I am struggling to see how the 14” MBP can be considered a viable alternative M2 MBA. Equivalently specced, the pro is $500 more, as well as being bulkier and heavier. The two serve very different use cases and I don’t think there is much overlap between the two in terms of user base.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
M2 MacBook Air may actually be the BEST value for air users, and people who want the latest chip in a cheaper package
- Thread starter Technerd108
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
what? the pro 14 is 1599 at bestbuy and walmart, same spec mba m2 is 1600 from adorama. their price point pretty much overlaps.
even if you do same spec based off apple website, mba m2 is 1700 vs mbp at 2000 which is a $300 difference.
further more, OP even pointed out that you can get the 14 base for 1599.
Here’s what I am seeing from the online apple store (note - this is in Singapore). Divide by 1.5 to get US dollar, which still works out to a significant difference.
yeah we're not talking about singapore so go check out the us site.
Here’s what I am seeing from the online apple store (note - this is in Singapore). Divide by 1.5 to get US dollar, which still works out to a significant difference.
MacBook Pro 14" Laptop Apple M1 Pro chip 16GB Memory 512GB SSD Space Gray MKGP3LL/A - Best Buy
Shop MacBook Pro 14" Laptop Apple M1 Pro chip 16GB Memory 512GB SSD Space Gray products at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee.
www.bestbuy.com
Apple MacBook Air Mid 2022
Apple MacBook Air 13.6 with Liquid Retina Display, M2 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU, 16GB Memory, 512GB SSD, 30W USB-C Power Adapter, Space Gray, Mid 2022
www.adorama.com
base 14 1999, $300 difference. and thats IF you wanna overpay and buy from apple. otherwise same price from brick and mortars.
Last edited:
Look as I said at the beginning value is determined by use case and what the individual prioritizes most. Specs can be better in one device and still not be a better value if they don't work in a way that is pertinent to the individuals use case.
You can go on and on why the specs in the MacBook Pro are superior and they are in some ways but they aren't in ways that matter to me and there is a cost for those specs. Objectively if we don't use any context you are right. The MacBook Pro 14" is a better machine for the same price if you just make that assumption on specs alone and don't consider anything else at all.
However what I value is lacking in the 14" MacBook Pro and the specs in the MBA M2 along with it's design are more important to me. I am never going to use the 14 core GPU and the mini led has an effect I don't like that I have argued before whether you see blooming on the miniled or not is irrelevant because it is something that happens with those screens. Promotion is great but not really relevant to me because I don't really notice a difference unless I have a MacBook with Promotion right next to me. A better deal is based on subjective opinion on what someone needs, likes and actually uses. If you think the MBA M2 speakers are crap that it your opinion and not objective truth. In my opinion the 14" never got loud enough for me and the bass was too much. The MBA M2 doesn't have the bass but it is louder to me and much clearer. I am never struggling to hear content on the MBA M2 while on the 14" I did. It is one of the reasons I did not keep it.
The 1000 nits is only in HDR content otherwise it is the same 500 nits as the MBA M2? Most of the day I am not viewing HDR content.
Thermal throttling may occur though I have never had it happen but it is a fanless laptop-what do you expect? I like the device being without a fan more than I care about the few times it could throttle even though in my use case it will most likely never do so. Again my point about use case is completely ignored and theoretical scenarios that don't exist in my real world usage so your point is mute.
I completely disagree with you that the air is a fantastic value at base. Even with the prices Apple charges the value is in the middle configuration where you get the 512gb ssd and 16gb ram. I brought up Windows laptops because it is really the only other way to base pricing. When you compare similar laptops in the the same category as the air not gaming laptops and content creation laptops it is a better value with a better design and build quality than more expensive similar specced windows laptops based on price. If you get the 8 core GPU, 16gb ram and 512gb ssd it is BTO retail price of $1599 with no discounts. Dell ups with a 1255u and same specs cost more. An HP Spectre costs more, and on and on. Yet those laptops run windows, have much poorer thermals and throttle a lot. They have terrible battery life compared to the M2 Air. But somehow the M2 air is bad value because a completely different type of Apple laptop is the same price and Specs, specs bro specs.......
What most people are trying to figure out is what is a better laptop for their needs and that is not something you or I can answer. For a lot of people the 14" MBP is going to be the better deal because it is now a year old and on sale and for some people the new MBA is going to be a better deal because it is a more fitting laptop for what they need and use.
