MacBook Air 2020 Core i7 1.2Ghz, or MacBook Pro 2020 13-inch Core i5 1.4GHz?

[Elmatador8]

Hello everyone,

I am considering between getting a MBA 2020 with the following specs:

• 1.2GHz quad-core 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz
• 8GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory

Versus

MacBook Pro 13-in 2020 with the following specs:

• 1.4GHz quad-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz
• 8GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory (or maybe 16GB? +125 €)

I plan to use it for:

• office/studying tasks: browsers ( 20-30 chrome tabs, spotify in background) and simple office softwares like word (no heavy excel stuff)
• very light coding tasks: I run computational physics programs, but nothing heavy once again (a couple of planets behaviors, no AI, thermodynamics modelisation or deep learning stuff)
• and then, this is what is critical:
  • I would like to be able for the next few years to play the two simplest games I know: CSGO and LOL. I am not a pro player, but I just want these games to be playable: which means constant 60 fps
  • I saw a couple of tests that went out in the previous weeks. Of what I understand, the MacBook air simply can't run these games. On the other hand, the Macbook Pro achieve these goals pretty easily. Can someone confirm this?

Finally I have heard on that forum that there are many issues about the Macbook Air overheating when it is asked to perform not simple tasks.

MBA 1 329 € -- 1 249 $
MBP 1 499 € -- 1 299 $ ( or 1 624 € -- 1 399 $ for 16GB)

My point here is that they are roughly similar (a bit below 1500 € ).

In short: I believe the Macbook Pro is the best solution because I can actually run CSGO/LOL on it, and has no overheating issues.

PS: Is this worth to improve the memory from 8GB to 16GB for the Macbook Pro?
PPS: Should I post this in the advice/buying thread?

 

[Howard2k]

Pro for sure. I can’t really think of a reason to go with the Air under those circumstances.

 

[IngerMan]

I would definitely get 16GB ram for $100. As you heard many times, “that’s a no brainer“ if your willing to wait a few weeks.

 

[Elmatador8]

Thank you for your replies!

I don't get what you mean when you say

As you heard many times, “that’s a no brainer“ if your willing to wait a few weeks.

wait a few weeks?
What should I wait for?

 

[IngerMan]

Thank you for your replies!

I don't get what you mean when you say


wait a few weeks?
What should I wait for?

Normally it’s not a stock item. It’s a CTO or configure to order from Apple. Now you might find that it is in stock at some Apple resellers soon. Worst case it takes a few weeks to get delivery from Apple 🍏

 

[LFC2020]

Easy MacBook Pro for the win.

Better P3 wide color gamut screen, brighter screen, better thermals.

Might as well add the extra ram for a extra $100 if your budget allows you to.

 

[Scorcher]

Hello everyone,

I am considering between getting a MBA 2020 with the following specs:

• 1.2GHz quad-core 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz
• 8GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory

Versus

MacBook Pro 13-in 2020 with the following specs:

• 1.4GHz quad-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz
• 8GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory (or maybe 16GB? +125 €)

I plan to use it for:

• office/studying tasks: browsers ( 20-30 chrome tabs, spotify in background) and simple office softwares like word (no heavy excel stuff)
• very light coding tasks: I run computational physics programs, but nothing heavy once again (a couple of planets behaviors, no AI, thermodynamics modelisation or deep learning stuff)
• and then, this is what is critical:
  • I would like to be able for the next few years to play the two simplest games I know: CSGO and LOL. I am not a pro player, but I just want these games to be playable: which means constant 60 fps
  • I saw a couple of tests that went out in the previous weeks. Of what I understand, the MacBook air simply can't run these games. On the other hand, the Macbook Pro achieve these goals pretty easily. Can someone confirm this?

Finally I have heard on that forum that there are many issues about the Macbook Air overheating when it is asked to perform not simple tasks.

MBA 1 329 € -- 1 249 $
MBP 1 499 € -- 1 299 $ ( or 1 624 € -- 1 399 $ for 16GB)

My point here is that they are roughly similar (a bit below 1500 € ).

In short: I believe the Macbook Pro is the best solution because I can actually run CSGO/LOL on it, and has no overheating issues.

PS: Is this worth to improve the memory from 8GB to 16GB for the Macbook Pro?
PPS: Should I post this in the advice/buying thread?

Small comment: the MacBook Pro that you are describing Does not have a 10th gen processor. The 1.4GHz quad core that turbo boosts to 3.9GHz and has 8 GB of LPDDR3 RAM is an 8th gen processor. Only the more expensive 1799$ model has a 10th gen processor.

I would recommend the MacBook Pro and if you can swing it the 1799 model.
I had a 2018 MacBook Air and it had a hard time keeping up with me. My use case was about 10 chrome tabs, some excel and basic office work and some light image processing. the MAcBook would heat up and get stuck a lot.

I think that regardless you should get 16GB of ram and 512GB of storage. That brings you to 1399 dollars (For the Air)
If you can swing it, get the 1799 pro. That has 2 extra thunderbolt ports, much better thermals and a better processor