If you're on the fence: Here's why I chose the 14" M1 Pro MBP over the M2 MBA

[fisherking]

In regards to your post #141, you did use the term “essential”. At this point of time, the M1 MBA is considered as a product with basic functions and meets daily requirements by average users. Im saying this while keeping the price in mind.

If you’re happy with your M2 MBA and that you don’t care for ProMotion, I can respect that. I’m just baffled by the idea of people thinking M2 MBA is an “essential” or “bang for buck” product. Objectively, it’s not.

I’ve a M1 Pro MBP by the way. It’s no where near essential but I like what is has to offer.

"the M1 MBA is considered as a product with basic functions and meets daily requirements by average users."

what is the source for this statement? or is it your opinion?

and when you say, 'objectively'... is that also based on some factual information? or, in fact, also your opinion?

opinions are not facts, no matter how much we believe in our opinions. that goes for everyone (including me).

 

[Al Rukh]

"the M1 MBA is considered as a product with basic functions and meets daily requirements by average users."

what is the source for this statement? or is it your opinion?

and when you say, 'objectively'... is that also based on some factual information? or, in fact, also your opinion?

opinions are not facts, no matter how much we believe in our opinions. that goes for everyone (including me).

If you’re going to argue against me saying that the M1 MBA is a product with basic functions that meet daily requirements of an AVERAGE user, then you’re clutching onto straws my friend.

Facts? What sort of facts? You want to talk about specs and performances?

I want to reiterate that I have no issues about you thinking that the M2 MBA is the best laptop for you. I just have an issue about you saying it’s essential. Or were you saying that “smooth scrolling” is beyond essential? If the latter is what you meant, then I agree with you.

 

[mrmister]

I just have an issue about you saying it’s essential.

You just seem argumentative. I have no idea why you think the question of what's 'essential' is solvable in this forum, especially with you being this obstinate.

 

[Al Rukh]

You just seem argumentative. I have no idea why you think the question of what's 'essential' is solvable in this forum, especially with you being this obstinate.

Am I wrong to say that the M1 MBA has the essentials of a generic MacBook experience and anything outside the M1 MBA are upgrades on top of the barebones?

I understand that everyone has different needs. What’s essential to me isn’t essential to you. But there’s always the cheapest, most value for money product within a product category and that’s the M1 MBA. There’s a difference between “essential for me” and downright “essential”.

 

[fisherking]

Am I wrong to say that the M1 MBA has the essentials of a generic MacBook experience and anything outside the M1 MBA are upgrades on top of the barebones?

I understand that everyone has different needs. What’s essential to me isn’t essential to you. But there’s always the cheapest, most value for money product within a product category and that’s the M1 MBA. There’s a difference between “essential for me” and downright “essential”.

even the definition of the word 'essential' is not the same for all of us. and you can say what you want. but it would be useful to acknowledge that your opinion is just your opinion, and that you don't speak for all 'average users' (not even sure our definition of 'average user' would be the same).

EDIT: for example...

"i like the M1 air but i really need the 2 usb/thunderbolt ports on the M2; that is, for me, essential"

"i like the new airs, but my software is intel-only, so, at this time, an intel air is essential for me"

"i like the new airs, but my budget doesn't allow that, so, for now, a refurbished older air is essential for me"

ad infinitum

 

[jdb8167]

and when you say, 'objectively'... is that also based on some factual information? or, in fact, also your opinion?

Too many people on this site don't seem to understand the difference between objective and subjective. Is the word objective going to become meaningless like "literally"?

 

[fisherking]

Too many people on this site don't seem to understand the difference between objective and subjective. Is the word objective going to become meaningless like "literally"?

it literally will, objectively speaking... 🤣

 

[erasr]

Have any of you Pro owners actually used an M2 MBA for prolonged periods?

The lack of 'PrO MoTiOn' has absolutely no negative effect. Scrolling is smoother than ever on the Air. Why are some of you saying it lacks smooth scrolling?! 😂. The lies here are just dangerous and concerning.

I have Pro Motion on my iPad and there is absolutely no difference to scrolling on my M2 Air.

Is the MBP even using 120Hz when scrolling on internet browsers?!

 

[Zest28]

Have any of you Pro owners actually used an M2 MBA for prolonged periods?

The lack of 'PrO MoTiOn' has absolutely no negative effect. Scrolling is smoother than ever on the Air. Why are some of you saying it lacks smooth scrolling?! 😂. The lies here are just dangerous and concerning.

I have Pro Motion on my iPad and there is absolutely no difference to scrolling on my M2 Air.

Is the MBP even using 120Hz when scrolling on internet browsers?!

Yes, I have used it multiple times in the Apple Store. I didn’t like the display at all on the M2 MBA at all. Definetly spotted the 60hz.