I am not locked into my opinion. I can see that different people value and need different things and that the best deal is subjective based on those things rather than specs alone. I can see that for people who need to do photo manipulation video editing and other highly demanding things the 14" is way better "deal" but for people who are never going to do those things and want a powerful yet simple device that is ultra portable the 14" would be a horrible choice. It is too heavy, it is too battery intensive, and it is slower at basic tasks that they will use more like browsing the web and other single threaded applications. So for an average user the extra power of the M1 pro is not a benefit for them in any significant way.
What you don't seem to understand is any view other than one machine has better xyz spec so it is a better device no matter what. That is not correct. That is why there is an air and a Pro device for different people who value different things.
My entire point was simply this. The MacBook Air M2 is a better value than ever for Air type users because it has a design that is more modern, is lighter, is fan-less, yet still has more than enough power to do some of the intensive type workflows they may do. The M2 chip is so good that those who might not have considered an Air because they felt they were too underpowered yet don't do Pro work can now buy an air instead of the upsell to a Pro device.
Now if Mini Led and Promotion are really important to you then as you said that alone might be enough to get the Pro but what are you using that screen for? If you are watching videos it is going to be uncomfortable over time(subjective opinion) so that negates whatever benefit the Pro screen has. It is not like most people are gaming on a Mac so what is the benefit? If I scroll fast on a screen with 120hz display or 60hz the text blurs on both unless I scroll slow enough for the 120hz to show a difference.
In other words everything is a trade off. Some benefits to this while the trade off is this. So if the larger heavier Macs are something you like then you accept the trade off. If you don't mind blooming and like the deep blacks then that is the trade off. Even OLED screens has some blooming and a texture and flickering that can bother people eyes.
But all you see are the benefits of a particular device and ignore the trade offs. Sure more ports but thicker. Sure better multi core cpu and gpu but higher battery usage. And on and on.
You enjoy your maxed out M1 Max MBP. It is an incredible machine for those that need it. It is the best Pro Laptop Apple has ever made in my opinion for many of the reasons you have given. My main points are that actually not everyone needs all of that power. If you buy a device like that then you really need to use it for what it is intended for or you are just wasting money. The Pro 14" is a good deal for those who prioritize power over size, power over weight, and power over battery life. But that is not everyone. The M2 Air is a better value for most people who don't prioritize power but want flexibility and portability yet still delivers power when they need it which is not all of the time. So a burst higher clock speed is better for them than a lower clocked higher core count multi core under sustained load.
Also if I was going to use an air for super intensive tasks under heavy load for a long time which I know it is not designed for I could use a laptop cooler or an ice pack with a towel to keep it from throttling just while I am doing those things.
You do you but when you give advice it shouldn't be based on a simple metric, it should be based on what that person you are giving advice prefers. So as I have said before value or best value is subjective and your idea is a one size fits all advice that is not objectively correct.
Last edited:
I think this whole M2 Air vs M1 14# MBP is not at all clear cut, there's literally a thread with 1150+ posts highlighting this very purchasing dilemma. So, not an easy decision whatsoever.
I'd also like to add that "best deal" for actual use is such an impossibly subjective metric that only has some merit if intended buyers are able to compare both machines side by side in their actual use case environments, and there's obviously not one individual that will have an identical workflow.
Basically this just leaves us with the only ability to compare the objective differences of hardware and price. Even that's not that easy as pricing is just so wildly varied based on location. I'm in the EU where even pre-war Apple simply replaced the $ with € or £. Now off course we've gone into ridiculous pricing hell here. We are however comparing one to the other, in the same country, so I digress.
Just for fun I pulled the pricing in store for a minimum configuration I would hyperthetically may like of the two machines. Base CPU/GPU but 16Gig and 2TB storage. This now just became a €300 difference. I say "just" as for me the screen alone, something I stare at 100% of the time, would be worth this. Even just a brief visit to a physical store made this difference obvious. Speakers, yes, maybe but low on the priority list as I have quite the nice dedicated sound system at home.
In a way it also depends if this will become your main and/ or only machine or a nice and light but powerful mobile option as a secondary device. Another variable in the decision making process could be also be if it will be replaced in 2-3 years or 5-7 years. Yer, I get the whole future proofing argument but there's reasons that people involve this in the dilemma of choosing. Veering off the topic but highlighting the complex variables even further.
