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

[Misheemee]

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.

No, I won’t “Try this” - you’re paying a premium for slightly lighter and slightly smaller, and sacrificing raw power for roughly the same price. That’s your choice and that’s what you see as value. That is fine.

You talk about being objective, but you’re not objective in the slightest

 

[Misheemee]

'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 😳

You and I have crossed paths repeatedly on threads and you know that I’ve not tried to “force my opinion” on anybody, nor have I ever stated because I have a MBP that it’s the best computer on the planet - so I find your point moot

 

[fisherking]

No, I won’t “Try this” - you’re paying a premium for slightly lighter and slightly smaller, and sacrificing raw power for roughly the same price. That’s your choice and that’s what you see as value. That is fine.

You talk about being objective, but you’re not objective in the slightest

... which makes each of us just like you 👍

 

[Misheemee]

... which makes each of us just like you 👍

Ok. How’s this -

“M2 MBA is the best computer on the planet, and represents the best value”

Feel Better?

No doubt you’ll find a reason to argue that too

 

[fisherking]

Ok. How’s this -

“M2 MBA is the best computer on the planet, and represents the best value”

Feel Better?

No doubt you’ll find a good at to argue that too

but i'm not saying that at all! i'm saying that the best 'value' depends on the users needs, and for some, the M2 air serves that; for others, it's a pro, and others still... an M1 air. or a dell. or... whatever.

i speak only for myself, and my opinions are only that: opinions. how is it somehow different for you, that your opinions are larger? and the answer is... they aren't.

 

[geta]

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..

Base 14” MBP with 32GB & 1TB - 2939€ vs base M2 MBA with 24GB & 1TB - 2419€ , thats 520€ or 400€ if you get the 10c GPU version… thats big difference. But if you need the extra power and connections, then you need to spend more…

 

[1BadManVan]

I’ve said this before and will say it again. apple doesn’t make a lower tier MacBook, they make different macs for different use cases. The air has it’s own features that make it more desirable for some and the pros have their own features that fit better for other uses.

Each one has their trade offs to give those features. The pros trade off is the size, weight and battery life to get that sustained performance. The airs trade off is sustained performance to get the smaller size and lighter weight with better battery life. Those are just a few trade off examples, there’s obviously more but you get the point.

It’s a use case preference. Buy the one that fits your use case and enjoy the experience. I chose the air because I don’t do any heavy weight stuff and prefer the faster burst single core performance and love the size and weight.

At these price points, money is the least of my concerns or go buy a chrome book

 

[Misheemee]

but i'm not saying that at all! i'm saying that the best 'value' depends on the users needs, and for some, the M2 air serves that; for others, it's a pro, and others still... an M1 air. or a dell. or... whatever.

i speak only for myself, and my opinions are only that: opinions. how is it somehow different for you, that your opinions are larger? and the answer is... they aren't.

My opinions are not larger in the slightest, nor do I think, see or value things in the way that you do.

Let’s agree to disagree.

My opinion is this - I don’t care what computer you buy. I’m really happy for you if you bought the computer that best suits your needs, represents the best value to you, and that you’re enjoying your MacBook (or whatever it brand or computer it is)

 

[mrmister]

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.

You think the screen is crap, so it made you *interested* in the base model? Why?

 

[petvas]

Base 14” MBP with 32GB & 1TB - 2939€ vs base M2 MBA with 24GB & 1TB - 2419€ , thats 520€ or 400€ if you get the 10c GPU version… thats big difference. But if you need the extra power and connections, then you need to spend more…

In Germany the base 14" MBP with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD costs 2739€. The MBA with 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD costs 2539€. You see my point? This is Apple's excellent marketing machine..

 

[fisherking]

In Germany the base 14" MBP with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD costs 2739€. The MBA with 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD costs 2539€. You see my point? This is Apple's excellent marketing machine..

i see 2 macs with different feature sets. what is your point?

 

[SeenJeen]

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..

I don't think it's as big of a deal on a desktop OS. Aside from animations and scrolling (even less pronounced without a smooth-scrolling mouse), most people are not really going to notice 120hz over 60hz day-to-day.

I *do* love my 14-inch Pro, but I can understand why someone wouldn't see 120hz as a selling feature that costs hundreds more.

It's a different story on iPad, though.

 

[fisherking]

what i find amusing is... while we argue on forums like this, try to get others to see things as we see them, and go back and forth (endlessly) about what apple should or shouldn't do... apple continues to prosper.

we change nothing, it's business as usual, and... that seems right (to me). these devices are their products, and they can shape them and price them as they see fit. and we can buy (or not).

 

[petvas]

i see 2 macs with different feature sets. what is your point?

