MacBook Air Mid 2012 vs MacBook i5 2017

[Phil22]

Hi all:

I am in need of upgrading my ageing MacBook Air but wanted to first check if the 2017 MacBook would feel like an upgrade in terms of speed. How does the i5 2017 compare to the 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5? I mainly use it for photo editing (via Photos) so the improved screen resolution and larger disk space are the main reasons for wanting to upgrade. I am drawn to the portability of the MacBook which is the reason for not considering the Pro.

Full specs of Air are below:
1.8 GHz Intel Core i5
8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536 MB

Cheers!

 

[maerz001]

I had the same MacBook Air as u and upgraded to a 2016 MB M5.

I was first concerned about the smaller screen. But overall it's a really nice piece of work. Just the single usbc sometimes sucks.

I can recommend it. Speed and overall performance is much better. I use gimp for pics and it's so much smoother to use.

So 2017 will be even better

 

[Phil22]

That's great to hear thanks for the input. I am going to go to the Apple store and try out the MacBook and MacBook Pro 13inch (without touch bar) to see if the weight/ size difference is something I can live with. I understand that the screen on the Pro is actually better than on the MacBook (I thought that they were similar?).

 

[maerz001]

Well the size and weight difference will be much bigger than the screen quality. The MBP is brighter and has a bigger color range. But to be honest u will just notice it when they stand next to each other or you are a professional who is used to color accuracy.

When u are used to the air screen it is night and day to the MB. The MBPs is just some more topping

 

[KPOM]

The MacBook would be a great upgrade from your 2012 Air. I had the 11.6" version of your 2012 Air. The SSD is significantly faster and the Core M processors have come a long way over the past 2 years.

 

[DNAppleGold]

Just replaced my mid-2013 MBA (1.7ghz core i7; 8g ram) with the 2017 MB (1.2 ghz m3; 16 g ram). I think I can safely say you'll be very happy with the new MB because -

• Smaller and lighter. I pick up the MBA and sometimes think I grabbed my 2012 15in MBP by mistake. Seriously it's shocking.
• The retina screen. It's just insanely sharp compared with the Air (which had a good screen). I don't miss the screen size at all.
• Faster. While the base MB is no speed daemon, it is quite snappy for everything I do and noticeably more so than my MBA.
• Trackpad has really improved.
• Quiet (no fan) and cooler on the lap.

Honestly, I didn't mean to replace the Air with the MB. I bought the MB as a second computer to have around the office. But I like the MB much that I bring it home and almost never touch the Air.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Anyone gone from a 2012 11" MBA 1.7Ghz to the 2017 MacBook M3? I've done the Geekbench comparisons, but curious to know about real world experience.

 

[DNAppleGold]

Anyone gone from a 2012 11" MBA 1.7Ghz to the 2017 MacBook M3? I've done the Geekbench comparisons, but curious to know about real world experience.

I've got the the 2013 mba 1.7ghz and new Macbook M3. The macbook is noticeably snappier in all regards.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I've got the the 2013 mba 1.7ghz and new Macbook M3. The macbook is noticeably snappier in all regards.

Awesome thanks!

 

[filmbuff]

Do yall think it's snappier because it has a newly loaded OS on it vs years of use, or is the hardware actually that much better? My MBA never seems strained at all by normal use, even by photo and video editing, so it's hard to picture a Macbook with a core M processor really being faster, aside from the SSD read time.

 

[DNAppleGold]

Do yall think it's snappier because it has a newly loaded OS on it vs years of use, or is the hardware actually that much better? My MBA never seems strained at all by normal use, even by photo and video editing, so it's hard to picture a Macbook with a core M processor really being faster, aside from the SSD read time.

good question. I don't know if this matters, but I used migration assistant to transfer setting/programs/files from my MBA to the new MB. Regardless, I would not say the difference between my old MBA and new MB is amazing, just noticeable. For example, I timed the opening of Word on both. About 1-2 seconds less on the MB. But it was not as if the MB opened Word "instantaneously" as it would be on new Ipad Pro or likely on a more souped up MBpro.

I should also say, that I originally purchased an 8g RAM MB and decided to spend the extra $200 to trade up to 16gs. I really feel like there are fewer spinning balls on the 16g, although this is totally subjective analysis.

For me, the main reason I use the MB so much more than the MBA is that the MBA is smaller, lighter, quieter, cooler, and has a sharper screen. The small speed difference is nice, but not a big deal.

 

[jovi.jia]

good question. I don't know if this matters, but I used migration assistant to transfer setting/programs/files from my MBA to the new MB. Regardless, I would not say the difference between my old MBA and new MB is amazing, just noticeable. For example, I timed the opening of Word on both. About 1-2 seconds less on the MB. But it was not as if the MB opened Word "instantaneously" as it would be on new Ipad Pro or likely on a more souped up MBpro.

I should also say, that I originally purchased an 8g RAM MB and decided to spend the extra $200 to trade up to 16gs. I really feel like there are fewer spinning balls on the 16g, although this is totally subjective analysis.

For me, the main reason I use the MB so much more than the MBA is that the MBA is smaller, lighter, quieter, cooler, and has a sharper screen. The small speed difference is nice, but not a big deal.

It is SSD faster than HD on Air when word is opened.