MBA 13.6, MBA 15.3 or MBP14.2 - tricky

[Saturn007]

Chairman, great series of reports. Thanks — and congratulations on your new new 15“ MBA!

I had to work toggling between 3 open windows on my 13" today and it was a bit annoying.

I posted this in another thread. Maybe it will help…

On my 2015 13” MBA, I'm often switching between several Word docs or several views of the same doc, as well as interacting with an Excel spreadsheet and PDFs in Preview.​

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I found that positioning the windows such that a bit of each sticks out to the side or bottom corner lets me switch easily — and even scroll through one while viewing part of the other where I next want to go (say, pasting something I've cut or copied).​

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Plus, I keep my dock on the right side of the screen and find it a breeze to simply click on the app icon whose window I wish to move to.​

 

[mpetrides]

Thanks, Saturn. That's a variant on the way I usually work but it sometimes gets cumbersome on this small screen, so the Expose tip was a help. Maybe things will work better if I pay more attention to precisely how I position windows at the outset the way you suggest.

As for positioning the dock on the right, that would require totally re-wiring my brain because I've been using the dock at the bottom ever since we got a moveable dock--however long ago that was (definitely back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth!). Old habits die hard... 🤪

 

[ncm34]

Adding my perspective on a few items you mentioned since I have the 15" Air as my daily now after having the 14" Pro:

Screen: it is not as big of a downgrade as many threads seem to suggest. It's not easy to tell the difference unless you have them side by side. I mostly code and browse the web and haven't noticed the lack of ProMotion. The difference in blacks are more noticeable at night, on a full screen video, or if you have a dark wallpaper, but again only if you have the machine side by side and tend to notice these things. The Air display also feels easier on the eyes over an extended time, which I am assuming may be due to the lack of PWM having some effect. Overall, the Air display is fantastic and can be used every day as the primary screen you interact with.

Keyboard: Slightly more shallow than the MBP, but for my case where I mostly use the laptop on a table/desk - the thinner profile of the Air makes typing feel more ergonomic. I always had to float my hands over the Pro keyboard to account for the extra thickness off-set.

Speakers: Hard to tell the difference, even side by side. The 14" Pro feels like it's pushing more sound directly at you, but does not sound noticeably more clear than the 15" Air. I am surprised by this result actually given the Air has no speaker grilles.

Screen Size: This was the biggest difference for me, as I was able to rely a lot less on Mission Control, Stage Manager, and Expose with the larger screen. Much easier to tile a few windows side by side and work on everything simultaneously. On paper, the difference is not significant and the 14" Pro has a resolution advantage. But the actual usable screen real estate differs. The max scaled resolution I have on the 14" is 1800 x 1169 and on the 15" 1920 x 1243, so you get a little more space but also with slightly larger icons and text in the OS so it is overall easier on the eyes.

 

[dizmonk]

Adding my perspective on a few items you mentioned since I have the 15" Air as my daily now after having the 14" Pro:

Screen: it is not as big of a downgrade as many threads seem to suggest. It's not easy to tell the difference unless you have them side by side. I mostly code and browse the web and haven't noticed the lack of ProMotion. The difference in blacks are more noticeable at night, on a full screen video, or if you have a dark wallpaper, but again only if you have the machine side by side and tend to notice these things. The Air display also feels easier on the eyes over an extended time, which I am assuming may be due to the lack of PWM having some effect. Overall, the Air display is fantastic and can be used every day as the primary screen you interact with.

Keyboard: Slightly more shallow than the MBP, but for my case where I mostly use the laptop on a table/desk - the thinner profile of the Air makes typing feel more ergonomic. I always had to float my hands over the Pro keyboard to account for the extra thickness off-set.

Speakers: Hard to tell the difference, even side by side. The 14" Pro feels like it's pushing more sound directly at you, but does not sound noticeably more clear than the 15" Air. I am surprised by this result actually given the Air has no speaker grilles.

Screen Size: This was the biggest difference for me, as I was able to rely a lot less on Mission Control, Stage Manager, and Expose with the larger screen. Much easier to tile a few windows side by side and work on everything simultaneously. On paper, the difference is not significant and the 14" Pro has a resolution advantage. But the actual usable screen real estate differs. The max scaled resolution I have on the 14" is 1800 x 1169 and on the 15" 1920 x 1243, so you get a little more space but also with slightly larger icons and text in the OS so it is overall easier on the eyes.

What's your sense of the battery life differences between the two?

 

[ncm34]

What's your sense of the battery life differences between the two?

So far the Air appears to be better at sipping the battery in light to moderate workloads. However my 14" is an M1 Max and I've seen from some folks here that the M1 / M2 Pro models tend to yield better battery life.

 

[Chairman.Jobbie]

FWIW. 1 week later update on my MBA15 - Love it. It's so good. The screen, the lap comfort, slim design and the keyboard. So glad I changed from 1st MBA as this keyboard is perfect - really nice feedback across all keys.

I was going to test it versus the MBP14 again (brothers) but I haven't so far. I might still try but I doubt I'd change. The slim design is so nice to hold. Anyway ... might update one more time after the return window closes.