I actually thought it was thermal throttling what i was seeing, but then I figured out it was the display.

 

[mrmister]

Yes, I have used it multiple times in the Apple Store. I didn’t like the display at all on the M2 MBA at all. Definetly spotted the 60hz.

I actually thought it was thermal throttling what i was seeing, but then I figured out it was the display.

Sure, Jan. Definitely. I almost couldn't respond here, the screen is so janky and unresponsive. 🤣

 

[Zest28]

Sure, Jan. Definitely. I almost couldn't respond here, the screen is so janky and unresponsive. 🤣

If you cannot see it, good for you. I however do see it, and that is why I was only interested in the base model M2 MBA.

 

[resolutiontime]

Have any of you Pro owners actually used an M2 MBA for prolonged periods?

The lack of 'PrO MoTiOn' has absolutely no negative effect. Scrolling is smoother than ever on the Air. Why are some of you saying it lacks smooth scrolling?! 😂. The lies here are just dangerous and concerning.

I have Pro Motion on my iPad and there is absolutely no difference to scrolling on my M2 Air.

Is the MBP even using 120Hz when scrolling on internet browsers?!

You mad that the MBP 14" was unexpectedly discounted to $1599 at Costco, Bestbuy, and Amazon? 🤣😂

 

[petvas]

I sincerely do not understand how people cannot see the difference between ProMotion and standard 60Hz. It's night and day and you wouldn't want to miss it..

 

[Misheemee]

Have any of you Pro owners actually used an M2 MBA for prolonged periods?

The lack of 'PrO MoTiOn' has absolutely no negative effect. Scrolling is smoother than ever on the Air. Why are some of you saying it lacks smooth scrolling?! 😂. The lies here are just dangerous and concerning.

I have Pro Motion on my iPad and there is absolutely no difference to scrolling on my M2 Air.

Is the MBP even using 120Hz when scrolling on internet browsers?!

I own both a MBP 14" and and M1 MBA and there is a massive visual difference with pro motion in scrolling. While I realise the M2 MBA is an upgrade, I don't see there being that much of a difference in the screen between the M1 MBA and M2 MBA, but even if there was a Retina Screen is not going to be as good as a Mini LED. I'm not saying it's bad, but the Mini LED is a better screen.

I bought the M1 MBA to satiate my MBP 14" craving first, but really wanted all bells and whistles upgrades - pro motion being a driving force, coming from iPhone 13 pro max and and iPad Pro 12.9"

I used this example on another post as I find whether something is visually noticeable or not, subjective - for years people kept talking about upgrades on iPhone screens and I didn't really find a noticeable difference and wondered what all the fuss was about. Then I got my eyes tested and got glasses for computer use and reading and looked at my phone screen wearing them - and finally understood what all the fuss is about.

Fact - there are people who are going to prefer the M2 MBA over the MBP 14" and vice versa. ATM, with the sales on the MBP 14" - with all of the additional features the MBP 14" is better value than the M2 MBA - the MBP 14" is on for 1599 at Best Buy - the M2 MBA can't beat that value wise for the feature set.

There are some people on this thread that will argue until they're blue in the face - just enjoy your device that you chose for your needs.

 

[Misheemee]

Have any of you Pro owners actually used an M2 MBA for prolonged periods?

The lack of 'PrO MoTiOn' has absolutely no negative effect. Scrolling is smoother than ever on the Air. Why are some of you saying it lacks smooth scrolling?! 😂. The lies here are just dangerous and concerning.

I have Pro Motion on my iPad and there is absolutely no difference to scrolling on my M2 Air.

Is the MBP even using 120Hz when scrolling on internet browsers?!

It's not that it has a negative effect - it's a better and smoother scrolling experience in everyday use. The impact on HDR content is night and day with points already being mentioned in this thread

 

[1BadManVan]

I sincerely do not understand how people cannot see the difference between ProMotion and standard 60Hz. It's night and day and you wouldn't want to miss it..

Some people just don’t. My wife can’t notice the difference when I’m showing her obvious examples. No idea why it stands out more for some

I have a 13 pro max and an 11” m1 iPad Pro. I definitely see the difference comparing them side by side to my air, but when just using the air, you don’t notice it. While 120hz would be nice, really not a deal breaker for my use cases on it

 

[jdb8167]

Fact - there are people who are going to prefer the M2 MBA over the MBP 14" and vice versa. ATM, with the sales on the MBP 14" - with all of the additional features the MBP 14" is better value than the M2 MBA - the MBP 14" is on for 1599 at Best Buy - the M2 MBA can't beat that value wise for the feature set.

Narrator: "Not a fact."