Personally I'm not looking at either machine to replace my antique (see sig), no, neanderthal MBP. And whilst I'm convinced that a mid specced MBA would provide me with enough computing power for the next 5-7 years, the screen size itself I couldn't live with as my only machine. The difference dropping from 15" to 14" is much larger than moving from 15" to 16". Off course this last paragraph has little to do with what's currently being addressed in this thread.
I'd also like to add that "best deal" for actual use is such an impossibly subjective metric that only has some merit if intended buyers are able to compare both machines side by side in their actual use case environments, and there's obviously not one individual that will have an identical workflow.
Basically this just leaves us with the only ability to compare the objective differences of hardware and price. Even that's not that easy as pricing is just so wildly varied based on location. I'm in the EU where even pre-war Apple simply replaced the $ with € or £. Now off course we've gone into ridiculous pricing hell here. We are however comparing one to the other, in the same country, so I digress.
Just for fun I pulled the pricing in store for a minimum configuration I would hyperthetically may like of the two machines. Base CPU/GPU but 16Gig and 2TB storage. This now just became a €300 difference. I say "just" as for me the screen alone, something I stare at 100% of the time, would be worth this. Even just a brief visit to a physical store made this difference obvious. Speakers, yes, maybe but low on the priority list as I have quite the nice dedicated sound system at home.
In a way it also depends if this will become your main and/ or only machine or a nice and light but powerful mobile option as a secondary device. Another variable in the decision making process could be also be if it will be replaced in 2-3 years or 5-7 years. Yer, I get the whole future proofing argument but there's reasons that people involve this in the dilemma of choosing. Veering off the topic but highlighting the complex variables even further.
Personally I'm not looking at either machine to replace my antique (see sig), no, neanderthal MBP. And whilst I'm convinced that a mid specced MBA would provide me with enough computing power for the next 5-7 years, the screen size itself I couldn't live with as my only machine. The difference dropping from 15" to 14" is much larger than moving from 15" to 16". Off course this last paragraph has little to do with what's currently being addressed in this thread.
I can draw only one clear and undisputable conclusion from this thread, Apple loves messing with us.
If they sold only one between those 2 machines they'd probably sell almost the same number of computers.
But these ambiguous choices serve one purpose well, to keep users interested and conflicted between two products of the same lineup.
Any thought about the competition goes outside the window.
This is just like the iPad Air 256 vs Pro 11" 128 debate, or countless others like those.
Kudos Apple.
If they sold only one between those 2 machines they'd probably sell almost the same number of computers.
But these ambiguous choices serve one purpose well, to keep users interested and conflicted between two products of the same lineup.
Any thought about the competition goes outside the window.
This is just like the iPad Air 256 vs Pro 11" 128 debate, or countless others like those.
Kudos Apple.
Apple is much smarter than MS on those things.
Nobody actually cared about the version of Vista they got, I was there, I remember it well.
You just used the version Dell pre-installed on your PC or whatever. Or erased it for downgrading to XP.
Apple places the focus on things you're actually gonna care about, thinness, ports, color selection, they're much more subtle and effective for getting your attention.
Bottom line, I want to provide an unbiased contribution to this thread, I really don't care for myself as I own a 16".
So what should we consider? There are some objective facts:
a) you can get Macs for much cheaper from third-party resellers
b) if you use BTO options on the Apple Store, like 16GB RAM MBA, you're missing out on a discount and thus you don't care about saving in the first place. BTO buyers are actually a minuscule part of the buyers, especially on the Air.
So what can you get from third party resellers? The most balanced options would be
a) Air M2, 8/512
b) Pro 14", 16/512
Let's keep it at these two for the sake of simplicity.
I'm based in EU so I'll reason with EU prices. Right now I could get (a) for 1495€ or (b) for 1841€ shipped to my door.
How much is that? Roughly a 19% difference. I'd expect US prices to keep the same delta between each other.
19% is significant. Even the difference between the 2 Macs are significant. But they're actually well thought out.
I can say that because I've owned a 13" M1 8/256 and now a 16" 16/512, so I have a clear take on the platform.
The Air will throttle, heat up and run out of RAM in essentially one scenario: multitasking.
But you can't really strain those specs if you're working on your 13" screen. That was my experience on the M1 Air.
So when would you need more power? That's right, if you're plugged to an external monitor and plan to replace your desktop.
