M2 MacBook Air or M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14” dilemma

[symphony]

I really want to get the M2 MacBook Air for portability and convenience, but now the M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14” seems like a better option when matching the RAM and storage to the MBA.

There is still a big difference in price, but ProMotion and HDR are big features for me and worth the additional expense. But thinness and portability is also another huge deal for me. Now I am stuck with this dilemma.

I’ve felt and held the new MBP, it looks amazing and new, but it’s so heavy and chunky. The new MBA should be slightly lighter and thinner than my M1 MBA. But when I consider the big expense I’m already making, I just wanna get the MBP. I can max out the configs of the new MBA and still be under the price of the highest prefigured MBPs sold in Apple Store.

The computer is supposed to be my travel computer and school computer. Maybe even replacing my iPad at home.

Has anybody went ahead and just got the 14” MacBook Pro? Anyone in the same boat as me? Tell me I’m wrong.

 

[izzy0242mr]

I ordered the MBP shortly after the M2 Air came out. I'm happy with my decision.

Yeah, the Air is a solid machine and is a little smaller and lighter than the Pro. Battery should also be a bit better. Screen quality on the Pro is hard to beat, though, and I'm planning on keeping my machine for at *least* 5 years after this, ideally closer to like 8-10 years. The MBP weighs like 3.5 lbs which is the same as the rBMP I've been using for years.

I think it comes down to whether you care more about a great screen or more about a little less weight. The weight doesn't bother me. I know I'll enjoy the screen. That makes the MBP an easy choice. I know I'd be happy with a maxed out air, too, but the MBP is the right choice for me. All the extra ports and better power for longer periods of time also gives me more comfort and future proofing.

 

[bradman83]

What are you using your Mac for? I have the 14” MBP M1 Pro midrange model (8/2, 16 GB, 1TB) but I do a lot of heavy duty photo editing, otherwise the Air would have been my pick (in that sexy Midnight blue).

 

[DaveOZ]

The size and weight difference is minimal in so much as they both require a similar size bag. You cannot slip them into your pocket!

The Pro is an excellent computer with a brilliant screen. Only you can decide if you can afford the extra cost.

 

[jav6454]

I really want to get the M2 MacBook Air for portability and convenience, but now the M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14” seems like a better option when matching the RAM and storage to the MBA.

There is still a big difference in price, but ProMotion and HDR are big features for me and worth the additional expense. But thinness and portability is also another huge deal for me. Now I am stuck with this dilemma.

I’ve felt and held the new MBP, it looks amazing and new, but it’s so heavy and chunky. The new MBA should be slightly lighter and thinner than my M1 MBA. But when I consider the big expense I’m already making, I just wanna get the MBP. I can max out the configs of the new MBA and still be under the price of the highest prefigured MBPs sold in Apple Store.

The computer is supposed to be my travel computer and school computer. Maybe even replacing my iPad at home.

Has anybody went ahead and just got the 14” MacBook Pro? Anyone in the same boat as me? Tell me I’m wrong.

The M2 MBA is 0.44" thick and the M1 Pro 14" is 0.66" thick. The difference is just 0.22", which is not enough for you to feel it.

That said, the M1 Pro Mac is heavier and has a marginally larger footprint. Reading what you describe, go with the M1 Pro.

 

[DHagan4755]

I hear ya! I like the concept of the M2 MacBook Air for portability & convenience too! But you can't go wrong with the 14" MacBook Pro. You just can't. If YOU feel like the Mini LED & ProMotion tip the scales, then go with the 14" MacBook Pro. Plus you'll get the SD card slot & an HDMI port.

 

[Howard2k]

The Pro isn't heavy and clunky. These are both light weight machines. You'll almost certainly be fine with either from a weight perspective unless perhaps you're differently abled.

You have plenty of other differentiators that ARE important. Ports, cooling, screen etc. Weight would be least of my worries.

 

[symphony]

What are you using your Mac for? I have the 14” MBP M1 Pro midrange model (8/2, 16 GB, 1TB) but I do a lot of heavy duty photo editing, otherwise the Air would have been my pick (in that sexy Midnight blue).

