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MacBook Air or PRO?
- Thread starter Sara Karlsson
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Yes.
Chose the MBA because I do not have sustained load demands and understand this is a stopgap between my aging 27” iMac and a more powerful M chip machine. Couldn’t justify buying the low end MBP and am fine with the differences between the Air and this M1 MBP.
On topic, If I was a student I would check software compatibility, my school’s system requirements compared to the M1 Macs, and my usage outside of school. I think the MBP is the better machine if it’s your main computer.
And my MBA is due to arrive tomorrow.🙂
The fact that literally NOTHING is user replaceable I think Apple care is a no brainer on this one. But I have always got it on my macs regardless. Saved me big time on my current 2017 MBP
Agreed. The one time I did not buy AppleCare I needed it, so I always buy it now too.
It might just be me, but has anybody who has used both recent models of MacBook Air and Pro feel like the Pro just feels a bit snappier & responsive in "normal" use? I'm not talking about under load or any sort, but just how the OS and apps respond.
Or is it just me?
Or is it just me?
I got AppleCare, even though I plan to only have the MBA until the 14.1 MBP comes out. I’ve needed it enough in the past that I always buy it now.
I own a 2018 MBP15 and 2020 i5 MBA. I've not discerned any noticeable difference in snappiness. FWIW.
May wish to differentiate AppleCare+ from AppleCare as they're different programs. Even though folks don't necessarily have a choice regarding which is offered in their country.
Me? I added AC+ to my 2018 MBP15 - and got it at a discount because I bought the system through my undergrad school campus store (they sell to alumni). Came in handy this spring when I discovered I had a puffed up battery and it'd gotten so fat in the belly it didn't sit on its feet. Made the repair easy peasy and zero cost - Apple sent me a box, paid overnight shipping both ways, and I had the repaired system back in hand the same week. Came in handy since mine wasn't included in the battery recall program.
I've also added it to my M1 MBA that I have on order - new system architecture, would prefer some added assurances.
I'm probably going to jump in with an M1 Air with 256 or 512 & 16gb. I'm going with the Air because I have a PS4 to handle my gaming needs (eventually PS5) and plans to build a gaming/power rig over the coming years. I'm using Lightroom CC with a terabyte of online storage so my photos are stored up there for now, but coming from a 256gb MBA from 2013, a storage upgrade will be nice to have. This is all pre-review though, once Youtubers get their hands on both I think I (and many others) will be able to make a better decision. Also, this is given I can find a way to get it direct from Apple, because the retailers in my locale inflate their prices so badly.
I just ordered an Pro, then cancelled and ordered an Air to replace my 2015 12".
If it truly is the successor, it needs a weight loss plan. They're both chunky compared to the 12", but the pain of losing function keys in exchange for Touch Bar is what caused me to go with the Air in the end.
This may be a silly question but I noticed the new AIR keyboard does not have screen brightness keys on the function row nor does it mention a backlight keyboard on the tech spec page... I wonder if the new air does not have a backlight keyboard?
EDIT: I stand corrected in the Keyboard description it says backlit keyboard... Sorry! got nervous for a minute!
EDIT: I stand corrected in the Keyboard description it says backlit keyboard... Sorry! got nervous for a minute!
It has a backlit keyboard. The keyboard brightness can be adjusted in Control Center.
"And the backlit keys with ambient light sensor help you type in low‑light settings." - https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/
The brightness keys are no longer part of the function row. Keyboard brightness can now be adjusted in Control Center. Dictation and Do Not Disturb keys have taken the place of the Keyboard Brightness Increase/Decrease keys.
Let's be clear here lest someone get confused.
Screen brightness appears to still be on on the fn row. Keyboard brightness controls are replaced with dictation and DND.
Any web developers here? 
I currently consider selling my MBP i5 (10th gen) 2020 and buying a MacBook Air M1 instead. I basically don't need my current machine's power and just bought it because the MacBook Air from early 2020 was awful and the entry level MacBook Pro didn't seem like a good investment with its 8th gen Intel tech.
I typically run a few instances of Visual Studio Code and 2-3 browsers with quite a number of tabs. I mostly develop for WordPress and only require some lightweight compilation (SCSS, JS, asset optimization and so forth). I use Affinity Designer for some simple tasks. Occasionally, I enjoy making some music in Logic, but it's mostly audio tracks rather than software instruments.
Given that most of the apps I use frequently are available as universal binaries already or soon-to-be, I reckon that the new MacBook Air would definitely suffice for me. I'm even considering going with 8 GB RAM due to the new unified architecture, but 16 GB RAM would probably be the safer choice...
What do you guys think? Would appreciate your thoughts.
EDIT: forgot to mention that I consider learning some React or Vue JS and possibly start playing around with Xcode...would the MBA still be powerful enough for that?
I currently consider selling my MBP i5 (10th gen) 2020 and buying a MacBook Air M1 instead. I basically don't need my current machine's power and just bought it because the MacBook Air from early 2020 was awful and the entry level MacBook Pro didn't seem like a good investment with its 8th gen Intel tech.
I typically run a few instances of Visual Studio Code and 2-3 browsers with quite a number of tabs. I mostly develop for WordPress and only require some lightweight compilation (SCSS, JS, asset optimization and so forth). I use Affinity Designer for some simple tasks. Occasionally, I enjoy making some music in Logic, but it's mostly audio tracks rather than software instruments.
Given that most of the apps I use frequently are available as universal binaries already or soon-to-be, I reckon that the new MacBook Air would definitely suffice for me. I'm even considering going with 8 GB RAM due to the new unified architecture, but 16 GB RAM would probably be the safer choice...
What do you guys think? Would appreciate your thoughts.
