M2 MacBook Air or M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14” dilemma

[Queen6]

I have the same dilemma.

I'm looking to replace my 2016 MBP.

I was very interested in the 14" MBP when it came out, with the bigger screen being one of the tempting factors, but the battery life put me off. It's advertised as much less than my current device.

The battery on the new M2 MBA is better than the 14"MBP. I'm leaning towards that one.

Can anyone with better knowledge of laptop batteries contribute on this point?

If your using a notebook in a truly portable role, battery life is the imperative simple as that. Losing power at the wrong moment in time can and does cost, equally that extra few minutes of connectivity can pay dividends in some circumstance. A point well worth considering...

Spin back to 2014, client asked me to investigate a significant failure event (oil & gas industry), however there was also a stringent rotation period. My 2014 13" MBP was rated by Apple for 8 hours on battery, I squeezed just over 10 hours. Literally sending the report at the gate to the aircraft as the MBP shutdown. With that single click the MBP payed for itself multiple times over, hence why I will always keep a Mac in my professional rotation

I opted for the M1 13" MBP for the same reason; extended battery life and if you need to push hard active cooling. Today I'd likely make the same decision with the M2 13" MBP for exactly the same reasons. This is exactly why the product exists and why so many YouTube "Pro's" don't get it...

Q-6

 

[flapflapflap]

If your using a notebook in a truly portable role, battery life is the imperative simple as that. Losing power at the wrong moment in time can and does cost, equally that extra few minutes of connectivity can pay dividends in some circumstance a point well worth considering...

Q-6

imo, the 14's battery life is woefully insufficient to be used as a true portable device, pro-motion is nice but not a must have

 

[kp98077]

guess you will be selling at a loss then out of 14 days return?

usually unopened, 30 day return is ok..

 

[Dealmans]

imo, the 14's battery life is woefully insufficient to be used as a true portable device, pro-motion is nice but not a must have

pro motion is a deal breaker once used

 

[Queen6]

imo, the 14's battery life is woefully insufficient to be used as a true portable device, pro-motion is nice but not a must have

Is a big factor for those on the go, equally a lot of MBP's are tethered to the desk for the most part. Apple knows this, hence the SKU's.

A desktop computer performance is paramount, notebook's will always be a compromise. In my experience battery runtime is the most significant factor for any notebook. Machine can have class leading in performance, however if it runs out of juice it's simply dead weight...

Q-6

 

[Chancha]

Is a big factor for those on the go, equally a lot of MBP's are tethered to the desk for the most part. Apple knows this, hence the SKU's.

A desktop computer performance is paramount, notebook's will always be a compromise. In my experience battery runtime is the most significant factor for any notebook. Machine can have class leading in performance, however if it runs out of juice it's simply dead weight...

Q-6

However, as “bad” as the 14” battery life is, to many users it has already surpassed the acceptable thershold of reasonable half day usage. If someone’s load is so demanding that the 14” dies in 3 hours or less, it is not like he could get the same work done on another laptop that doesn’t last as short.

To me the 14” has striked a pretty good middle ground, for maintaining portability without compromising too much in performance potential. Battery life is last on the list but it is not as bad as similarly small laptops with dGPU by a long shot.

 

[Queen6]

However, as “bad” as the 14” battery life is, to many users it has already surpassed the acceptable thershold of reasonable half day usage. If someone’s load is so demanding that the 14” dies in 3 hours or less, it is not like he could get the same work done on another laptop that doesn’t last as short.

To me the 14” has striked a pretty good middle ground, for maintaining portability without compromising too much in performance potential. Battery life is last on the list but it is not as bad as similarly small laptops with dGPU by a long shot.

Simply depends on the users priorities. The 14" is technically the better notebook, however if runtime off mains power a is factor the 13" MBP is the better solution. It's not like the M1 or now M2 13" MBP is slow by any means, they get the job done fast. If your notebook shut's down due to battery power, you not going to fulfil the job or get payed...

This is why I always take battery life into consideration, if tethered to the desk go for the fastest solution. If truly on the go battery life has to be the primary factor...

Q-6

 

[ctjack]

I opted for the M1 13" MBP for the same reason; extended battery life and if you need to push hard active cooling. Today I'd likely make the same decision with the M2 13" MBP for exactly the same reasons. This is exactly why the product exists and why so many YouTube "Pro's" don't get it...