Mainly for school and coding, it would be the computer I would take outdoors. But I might use this more than my iPad because I like the freedom of macOS. And now that MBP has ProMotion and mini LED on a bigger display with nice speakers, then this could be the one!

And the processor is not that big of a concern to me, since M1 did enough. I just needed 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, as I always ran into issues with the base model M1 MacBook Air.

 

[symphony]

The Pro isn't heavy and clunky. These are both light weight machines. You'll almost certainly be fine with either from a weight perspective unless perhaps you're differently abled.

You have plenty of other differentiators that ARE important. Ports, cooling, screen etc. Weight would be least of my worries.

True. I lifted the M1 MBA and M1 Pro MBP with each hand and the weight felt negligible to me. But I can definitely notice the difference in thickness (as I did with my M1 iPad Pro & 2018 iPad Pro), crazy I know.

I’m feeling less guilty about the sudden purchase I made today, since it was the last available at the store lol, no more till late August. 😅

 

[Dealmans]

Worth it for pro motion and HDR, will be faster too, bit bigger screen and speakers are great, have had my 14" 16/1Tb for a week now, lucky got it 20% off so same config air 2 would have been a bit more anyway.

 

[va1984]

I had the 16” MBP and returned it, tried the 14” MBP for a few months and then sold it. Way too heavy and clunky for people on the move (in NYC, you live without a car, your laptop is on your shoulders in your backpack. It may be irrelevant for others who only ever move with their car).

Honestly, i would only recommend the new Pro line for anyone who is exclusively working with CPU intensive software and rarely if ever needs to carry the laptop anywhere.

 

[jav6454]

I had the 16” MBP and returned it, tried the 14” MBP for a few months and then sold it. Way too heavy and clunky for people on the move (in NYC, you live without a car, your laptop is on your shoulders in your backpack. It may be irrelevant for others who only ever move with their car).

Honestly, i would only recommend the new Pro line for anyone who is exclusively working with CPU intensive software and rarely if ever needs to carry the laptop anywhere.

What did you end up getting?

 

[va1984]

What did you end up getting?

Nothing for now - I’m back to iMac 24” at home and my team of iPad Pros: 2018 12.9” with magic keyboard for “laptop” work (I connect to the Mac remotely with Screens on the rare occasions that my workflow needs MacOS, and/or if I need to check in on a misbehaving AppleScript on the iMac) and 2018 11” iPad Pro for annotating and normal tablet usage.

I may give a new try to the laptop with the new MacBook Air, but the lack of cellular is very frustrating for my needs. A new iPad Pro 12.9 or 14” with M2 will be tempting also, especially if there is a redesigned magic keyboard made of freakin’ metal instead of the crappy rubber.

 

[AdmiralTriggerH]

I have a 2019 16" and find its the perfect size (sadly I do cross platform Dev so running windows in a VM or BootCamp for testing is still a must so until MS releases Windows for ARM for the rest of us I'm stuck with it)
I travelled to Africa with it, I commute with it and a 12.9" iPad Pro (great for sidecar when working) and in my backpack I still think its too light sometimes and wonder what I left behind.

With the right bag the 14" Pro Weight and size difference won't be noticeable over the Air

 

[DHagan4755]

With the right bag the 14" Pro Weight and size difference won't be noticeable over the Air

The 14” MacBook Pro is a more intense, more intentional device. People who have one aren’t messing around. So they invest in bag that will protect it. Plus like me carry accessories like external SSDs, cables, and the like. The new M2 MacBook Air is svelte by comparison. The new M2 MacBook Air is more run & gun.

 

[DHagan4755]

The new M2 Air is going to be a killer device. But the 14” MacBook Pro is killer too. When the new MacBook Pros debuted last fall, a couple Apple execs interviewed were smitten with the new 14”. Don’t think you can do wrong with either. It’s just a matter of what you’re aiming to do with them.

 

[jav6454]

Nothing for now - I’m back to iMac 24” at home and my team of iPad Pros: 2018 12.9” with magic keyboard for “laptop” work (I connect to the Mac remotely with Screens on the rare occasions that my workflow needs MacOS, and/or if I need to check in on a misbehaving AppleScript on the iMac) and 2018 11” iPad Pro for annotating and normal tablet usage.

