Which is better: M2 MacBook Air 24gb or M4 MacBook Air 16gb?

[sidgriffey]

Which of these machines will be better for the next 2+ years?

MacBook Air M4 15" with 16gb

or

MacBook Air M2 15" with 24gb

assume mostly for zooms, school research, word processing, browsing etc.

 

[nikhsub1]

M4. 16GB of ram is fine for what you say you use the machine for.

 

[Howard2k]

Seconded, M4 for what you're doing.

 

[sidgriffey]

Thanks. Also, any strong feelings about 15” vs 13”? My other devices are 14” iPad Pro m4 and iPad mini (2024). I usually throw all these in a backpack when traveling or going to work.

 

[Ayemerica]

If the M2 meets your needs it still will in a couple years vs the price point of the m4. I would look at the apple certified section and see if you can get a good deal on it. You just have to decide what you will be genuinely using it for and if it's worth going up more in price for the same needs. If you plan on keeping the laptop for more than 5 year I'd go with the M4 if you're gonna keep it for 3 I'd find a m2 on sale and be happy with that.

 

[sidgriffey]

Any thoughts on 15 vs 13 inch?

 

[chrfr]

Any thoughts on 15 vs 13 inch?

Do you want a bigger screen or a more portable computer? This isn’t really something anyone can answer for you.

 

[nikhsub1]

Any thoughts on 15 vs 13 inch?

I mean, if you have good eyes and the small screen isn't an issue for you, it is the best portable laptop on the planet IMO. I had the M2 13" but I'm in my mid 50's and the screen was just a bit too small for me. The 15" is amazing for my needs and my wife loves the 13" M2 air.

 

[prism]

Which of these machines will be better for the next 2+ years?

MacBook Air M4 15" with 16gb

or

MacBook Air M2 15" with 24gb

assume mostly for zooms, school research, word processing, browsing etc.

Also depends on the ssd size. If it’s 256, apple crippled the speeds on the m2 mba. Not sure about the m4.

 

[Howard2k]

Also depends on the ssd size. If it’s 256, apple crippled the speeds on the m2 mba. Not sure about the m4.

"crippled"


It was only really fast, not really, really fast.

 

[prism]

Go read the reviews on the m2. Corrected on the m3.

 

[Howard2k]

Go read the reviews on the m2. Corrected on the m3.

I've read the reviews and I understand the issue. Most people simply wouldn't be able to tell in a world world blind test. Sure on benchmarks it's a thing. Don't get me wrong, I would care, but it's like it was acting like a HDD. Just saying that "crippled" is a bit dramatic.

 

[prism]

Read speeds that were halved, you don’t need no benchmarks to feel the difference.

 

[StoneJack]

m4

 

[sclough]

Any thoughts on 15 vs 13 inch?

It's really up to you and how you use the device. That being said, I love the 15" MBA. It's the perfect screen size for me and my favorite Apple laptop in over 20 years of Mac laptops. For me the 13" and even 14" MBP is a bit too small and the 16" MBP is too big and heavy. But if you are off and on airplanes a lot the 13" is nice for most people. I like the 15" so much for all around use I just deal with it on planes.