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Silver vs Space Gray M1 MacBook Air
- Thread starter harrypham
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After going with Space Gray for my 2016 rMB, I decided to go back to classic silver for the M1 Air. I like it significantly more than the space gray or gold, but it just comes down to personal preference of course. Buy the one you like the best!
I was initially a fan of space grey until I realised that scratches, etc. will expose the bare aluminium underneath. the same will probably be true of any of the colours.
Since then, I go silver for iPads and MacBooks.
Since then, I go silver for iPads and MacBooks.
I have been led to believe: yes, if they're deep enough.
Now, I'm not overly concerned with minor cosmetic scrapes on my gear (as in, if it takes a bit of a knock and still works, I'm not too fussed), at least on bare aluminium colour.
However, I think that having the stark contrast of colour + bare metal on a coloured machine with a scratch would be too much for me to accept.
I bought a space gray M1 MBA recently, and tbh I very much not regret getting silver. Space gray is a nice, classy "serious" color, but silver is timeless and beautiful. I almost thought to re-buy it in silver and sell my current laptop, but it is not worth the $200+ loss.
This is my experience too. I bought a space gray MBP for work and with a portable machine minor dings are unavoidable, especially around the edges of the display. Each one results in a bright spot of bare metal. It doesn't really bother me, but I would have gone with a silver machine if I was to buy a new computer. I do like the gold though.
I went with Silver, mostly because the Space Grey shows up dirt, and scratches can look bright as (as others have mentioned), they can show the silver metal beneath the coating. Gold is really Rose Gold and too orange for me - I wish they'd bring back the true gold, which was last seen with the old 12" MacBook I think.
Also, a lot of my friends have been convinced by me that the M1 MBA is a great machine (it is!), and one of them picked silver after called space grey "techbro graphite" and gold as "influencer rose", and now I can't see them as anything else 😂
SILVER 4LIFE!
Also, a lot of my friends have been convinced by me that the M1 MBA is a great machine (it is!), and one of them picked silver after called space grey "techbro graphite" and gold as "influencer rose", and now I can't see them as anything else 😂
SILVER 4LIFE!
I understand that Space Gray products have been disappearing from Apple retailers' shelves and there's no stock to replace them. Could be a colour choice that's being phased out by the Company.
Looks like fruit colours are on their way back again. Silver for those seeking a 'professional, businesslike' device.
Looks like fruit colours are on their way back again. Silver for those seeking a 'professional, businesslike' device.
Problem also with Space Grey is that it's actually a dozen different colours, for some reason I can't quite fathom. I've had SG iPads, iPhones, and Macs, and none of them were the same colour. None of the **iPads** plural were the same colour!
Which is odd, because I imagine in Apple's labs they have a materials test reference for SG, which should show the exact colour and finish for QC purposes.
Which is odd, because I imagine in Apple's labs they have a materials test reference for SG, which should show the exact colour and finish for QC purposes.
Really like the look of the space grey, but the Touch ID keyboard I just bought and the Apple Magic Mouse are both silver, so silver it is. My Mac Mini is out for delivery today, and it’s silver too. I like the silver. If I could have had all space grey I would have chosen that, but I’m not going to re-buy everything. I still like the silver.
I've had 4 x 15" Macbook Pros. 3 of them in silver and 1 in space grey for my most recent one. I had to decide space grey, silver, and gold for my parents' M1 Air, and went with silver. They also wanted silver after having seen them both.
Subjectively, I did end up liking the space grey more than I thought I would since I didn't really want space grey but had to go with it due to stock issues with the silver at the time. Back then and even now I think that silver has a timeless feel to it. It has a very nice contrast between the black and light silver. There is a shine to the space grey, but it never draws my attention and disappears nicely. Less light reflection.
From what I've heard scratches look more apparent on the space grey. I can imagine it, but can't confirm it. Zero scratches on my space grey.
However, there is one thing where the space grey looks worse than the silver: TRACKPAD
The discolouration of the trackpad, particularly in the centre, shows up a lot more readily than on the silver, especially in well lit rooms. This happened for sure within the first year.
Cleanliness wise (aside from scratches), I think the space grey hides dirt and marks better than the silver. On the silver, I'd have to clean it frequently to keep it looking fresh since any spots would jump out of the bright chassis. With space grey, it just absorbs so nicely.
Timeless/best look/first ever purchase: Silver
If you're prone to scratches: silver
Flashy but also low profile: space grey
Looks more professional: Silver
You don't like cleaning the exterior frequently: space grey
Worried about (trackpad) discolouration issues: silver
Subjectively, I did end up liking the space grey more than I thought I would since I didn't really want space grey but had to go with it due to stock issues with the silver at the time. Back then and even now I think that silver has a timeless feel to it. It has a very nice contrast between the black and light silver. There is a shine to the space grey, but it never draws my attention and disappears nicely. Less light reflection.
From what I've heard scratches look more apparent on the space grey. I can imagine it, but can't confirm it. Zero scratches on my space grey.
However, there is one thing where the space grey looks worse than the silver: TRACKPAD
The discolouration of the trackpad, particularly in the centre, shows up a lot more readily than on the silver, especially in well lit rooms. This happened for sure within the first year.
Cleanliness wise (aside from scratches), I think the space grey hides dirt and marks better than the silver. On the silver, I'd have to clean it frequently to keep it looking fresh since any spots would jump out of the bright chassis. With space grey, it just absorbs so nicely.
Timeless/best look/first ever purchase: Silver
If you're prone to scratches: silver
Flashy but also low profile: space grey
Looks more professional: Silver
You don't like cleaning the exterior frequently: space grey
Worried about (trackpad) discolouration issues: silver
Always had silver MacBooks except for the 2019 that was SG. Went back to silver for the M1 Air. Forgot how beautiful and classic the silver is. Plus I'm a klutz so silver doesn't show the scratches and dings as bad.
Went with Gold on the Air. Previously I had space gray and silver MBPs and was looking for a change. I actually like the look of the Gold the best.
I have a Space Gray 2017 MBP, and I think my next one may be Silver. Space Gray is absolutely stunning at first, and when I purchased it it was still the "hot new Mac color." But it's beginning to show some wear and tear, and I think I might prefer Silver next time.