M2 MacBook Air or M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14” dilemma

[DavidChoux]

Not 'much smaller'. Yes MBA is the less-massive one--it's the lighter one--but it's not much smaller than MBP. I wish it were!

In absolute terms, no it's not that much smaller or lighter. But in terms of actual feel they're completely different.

For reference I have a 2016 13" MBP that's bigger and heavier than the M2 Air. I went to the Apple store and played around with the 14" Pro. It felt massive compared to my 13".

 

[DavidChoux]

I'd also add; the Air is definitely loading websites QUICKER than the Pro. Which quite frankly is embarrassing for the Pro. THE most common use on a laptop and it’s slower.

I feel like this is often forgotten when it comes to M2 Air vs M1 Pro 14". Most people spend way more time browsing the web than doing strenuous tasks like video editing etc. The M2 Air being noticeably faster at this is not to be overlooked!

 

[kp98077]

Yes, they really do look very similar.

I’m talking about browsing websites or doing work. Not HDR movies.

I literally have a 14” Pro in front of me now (my brothers) with my M2 Air.

He even laughs and said ‘there’s barely any difference whatsoever’.

If you watch HDR video yes of course there’s a difference.

I’d also add; the Air is definitely loading websites QUICKER than the Pro. Which quite frankly is embarrassing for the Pro. THE most common use on a laptop and it’s slower.

And the soon to be m2 MBP will blow the air away … I have both and each has pro and con IMO

 

[kngelv]

Both displays look exactly the same on every website, every application and all day-to-day work 😂

(EXCEPT HDR MOVIES AND VIDEO).

Why do you and others keep posting a falsehood and why do people keep liking it? I don't understand why someone is upset about a fact and why others root you on. The Pro has a better screen on any website, movie, software etc. It is more accurate in every way. You can want to believe something different but it will still be false. I can want to believe that a M1 Pro will load webpages faster than a M2 but enough video comparisons have shown this to be false. But I'll just say the videos are wrong because I don't want to believe it. You know what? The 14" MBP is lighter than the MBA 2. I don't care what a scale says. I want to see the underlying hardware and calibration equipment. I refuse to believe the MBA 2 is lighter. BTW a base MBA 2 with a single 256GB NAND SSD is not really slower than a MBA 1 with two 128G NAND SSD's. I know all testing shows it has like 50% of the read speed and 66% of the write speed vs. the MBA 1 but I don't care. It's all made up. The MBA 2 is the best of everything in a laptop ever, ever, ever.

James

 

[dizmonk]

Why is this conversation going on for 34 pages and counting!? It's simple:

Base M2 Air:

• Smaller, lighter, more portable
• Silent
• Better battery life
• Faster single core operations (majority of daily tasks - browsing, opening apps, etc.)
• Cheaper

Base M1 Pro 14"

• Better display
• Twice the RAM and SSD capacity and faster SSD
• Better speakers
• Faster for sustained multi-threaded work (due to M1 Pro snd active cooling)
• More ports

I don't get the argument that when spec'd up to 16/512 the Air is almost the same price as the Pro so you may as well get the Pro. The Air is much smaller and it's quite expensive to design and build such a small powerful laptop so that's a large part of where the money gets spent.

You basically nailed it. I've been leaning toward the m2 (as I have an M1) but I've got the 14" now and the screen and lack of bezels is very immersive... and hard to walk away from.

 

[kp98077]

You basically nailed it. I've been leaning toward the m2 (as I have an M1) but I've got the 14" now and the screen and lack of bezels is very immersive... and hard to walk away from.

or keep both 14 and Air - i find it works.. haha

 

[resolutiontime]

Why doesn't authorized Apple retailers sell the MBA M2, 512/16? It's always the base model or the 512/8 GB Ram Model. The MBA 512/16 is only available on Apple. Edu store $1579+150 GC.

 

[dizmonk]

or keep both 14 and Air - i find it works..

Nice to have such disposable income... Enjoy them...