My point is that Apple is doing that deliberately. The higher you spec the Air, the more you lean towards getting the Pro..
Different feature sets, I wouldn't say that. There are both laptops with different focus. The 14" MacBook Pro is still very mobile and battery last all day. The high end specced MBA should cost 2000€ maximum. 2539€ is 500€ too much. That's the point.

 

[erasr]

So we have one guy who says he has both, doesn't, and has a MBA M1 instead. Vast difference in screen quality on the M2 Air.

The other guy says I must be jealous because the Pro is discounted. Lol. Even if it was discounted even further, I wouldn't get a 1 year old laptop which is a chunky monkey.

I absolutely love moving around with my beautiful thin Air.

I am laughing my head off that there's comments along the lines of the Air M2 not being smooth when scrolling web pages. It is smooth. Dead smooth.

 

[fisherking]

My point is that Apple is doing that deliberately. The higher you spec the Air, the more you lean towards getting the Pro..
Different feature sets, I wouldn't say that. There are both laptops with different focus. The 14" MacBook Pro is still very mobile and battery last all day. The high end specced MBA should cost 2000€ maximum. 2539€ is 500€ too much. That's the point.

yes, but most people probably buy what they want (i did, ie an M2 air). and apple can (and does) set pricing as they see fit, yet still... some people (like me) buy the air over the pro. so, even close in price, some people (like me) don't lean towards the pro... we buy what suits us best.

 

[Student of Life]

I can see the appeal of the M2 Air for some. For me because of the low price in Bestbuy I am honestly torn about getting it. The weight of the Pro is not a deal breaker for me, having a better screen is more of a determining factor for me. Pro Motion should be great since I already have it on my iPad Pro. Its more of a do I really need it right now type question. So tempted to get it because of the price.

 

[jdb8167]

No, I won’t “Try this” - you’re paying a premium for slightly lighter and slightly smaller, and sacrificing raw power for roughly the same price. That’s your choice and that’s what you see as value. That is fine.

You talk about being objective, but you’re not objective in the slightest

Never said I was. My opinions are the definition of subjective…so are yours by the way.

Please learn the difference between objective and subjective. I’m pretty sure it isn’t what you think.

 

[jdb8167]

I can see the appeal of the M2 Air for some. For me because of the low price in Bestbuy I am honestly torn about getting it. The weight of the Pro is not a deal breaker for me, having a better screen is more of a determining factor for me. Pro Motion should be great since I already have it on my iPad Pro. Its more of a do I really need it right now type question. So tempted to get it because of the price.

Sounds like the 14” MBP is a good choice. Though if you don’t need it immediately I suspect waiting until the next generation is out will get you even better discounts. Of course eventually the M2 MacBook Air will get discounts too.

 

[SeenJeen]

Best Buy has a base MBP 14” for $1599 at the moment

That's a really good deal. M2 Air would cost the same price for the same specs but you'd lose out on more ports, dramatically better screen, better speakers, performance that doesn't throttle, much slower SSD, etc.

The M2 Air is not a good value whatsoever when compared to the M1 Air or the 14" Pro, especially when the M1 Air can be had for $899. Personally if my budget was exactly $1,199, I'd rather just get a spec bumped M1 Air.

When the M2 Air gets down to $999, that'll be a different story.

 

[fisherking]

That's a really good deal. M2 Air would cost the same price for the same specs but you'd lose out on more ports, dramatically better screen, better speakers, performance that doesn't throttle, much slower SSD, etc.

The M2 Air is not a good value whatsoever when compared to the M1 Air or the 14" Pro, especially when the M1 Air can be had for $899. Personally if my budget was exactly $1,199, I'd rather just get a spec bumped M1 Air.

When the M2 Air gets down to $999, that'll be a different story.

i went for the M2 air because that's what i wanted... the best reason ever, to do something 👍

 

[SeenJeen]

i went for the M2 air because that's what i wanted... the best reason ever, to do something 👍

That's great!

 

[Misheemee]

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.

You started an argument without actually reading what I wrote - this is exactly my point about people being argumentative. You misread, took my point out of context and caused unnecessary frustration. See highlighted “fact” for your reference

 

[karen999]

Well to some people expressing personal preferences is a sin and you have to add "in my opinion" for every sentence you wrote on forum, or they would jump on it and ignore all the facts.

 

[FranApple]

14” owner here and I just picked up an M2 MBA today. To me, it’s a no brainer. The 14” is getting sold. The size difference between the two completely changes where/when I want to use my laptop. I’m amazed by how slim the MBA is. The better battery life is just icing on the cake. This is the computer I always wanted the 12” MacBook to be.

Do I notice the inferior speaker quality compared to my 14”? Yes. Do I notice the lack of miniLED? Absolutely. Do both of those things outweigh the lighter weight and footprint of the MBA? Nope. Not for me.

This MBA is a damn fine machine and will work perfectly for my needs.