 

[dizmonk]

FWIW. 1 week later update on my MBA15 - Love it. It's so good. The screen, the lap comfort, slim design and the keyboard. So glad I changed from 1st MBA as this keyboard is perfect - really nice feedback across all keys.

I was going to test it versus the MBP14 again (brothers) but I haven't so far. I might still try but I doubt I'd change. The slim design is so nice to hold. Anyway ... might update one more time after the return window closes.

I'd recommend you try it against the 14. I'm trying the 15 while I have my m1 14. There differences are important but noticeable. I'm leaning toward the 15 but I would recommend trying both.

 

[Chairman.Jobbie]

Plot Twist : Just trying my brothers MBP.

Screen Quality -- MBP is better even in day to day usage. Blacks blacker, greys greyer, whites whiter... just a better screen. Text sharper. I knew this technically but I can see it when side by side after using the MBA for 2 weeks.
Screen Size -- MBA wins. Much better in 1/2 1/2 or 2/3 1/3 splits. The extra height also adds to the experience.
Keyboard -- first impression's MBA is good but MBP probably slightly better for some reason. Its not massive but there something more about MBP.
Lap -- MBA wins. The extra width feels better.
Wrist -- MBA wrist support better. MBP not bad but with MBA you don't feel edge on wrist.
Price -- The price of MBP is approx £100 cheaper or same depending but too close to be meaningful.
Battery -- MBA. But not used MBP enough.
Design -- love the MBA slimness = wins but MBP fine.

Will I change my mind? "Tricky". Unlikely mainly because of the 15.3 screen size but the extra quality of the M1 MBP 14.2 screen (+overall) is noticeable. I got 6 more days...

If I don't put them side by side then I'd be totally content with the MBA

Colour -- I like the space grey but the MBP is in silver and it does feel premium.. but it could be because the keyboard is all black on the MBP.

 

[dizmonk]

Plot Twist : Just trying my brothers MBP.

Screen -- MBP is better even in day to day usage. Blacks blacker, greys greyer, whites whiter... just a better screen. Text sharper. I knew this technically but I can see it when side by side after using the MBA.

Screen -- MBA wins. Much better experience in 1/2 1/2 or 2/3 1/3 splits.

Keyboard -- first impression's it probably is better than MBA. MBA is good but MBP probably slightly better for some reason. Its not massive but there something more about MBP.

Lap -- MBA wins. The extra width feels better.

Price -- The price of MBP is approx £100 cheaper or same depending but this isn't about price.

Battery -- MBA. But not used MBP enough.

Will I change my mind? "Tricky". Unlikely mainly because of the 15.3 screen size but the extra quality of the M1 MBP 14.2 is definitely noticeable. I got 6 more days...

It isn't very easy. I'm in the same boat. I like the keyboard of the 15 more but the form factor of the 14 is appealing. I'd recommend you keep using it. I'm seeing a decent difference in battery which is important to me. It's a very tough call. Good luck.

 

[Chairman.Jobbie]

It isn't very easy. I'm in the same boat. I like the keyboard of the 15 more but the form factor of the 14 is appealing. I'd recommend you keep using it. I'm seeing a decent difference in battery which is important to me. It's a very tough call. Good luck.

You mean MBA battery better?

 

[dizmonk]

You mean MBA battery better?

Yes.. I would say I'm getting 1.5 - 2 hours or more battery life... This website kinda mirrors my experience...

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[1BadManVan]

Congrats on the 15" air. These airs are definitely one of Apples nicest laptops for 90% of people. Had my M2 air for nearly a year now and still love it, I never reach for my Windows laptop, which technically is more powerful with a bigger screen but I just love using my air wherever I want around the house

 

[Chairman.Jobbie]

Kept the MBA 15. The return date was yesterday. I knew for a while I would keep it but still wanted to be sure-sure.

I just love the 15" screen size mainly, and the thin design.

Nothing wrong at all with the 13.6 MBA or the 14.2 MBP - there are arguments for either so its about what's the most important variable for you. For me it was max screen size.

 

[rmcat]

I came from a 13" MBP 2016 and initially got a base model 13" MBA a few weeks ago, and when I went to the Apple store to return it to upgrade to a 16gb one, I fell in love with the bigger screen of the 15" and ordered that instead, however after using the 15" for several days I realised portability is more important to me than bigger screen as the 2nd computer. The bigger screen of the 15" is really nice, and the weight difference isn't a big deal, but it's definitely not as portable as the 13" in terms of the overall size, and I don't care about the better speaker/10gpu/bigger trackpad, so I decided to go back to 13" again.

 

[dizmonk]

Kept the MBA 15. The returned date was yesterday. I knew for a while I would keep it but still wanted to be sure-sure.

I just love the 15" screen size mainly, and the thin design.

Nothing wrong at all with the 13.6 MBA or the 14.2 MBP - there are arguments for either so its about what's the most important variable for you. For me it was max screen size.

Well done... I traded in my 14 for the 15 and am not looking back. I find the keyboard MUCH more comfortable and I'm very impressed by the increase in battery life.