M2 MacBook Air: 16GB/512GB OR 24GB/256GB?

[E-MO-TION]

I run a lot of apps. Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, Media Encoder, 50+ Chrome tabs, as well as a Node.js development server running as I write on VS Code, and all of this is happening at once.

Will 24GB memory with 256GB SSD benefit me more than 16GB RAM with 512GB SSD? Is the SSD speed more important?

 

[Venderious]

Don't cut down on SSD capacity and speed. Especially for a creator, 512 GB would be the bare minimum. On top of that, for your use case, I would recommend the baseline 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro, 16 GB and 512 GB SSD. That will last you much longer, and is not that significant of a jump in price.

 

[E-MO-TION]

Don't cut down on SSD capacity and speed. Especially for a creator, 512 GB would be the bare minimum. On top of that, for your use case, I would recommend the baseline 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro, 16 GB and 512 GB SSD. That will last you much longer, and is not that significant of a jump in price.

I've gone years cheaping out for the 256GB and that hasn't been a problem for me since I have an external Samsung SSD, however because this time around 256GB is 2x slower, I'm afraid performance will suffer.
Student pricing $1479 16/512 M2MBA vs $1849 for base MBP, that's almost $400 more (including tax). Is it worth the upgrade?

 

[w5jck]

With macOS if you get below 100GB remaining on the internal SSD, then the Mac will start slowing down. External SSDs are nice, but not as fast as the internal SSD, and even with external storage it doesn’t take long to blast past the 100GB of storage remaining issue. I suggest getting at least a 512GB internal SSD.

 

[1BadManVan]

512/16 is definitely the better move

 

[chouseworth]

I run a lot of apps. Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, Media Encoder, 50+ Chrome tabs, as well as a Node.js development server running as I write on VS Code, and all of this is happening at once.

Will 24GB memory with 256GB SSD benefit me more than 16GB RAM with 512GB SSD? Is the SSD speed more important?

Putting 24GB memory into an M2 MBA equipped with only a 256GB SSD seems tantamount to putting a Porsche engine into a cheap subcompact body. The apps that will really capitalize on the extra memory will likely tax your SSD very quickly. Furthermore, the SSD speed will be degraded due to the SSD slowness documented in the 256GB versions. Go for the 16GB RAM and minimum 512GB SSD.

 

[mi7chy]

I'd normally recommend 24GB RAM and less storage then supplement with external storage but considering how bad the 256GB is on M2 you're best paying the extra $200 for 512GB. Set up a GoFundMe and get 20 relatives/friends to pitch in $10.

 

[jav6454]

I run a lot of apps. Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, Media Encoder, 50+ Chrome tabs, as well as a Node.js development server running as I write on VS Code, and all of this is happening at once.

Will 24GB memory with 256GB SSD benefit me more than 16GB RAM with 512GB SSD? Is the SSD speed more important?

I wouldn't recommend an Air with that workload. Also, upgrading all that placed you shy of a 14" MBP. Look into that instead.

 

[nordique]

OP you can just get a 14 inch pro in this use case

Just have to find a good deal. I got one for 50$ less than the m2 air with 16gb ram and 512 ssd. Just have to keep eye open for deals.

 

[mr_jomo]

ArtisRight on youtube has the information you need .

EXSUM: RAM is king is your use cases

As noted by others here - looks like you're into pro territory requirements. The 14" is the current champ on performance, features vs. price in the entire macBook lineup.

That said, if I were running all of your applications and tasks in parallel I'd get the base mac Studio (M1 Max, 32/512) at same price level as the 14" macBook Pro 🥳

 

[E-MO-TION]

ArtisRight on youtube has the information you need .

EXSUM: RAM is king is your use cases

As noted by others here - looks like you're into pro territory requirements. The 14" is the current champ on performance, features vs. price in the entire macBook lineup.

That said, if I were running all of your applications and tasks in parallel I'd get the base mac Studio (M1 Max, 32/512) at same price level as the 14" macBook Pro 🥳

His video was great.

If anyone else wants to watch:

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Thanks everyone. Getting the 16/512.

The Pro is $370 more ($1479 for M2 MBA 16/512 vs $1849 for base 14" MBP), it doesn't seem worth it. I don't need the better screen or ports.
The fan and the processor give better performance, but it doesn't seem outrageously significant, and I really prefer the form factor of the Air.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Definitely ram. I’m not sure what you’re upgrading from, but knowing most people upgrade cycles, even the slower speed of the ssd in the 256 model over the higher capacity versions is likely to be faster than your current internal drive. Despite the overblown propaganda on sites like MR, it’s still a blazingly fast ssd. All those apps you mention will benefit far more from more ram, especially if you tend to rely on externals for the everything except the os.

 

[Venderious]

Seriously. With the use case of these apps you will regret not spending the extra for the pro machine, big time.

 

[jdb8167]

His video was great.

If anyone else wants to watch:

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Thanks everyone. Getting the 16/512.

The Pro is $370 more ($1479 for M2 MBA 16/512 vs $1849 for base 14" MBP), it doesn't seem worth it. I don't need the better screen or ports.
The fan and the processor give better performance, but it doesn't seem outrageously significant, and I really prefer the form factor of the Air.

Please follow up when you get the MacBook. I’d be very interested in your findings after using the MBA with your requirements. That is a pretty heavy load for a MacBook Air and I’d love to know the good and the bad about how it works out. I suspect it’ll be just fine.