I may give a new try to the laptop with the new MacBook Air, but the lack of cellular is very frustrating for my needs. A new iPad Pro 12.9 or 14” with M2 will be tempting also, especially if there is a redesigned magic keyboard made of freakin’ metal instead of the crappy rubber.

Don't you have an iPhone or other smartphone with hotspot feature? I would highly suggest you look at the 14" again and not the Air, it will throttle due to the passive element.

If the 14" doesn't suit you, you could compromise on the 13" MBP. It's a capable machine and weighs half a pound less. However, you do compromise on the display.

 

[symphony]

Don't you have an iPhone or other smartphone with hotspot feature? I would highly suggest you look at the 14" again and not the Air, it will throttle due to the passive element.

If the 14" doesn't suit you, you could compromise on the 13" MBP. It's a capable machine and weighs half a pound less. However, you do compromise on the display.

I forgot that the MacBook Pro has vents, I worry its going to suck on particles from my bed. Are the fans always running like the Mac Studio or only when it needs to?

 

[jav6454]

I forgot that the MacBook Pro has vents, I worry its going to suck on particles from my bed. Are the fans always running like the Mac Studio or only when it needs to?

On my 13" MBP, they run only when needed. Mind you only 4 times have they ran. I believe on the 14/16" the same situation although they'll run a bit more as the Pro/Max chips are hotter.

 

[Dealmans]

2018 12.9” with magic keyboard for “laptop” work

just as heavy and its no laptop lol big iPhone

 

[Dealmans]

I forgot that the MacBook Pro has vents, I worry its going to suck on particles from my bed. Are the fans always running like the Mac Studio or only when it needs to?

don't believe anyone that doesn't own one, never heard the fans on my 14"

 

[Malus120]

If you have to ask, do yourself a favor and get the 14" MBP. It's an amazing machine. Also. Keep in my the MBA only has two Thunderbolt/USB4 ports, instead of three thunderbolt ports, and HDMI port, and an SD card reader. It's way more convenient. The fans rarely come on, and when they do they're quiet. In the same scenario the MBA is just going to throttle and slow down.

 

[packeteer]

I had the base model M1 Air and loved it, but upgraded to the base 14" as I needed more ram, disk and ports for work. Also the gf wanted the Air
A higher specced Air would have been just fine. My CPU mostly idles

 

[ctjack]

In the Apple hierarchy, top of the line products(PRO models) will be always treated better.
Source: iPads.
There was never a case when new ipad, ipad mini or ipad air excelled old outdated Ipad Pros even if cheaper newer ones had newer CPUs - old IPP11 or 12.9 or 10.5 were a long time winners despite being 2-3 years old.
MBP 14 for sure and if $300 savings is a big deal then M2 Air.
For me this $300 savings is easily covered in the dongles management: i would need $300 worth of dongles and bluetooth keyboard/mice to keep up with the ergonomics of MBP 14 on an Air.
With MBP 14 i can just use this sheer loads of ports and my existing wired keyboard/mice and not speaking about the price difference of bluetooth only(Air) versus wired for MBP 14.

 

[adrianlondon]

I have a 2020 Intel MBA and use it mainly for random things at home, and machine learning when in a lecture.

I love how light and portable it is. It can crunch the python/R scripts fast enough, with the only issue being friends with 16GB (I have 8) can manipulate more in memory than I can, so go with 16.

As for lack of ports ... all our projectors here can take USB-C directly as most of the lecturers also have Macs. I rarely connect anything apart from a charger to mine, so don't care about only having two USB ports. I'd rather there was one each side, but hey.

I also only have the 256GB SSD model; anything needing more than that goes on an external drive - I don't need all those files whenn on the move.

The Intel MBA has a fan though, and although the M1 chip is better (faster/cooler) for most things, I do wonder if it'll throttle quicker than mine. The new MBA has a brighter screen, which is one thing I miss with mine compared to a MBP.

I'd buy the Air.