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M2 MacBook Air or M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14” dilemma
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As I said, it can show 3840 x 1620 but not at HiDPI. To show it in HiDPI it has to scale to 2x in each direction, which is then (much) more than 5k resolution.
It can display 5k/2k natively but the UI becomes unusably tiny.
I thought the 5k display rendered at 5K and then downscaled to an effective resolution of 2560x1440 (half 5k to keep the font size readable)?
The Apple product page claims it's compatible with the Macbook Air M1/M2?
apple.com/uk/studio-display/specs/
Perhaps I'm not understanding how it works or what you mean by "3840 x 1620 but not at HiDPI" ?
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I've been going back between the base MB Pro 14 and the Air M2 as well for some time and I had more or less decided on the MB Pro.
As I don't really need the grunt of the MB Pro, I was merely going to choose the MB Pro with future proofing in mind but thinking about it a bit more, I would be much better off with a maxed out MBA M2.
I like to sit on the couch in the evening to watch some Youtube, surf the web, etc. That's the perfect scenario for an iPad but if an email from a client comes in, I cannot answer that on a tablet without getting frustrated and wanting to throw the iPad through the room (an iPad is a consumption device, nothing more - I hate typing on a touch screen). My current 2015 MB Pro is WAY too heavy for that.
The MBA M2 would be the perfect combination of a light 'consumption' device, and being a rock solid production device at the same time.
So, I think I'd rather max out the MBA M2, so 24 Gb of RAM, 10-core GPU and 1Tb SSD (the 2Tb SSD is somewhat overkill and way too expensive). This configuration is slightly more expensive than a baseline 14 inch MB Pro but I think it will serve me better than the M1 Pro. Don't want to wait for the M2 MB Pro, either.
Need a new iPhone as well so probably going to wait for the regular 14 with 6gb of RAM and then order both the MBA and iPhone at the same time.
I'm sure both will serve me well for the next 4 years...
Edit : does anyone know what's the best 4K 27 inch monitor for a MBA M2 ? And I do mean the best, a display that works without any problems whatsoever with the M2 Air, no scaling problems or anything like that...
As I don't really need the grunt of the MB Pro, I was merely going to choose the MB Pro with future proofing in mind but thinking about it a bit more, I would be much better off with a maxed out MBA M2.
I like to sit on the couch in the evening to watch some Youtube, surf the web, etc. That's the perfect scenario for an iPad but if an email from a client comes in, I cannot answer that on a tablet without getting frustrated and wanting to throw the iPad through the room (an iPad is a consumption device, nothing more - I hate typing on a touch screen). My current 2015 MB Pro is WAY too heavy for that.
The MBA M2 would be the perfect combination of a light 'consumption' device, and being a rock solid production device at the same time.
So, I think I'd rather max out the MBA M2, so 24 Gb of RAM, 10-core GPU and 1Tb SSD (the 2Tb SSD is somewhat overkill and way too expensive). This configuration is slightly more expensive than a baseline 14 inch MB Pro but I think it will serve me better than the M1 Pro. Don't want to wait for the M2 MB Pro, either.
Need a new iPhone as well so probably going to wait for the regular 14 with 6gb of RAM and then order both the MBA and iPhone at the same time.
I'm sure both will serve me well for the next 4 years...
Edit : does anyone know what's the best 4K 27 inch monitor for a MBA M2 ? And I do mean the best, a display that works without any problems whatsoever with the M2 Air, no scaling problems or anything like that...
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5k downscaled to 2560 x 1440 is fewer pixels than 7680 x 3240 downscaled to 3840 x 1620 which is what is required for the latter resolution to be displayed in HiDPI. Same goes for 6k per that other user's comment. 6k is fewer pixels than 7680 x 3240.
Going to offer my 2 cents. I am a professional film/tv writer and director. Wife wanted my M1 MacBook Air, so I recently found myself in this very debate. At first, I bought the 14 MBP because of the great Amazon sale. It is a gorgeous and powerful device - absolutely LOVED the screen and SD card reader - but I found the weight, typing experience, and battery life less than stellar. Despite my line of work, I hardly ever have to edit video (that's what editors are for - and they really only use laptops when in the field). My primary uses are screenwriting, pitch deck designing, zoom calls, and email. I am also often traveling for meetings, location scouts, or on set for production.
