Macbook Pro 13" 2020 base model VS Macbook air i5 with 16gb Ram

[Abaganov]

They both come out at the same price, the base model MBP 13" 2020 with 8GB of ram, 256 ssd and i5 processor and the macbook air 2020 with upgraded processor to i5, upgraded ram to 16gb and same ssd 256.

which one is a better choice in your opinion and will provide better performance? (my use case is mostly tons of chrome tabs open and accustional small video and photo editing.

Also I hope to be able to run windows on virtual machine from time to time.

thanks in advance!

 

[magbarn]

if you can’t afford the $200 difference take the MacBook Air. Other than gobbling ram with resource hog chrome and Virtual Machines, it sounds like you won’t be seriously stressing the machine and running out of ram is a bigger hit than the performance delta between the base 8th gen mbp and the 2020 mba.

I returned the mba for the mbp as I do some heavy photo editing and processing easily over 1000 raw files at a time so the performance difference was significant enough for me. But I do miss the wedge shape and standard function keys fiercely.

 

[kindaichi81]

no brainer, macbook pro base model.

 

[Sordid79]

Base MacBook Pro and spend slightly more for 16gb ram.

 

[iDarkTraveler]

In comparison of the base with 8gb RAM and the Air i5 with 16gb RAM, it's not easy imo. Small video/photo editing would be exactly the same on both (considering it's "small"). Chrome should be snappier with the Air, but many tabs in Chrome are not that big of a deal as many people say. So, it depends whether it's 20+ tabs of a regular content or 10+ tabs including multiple audio/video streaming, flash gaming, working with Google docs, using Google meets or MS Teams within the browser etc. - this makes a marginal difference. Multitasking will be also snappier with the Air (but if it's multitasking between Chrome and one or two other apps no or negligible difference there).

As for the graphics, the Air is on another level (I don't consider there's connection between thermal throttling and GPU usage while it's not dGPU). Air i5 should almost level with the MB Pro 10th in case of GPU (I haven't seen any direct comparisons or parameters but I expect MBPro GPU G7 to be clocked at 1100 such as i7 Air)...