well, to me the LCD seems a bit fuzzier, but still great! of course the mini LED is super crisp and contrast which i love.. switchover for me is seamless..
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M2 MacBook Air or M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14” dilemma
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People talk about the mini led like it's a revolution in comparison and for most things it's really not. If you watch a ton of HDR on your small screen, it does make a difference.
What people don't talk about when they throw out concerns like brightness distribution and light bleed on the M2 Air is that the mini led has the shadow all around the screen that is even more distracting in many cases.
LMAO you lot and your Apple marketing display ‘labels’.
I did an extensive test today comparing the M2 Air display with the 14” M1 Pro.
On websites, YouTube, applications, general day to day stuff we mostly all use, zero difference. ZERO.
Ok, minimal. But I couldn’t see anything different. The Air screen had just as much ‘pop’ with colours. The Pro screen was no smoother. In fact, on one taxing website, the Air felt smoother on scroll because I’m pretty sure it loaded up quicker than the Pro.
Now, when you watch HDR content, yes of course there’s a difference but how often do we watch HDR content on a laptop? I might be alone here but I’m working all day on it, haven’t got bloody time to be watching movies! Don’t want to be watching movies later on it either. I’ll relax in front of my OLED TV for that.
So when exactly does this amazing superior mini LED XDR blar blar display come into play?
They were almost identical today, after 20 minutes of checking.
I did an extensive test today comparing the M2 Air display with the 14” M1 Pro.
On websites, YouTube, applications, general day to day stuff we mostly all use, zero difference. ZERO.
Ok, minimal. But I couldn’t see anything different. The Air screen had just as much ‘pop’ with colours. The Pro screen was no smoother. In fact, on one taxing website, the Air felt smoother on scroll because I’m pretty sure it loaded up quicker than the Pro.
Now, when you watch HDR content, yes of course there’s a difference but how often do we watch HDR content on a laptop? I might be alone here but I’m working all day on it, haven’t got bloody time to be watching movies! Don’t want to be watching movies later on it either. I’ll relax in front of my OLED TV for that.
So when exactly does this amazing superior mini LED XDR blar blar display come into play?
They were almost identical today, after 20 minutes of checking.
FWIW, I charged my MBA M1 once a month or even less.
And it used to have around 40-50% battery left by that time.
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Seriously IMHO, if you get bad vibes from the MBP 14" with the M1 Pro CPU, then I'd say M2 CPU should give you the same, since they both are based on the same "ancient" 5nm technology. New 3nm technology is right around corner, first M3's likely come no later than early next year and I predict M3 Pro chips by fall next year. So my prediction is MBA M3 next sprint/early summer and MBP 14" and 16" M3 Pro later in the fall 2023. I'd wait for those, or then accept the reality that what ever you buy, it will be "old" technology very soon, within 6 months to one year. I chose the latter option myself.
It comes into play when the lights go out, just like OLED TV's. They show their "teeth" in the dark where displays that cannot show real black suck big time.
Oh, I can't compare. I only had the M1 air for a few days a couple of years ago.FWIW, I charged my MBA M1 once a month or even less.
And it used to have around 40-50% battery left by that time.
I can compare it to the 14" though which used to drain within 2-3 days of the same use case.
That beautiful screen and speakers probably took a lot of power.
But something about the air makes it such a lovely grab and go type of comp.
Fully agree. I’m a screen snob that can see any variation in backlight uniformity, etc and I still say the M2 Air has a wonderful screen.
I also have the 14 mini led and there is little to no noticeable difference in productivity or web browsing. The only video I watch on my computer is a very rare YouTube video or a movie trailer. Otherwise I have my big screen 4K HDR tvs at home.
And why does it matter if blacks are 90% dark or 100% when not watching an HDR video? Do people care that much when watching a movie on a 13 or 14” screen?
Not everyone uses computers in the same way as you do, or has the same priorities.
People need to think for themselves what features and capabilities are worthwhile for themselves, and not go by what others think are worthwhile.
I agree that it is useful to point out that for general web browsing, etc. there is little difference.
Not that you need to as you have both but might help some, go to 1 min mark the air 2 speakers are shocking v the 14".
I'm glad people mentioned the screen. I didn't notice much of a difference either when comparing the MBP 14" and the MBA M2. You have to look very closely and at an angle to notice the difference. I did notice a difference between the MBA M2 and MBA M1.
Ok, I don't really watch movies in the dark in bed, so for me, I'm all good. I wonder really how much you guys do that.
Working on my laptop throughout the day, kind of don't get the urge to bring it to bed so much.
I also compared brightness vs 14 Pro. Maybe I was going mad but my M2 Air looked...brighter at full brightness.
Speakers are the weakest bit. That I can see. Bit of a shame but I was at the office today and used my AirPods 3. Wow, don't think I've heard much spatial audio stuff but even that was amazing (not Air related, I know). I just don't need the speakers really.
That review just above is spot on. I can't believe that today, on loading various websites, my M2 Air beat my colleagues Pro 14". Quite clearly too.
That's something I don't read enough; the M2 Air literally loads websites FASTER than the Pro 14".
Working on my laptop throughout the day, kind of don't get the urge to bring it to bed so much.
I also compared brightness vs 14 Pro. Maybe I was going mad but my M2 Air looked...brighter at full brightness.
Speakers are the weakest bit. That I can see. Bit of a shame but I was at the office today and used my AirPods 3. Wow, don't think I've heard much spatial audio stuff but even that was amazing (not Air related, I know). I just don't need the speakers really.