The 14"/16" Pro really are excellent machines if you're looking to do that. And you'll save on the cost of a desktop, so excellent deal.
If you're not using an external monitor, you'll be focused on 1, 2 or 3 windows at the most, you really can't do more on a 13" screen.
So the lack of 16GB or CPU sustained power won't hurt you as much, the Air doesn't even let you plug in 2 monitors (something I'm doing right now on the Pro), and has less ports for you to use when docked.
It's also a little lighter so you can feel it on your backpack a little less.
You see those? All choices meant to separate a pure laptop from a more dockable solution.
Speakers and miniLED are just icing on the cake in this reasoning.
Hope I've made somebody's choice easier.
Last edited:
My favorite part of this debate is the assumption that you can’t find CTO M2 MacBook Airs at a discount. But just yesterday over at Appleinsider they are showing all models of M2 MBAs with at least $100 discount—with a 10 GPU core 24 GB/2 TB M2 MacBook Air selling for $2299 for $200 off list.
The currently lopsided price differential between a CTO M2 MBA and a base M1 Pro MBP is a temporary situation that is already starting to fade. Once it is gone, I wonder what the people banging the drum for the 14” MBP and against the M2 MBA are going to argue about?
This is the most important consideration for me, given they are within $300 of each other. I already have a good pc for heavier tasks, but If I only could have one device I'd probably choose the Pro 14 -- or 16 if I had the money for it. One issue is that the Air has enough performance that I'd still consider it in the one-device scenario. Ports might sway me towards the Pro unless I had a good dock, but the two external displays would seal it in favor of the Pro.
These are all similar considerations you have to make when picking between say an X1 Carbon or Extreme and an X1 Nano. Having a main pc I always go for the latter. Function always trumps price per specs unless money is tight and I don't have time to save more.
Last edited:
They are, but the title of your thread was the best value. I feel the M1 MBA ($849 street price) and the M1 Pro 14" MBP ($1599 street price) are better values for the low end and higher end respectively.
IF Apple would have retained the $999 starting price or would have at least boosted the RAM or Storage and went with TB4 instead of TB3 I’d agree with you.
BTW: I’m a bit biased as I own both a base M1 MBA and a 14” MBP (although the higher model)!
Of the two systems being discussed, an M2 MBA similarly spec'd to that of a base 14" M1 MBP at a cost of $1,599 (from Best Buy) the MBP is clearly the objective performance winner. Aside from a minor bump in single core performance the MBP is better in every performance spec. The only thing I can think of that the MBA has going for it is its smaller size and weight...which is a subjective thing. If you value smaller and lighter than the MBA might be your choice. If one does not place as much value on thinner and lighter the MBP is the clear winner (of these two).
yes but the world doesn't revolve around the U.S lol. Great that you guys have better deals, but the rest of the world still exists around youyeah we're not talking about singapore so go check out the us site.
MacBook Pro 14" Laptop Apple M1 Pro chip 16GB Memory 512GB SSD Space Gray MKGP3LL/A - Best Buy
Shop MacBook Pro 14" Laptop Apple M1 Pro chip 16GB Memory 512GB SSD Space Gray products at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee.www.bestbuy.com
Apple MacBook Air Mid 2022
Apple MacBook Air 13.6 with Liquid Retina Display, M2 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU, 16GB Memory, 512GB SSD, 30W USB-C Power Adapter, Space Gray, Mid 2022
View attachment 2057200
base 14 1999, $300 difference. and thats IF you wanna overpay and buy from apple. otherwise same price from brick and mortars.
You forgetting that not everyone live in the US and have excess to offers like this… here the base 14” will cost 2249€ vs 1959€ for M2 MBA with 8c GPU, 16GB and 512GB, thats 290€ difference…
it kinda does at least for this discussion. the OP is clearly from the u.s and throwing U.S numbers around.
If you have a need for the most powerful laptop in the lightest weight then congratulations - the M2 Air is the laptop for you!
But if you are value-focused then the M1 Air gives you nearly everything the M2 Air offers for materially less money and the 14 inch Pro for similar money gives you much better specs in various areas and a size/weight that is a bit higher but still comparable.
Personally I think M1 Air is amazing value and the current discounts on the 14 inch make it an absolute steal.
M2 Air value seems average at best - Apple got a bit greedy by keeping the base specs at the base M1 Air level from two years ago (even downgrading the SSD a bit).