 

[kp98077]

Why doesn't authorized Apple retailers sell the MBA M2, 512/16? It's always the base model or the 512/8 GB Ram Model. The MBA 512/16 is only available on Apple. Edu store $1579+150 GC.

if you ask them they said the 16 is really for work place professionals 🤪

 

[kp98077]

Why doesn't authorized Apple retailers sell the MBA M2, 512/16? It's always the base model or the 512/8 GB Ram Model. The MBA 512/16 is only available on Apple. Edu store $1579+150 GC.

I find the base 256, 8 just fine... I wanted the 16.. I have put it to the task for sure.

 

[resolutiontime]

if you ask them they said the 16 is really for work place professionals 🤪

I'm very professional and always in a workplace environment working. 🙃
Plus, I'm in the field allot working. I need the portability and battery life.

 

[kp98077]

I'm very professional and always in a workplace environment working. 🙃
Plus, I'm in the field allot working. I need the portability and battery life.

haha! i know arent we all? Just saying my 8gb hasnt had ANY issues...

 

[DavidChoux]

One thing I am curious about with the 14" Pro's display... does it exhibit black crush when the brightness is lower than usual? As in the shades of black merge into one (a bit like dragging the black point up in photo editing software).

 

[petvas]

Why is this conversation going on for 34 pages and counting!? It's simple:

Base M2 Air:

• Smaller, lighter, more portable
• Silent
• Better battery life
• Faster single core operations (majority of daily tasks - browsing, opening apps, etc.)
• Cheaper

Base M1 Pro 14"

• Better display
• Twice the RAM and SSD capacity and faster SSD
• Better speakers
• Faster for sustained multi-threaded work (due to M1 Pro and active cooling)
• More ports

I don't get the argument that when spec'd up to 16/512 the Air is almost the same price as the Pro so you may as well get the Pro. The Air is much smaller and it's quite expensive to design and build such a small powerful laptop so that's a large part of where the money gets spent.

Even Safari creates multiple threads, so depending what you are doing you could benefit from the faster M1 Pro. Apart from that, I do find the argument of the high price of the MBA valid. If you get it with 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD, you end up paying 2500€. At this price range the MacBook Pro is the better buy, unless you don't care about the better display and sustained performance.

 

[resolutiontime]

haha! i know arent we all? Just saying my 8gb hasnt had ANY issues...

if you ask them they said the 16 is really for work place professionals 🤪

I watched some reviews and the 8 GB ram is going to be a bottleneck for those who run multiple applications. For average users i..e browsing and non-gaming, 8 GB should be fine. I think 512/16 is the way to go still...future proof, running multiple programs and web browser tabs, etc.

UGH..Why is the Apple store the only retailer to sell the 512/16?

The 10 core GPU, 512/16 MBA M2 is 1579 on Apple.com + $150 GC. I got the MBP M1 Pro for 1679+Tax. It's too close for comfort.

 

[MICHAELSD]

I'm definitely more attached and set on keeping the MacBook Pro, but I unfortunately continue to get that persistent PWM headache regardless of settings. If it weren't for that it would be the obvious choice over the Air.

 

[dizmonk]

I'm definitely more attached and set on keeping the MacBook Pro, but I unfortunately continue to get that persistent PWM headache regardless of settings. If it weren't for that it would be the obvious choice over the Air.

I might be in the same boat as you. Did you turn down the settings to 60mHz???

 

[MICHAELSD]

I might be in the same boat as you. Did you turn down the settings to 60mHz???

Yes, I don’t think the refresh rate affects the PWM. The only setting that might help is Limit Luminance with one of the custom display presets, but I’m still having issues with it today.

 

[fdw777]

OK --- anyone else have the M2 base air AND the MBP 14? Yes I know, total nut here.. lol, but I use the Air like an iPad essentially.

I don't have the M2 Air But looking for a silver M1 Air from Apple refurbished

 

[Dealmans]

I don't have the M2 Air But looking for a silver M1 Air from Apple refurbished

that makes no sense here now, a air 2 8/512gb with 10% off sale on now, is only $40AUD more than the air 1 8/512 refurb from apple. unless want 16gb which there are no sales on.