That is why i like my m1 Air holding 15 hr charge with an external screen - I can imagine how 20 hrs are even better with M1 Pro.
You also add up battery degradation - mine holds only 8-10 hrs now. Thus, M1 would drop to 15 hrs, which is still much better than anything.

This is why I always take battery life into consideration, if tethered to the desk go for the fastest solution. If truly on the go battery life is the prime factor...

This is why I admire my android/iphone smartphones for holding a long charge to serve as a wifi hotspot. Sometimes you need that functionality(battery life) - you may not like 13PM and its' chunkiness, but sometimes it is the only tool that will get the job done.

 

[Chancha]

Simply depends on the users priorities. The 14" is technically the better notebook, however if runtime off mains power a is factor the 13" MBP is the better solution. It's not like the M1 or now M2 13" MBP is slow by any means, they get the job done fast. If your notebook shut's down due to battery power, you not going to fulfil the job or get payed...

This is why I always take battery life into consideration, if tethered to the desk go for the fastest solution. If truly on the go battery life has to be the primary factor...

Q-6

I think what you described is a pretty legit reason for the 13” MBP to still exist, there is always someone prioritizing run time over all else, and as a laptop that truely should be the lowest denominator.

 

[Queen6]

I think what you described is a pretty legit reason for the 13” MBP to still exist, there is always someone prioritizing run time over all else, and as a laptop that truely should be the lowest denominator.

Horse's for course's The good is Apple offers solutions for all barring a large screen Air. I opted for the 13" M1 MBP for portability, battery longevity and sustained performance. Is the 13" perfect no, yet it's very hard to beat as portable workhorse...

Q-6

 

[adrianlondon]

Life can change, so a decision now might turn out to be a very good (or very bad!) decision later.

I had a 15" 2013 MBP. Two years ago, after stupidly breaking the screen, insurance helped out and I bought the 2020 Intel MBA. I missed the screen size of the 15" and it didn't seem much faster than the laptop it replaced.

However, around a year later I became a student again and was taking my laptop to lectures. I was (and still am) so happy I'm not carrying that MBP around with me. It now sits at home and I remote-desktop into it whenever I need to use it (I disconnected the internal display so it boots up happily without it or to an HDMI-connected TV).

 

[ascender]

Apple's battery claims for their laptops now are 17-21 hours depending on model. We know they're not true representations of how the battery will last under a normal workload, but by all accounts - reviews and feedback on here, if you're doing a normal, non-specialised workflow, any one of the Apple Silicon laptops will easily last all day on a single charge.

If your workflow is going to run down the battery of a laptop aggressively (video encodes, gaming etc), its really not going to make much of a difference which laptop you buy tbh, you're going to need to plug it in.

 

[Queen6]

Apple's battery claims for their laptops now are 17-21 hours depending on model. We know they're not true representations of how the battery will last under a normal workload, but by all accounts - reviews and feedback on here, if you're doing a normal, non-specialised workflow, any one of the Apple Silicon laptops will easily last all day on a single charge.

If your workflow is going to run down the battery of a laptop aggressively (video encodes, gaming etc), its really not going to make much of a difference which laptop you buy tbh, you're going to need to plug it in.

Agree, if you hammer the SOC the battery will deplete rapidly, nature of the beast. If the workload is more "Office" focused battery life will be generally more than adequate across the range. The 13" MBP is for those that like the Touch Bar and or value maximal battery runtime. I fall into the latter category, nor is 20 hours an exaggeration as the 13" MBP can and does deliver...

Q-6

 

[Dealmans]

Interesting the 14" in 512 and 1Tb is easily available now, few weeks ago they were like unicorns lol

 

[Dealmans]

The 14' chews through battery using hotspot

 

[GooseInTheCaboose]

I could not disagree more, and will prove it with my wallet. I've held off replacing my mid-2009 MBP for probably five years longer than I should have, because I kept waiting for Apple to make the computer I wanted to buy. With the M2 Air, they finally did.

Question, what did you not like about the 14”?

 

[GooseInTheCaboose]

I just find it hard to believe with near equal pricing on a 16/512GB configuration with the M2 Air…users would trade an industry leading display/audio combination, sd card slot/hdmi, 120 hz, dual monitor support, to buy a computer that looks almost identical design aesthetic to the 14 inch Macbook Pro with a slightly smaller chassis/screen, weaker M chip, lower resale value, etc.

I guess I really underestimated the importance of thinness/weight for consumers.