Just received my 8c/16/512gb M2 MacBook Air. I have to say... this is the one for me. Surprisingly, I find the keyboard and trackpad much more satisfying and tactile. Despite being the same design, the keys on the MBP felt a bit mushy (perhaps it was just my specific unit?). The thinner chassis on the Air also makes lengthy typing sessions much more comfortable on my wrists, and the noticeably lighter weight makes it more comfortable on the lap. The battery life on the M2 Air is also off the charts - especially with Low Power Mode enabled. The new efficiency cores are fast enough for everything I do when mobile, and they just sip battery. I put in a pretty full day of work yesterday and still had 70% left at the end of the day - this is so important when traveling or in remote shooting locations. The screen, while admittedly not as nice, is more than good enough for daily work. Brighter than the M1 Air for outdoor use, and color accuracy is very very close to the Pro (which is critically important when sampling color grades remotely). The 120 hz is not super noticeable for office-related tasks and (as of today) I have never needed to give remote feedback on HDR video. Do I wish the Air had Promotion XDR? Absolutely, but I have to take the good with the not-quite-as-good.
And that is really what this comes down to. What kind of user are you and what are your needs?
After years of blurring the lines between their "Pro" and "non-pro" lineups, Apple has finally decided to create the right tools for the right tasks. My suggestion would be to ignore the "well the price is so close" arguments. Don't go hunting for the best deal, hunt for the best tool for the job you will be performing most often.
Just received my 8c/16/512gb M2 MacBook Air. I have to say... this is the one for me. Surprisingly, I find the keyboard and trackpad much more satisfying and tactile. Despite being the same design, the keys on the MBP felt a bit mushy (perhaps it was just my specific unit?). The thinner chassis on the Air also makes lengthy typing sessions much more comfortable on my wrists, and the noticeably lighter weight makes it more comfortable on the lap. The battery life on the M2 Air is also off the charts - especially with Low Power Mode enabled. The new efficiency cores are fast enough for everything I do when mobile, and they just sip battery. I put in a pretty full day of work yesterday and still had 70% left at the end of the day - this is so important when traveling or in remote shooting locations. The screen, while admittedly not as nice, is more than good enough for daily work. Brighter than the M1 Air for outdoor use, and color accuracy is very very close to the Pro (which is critically important when sampling color grades remotely). The 120 hz is not super noticeable for office-related tasks and (as of today) I have never needed to give remote feedback on HDR video. Do I wish the Air had Promotion XDR? Absolutely, but I have to take the good with the not-quite-as-good.
And that is really what this comes down to. What kind of user are you and what are your needs?
After years of blurring the lines between their "Pro" and "non-pro" lineups, Apple has finally decided to create the right tools for the right tasks. My suggestion would be to ignore the "well the price is so close" arguments. Don't go hunting for the best deal, hunt for the best tool for the job you will be performing most often.
What's interesting to me is that the MacBook Air feels much more like a laptop. I would be hard-pressed to use the MacBook Pro on my lap for innumerable reasons, but I have no issue casually using this computer or even considering the possibility of taking it out. It also seems like it would fit in the cases I already had for an iPad funnily enough.
I should clarify that my web browsing test was side-by-side with both systems, and was slightly surprising but not totally unexpected: the MacBook Air consistently loaded pages nearly twice as quickly. Granted, we're talking a comparatively minor difference. The M2 does have some improvements that show in casual single-core tasks.
I'm also a writer primarily so the MacBook Air feels like a suitable fit that shouldn't limit my workflow when I do want to occasionally venture out of Apple's stock apps.
The trackpad feels the same on both systems IMO, while I agree that the keyboard is more 'clicky' with a higher degree of travel on the Air. It's not enough of a difference to sway me towards one or the other, but still notable.
The MacBook Pro is better on paper and has a ridiculous amount of performance for video editors, but this may be a better all-around computer for the everyday consumer.
Another point of comparison: the Pro seems more stable when opening and closing it by virtue of its larger size.
I felt odd purchasing a CTO if I was ambivalent in my decision so I'm currently testing a 10-core GPU/512GB model with 8GB of RAM, thus I may go back and configure a build matching yours for future-proofing since the benchmarks show that the upgraded RAM and SSD make a massive difference when pushing its capability in renders and pro apps.
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Sounds like you made the right choice. Just because one has the better specs on paper, doesn't mean its the best one suited for you. Powerful specs aren't the only specs that matter when choosing a laptop. Size, weight, comfort etc are equally as important factors that I feel a lot of people dismiss when comparing the pro 14 to the air. They really are in their own different leagues, and if you have no use for the extra power, then its honestly a downgrade compared to the air in my eyes.
