which is to be expected, but I honestly can't recommend M2 chip highly enough for most users.

Where the MBP was quicker in creative content (Lightroom, Photoshop, Logic Pro), it was only marginally. If you're thinking of holding out for the M2 Pro/Max I seriously wouldn't bother.

The fans on the MBP have only ever come once, during its first OS update. Other than this is has remained cool to the touch. The MBA also remains cool to the touch and again has only ever heated up during the initial setup and OS update process. As far as I'm concerned the debacle over this device 'overheating' (Thanks Max Tech! /S ) is unfounded.

Enclosure
Both devices feel as though they have thinner enclosures than the previous generations, not necessarily a bad thing but just something to keep in mind. The MBA is so thin that the back plate and keyboard plate can actually flex with enough force.

Both are absolutely beautiful both aesthetically and in engineering terms. I couldn't stop holding and looking at them, just appreciating their beauty. The MBP in particular has a slightly retro feel to it that I'm fond of.

The weight is substantially different. The MBP weighs just a touch more than the outgoing 13" model, but not to the point where it would discourage you from travelling with it. For the specs it's still an impressively compact and light device. The MBA on the other hand is so thin and light that it's an absolute joy to carry around. It's almost like an iPad! In fact it's so light it can wobble around a bit when you're typing on your lap.

Though the MBP keyboard is (in my opinion) nicer, typing does need a little settling in period because the enclosure is raised off the surface more than the MBA. If you're used to this from previous MBPs then it's a non-issue.

So, why did I choose the MBP?
I use a Mac for a number of things, including my main job (working with clients for coaching, delivering presentations) and side hustles (photography, product design). The two features that sold the MBP for me were the screen and the speakers. These are the most impressive that I've ever come across on a portable computer and they significantly gave me a leg-up when it came to editing photos, sharing video with clients and simply enjoying my music collection.

The addition of HDMI is convenient for plugging into projectors and TV whenever I travel anywhere, and means I can forget about bringing adapters. And the SD card slot makes my camera workflow a lot quicker, as well as being able to take project files from my 3D printer and audio from my audio recorder!

I will miss just how 'airy' the MBA was, though equally I'm now more aware of how overblown the concept of weight is. For its class, there really is nothing that you can compare the 14" MBP to in the Windows world when you combine the performance with the thickness and weight. It's a beautiful product and easily the best Mac notebook I think Apple has ever made. The Pro chip at 8/14 cores has completely exceeded my expectations.

Finally, the difference in pricing between the models was £180. For that additional cost I felt the additional screen improvements, speaker quality and keyboard was worth it.

Hope this was useful!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh that MBP keyboard... amazing
 
Interesting view, though as mentioned it's a very personal matter. Not everyone has access to a HomePod, and in any case it may be more convenient to use the built-in speakers. For instance, of a morning I like to get my MBP open and listen to a podcast straight away from the device, whilst making breakfast. Very easy and great quality.


You're mistaken.

View attachment 2046687

The additional thickness is negligible.


As mentioned in the OP, my perspective was that of multimedia.
wow nearly identical!!
 
This is a very good, well written summary, and I think your rationale for choosing the 14" Pro is sound.

As my needs are different than yours - while I am a pretty good photographer and take a lot of nice shots when traveling, I do so almost exclusively with my iPhone these days, and don't spend much time editing them, so the extra ports and SD slot, larger screen and true blacks of the Pro really aren't meaningful to me. Photography isn't something that I'd ever try to make money at, and I don't edit video at all.

Watching video on my laptop is generally limited to keeping an eye on a baseball game while my wife and I are watching something else on one of our 65" TVs, so, again, any desire for a slightly bigger, slightly better laptop screen and better speakers is outflanked by my preference for the thinner and lighter form factor of the M2 Air.

I've not owned the 14" Pro and can't comment on the feel of its keyboard or trackpad, but have to say that I'm wholly satisfied with both on the M2 Air.

Again, nice job on the clear, concise and clear-eyed review. I do think you made the right choice for yourself, just as I think I did for myself.
I’m just replying to tell you I LOVE your avatar! Great shot, great cats!
 
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