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StoneJack

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Dec 19, 2009
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I have intel i5 2019 Macbook pro 13 inch 8/256, and battery life after 330 cycles has been down to 88%. Other than that, it is in pristine conditions and I just upgraded to Monterey. However, I am curious about M1 chip, and also would more mobility and longer battery life. After seeing 14 inch, it seems a bit too heavy for me and maybe too powerful for my needs, as a writer. So I am thinking of MBA M1 but i want an improvement from 8/256 so would you recommend 16GB (I will do no video on it or games), or 512GB storage?
 

Shirasaki

macrumors P6
May 16, 2015
16,254
11,754
16GB RAM all the time (ahem, sorry, UNIFIED ...... memory).
Everything is soldered on so it's better to add more storage through external drive than adding RAM cause you can't. No matter how good macOS optimise RAM usage, third party apps and browsers won't give a %&*^(* about lower amount of RAM. Less RAM means more swap file which in turn prolongs the SSD lifespan.
With that being said though, higher capacity SSD usually can offer greater performance than lower capacity SSD simply by design, so you could also consider upgrading SSD to 512GB if you can.
 

StoneJack

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Dec 19, 2009
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Hi i can only buy stock configuration where i live and there are three choices 8-256, 16-256, 8-512. I am leaning towards 8-512 as 256 is too small. Or maybe just should pay for stock mbp as it has 16-512 as a base but it is a bit heavier by 300 grams from 1.3kg mba to 1.6 kg mbp and more expensive, almost double indeed and it is a bit too much
 

steve217

macrumors 6502a
Nov 11, 2011
542
844
NC
I went with 8/512 and I don't miss the RAM at all.

You're going to get about a 10-1 reply towards "16gb RAM", though.

"Future proof!" "My case is different!" blah blah blah. Despite all the reports about 8GB being perfectly fine and even when people don't ask about RAM, you'll see much unsolicited advice to max out the RAM.
 

StoneJack

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Original poster
Dec 19, 2009
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Thanks! It seems that 8-512GB model also has one more core in GPU - 8 instead of 7. I can't be sure that a model I want to buy has 8 GPU cores (there is no that information in the vendor description), but that would be sweet and then MBA actually would have same number of GPU cores as Macbook Pro 13 inch M1, if I am not mistaken (I am not an expert in M1).
 
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Jack Neill

macrumors 68020
Sep 13, 2015
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San Antonio Texas
Thanks! It seems that 8-512GB model also has one more core in GPU - 8 instead of 7. I can't be sure that a model I want to buy has 8 GPU cores (there is no that information in the vendor description), but that would be sweet and then MBA actually would have same number of GPU cores as Macbook Pro 13 inch M1, if I am not mistaken (I am not an expert in M1).
I went with the 8/512 and it does have the 8/8 cores. Its a nice machine.
 

Black Magic

macrumors 68030
Sep 30, 2012
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Thanks all, ordered mba 16-512! it will replace my mbp pro quad core intel i5 2019 13 inch.
Good choice! I think you could have went 8 GB on the ram and been fine. Storage is where you want to make sure you spend the extra money unless you want to mess around with thumb drives. You can get great deals on Apple's refurbished site as well. Example, you can get the baseline MBA for $764 if you are a veteran. You can't beat that deal.
 

StoneJack

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Dec 19, 2009
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well my 2019 Macbook Pro has 4 cores, i5, 8-256 and cost about 1300 dollars. Its weight is 1.37kg
For slightly higher price, I get M1 8CPU and 8GPU cores, 16-512, weight of 1.29kg and longer battery life.
I am quite happy with the choice, it is total upgrade.
I was ready for 8GB, my current Intel notebook is just fine with 8, but as Logic Pro and FCPX user, it helps to have more RAM to be future proof, even if I do most of work on desktop i9-10900 with 32GB RAM, 8GB video card RX580.
Crazy thing is that M1 has higher benchmarks than my Intel desktop in some regards and of course, Intel notebook.
So I will probably use it for few years for next two generations of Mx processors. I am very glad to have more storage. 256GB is clearly quite limited. 512 is much more robust for my needs.

I saw MPB 2021 and its way more expensive and powerful, than I want.
And I also don't want colored and maybe plastic MBA in future as rumored.
The wedge design is perfect for me. I had my first MBA in 2013 with 4GB of RAM and it was fine machine for the time. I imagine M1 is a step further.
 
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mrt.plt

macrumors regular
Oct 22, 2015
105
62
Toronto, Canada
I went for 512GB SSD (it was the one in stock, would have gone for the base model otherwise -- and it was a good deal) but if you have the chance and the money, you should go for the 16 gigabyte version.
 
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StoneJack

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Dec 19, 2009
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I went for 512GB SSD (it was the one in stock, would have gone for the base model otherwise -- and it was a good deal) but if you have the chance and the money, you should go for the 16 gigabyte version.
Mine is still in transporation, please share your experience if you already got it
 

gabo864

macrumors 6502a
Sep 13, 2012
813
302
I just purchased an Apple-refurbished MBA M1 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 8‑Core GPU 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM for $1229. I thought it was an excellent price.

Apple refurbished devices are a great investment. This machine looked like it was brand new. I wouldn’t buy a refurbished macbook from anywhere but apple.
 

Black Magic

macrumors 68030
Sep 30, 2012
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I just purchased an Apple-refurbished MBA M1 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 8‑Core GPU 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM for $1229. I thought it was an excellent price.

