256? that's $1100AUD here, apple sell it refurb for $1350, Aussies get screwed lol
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
M2 MacBook Air or M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14” dilemma
- Thread starter symphony
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I wouldn't, I did with my 8/512gb 24" iMac, was discounted 10% and only one available at the time, does the job but next to a 14" MacBook Pro it's slow as a old dog lol
Here's one more question for you. How do you know the problem is PWM vs just eye strain from being on ANY computer too long? I'm getting a little of it and I tend to think it's just my age (and body) telling me it's time to time a break from screens...
A good post from someone who has both.
For some reason, Pro owners can’t accept what I’m about to say; whilst browsing websites, there’s really not much ‘in it’ in display quality between M2 Air and 14 Pro.
I literally have both laptops in front of me right now (thanks to my brother bringing his round).
Yes on HDR content, there’s a difference. Pro is superior. Speakers are better.
But in normal everyday work, browsing websites, using typical work apps, the display different is minimal. Very minimal.
What’s your opinion on that? In basic usage, looking at websites, watching basic YouTube stuff, would you agree that there’s very little in it between the two displays?
That’s the same price as the m2 air with 512. Why would anyone pick that air over the pro?
Thanks. I was considering M2 Air, but after comparing the spec I wanted. I ended up with M1 pro base. I bought one at 1799 at Best Buy 10 days ago, and I'm going back to Best Buy for price adjustment.
I'm using MBP14 right now. Time remaining is 10h48m, charge is 77%, brightness value is halfway, low-power mode is enabled.
My return period ends soon. I wish MBP were smaller and less massive. But, compared with MBP, the specs for MBA just aren't so much better? That's my experience, based on Apple Store trials.
I'm not quite following what you're saying. I'm in the same situation and am likely to keep the 14... I really like the extra screen real estate and speakers... What are you going to do?
I'm coming from 11.6-in MBA -- so, in my eyes, *all* the latest MacBooks are way too big.
I kinda see the difference in display quality but not terribly much -- I see the blacks being deeper but ProMotion just totally goes over my head. I'd be willing to go for MBA display if, for instance, the diagonal measurement were closer to 11.6in.
MBP having better options for RAM is a big selling point for me.
For the past couple days I've gone to Apple Store, looking for reasons to return MBP14 in favor of MBA. I've not yet found a really good reason. In my eyes, MBA stands out for being lightweight and, perhaps, for nothing else... Yes MBA *is* a more comfortable lap experience -- but it's not as if MBP14 is unusable. For each computer, I'm able to hold it atop my left forearm and type with my right hand... MBP14 also fits in my backpack, which is small. So it's not as if the device is *huge* -- the size difference between 14.2in and 11.6in is just so very striking.
I've not yet heard MBP14 fans come on yet. Do kind readers have any comment, any horror stories about fans? I wonder how it feels when MBA resorts to thermal throttling.
Notebookcheck review is nice. This link leads easily to MBP14 pages too. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-MacBook-Air-M2-Entry-Review-A-very-good-but-too-expensive-daily-MacBook.636637.0.html
As for me -- gonna go back to Apple Store yet again (return period still is active lol). Probably gonna keep MBP. Albeit with some reluctance.
Also worth noting: Battery replacement costs 199 USD for MBP14 and 129 USD for MBA.
Last edited:
Why settle for it if you're not enthusiastic about the 14 MBP? In addition to the screen and the speakers, the thing which leads me to keep the 14 is the battery life. It's better than I expected and probably about 80-90% of the Air in my real-world use.
Yup that's what I, too, am seeing. Everyone says MBA great for 'time remaining' so I'm reluctant to dismiss this consensus finding. I think MBP battery better than I expected.
Does running on 'more space' scaling (versus 'default for display') take away from 'time remaining'?
75% is the sweetspot for me that gives me a bright. 375 nits.
Do you like squinting and eye strains? Or you sit near your laptop? The screen real estate is fine.
Battery life and the new keyboard are my only gripes. I like the older style (pre 15') MBA keyboards.
What are you planning to do with your MBP 14" so that battery life is only 6 - 7 hours?
I'm saying battery life is depending on whether you push it hard or not. I could easily get about 1 hour use with 7% battery consumption in my typical use. Very similar to MBA M1 I had before.
Browse the web and watch YT at 100" Brightness. No low power mode.
I feel like people are underselling the MBA, I've heard people getting 7% in TWO hours.
That is a good question. I'm on of those who does get eye strain from PWM but it also is depending on what Hz PWM is used. Like in iPhone 12 it is about 240 and it is quite noticeable. Also I had one Asus Zenbook that had 400Hz PWM and it was disaster until I found out utility app that allowed me to up Hz and I cannot remember exactly how high I pushed it but it was couple thousand where it was acceptable (I could push it over 10000 but it made coil while type of noise then I decide to put it to value where it did not make that sound).
What I'm saying here is that PWM is pretty individual thing but something like MBP 14" with about 15000Hz PWM is probably something that very few people should get issues from PWM.
For easy test anyone can try is simple hand waving test to see how well you can see PWM and where goes the rate you do not see it. This is how to do it. Have your display you want to test display full screen white image from normal viewing distance. Now wave your hand with fingers spread apart up/down or left/right around middle way between your eyes and screen. When it looks like you have much more that 5 fingers, the display is using PWM at rather low rate. If you have adjustable PWM rate (like I had with Zenbook) you and the go up with PWM Hz and find the value where you no longer see this effect. The display without PWM should look in this test like your finger are blurred but you can see only 5 fingers.
Well then it does not matter which you choose because you are within 6 to 7 hour range with both MBP 14" and MBA M2...
I don't think that is possible with the scenario you described. It was not even remotely possible with my MBA M1 and it is not much different from MBA M2 regarding battery life (based on Notebookcheck it should be around 8.5 hours in that test, I'd say it match what I was getting with my MBA M1).
Last edited:
I'm going to be high-key pissed if the battery craps out like my MBP 15" 2015 in a few years..Apple's version of planned obsolescence.
Notebookcheck is unreliable..they don't even have either MBA m1/m2 in their top 10 list of ultra-portables, lol.
They rated my 2015 15" MBP for 7.5 hours MAX brightness, web browsing. Please..
Notebookcheck is unreliable..they don't even have either MBA m1/m2 in their top 10 list of ultra-portables, lol.
They rated my 2015 15" MBP for 7.5 hours MAX brightness, web browsing. Please..
Any Li-ion battery will get weaker in few years. Depending on your usage and charging habit you can slow down or speed up that process. Anyway, I'd say few years is what these are supposed to last anyway.
OK. You are free to believe what you want but that is one of the most reliable sources. Just go get either or both MBA M2 and MBP 14" and see it yourself that their battery run time charts match pretty well. I don't understand why you just keep reading user comments over the internet about these since you never know how each one is testing theirs. It is obvious that someone telling they get days and days usage on single charge is something you should not buy right away without knowing exact conditions during that. When ever I myself challenge some of these claims I get some vague reply saying something I don't have stop watch clocking all the time or similar excuse.
It likely was that when new. It won't be the same today due to battery aging and newer OS using more CPU power causing more power use. It is just something you need to realize. It is the same with every notebook.