 

[tim1000]

is the MacBook Air m2 screen on par with the iMac and studio displays?

 

[fdw777]

that makes no sense here now, a air 2 8/512gb with 10% off sale on now, is only $40AUD more than the air 1 8/512 refurb from apple. unless want 16gb which there are no sales on.

$764 for me with my veterans discount. Makes lots of sense to me.

 

[newton4000]

or keep both 14 and Air - i find it works.. haha

I have the 16" 14" and the M2 Air. They are all great and I've given my opinion here trying to cut through some of the misinformation. My basic points and usage scenarios.

1. 16" - It's amazing. Huge beautiful screen. Incredible sound. All the ports you want. Amazing battery life. It's really a perfect machine. I can't say anything bad about it. Only drawback: it's a BEAST. It's a big boy. When you take it somewhere, you are schlepping it. It's a chore.

2. 14". A great computer. In the middle. In some ways you might think because it's in the middle so it's just the right porridge. But in other ways it doesn't excel in anything. The screen is still smaller. And the battery life is NOT great, just acceptable. Is it in the perfect middle or is just middling? I can't decide. If you do get the 14" carefully consider your specs - the Max configuration and 32 or 64 gb will hit your battery life very badly.

3. M2 Air - Forget about the numbers that make it seem not much different than the 14". It's a completely different 'feel.' Wonderfully light body just makes you want to pick it up. Battery life is very comparable to the 16" MBP. But it doesn't have that 16" screen.[ And the screen is not as good as the 14" but not that far off - maybe 75% as good.] Or audio . Or all the ports. Oh one odd thing about it - it has a very different feeling keyboard - much more pleasant and bouncy than the 14" or 16" MBP. I don't know if this is a function of the thinner chassis or a new keyboard mechanism. I hope the latter and that it's brought to the M2 MBP series. I'd love that keyboard on the 16" M2 MPB. Apple are you listening? That would be an instant buy.

In any case - I'm hoping this helps people choose. I have no investment or really care what people get and not rooting for any machine. Whatever works for you is right.

 

[tim1000]

I have the 16" 14" and the M2 Air. They are all great and I've given my opinion here trying to cut through some of the misinformation. My basic points and usage scenarios.

1. 16" - It's amazing. Huge beautiful screen. Incredible sound. All the ports you want. Amazing battery life. It's really a perfect machine. I can't say anything bad about it. Only drawback: it's a BEAST. It's a big boy. When you take it somewhere, you are schlepping it. It's a chore.

2. 14". A great computer. In the middle. In some ways you might think because it's in the middle so it's just the right porridge. But in other ways it doesn't excel in anything. The screen is still smaller. And the battery life is NOT great, just acceptable. Is it in the perfect middle or is just middling? I can't decide. If you do get the 14" carefully consider your specs - the Max configuration and 32 or 64 gb will hit your battery life very badly.

3. M2 Air - Forget about the numbers that make it seem not much different than the 14". It's a completely different 'feel.' Wonderfully light body just makes you want to pick it up. Battery life is very comparable to the 16" MBP. But it doesn't have that 16" screen.[ And the screen is not as good as the 14" but not that far off - maybe 75% as good.] Or audio . Or all the ports. Oh one odd thing about it - it has a very different feeling keyboard - much more pleasant and bouncy than the 14" or 16" MBP. I don't know if this is a function of the thinner chassis or a new keyboard mechanism. I hope the latter and that it's brought to the M2 MBP series. I'd love that keyboard on the 16" M2 MPB. Apple are you listening? That would be an instant buy.

In any case - I'm hoping this helps people choose. I have no investment or really care what people get and not rooting for any machine. Whatever works for you is right.

Is 8 gigs of ram enough on the air?

 

[0906742]

Is 8 gigs of ram enough on the air?

I would stay away from getting a new machine with only 8GB today. Look at iPads, new M1 iPads also have 8GB memory in base model but even with that much memory it is using storage as swap and it can allocate this way 16GB memory for application! And that is just an iPad (=oversized iPhone) with simple IOS operating system.