Try this, "For me, with the sales on the 14" MBP and the features that I want, the 14" is a better value than the M2 MBA".

See, it isn't hard not to try and force your subjective opinions on others. Try it.

 

[Misheemee]

Try this, "For me, with the sales on the 14" MBP and the features that I want, the 14" is a better value than the M2 MBA".

See, it isn't hard not to try and force your subjective opinions on others. Try it.

Value for money - based on feature set, it’s a better buy.

 

[jdb8167]

Value for money - based on feature set, it’s a better buy.

Not quite there. Try again. "For me, the value for the money, based on the feature set, makes the 14" MacBook Pro a better buy." It's a small change that means that you understand that this is just your opinion and you recognize that others may have a different take.

 

[fisherking]

Value for money - based on feature set, it’s a better buy.

'smaller' 'lighter' 'fanless' (etc) are also features, and for some us, make the air a better buy.

it is (as has been pointed out) an endless truth on the forums, that people think that their opinion makes the most sense, and, by extension, is therefore 'fact'. 🙄

 

[Chateaunole-du-Pape]

'smaller' 'lighter' 'fanless' (etc) are also features, and for some us, make the air a better buy.

it is (as has been pointed out) an endless truth on the forums, that people think that their opinion makes the most sense, and, by extension, is therefore 'fact'. 🙄

Exactly this. If the 14" Pro and and M2 Air were the same price, I still would have chosen the M2 Air, for the very advantages you list above. I understand that many people might not have the same view, but be that as it may, I am not one of those people, and made my decision based on my wants and requirements.

And it just so happens that I paid ~$360 less for my M2 Air with 16GB and 1TB than I would have for a 14" Pro with the same specs. I'll chalk that up as a bonus.

 

[petvas]

This is really a thread that shouldn't exist. Just think about it for a moment? Shouldn't it be obvious what to choose? For many it isn't, just because Apple made the two laptops similar in many ways, so that people choose the most expensive one..This is marketing genius and Apple is well known for it.
The MacBook Air M2 should have been 300-400$ cheaper for what it is. It should start at 999$. It is the low end Apple laptop, perfect for people that need a lightweight machine for when on the road, with great performance and battery life.
The MacBook Pro is for enthusiasts and professionals that need more power, better display and good battery life in a still good mobile package. Apple makes us consider the MacBook Pro when in the buying process for the MBA. Just spec an MBA similarly to a MacBook Pro. Suddenly the price difference isn't that big, so people start thinking about what is really better for their needs. For my needs, I couldn't justify spending 2500€ for a high specced MBA, when I know that for 300€ more I can have the much better MacBook Pro. If the price difference were 700$ I wouldn't think about it..

 

[Misheemee]

'smaller' 'lighter' 'fanless' (etc) are also features, and for some us, make the air a better buy.

it is (as has been pointed out) an endless truth on the forums, that people think that their opinion makes the most sense, and, by extension, is therefore 'fact'. 🙄

I didn’t say MBP 14” was a better buy for you - I said the 14” MBP was better value for money. Just like the base M1 Air was the best value for money (and truthfully probably still is).

To reiterate - the M2 Air is a great computer. If I was buying a laptop now instead of when I did, I may have leaned towards the air, I may not have 🤷‍♀️

I’m not knocking anybody’s personal preference. You choose what is best for you based on what your needs are (which I did state above btw), and you spend your money on whatever you see as value.

There’s a couple of people on this forum who just like to argue for the sake of arguing - you see it thread after thread

 

[Misheemee]

Exactly this. If the 14" Pro and and M2 Air were the same price, I still would have chosen the M2 Air, for the very advantages you list above. I understand that many people might not have the same view, but be that as it may, I am not one of those people, and made my decision based on my wants and requirements.

And it just so happens that I paid ~$360 less for my M2 Air with 16GB and 1TB than I would have for a 14" Pro with the same specs. I'll chalk that up as a bonus.

That’s great - I’m happy for you, especially with how happy you are with your Air.

 

[fisherking]

I didn’t say MBP 14” was a better buy for you - I said the 14” MBP was better value for money. Just like the base M1 Air was the best value for money (and truthfully probably still is).

To reiterate - the M2 Air is a great computer. If I was buying a laptop now instead of when I did, I may have leaned towards the air, I may not have 🤷‍♀️

I’m not knocking anybody’s personal preference. You choose what is best for you based on what your needs are (which I did state above btw), and you spend your money on whatever you see as value.

There’s a couple of people on this forum who just like to argue for the sake of arguing - you see it thread after thread

'value' comes from our specific needs, and not everyones needs align with yours. but i agree with this:

"There’s a couple of people on this forum who just like to argue for the sake of arguing - you see it thread after thread"

so am, at least, glad you're acknowledging that 😳