M1 Air comparison with MacBook Pro 2012?

[Big Stevie]

Looking to buy an M1 Air 16GB Ram, 256GB SSD and am just wondering how noticeably the different it will be to my current 2012 MacBook Pro. I'm assuming the M1 Air will blow mine out of the water in all areas??

My 2012 15" MacBook Pro 16GB Ram, 512GB HD is on its last legs and I would love a 15" M1 Air but they don't exist so i'll settle for the 13" Air instead.

The heaviest use I currently give my MacBook Pro is copying Sky Q recordings onto it via game capture device, and then reducing the file sizes via Handbrake to transfer to ext HD. This gets the fans spinning up as the temp gets to the high 70's. I'm assuming the M1 Air would cope easily?

So apart from screen size and internal storage, does the M1 Air win in every way? I understand they don't have USB ports, so assume I'd need USB to Thunderbolt adapters for some accessories?

 

[Icehart]

I'll wait for Macbook Pro 16 M1/M2, because going from 15" to 13" is a downgrade.

 

[darngooddesign]

Yes, the M1 is faster in every measurable way and 8GB Ram on it is equivalent to 16GB on your old computer.

It has two USB-C ports to which you can either get an adapter, or just change your cables. You can even add mag-safe style magnetic adapters and cables which fit in the USB-C port.

 

[ctjack]

Upgraded from 2012 rMBP even though 13 inch to m1 Air. Everything is 8-10 times faster. M1 Air itself feels similar/faster than my 6 core Lenovo Legion 2020, which is also incredible.
And I am not even mentioning battery time here, since on external monitor I get 13.5 hrs of screen time.

 

[Big Stevie]

Yes, the M1 is faster in every measurable way and 8GB Ram on it is equivalent to 16GB on your old computer.

It has two USB-C ports to which you can either get an adapter, or just change your cables. You can even add mag-safe style magnetic adapters and cables which fit in the USB-C port.

Thanks, do you have any examples of the magnetic adapters please as they sound interesting?

I've ordered a 13" Air M1 16GB Ram 512GB SSD. Won't be available till mid Feb though sadly.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Night and day difference between the M1 and the 2012 MBP.

 

[darngooddesign]

Thanks, do you have any examples of the magnetic adapters please as they sound interesting?

Just search amazon.

 

[mblm85]

I went from a 2014 15" MacBook Pro 512GB, 16 RAM to an M1 Air with 256GB and 8GB RAM in early December.

With my old MacBook Pro, the battery badly needed replacement and the power cable coating was coming away. I decided a new Air would be a better investment of the money. Got a reasonable trade-in value at CEX too.

The new machine is superb. It's perfect for me. The speed of response, even on Rosetta apps, is remarkable. Like you, the most intensive thing I use mine for is Handbrake. There is a slightly buggy Apple Silicon beta but I've stuck with the Intel version for now. It's a bit faster at encoding than the old Pro. Other apps fly.

I don't miss the bigger screen or magsafe. Instead I get a lighter machine on my lap with an all day charge.

A surprise benefit: I can use the Air's USB-C power brick to rapid-charge my iPhone. I bought a lightning to USB-C adapter off Amazon to use the Air's cable.

 

[alien3dx]

Looking to buy an M1 Air 16GB Ram, 256GB SSD and am just wondering how noticeably the different it will be to my current 2012 MacBook Pro. I'm assuming the M1 Air will blow mine out of the water in all areas??

My 2012 15" MacBook Pro 16GB Ram, 512GB HD is on its last legs and I would love a 15" M1 Air but they don't exist so i'll settle for the 13" Air instead.

The heaviest use I currently give my MacBook Pro is copying Sky Q recordings onto it via game capture device, and then reducing the file sizes via Handbrake to transfer to ext HD. This gets the fans spinning up as the temp gets to the high 70's. I'm assuming the M1 Air would cope easily?

So apart from screen size and internal storage, does the M1 Air win in every way? I understand they don't have USB ports, so assume I'd need USB to Thunderbolt adapters for some accessories?

the diff macbook 2011 and arm is
1. heat on high usage proc
2. should handle more bigger file open pdf . yeah 100mb pdf is struggle for macbook 2011
3. get usb c hub or thunderbolt 4 owc if can afford .
4. 16 gh ram will last last long

 

[Big Stevie]

I went from a 2014 15" MacBook Pro 512GB, 16 RAM to an M1 Air with 256GB and 8GB RAM in early December.

With my old MacBook Pro, the battery badly needed replacement and the power cable coating was coming away. I decided a new Air would be a better investment of the money.

My 2012 MacBook Pro has served me well, I've been very impressed with its longevity compared with previous Windows laptops that only lasted 2 or 3 years. I've had to replace the magsafe charger a few times as the connector where it plugs into the MacBook eventually falls apart.

In the last couple or years it's needed a replacement battery and keyboard, it has a vertical line down the screen and recently would randomly fail to turn Wifi on. I had the wifi card replaced, but this hasn't solved the problem, I sometimes have to turn it off/on/off/on until the Wifi comes on. Had the new wifi card worked then I'd be keeping it, but 9 years life is impressive. Rather than spend more £ to repair the wifi, I've instead ordered the M1 Air which I'm looking forward to receiving.

 

[Eithanius]

Upgraded from 2012 rMBP even though 13 inch to m1 Air. Everything is 8-10 times faster. M1 Air itself feels similar/faster than my 6 core Lenovo Legion 2020, which is also incredible.
And I am not even mentioning battery time here, since on external monitor I get 13.5 hrs of screen time.

I guess upgrading from a 2010 MBP 15" to M1 MBA is a non-issue to me. At first I was contemplating either upgrading to M1 MBP 13" or the MBA - undecided for days. My old MBP has been on GPU panic and swollen battery for a few months. After taking the battery out the MBP slow down considerably. Took the plunge and ordered M1 MBA 16/512 as an interim.

 

[ctjack]

Took the plunge and ordered M1 MBA 16/512 as an interim.

Congrats! You will not regret it. It will be a well deserved gift to upgrade from 2010 MBP.
Currently persuaded my friend to upgrade from his 2008 HP laptop and so far he will be happy with it for another decade.

 

[Jack Neill]

I love my 2012 MBP, but its very long in the tooth. Both my Intel and M1 Airs mop the floor with it.

 

[Big Stevie]

Canceleld my order with Apple for the 16/512GB M1 Air and instead I picked up the basic model 8/256GB from a local shop.

My original spec was adding over £400 onto the price of the basic MacBook, which is almost half the price again, didn't make sense to me.

Had it a couple of days now and it's brill, and very fast. Massive improvement over my 2012 MacBook Air, just as everyone here said.