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MacBook Pro 16” + MacBook Air M2

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fpenta

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 30, 2016
231
126
Hello,

I’m currently using a MacBook Pro 14” (M1 PRO 10c/16c 1TB 16GB), and found the screen a little bit too small for what I’m doing (photography).
I also travel a lot so I need a portable machine ( I don’t need the power when traveling, I’ll use it only for light editing, web and backup photos)
I was thinking of selling the 14” and get the 16” M1 Max as a main computer and get a M2 MacBook Air 512GB 8GB only for traveling with my (already) heavy photography backpack.

Not really sure if it’s worth selling the 14” and lose some money during the resale process for a M2 or just keep the 14” + 16” but.. they are too similar machines.. Instead having the 16” and air M2 would mean having the best of both words.

I don’t like connecting the computer to a monitor so this is not an option.
I tried it few years back and I absolutely hated that.

I like to have a bigger 16” laptop to work around the studio or house but don’t want to carry it on planes or use it in tight places. When traveling I need a laptop that is not super heavy and expensive, just a laptop that I can throw everywhere I want without worrying about it.


There are great deals this weekend on amazon on all apple devices here in Europe so I could take advantage of them.

What do you suggest?
 
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Why not get a M1 12.9 iPad Pro for travelling in combination with the 16" MBP?

An iPad Pro is way better on planes than 13" laptops.
 
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Zest28 said:
Why not get a M1 12.9 iPad Pro for travelling in combination with the 16" MBP?

An iPad Pro is way better on planes than 13" laptops.
Click to expand...
I already have a 12.9” iPad but I need a laptop that would be capable of opening photo softwarss so this would not be a solution.
 
I use a similar setup, except that I have the older, M1 MacBook Air.
Although it is portable, the 16" MBP is a heavy beast, but it teams up nicely with the MBA.

PS
I tried the iPad Pro route, but I wasn't able to use iPad OS to productivity, so after much frustration I bought the MBA.
 
Silvestru Hosszu said:
I use a similar setup, except that I have the older, M1 MacBook Air.
Although it is portable, the 16" MBP is a heavy beast, but it teams up nicely with the MBA.

PS
I tried the iPad Pro route, but I wasn't able to use iPad OS to productivity, so after much frustration I bought the MBA.
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Nice. If you also had the MBP 14” (as I already have) would you sell it for the Air?
 
I never had the 14” MBP so I cannot comment on that.
But before buying the 16” MBP I had a serious dilemma.
Should I buy a16 MBP and an Air or just buy a well specced out 14 MBP?!
After many readings and lots of talk with people who had all these machines, I opted for the Air + MBP 16 combo.
 
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Silvestru Hosszu said:
I never had the 14” MBP so I cannot comment on that.
But before buying the 16” MBP I had a serious dilemma.
Should I buy a16 MBP and an Air or just buy a well specced out 14 MBP?!
After many readings and lots of talk with people who had all these machines, I opted for the Air + MBP 16 combo.
Click to expand...
Thanks. That was probably the way I had to go. Unfortunately I took the wrong decision because I thought it was pointless to have 2 laptops but now I regret that. I went ahead and made the decision to order a 16” M1 Max and M2 Air with 512GB 8GB. Got a great deal on amazon at almost 20% discount from original pricing.
 
in my opinion the only reason to switch to the Air is the weight difference. Everything else speaks for the 14 inch MBP:

The MBP is only 3% deeper, 3% wider, and 1/6 inch thicker.
The MBP has a better and brighter screen (go to a store and compare them).
The MBP has a SDXC card slot.

What I completely understand (I have all three models) is the slight frustration for a few minutes when switching to the 14 inch after having worked with the 16 inch. But that happens with the Air also, as the screen is even smaller.
 
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lukas.j said:
in my opinion the only reason to switch to the Air is the weight difference. Everything else speaks for the 14 inch MBP:

The MBP is only 3% deeper, 3% wider, and 1/6 inch thicker.
The MBP has a better and brighter screen (go to a store and compare them).
The MBP has a SDXC card slot.