Apple refurbished devices are a great investment. This machine looked like it was brand new. I wouldn’t buy a refurbished macbook from anywhere but apple.
I always look at the refurbs on Apple. You save a lot buying from there especially if you throw in additional discounts. A baseline MBA m1 for me in the refurb section is like $764.
 
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0128672

Cancelled
Apr 16, 2020
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I always look at the refurbs on Apple. You save a lot buying from there especially if you throw in additional discounts. A baseline MBA m1 for me in the refurb section is like $764.
And the shipping (in the US at least) is sometimes overnight or 2 days, so it's possible to get a higher spec CTO much faster that way. Big Apple refurb fan here.
 
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StoneJack

macrumors 68030
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Dec 19, 2009
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I just purchased an Apple-refurbished MBA M1 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 8‑Core GPU 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM for $1229. I thought it was an excellent price.

Apple refurbished devices are a great investment. This machine looked like it was brand new. I wouldn’t buy a refurbished macbook from anywhere but apple.
great price and great machine, specs just like mine :)
 
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grandM

macrumors 68000
Oct 14, 2013
1,520
302
Good choice! I think you could have went 8 GB on the ram and been fine. Storage is where you want to make sure you spend the extra money unless you want to mess around with thumb drives. You can get great deals on Apple's refurbished site as well. Example, you can get the baseline MBA for $764 if you are a veteran. You can't beat that deal.
For his writing 8 GB would do in 2021. Apple devices tend to last. Book software changes too. I don't recall what iBooks Author required. There is other software out there and in time it may become RAM hungry. I agree swapping the SSD is much faster now but it wears it down too. Unfortunately a lot of software is no longer native. Consequently it devours memory and energy. Hopefully this will change but who knows what 2025 brings? I'm the first to save a penny but never on RAM. Especially when there's no way to upgrade it. My next apple pc will have 32 GB. That should do for my needs, perhaps too much, on the long run.
 
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Black Magic

macrumors 68030
Sep 30, 2012
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For his writing 8 GB would do in 2021. Apple devices tend to last. Book software changes too. I don't recall what iBooks Author required. There is other software out there and in time it may become RAM hungry. I agree swapping the SSD is much faster now but it wears it down too. Unfortunately a lot of software is no longer native. Consequently it devours memory and energy. Hopefully this will change but who knows what 2025 brings? I'm the first to save a penny but never on RAM. Especially when there's no way to upgrade it. My next apple pc will have 32 GB. That should do for my needs, perhaps too much, on the long run.

I still say 8 GB of RAM for his workload would have sufficed. If he stated video/photo editing, which are compute heavy, then my thoughts would have been in line with yours. Now, if his needs change or Apple comes out with a new mind blowing hardware platform in a few years, he could easily trade in his device or sell. Apple devices have great resell value.
 
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scottrngr

macrumors regular
Dec 1, 2015
180
261
Both. Wait until the model you want is in stock. Regarding what others said regarding refurbs, I agree. My last three computers have been refurbs from Apple, and I've saved at least $150-$200 on each one. However, you need to keep checking the website to see what's available, as they update it daily.
 

mrt.plt

macrumors regular
Oct 22, 2015
105
62
Toronto, Canada
Mine is still in transporation, please share your experience if you already got it

It's been 2 days, and I've been using it for a variety of things. I used the M1 MacBook Pro for almost a month recently, and I can easily say that they feel the same in daily use. Under load, in short renders and benchmarks; it basically performs the same as the M1 Pro and falls behind ~10% in longer renders. I ran a 45 minute Blender render, and the Air was around 10% slower.
In daily use, M1 Air is faster than the 16" Pro, especially when the 16" would need to communicate with the T2 chip (whenever you needed to put your system password for something). In benchmarks, the M1 Pro performs pretty much the same as the 16" MacBook Pro despite the 16" having a discrete GPU and 16 gigabytes of RAM instead of 8. The M1 Air falls behind ~10%. What a piece of garbage, that 16" MBP.
Also my Air is on my lap right now, and my legs are actually cold right now because of the computer. A laptop is supposed to burn my legs, not freeze them! (This might sound like I am joking but I am 100% serious)

I really doubt the new "Air" will be named the Air, I think Apple will name it "MacBook" and keep selling the M1 Air for a very long time, like they did the 2015 MBA or the 2012 MBP.
 

Adenitz

macrumors member
Jan 29, 2021
65
11
Both. Wait until the model you want is in stock. Regarding what others said regarding refurbs, I agree. My last three computers have been refurbs from Apple, and I've saved at least $150-$200 on each one. However, you need to keep checking the website to see what's available, as they update it daily.
Interesting, here refurbished Macs from Apple are still pretty expensive.
 

Black Magic

macrumors 68030
Sep 30, 2012
2,811
1,504
Interesting, here refurbished Macs from Apple are still pretty expensive.
I apply my military discount. The base model Air for me would cost $764 or something like that.
 

petterihiisila

macrumors 6502
Nov 7, 2010
404
304
Finland
Late to the game, but adding one more experience.

I've got an 8 GB M1 iMac and a 16 GB M1 Air. The performance difference is rather small in simple and regular use, but when multiple users are logged in and/or if there's intensive multitasking, the 8 GB version does get incrementally sluggish, whereas the 16 GB can really take a beating.

Between the two upgrades, RAM would go first in my books. External SSDs are cheap enough these days for expansion.
 
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