EDIT: forgot to mention that I consider learning some React or Vue JS and possibly start playing around with Xcode...would the MBA still be powerful enough for that?
Same here. Doing a lot of frontend stuff and also want do learn Xcode/Swift/iOS Programming. The Air is more than enough I think.Any web developers here?
I currently consider selling my MBP i5 (10th gen) 2020 and buying a MacBook Air M1 instead. I basically don't need my current machine's power and just bought it because the MacBook Air from early 2020 was awful and the entry level MacBook Pro didn't seem like a good investment with its 8th gen Intel tech.
I typically run a few instances of Visual Studio Code and 2-3 browsers with quite a number of tabs. I mostly develop for WordPress and only require some lightweight compilation (SCSS, JS, asset optimization and so forth). I use Affinity Designer for some simple tasks. Occasionally, I enjoy making some music in Logic, but it's mostly audio tracks rather than software instruments.
Given that most of the apps I use frequently are available as universal binaries already or soon-to-be, I reckon that the new MacBook Air would definitely suffice for me. I'm even considering going with 8 GB RAM due to the new unified architecture, but 16 GB RAM would probably be the safer choice...
What do you guys think? Would appreciate your thoughts.
EDIT: forgot to mention that I consider learning some React or Vue JS and possibly start playing around with Xcode...would the MBA still be powerful enough for that?
I‘m buying the 16GB ram version.
My thoughts are that if you found the 2020 Intel Air not to be suitable for your workload / type of work (such as if it's frequent sustained CPU loading), then there's no reason to think the M1 Air will be different and you'd best buy the Pro as the same differentiation exists with the M1 models.
Now if you were just assuming the intel Air was unsuitable without having direct experience with it, then perhaps the M1 Air may fit your needs.
Thanks for your reply.
I mostly expected the Intel Air not to be suitable due to the heatpipe issues and I didn't want any fan noise. That should be fixed with the M1.
And it should be a lot more powerful than the Intel one, shouldn't it?
One thing I've been thinking about - assuming equal (low) workload do you think the passive cooling is better on the Air than the MBP? I.e. is the MBP going to likely have fan noise where it would not be necessary on the MBA?
I mostly expected the Intel Air not to be suitable due to the heatpipe issues and I didn't want any fan noise. That should be fixed with the M1.
And it should be a lot more powerful than the Intel one, shouldn't it?
As an owner of a 2020 i5 Air, in my experience there was a lot of hullabaloo over nothing. Sure, there were some problem units. There were people trying to shoehorn continuous substantial CPU loads onto a machine not intended for that (even if it was software decoding 4K video in Chrome) and being surprised that it spun the fan. And there were people who focused on a CPU temperature reading and what they thought it ought to be rather than what the Intel engineers thought it ought to be, all while ignoring things that matter like whether the system is comfortable on your lap all evening.
My experience has been that my intel Air is silent except for when I push it with a batch of many dozens of RAW file conversions or preview generations; even then it is unobtrusive and becomes silent again quickly. I can putter through an evening of safari surfing, email, Lightroom photo reviewing / tagging / editing, etc. and it remains silent and comfortable on my lap. I also don't game, I don't use stuff like Chrome with a bazillion extensions, etc.
All that said - the M1 Air not only should do a lot more "work" per amount of heat generated - thereby having a higher throughput even when at it's maximum sustained heat dissipation - but it will also remain silent no matter what since (as you note) there's no fan to spin. The tradeoff vs. the Pro will simply be how quickly the Air begins to throttle down to where heat generation matches heat dissipation vs how soon the Pro has to do the same, and what amount of "work" the Air is able to do when throttled down to that sustainable level vs. the presumably higher amount of "work" the Pro can do when it's throttled down to its sustainable level.
Difficult to say until someone does a tear down. Note low levels of fan can be inaudible. I'd also imagine there will be fan control utilities when allow you to keep it from getting too loud - even if that ends up limiting your throughput in exchange.
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For me, it will be Air, mostly because its cheaper over where I reside and has no real life deal breaking differences between it and MBP 13 for my uses. Like the plain design, tho, perhaps would have liked their refreshed MB's to be with refreshed designs closer to 2020 with more minimalistic top and bottom bezels. Even budget laptops have slim bezels these days, let alone premium competition.
Apple markup when you choose RAM/SSD upgrade is just insane per se, let alone in EU, base line Air will cost me around 1140 euros and, so far, Ive been unable to locate models with 16Gb of RAM which is a must for my needs, RAM is more important to me than active CPU cooling and extra iGPU core.
Theoretically, I could buy Pro, but thats 320 euros with not much to gain as I said and with 16Gb upgrade that would certainly make it less compelling purchase price-performance wise, regardless how fast the M1 is. Ryzen or Tiger Lake, while not as "good" on paper, might fill the role just fine if the price climbs over 1400 euros for 16Gb+512Gb combo and it will.
Might have to order one from abroad to get me that 16Gb version and not break the bank. I can deal with 256Gb SSD, but certainly not with 8Gb of RAM.
Apple markup when you choose RAM/SSD upgrade is just insane per se, let alone in EU, base line Air will cost me around 1140 euros and, so far, Ive been unable to locate models with 16Gb of RAM which is a must for my needs, RAM is more important to me than active CPU cooling and extra iGPU core.
Theoretically, I could buy Pro, but thats 320 euros with not much to gain as I said and with 16Gb upgrade that would certainly make it less compelling purchase price-performance wise, regardless how fast the M1 is. Ryzen or Tiger Lake, while not as "good" on paper, might fill the role just fine if the price climbs over 1400 euros for 16Gb+512Gb combo and it will.
Might have to order one from abroad to get me that 16Gb version and not break the bank. I can deal with 256Gb SSD, but certainly not with 8Gb of RAM.