But if you are value-focused then the M1 Air gives you nearly everything the M2 Air offers for materially less money and the 14 inch Pro for similar money gives you much better specs in various areas and a size/weight that is a bit higher but still comparable.
Personally I think M1 Air is amazing value and the current discounts on the 14 inch make it an absolute steal.
M2 Air value seems average at best - Apple got a bit greedy by keeping the base specs at the base M1 Air level from two years ago (even downgrading the SSD a bit).
Yeah, I definitely suggest M1 Air, performance price ratio in unbeatable and while old design, it has solid chassis. Also with current discounts MBP 14" is great, especially if you want to use it as a desktop replacement too.
For MBA M2 I see no other reason than that if the design is the only thing for a buyer. Weight and size has not practical difference to MBA M1, but chassis is much more solid in the old model.
the screen is the first thing you interact with, so a better screen is a better screen no matter the context.
a mini led is a better screen than ips, thats a fact, not subjective opinion. as for speakers, you put anyone who has a sane mind and decent pair of ears, and they will tell you the speakers on the mba sounds like crap next to the mbp. you wanna get technical? get a db reader, numbers don't lie.
3rd party app allows you to dial it up to 1000 nits on the whim, apple is also rumor to release tools in ventura that will let you jack up the brightness up to 1000 nits at your disposal.
cause you never pushed it, there were plenty of time i had the mba thermal throttle when i export a video or encode a file. my point is far from moot because your use case is your anecdotal and therefore irrelevant when applying to the overall samples of mba thermal throttling already out there.
i'm confused, so now you are saying the base MBA is not a good value?
no, using window laptops as a benchmark is so far off from macs cause its literally comparing apple to oranges, no window laptops can get close to the performance/battery life of the apple silicon.
being a year old is irrelevant, there is nothing the m2 mba can do that the 14inch can't. it has the same pro res encoder, same lpddr5, the only thing 14inch cant match is burst single core performance, and you have to really, REALLY nitpick to justify.
oh buddy you absolutely are, actions speaks louder than words, and so far, given you started A WHOLE NEW THREAD, which is completely unnecessary imo, and still beating this dead horse discussion on so many subjective points as your "facts" really do give off a strong vibe that you are locked in, sure you have since swayed your opinion on couple of issues, but overall, you're pretty much locked in.
no argument from me there, if you value lightweight and that extra hour of battery that much, yeah the air is for you. but from these asking which one is a better value, literally everyone agrees the current 1599 base 14 is a amazing deal and you have to be somewhat daft to go buy a specced up m2 mba over the 1599 mbp.
again, thats your opinion, please reframe from confusing subjective matter with objective facts. there are tons of people preferring the taper feel of the m1 mba, myself included, it makes typing easier and the taper edge doesn't dig into your wrist.
great, good to know that you can identify your own subjective opinion, the mini led is a better screen, you can try negate it as much as you want but no one is falling for it.
its a very minor trade off for an absolute beast of a base machine, one where many including me will gladly take. only these really nitpicking that .4kg of weight difference would think otherwise.
the 14 is just as flexible if not even more flexible, more ports, more flexibility. its also equally portable, being .4kg is literally the difference of less than a pound of difference. if you think that is a problem i'm worried for your physical health.
great! i love DIY resolutions, but if the price is the same, why sacrifice?
i'm absolutely doing me, better screen, who doesn't want that, better sound, who doesn't want that, more ports, better sustained performance, much better multi core performance, all for the same price, the literally trade off is .4kg or .8 pound heavier, oh and 1 hour more battery than the 14's already amazing battery life. i can keep poking holes in your argument, but whats the point, most if not all response so far agree the 14inch base for the same price is the better deal. sure, there might be some blooming, some other issues, but no laptop is perfect, but for the price of the 14 and the price of the specced up mba m2, you really have to put ALOT of weigh behind that .4kg and slight bulk to justify the air.
lol tell that to my wife, she has 18 chrome tabs open with shopping carts and streaming sites, shes absolutely multi tasking on that m1 mba, i also used that for work for a month, it handled my workflow fine in clamshell mode til my boss throw another department at me to handle, hence why i had to upgrade.
Better display. Faster. Full size function keys. Better webcam. Can get it with 24 GB of LPDDR5 RAM (maybe you want to run Stable Diffusion). I'm probably forgetting something...