Isn't running at that resolution on a 5K display going to result in a less sharp image and slightly blurry text given it's not an exact division of 5K like 2560x1440 is?
Is 7680 x 3240 (downscaled to 3840 x 1620) the scaled "More Space" option for the 5K display?
Apologies if I'm not understanding what you mean? I just want to get a handle on what the resolution limitation of the MBA compared to the MBP is ?
Good advice. This is why I originally went for the MBP16" Max. I'm an architect and I run ArchiCAD and other design software all day. I have lusted after an Air M2 for the couch and travel and even debated whether I should get a 14" MBP. (I originally bought the 14"' on release and gave it to my daughter when I decided on the 16")
Instead I have realised that the screens on both are just too small for what I do and I now marvel at the packaging of the powerhouse workstation that is the MPB16. It's the right tool for me and it fits in my backpack so I'm taking it with me!
I used to buy expensive products and look at the resale value. I.e. Options should in theory hold diminutive resale, thus it's more financially savvy to buy a MacBook Pro 14" rather than loading up a MacBook Air with options.
Then I realized I kept my 2012 15" Retina MacBook Pro past the point of being valuable, thus a perfectly fine and capable system is now only worth around $200 even in pristine condition.
Computers like this should last a long time. I can foresee myself upgrading sooner since the Mac is exciting again after a decade of stagnation.
Purchase the system that suits your needs best right now, and hold onto it for as long as possible without paying too much mind to whether the M7 chip is demolishing a M1 Max.
I checked both laptops in store and then decided on the 14 Pro.
I have to say I feel just the opposite. 14 Pro feels cheaper built, the thin aluminum doesn't really match the weight of the device. Honestly both have pretty much the same design. I would definitely prefer the thicker chassis from the previous generation.
Well I did the deed. I know the choice here is M2 Air or 14" Pro, but I ended up with a 16" Pro. It is amazing.
I last bought a Pro laptop in 2006, 15.4" Core 2 Duo. This thing is virtually the same size but thinner and 0.5kg lighter. My existing neoprene sleeve fits it perfectly and the messenger bag outside it. Just doing normal day to day stuff, browsing, office stuff the fans are at 0. I got it from Costco (UK) they have a 90 day return and 2 year warranty. I'm debating not getting Apple Care.
Also trying to make the decision - can get the Mac Book Air M2 512gig for £1398 or the Pro 14 inch for £1730. Currently have a 2016 McBook Pro 13 inch that will now only charge when shut down so it is time to go.
I don't do loads of heavy stuff on the laptop if I am honest but I will keep the machine for 5 or 6 years I would think like I have with this one. I also play a few games, Transport Fever 2 mainly, and my biggest concern with the Air from reviews is that after 20 mins or so of playing games it throttles rights back as it can't cool itself down.
What do people think?
I don't do loads of heavy stuff on the laptop if I am honest but I will keep the machine for 5 or 6 years I would think like I have with this one. I also play a few games, Transport Fever 2 mainly, and my biggest concern with the Air from reviews is that after 20 mins or so of playing games it throttles rights back as it can't cool itself down.
What do people think?
Completely agree. That's what I'm doing but I'm concerned about the battery usage of the 14. I've been very spoiled by my M1 Air...
I'm assuming you didn't do any testing. If you had to guess, ho much difference do you think you experienced between the 14 MBP and the Air?
I've yet to run my 14" flat since I've owned it.
It will depend heavily on your workload, pro workloads like rendering, etc. use more battery but in general use I'll get more than a day's work out of it for my workload.
If it does need a charge, it can do 80% fast charge in half an hour.
I've been averaging a solid 10-14 hours between charging. Mind you, I've most been writing/compiling LaTeX documents over the past week or so, with only a bit of Python/C++ work and/or watching media on YouTube, AppleTV+, or Hulu. This is easily all-day battery life for light-moderate usage.
There are different needs for different people and it's not always a matter of pure "best bang for the buck" scenario, where "best" it's really subjective.
Here is my case ...
I am doing photography and some video editing sometimes (mainly light stuff, personal videos).
I can't stand to use a laptop for my main editing "rig" , large and beautiful screens are a must for me.
When I edit or I am doing "serious" and heavy work (graphics etc.) , I like to be in my "cockpit" with a big screen in front of me, a mouse ... and a coffee nearby. Pretty much the usual "desktop" experience.
