MB2 Base Model or 16GB/256 SSD ?

[mous94410]

Hello !

I want to buy a M2 MBA for browsing, Netflix, YouTube and I want to begin to use Final CUT Pro for the first time to edit 4K videos from my iPhone 13 pro (travel). I want to know if the base model is adequate to do that or should I, at least, go with 16GB of RAM.

I don’t want to upgrade the SSD too because I’m French and the price with education plan for 512 SSD is 1800 euros. The MBP 14 is a better choise for 2000 euros.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Dozens of threads on this already

 

[mous94410]

Dozens of threads on this already

Sorry I’m new here so what’s the answer ?

 

[ilikewhey]

if you're gonna use final cut 16gb is recommended. yeah the 256gb speed sucks compare to 512, but you won't really notice it, but if you ever get large amount of mem swap due to lack of ram, yeah you will notice it affecting your daily usage.

 

[Shirasaki]

When you want to do 4K video, 256GB will be used up long before whatever slowed down impact shows up, and SSD will be slowed anyways. I’m surprised 512GB in France isnt a good deal atm.

Anyways, the short answer is go for 16GB and carry an external SSD with you on the go to deal with storage problem.

 

[sjperformance]

I say 16/512.

 

[throAU]

If you're wanting to do 4k video editing, unless you plan on doing it from an external SSD (hard drives, SD cards, etc. are not fast enough) I'd suggest at least 512 GB of storage.

Not because of performance, but because of the storage requirements. As above, 4k video will blow through storage fast.

If that means stepping to a Pro is a better deal, maybe that's a better deal. you can edit from an external SSD, but then you're carrying multiple things around with you, not just the notebook.

 

[mous94410]

I have an external SSD storage so I will use it. Thank you for your advise

 

[mous94410]

I say 16/512.

This was my first choise but it costs 1800 euros in France. For 2000 euros, I can have a 14 MBP which is a much better MacBook but I want the MBA 2 for his portability, to replace my IPad Pro

 

[MayaUser]

base model for portability is the answer
case close

 

[johannnn]

Why would anyone recommend 512GB SSD? This is not the 90s where people stored a lot of files on their computer. Nowadays casual users have everything in Netflix/Spotify/Dropbox etc.

Get the 16GB RAM though. Just a few crappy apps (e.g. MS Office) will eat up all RAM if you only have 8GB.

 

[mous94410]

Yeah thank, I just ordered the 16 RAM/256 SSD version + 67W USB charger for 1 611 euros (education price). Without the education price, it‘s 1749 euros.
I have a 150 euros gift card though. I will buy the Pro Apps Bundle for Education that costs 199 euros with a bunch of apps like Final Cut Pro that costs 299 euros.

 

[Shirasaki]

Nowadays casual users have everything in Netflix/Spotify/Dropbox etc

You can Try to edit 4K video stored on Dropbox, iCloud etc. without prior downloading them locally.

 

[Mr. Awesome]

Why would anyone recommend 512GB SSD? This is not the 90s where people stored a lot of files on their computer. Nowadays casual users have everything in Netflix/Spotify/Dropbox etc.

Get the 16GB RAM though. Just a few crappy apps (e.g. MS Office) will eat up all RAM if you only have 8GB.

Because OP specifically mentioned working with 4K footage, which uses quite a bit of storage and adds up quickly.

 

[DD88]

I advise you purchase an apple polishing cloth before you purchase any apple item.

 

[TSE]

I would really encourage you to save a little bit more and get at least 512 GBs - 4K footage is a beast and will take up your 256 GBs of storage, and 8 GBs for editing 4k footage isn't recommended.

If you ABSOLUTELY need to get a laptop right now, I would go with the m1 with either 8gb / 512gb or 16gb / 256gb and plan on getting n external drive sometime in the near future.

 

[1BadManVan]

He says he uses an external ssd, so he should be ok with the 256 base storage. If he can only choose one upgrade, ram is definitely the way to go for what ehe using it for when he has extra storage to use anyways

 

[CosmicRichy]

I have the base model 8/256gb and I have zero complaints. I can't believe I almost fell for the "just buy the 14'' MacBook Pro bro because M2 is trash" debate. I'm using my machine for Chrome, Discord, Music, Podcasts and GeForce Now (cloud gaming). I haven't even begun to push this machine to its limits and I doubt I ever will with my usage habits. If you want to do 4k content creation id say 16/512 is required though.

 

[1BadManVan]

I have the base model 8/256gb and I have zero complaints. I can't believe I almost fell for the "just buy the 14'' MacBook Pro bro because M2 is trash" debate. I'm using my machine for Chrome, Discord, Music, Podcasts and GeForce Now (cloud gaming). I haven't even begun to push this machine to its limits and I doubt I ever will with my usage habits. If you want to do 4k content creation id say 16/512 is required though.

I say whoever was happy with the m1 base air will be more then happy with this one as well.

 

[kp98077]

I really believe 8gb is fine for most people.. even in your case the ram is very efficient. Can't always go on the numbers like the YouTubers...

 

[throAU]

Why would anyone recommend 512GB SSD? This is not the 90s where people stored a lot of files on their computer. Nowadays casual users have everything in Netflix/Spotify/Dropbox etc.

Get the 16GB RAM though. Just a few crappy apps (e.g. MS Office) will eat up all RAM if you only have 8GB.

edit:
Below is not aimed at the OP who has a legitimate decision to make, but the attitude of the quoted user specifically:


Because this is still a premium machine, and using external drives like some scabby peasant (or even worse, loading directly from internet via the network) is not a great experience.

This is not the 90s where people are using 240p video and taking photos with 1 megapixel cameras.

People take photos with their high end iPhones in HDR, and import HDR 4k video to do quick edits with, even casuals. That takes space.

If you want to just load everything from the network, save the money and buy a crappy base model Chromebook?