Those who value thinness dont value it for the sexy factor. It is about how it fits in a briefcase or backpack—ontop of the weight of a few books, a planner, an ipad/keyboard, an iphone, your wallet/keys, perhaps an umbrella, a hat or extra layer, a thermos, etc.

The .7lb weight savings means it is that much easier for you to carry that extra book or planner with your laptop (and ipad and iphone and keys etc) in your daily commute by foot, bike or rail to your office or campus library.

If you have carried a heavy laptop in a daily commute like that before you will likely appeciate the difference between a mba and mbp. That said, ive done such commutes with a 15” mbp in 2007. But damn, if I had an m2 air in those days, I would have been SO much happier

 

[Chateaunole-du-Pape]

Question, what did you not like about the 14”?

The weight, and the price. I really need 1 TB of storage, and a 14" Pro so configured is just too expensive to justify.

 

[Chateaunole-du-Pape]

Those who value thinness dont value it for the sexy factor. It is about how it fits in a briefcase or backpack—ontop of the weight of a few books, a planner, an ipad/keyboard, an iphone, your wallet/keys, perhaps an umbrella, a hat or extra layer, a thermos, etc.

The .7lb weight savings means it is that much easier for you to carry that extra book or planner with your laptop (and ipad and iphone and keys etc) in your daily commute by foot, bike or rail to your office or campus library.

If you have carried a heavy laptop in a daily commute like that before you will likely appeciate the difference between a mba and mbp. That said, ive done such commutes with a 15” mbp in 2007. But damn, if I had an m2 air in those days, I would have been SO much happier

Agree. My work laptop weighs exactly 3 lbs. I see no reason for my personal one to weigh still more.

 

[Dealmans]

The weight, and the price. I really need 1 TB of storage, and a 14" Pro so configured is just too expensive to justify.

on sale here for $750AUD off, cheaper than the 512gb and same as same config air 2

 

[GooseInTheCaboose]

Agree. My work laptop weighs exactly 3 lbs. I see no reason for my personal one to weigh still more.

Ah makes sense. Compared to the laptops of 1-1.5 decades ago, all of today’s mac options smaller than 16” are very portable, considering what they can do relative to those old laptops.

But of course compared to those that exist today, it is a whole orher story…I myself have a 14” on order, probably shipping soon. Ive decided that if I find it even slightly too heavy im going to check out The 13 m2s and return it for that. I dont think ill be able to make up my mind until I see those m2 airs.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Question, what did you not like about the 14”?

For me, it's 3 things, when it's compared to the M2 MBA.
1) The price. £1,899 v £1,249
2) The wireless web browsing is 11 hours on the 14"MPB v 15 on the M2 MBA. You don't do big lifting on your laptop for hours at a time, but you use the internet all day
3) The M2 MBA is a smaller, light unit for almost the same screen size.

Here's the link to the comparison on Apple's site:

Mac - Compare Models

See what makes each Mac laptop and desktop different. And find the one that’s perfect for your life, your work and your budget.

www.apple.com

I was leaning towards the M2 MBA, and I think I've now made my choice. This thread was v helpful to me.

 

[flapflapflap]

For me, it's 3 things, when it's compared to the M2 MBA.
1) The price. £1,899 v £1,249
2) The wireless web browsing is 11 hours on the 14"MPB v 15 on the M2 MBA. You don't do big lifting on your laptop for hours at a time, but you use the internet all day
3) The M2 MBA is a smaller, light unit for almost the same screen size.

Here's the link to the comparison on Apple's site:

Mac - Compare Models

See what makes each Mac laptop and desktop different. And find the one that’s perfect for your life, your work and your budget.

www.apple.com

I was leaning towards the M2 MBA, and I think I've now made my choice. This thread was v helpful to me.

You can only use one external display with the M2 Air and likely will not have higher scaled resolutions on certain monitors. Is that OK?

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

You can only use one external display with the M2 Air and likely will not have higher scaled resolutions on certain monitors. Is that OK?

It is for me.

When I need a bigger display, I use my iMac.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I couldn’t care less about the extra power of the M1 Pro. The $200 to get the pro is worth it to me for the bigger screen, the better screen, the better speakers, the additional ports, and the active cooling. The better chip is a free bonus.

They’re both extremely portable as someone coming from a 10 year old brick of a MBP.

Yeah, if the price difference is only $200 then it is a no brained to get the 14” MBP.