That review just above is spot on. I can't believe that today, on loading various websites, my M2 Air beat my colleagues Pro 14". Quite clearly too.
That's something I don't read enough; the M2 Air literally loads websites FASTER than the Pro 14".
Yep, it is.
Separately, I was also just thinking about the only design choice I prefer on the MBP, and that is the keyboard black background tray. It makes the Pro 'look' pro. Really cool.
In comparison, I feel my Air looks a bit cheaper around the keyboard area. But apart from that, everything is better; shape, form factor, weight....
Yeah but once you go to 16/512gb the 14" pro is only a couple hundred more, if you need 16/512 you are more of a pro user anyway.
You are stating an opinion and I am stating a fact. Just because you can’t or don’t want to see it does not mean there is zero difference. You can‘t get actual blacks on IPS LCD screens with regular led backlighting. This is not only for HDR content either. It’s the same with SDR content. Half the people on here probably don’t know that LCD screens can’t light their own pixels like an OLED can. Many probably think these are LED screens because manufacturers mostly fail to emphasize that the LED is the backlight technology for LCD screens because they don't have self lighting pixels. There are no consumer LED pixel televisions until Micro-LED sets are released in the future. The MBA 2 has larger LED’s backlighting the LCD panel which causes more light bleed and gives you gray blacks. The 14” Pro has much smaller LED’s backlighting the LCD panel which cause way less light bleed thus giving you blacker blacks. This is not Apple marketing “Liquid Retina” is Apple marketing. I’m just explaining the technology behind the screens and why the Pro has a better screen.
James
I run a virtual machine on my mac. On my iMac, apps are usually at 20+gb, so I decided that I needed either 24gb with M2 or 32 with the 14" M1 Pro. In those configs with the 1tb storage, even a refurb 14" was $500 more. The 13" MBP and MBA with M2 aren't in the refurb store that I've seen.
I had ordered a MBA but it was like 2.5 weeks out and I was a little unsure about overheating with a VM crunching in the background. And was questioning how banged up the midnight would get after looking at my current laptop. It turns out that the 24gb-1tb config is an in stock config on the 13" MacBook Pro and the price is exactly the same as the 24gb-1tb MBA. It adds a fan, 0.3 lbs, has an ever so slightly smaller display with no notch, no magsafe, and a 720p camera. I decided those weren't deal breakers in exchange for same day pickup since I already have a USB 4 dock with power delivery for ports, convergence will let my iphone be a better camera, and the fan might be helpful in my use case. I jumped on it and I'm pretty happy so far.
I know most folks say the 13" MBP is pointless, BUT if you want more than 16 gigs of ram, the 14" is not nearly as close in price and the CTO configs don't seem to go on sale. Plus the 13" MBA is the only config under $4000 you can even potentially walk out of the store with on the same day with more than 16 gigs. The 14" with the M1 Max is also an option for that, but if you need the M1 Max you aren't even considering a 13" anything.
So don't write the 13" Pro off without considering.
I had ordered a MBA but it was like 2.5 weeks out and I was a little unsure about overheating with a VM crunching in the background. And was questioning how banged up the midnight would get after looking at my current laptop. It turns out that the 24gb-1tb config is an in stock config on the 13" MacBook Pro and the price is exactly the same as the 24gb-1tb MBA. It adds a fan, 0.3 lbs, has an ever so slightly smaller display with no notch, no magsafe, and a 720p camera. I decided those weren't deal breakers in exchange for same day pickup since I already have a USB 4 dock with power delivery for ports, convergence will let my iphone be a better camera, and the fan might be helpful in my use case. I jumped on it and I'm pretty happy so far.
I know most folks say the 13" MBP is pointless, BUT if you want more than 16 gigs of ram, the 14" is not nearly as close in price and the CTO configs don't seem to go on sale. Plus the 13" MBA is the only config under $4000 you can even potentially walk out of the store with on the same day with more than 16 gigs. The 14" with the M1 Max is also an option for that, but if you need the M1 Max you aren't even considering a 13" anything.
So don't write the 13" Pro off without considering.
Her review was really good. Especially when it came to actually showcasing the scenarios where the M2 Air is actually faster than the M1 Pro 14"
Yes but I think the point made was that it doesn't make that much of a difference?
Opinions don't care about your facts!
This is true in a lot of situations, but there are some cases where another factor outweighs (bad word choice?) the fact that the user is generally more aligned to a Pro.
In my case, I'm already hauling around a BIG MacBook Pro for work. I bought a close to maxed M2 for personal use while traveling so I'm not carrying anything more than is "necessary" while wandering around airports or chasing down errant rideshare drivers. Every ounce and fraction of an inch I can save carrying stuff, the happier my back is.
Those who want, like or need what the M2 Air offers are never going to declare that the M1 14" Pro is "better".
Thos who want, like or need what the M1 14" Pro offers are never going to declare that the M2 Air is "better".
The specs are there for us all to see. We each know what our absolute requirements, preferences and constraints are.
This debate has properly raged on for several weeks now and we seem to be going around in circles. I admit that I have learned a few things along the way and that a lot of the content has actually been quite good.
But.
How about we just call it a day?
Thos who want, like or need what the M1 14" Pro offers are never going to declare that the M2 Air is "better".
The specs are there for us all to see. We each know what our absolute requirements, preferences and constraints are.
This debate has properly raged on for several weeks now and we seem to be going around in circles. I admit that I have learned a few things along the way and that a lot of the content has actually been quite good.
But.
How about we just call it a day?