What I completely understand (I have all three models) is the slight frustration for a few minutes when switching to the 14 inch after having worked with the 16 inch. But the happens with the Air also, as the screen is even smaller.
Click to expand...
Maximum portability is exactly the point to get the air: a cheaper and lightweight laptop that can travel with me around the world even in the most remote and uncomfortable places like car or van roadtrips. I know I will be losing many features and performance compared to the 14” but when traveling I think the feature that I will appreciate the most is the lighter weight.
Why do you have all three models? Just curious
 
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I would trade in your MacBook Pro 14" for a MacBook Air M2, see if that's powerful enough, and if it is, purchase a high quality external display.

Seems like the more efficient approach to me. Everything on one device, and a 24"+ External display will provide a lot better experience than a 16" MacBook Pro would.
 
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fpenta said:
Maximum portability is exactly the point to get the air: a cheaper and lightweight laptop that can travel with me around the world even in the most remote and uncomfortable places like car or van roadtrips. I know I will be losing many features and performance compared to the 14” but when traveling I think the feature that I will appreciate the most is the lighter weight.
Why do you have all three models? Just curious
Click to expand...
The air is 30% thinner and lighter than your 14” pro, that’s a fairly noticeable difference that it sounds like you would greatly appreciate.

If you’re getting the 16” pro, the 14” definitely isn’t necessary to keep then
 
I did exactly as the OP was planning and have a maxed out 16" M1 Max MBPro and a maxed out 13.6" M2 MBA. Reasoning is similar. The MBPro is heavy and does not make a good traveling companion (whichever configuration you choose and is the only choice for a larger screened laptop in the Apple range), however the Air is light and is a great traveling companion albeit with a rather small screen. It works for me but each individual's use case is different and this is an expensive solution, so I am lucky I have the choice. The choice would be more difficult if there was a 15" MBA as this might eliminate the need for the 16" MBPro. I do not really need the capabilities of the M1 Max in a laptop (I have a nearly maxed out 2020 iMac for that) and simply bought the configuration I have because if I was going to get a 16" laptop I might as well get it well equipped.

A light, battery sipping 15" MBA would be amazing. However I suspect that Apple have worked out that a 15" MBA would cannibalize their 16" and 14" low end models and are unlikely to release one in my opinion (I hope I am wrong about this but I do not hold out much hope for a 15" MBA). It would be just too convenient.
 
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16” M1 Max vs 13” M2 Air, the difference is MASSIVE! In love with this new setup👌🏻.

D1871B89-0DA6-4F8C-97B0-18EA8AB06DF4.jpeg
 
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1BadManVan said:
haha nice! definitely a beast compared to the air. Let us know how you like the m2 air performance! I think you'll be surprised how capable that little machine still is
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I'm more surprised by the performance of the air than the 16" for the dimensions, really. I don't notice any overheating or throttling issue they are talking about. I had a 2018 MBP 15" with i9 before and that thing was a spaceship.
I hated to use that laptop.
Technerd108 said:
Pretty sweet setup there! The best of both worlds!

Hope you enjoy them both!
Click to expand...
Thanks! Yes, very happy so far. The air is fantastic.
 
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geta said:
Damnnn, the 16” MBP looks like a monster compared to the MBA :)

Out of quriosety, you planing to use the 16” mainly as a desktop replacment? If so, why not having MBA plus Mac Studio with big screen instead?
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Just because I already have an 2019 iMac 27” i9 64GB which still runs fast. I’m addicted to the high ppi of the apple displays and buying the Mac studio + studio display wasn’t going to be an upgrade for me (a lot of money for the same display I have been looking at in the past years isn’t tempting, especially when the MBP have the best screens). I’m going to use the 16” around the house/studio/close to home destinations and the MB air for air travels.
I’ll upgrade the desktop once and if a mini led version or a new 27” iMac comes out.
 
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A 16" MBP + 12.9 iPad Pro is a better combination than a 16" MBP + MBA. The iPad Pro atleast offers a different experience.
 
I was also going to suggest a 12.9" iPad Pro to go with the 16", but as it won't work for you, the M2 Air would be a great second device - its incredibly thin and light compared to the 16" and in day to day use feels a lot lighter than the specs suggest.
 
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