So, I upgraded from a 27" iMac to a Mac Studio + Studio Display.
I got an M2 Air, 8c GPU, 16 GB Ram, 512 GB SSD
MacBook Air M2 it's the perfect "family" device for on-the-go situations:
- my wife will use it for her stuff (office, paperwork etc)
- I will "steal" it from her sometimes, in rare occasions when I have to do my work on the go (some Lightroom and Photoshop stuff)
- Portability, low weight and battery life it's important for us, for a device that will be used "on-the-go" mostly
- M2 it's more than capable for our needs : Photography + Office Work in a light device with great battery life.
I think if you have to pick just one, your MAIN and ONLY computer that you will ALSO want to use it on the go, yeah, 14" MBP it's the way to go. Although I would really consider the frequency of carrying the MBP around, if it's rare ... I would lean towards a desktop.
A desktop, in my opinion it's WAY BETTER as an editing rig for serious stuff. The whole experience (and sometimes performance) it's just miles better.
For me, the "performance" laptops were always a "hybrid" device for niche situation when you really really .... really need to stare at that small Final Cut Pro timeline on the go
(and maybe if you have a powerful laptop from your job that you will bring it home everyday).
In conclusion I am this guy:
1. Main desktop as my editing rig, the main powerhouse machine (as much as I can afford).
2. Portable laptop with great battery life, lightweight but pretty good performance for on the go light and medium duty workload.
3. Tablet for media consumption on the go, internet browsing, news reading etc.
4. Smartphone (light and small) for phone calls, messages, maps and navigation etc.
My 2 cents
Here is my case ...
I am doing photography and some video editing sometimes (mainly light stuff, personal videos).
I can't stand to use a laptop for my main editing "rig" , large and beautiful screens are a must for me.
When I edit or I am doing "serious" and heavy work (graphics etc.) , I like to be in my "cockpit" with a big screen in front of me, a mouse ... and a coffee nearby. Pretty much the usual "desktop" experience.
So, I upgraded from a 27" iMac to a Mac Studio + Studio Display.
I got an M2 Air, 8c GPU, 16 GB Ram, 512 GB SSD
MacBook Air M2 it's the perfect "family" device for on-the-go situations:
- my wife will use it for her stuff (office, paperwork etc)
- I will "steal" it from her sometimes, in rare occasions when I have to do my work on the go (some Lightroom and Photoshop stuff)
- Portability, low weight and battery life it's important for us, for a device that will be used "on-the-go" mostly
- M2 it's more than capable for our needs : Photography + Office Work in a light device with great battery life.
I think if you have to pick just one, your MAIN and ONLY computer that you will ALSO want to use it on the go, yeah, 14" MBP it's the way to go. Although I would really consider the frequency of carrying the MBP around, if it's rare ... I would lean towards a desktop.
A desktop, in my opinion it's WAY BETTER as an editing rig for serious stuff. The whole experience (and sometimes performance) it's just miles better.
For me, the "performance" laptops were always a "hybrid" device for niche situation when you really really .... really need to stare at that small Final Cut Pro timeline on the go
(and maybe if you have a powerful laptop from your job that you will bring it home everyday).In conclusion I am this guy:
1. Main desktop as my editing rig, the main powerhouse machine (as much as I can afford).
2. Portable laptop with great battery life, lightweight but pretty good performance for on the go light and medium duty workload.
3. Tablet for media consumption on the go, internet browsing, news reading etc.
4. Smartphone (light and small) for phone calls, messages, maps and navigation etc.
My 2 cents
I don't really pay attention too much to it, and adjust for comfort for whatever environment I'm in -- I just checked right now and it's a tick or two below the median. I've got a fairly bright white LED overhead about 5 feet in front of me, and the screen is more than bright enough for comfort. I'm sure you're aware there's a 14-day return policy on these; since YMMV, I'd say just check it out and see if your setup would be workable 👍
I looked at the M2 Air (16/512) and base MBP14. Not being able to display 2 external monitor by default (not interested in workarounds) was a dealbreaker for me (hard to understand why the M2 Air is limited to 1 external only...). I work 75% office and 25% travel and want to work on one computer at all times. I use 2 external screens at the office, so decision went to the MBP14, even thought the M2 Air would be sufficiently powerful for my daily use. My setup is now MBP14, Studio Display and Dell 27' Display. Very happy with this setup. Traveled with the MBP14 over the past few weeks, found it portable enough and excellent to work with - the georgous display compensates for the added weight...
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