I guess I wanted to like the Air but realize it's just not enough computer even maxed out. I'm typing on my 14" MacBook Pro M1 Max with 32 GB of RAM, a 1 TB HD and a 24 core GPU with a mini-LED display, incredible speakers, etc. I just have to laugh at myself and others who think this at 3.5 pounds to too heavy, etc. It isn't.
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Why I've Chosen the M1 Max 14" MacBook Pro vs the MacBook Air M2
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It's okay. I am laughing at you too for cross shopping an 8/8 core computer with a 10/32 core computer.
3.5 lbs is indeed too heavy, seeing that a 2.7 lb machine will do the job I need it to do.
what i'm meaning here is the performance is as good or even better than the M1 MBA, so anyone who has used an M1 MBA will be happy with the M2 MBA.
If you look at the pricing hierarchy, it's quite a fair comparison (especially given the MBP 14" and 16" can be found on sale atm.
Agreed. As little as ten years ago people were commonly lugging around A1278 13" MBP's which were a pound heavier, no one complained then. I think we've bred a generation of weaklings.
she chose the base model rather than upgrading with a top box for storage......
so sort of like thinking 8gb will do when you really needed 16gb.
Ahh yep, I understand. I'm still sporting my 2016SE..no big surprise there really
I used to ride M/cycles exclusively, shopping on a sports bike was even more challenging than antics of said scooter lady. Oh yes..the struggle is real why did you go max instead of pro ? you're aware the max heats up more ,has less battery ,and cost much more ?
The speakers are amazing isn’t it? I’ve not heard such rich sounding system in a laptop, ever.
As someone who owns one I have to call BS on these Youtubers who make it sound like you can't do anything due to "thermal throttling".
I used my machine HARD since I got it Friday. Not with silly benchmark software, but real software. I ran Houdini simulations, animated and rendered in Blender, used Xcode for work, worked with 4k video in Final Cut, made music in Logic, and played some video games.
The machine got slightly warm, that was it. I actually expected to return this machine before I even got it because I assumed it wouldn't be able to do the stuff I want to do on a machine but decided to give it a fair shot and I was thoroughly impressed.
It handled the same stuff I bought my $4500 macbook pro 16" for back in late 2019. That machine does do CPU rendering slightly faster and does run Houdini sims slightly faster, but they're two totally different classes of machine and the MBA still handled everything great.
Like to hear from you in a few months. I see more and more non-benchmark, but real world tests where the Air is throttle happy across the board.
I’m not that impressed with Apple’s M chips over Intel. So far owning 2 M MacBook Pros I’m not getting much better battery life or noticing any speed improvements. They do get less hot which is great, no complaints there.
Otherwise, at this point my conclusion so far is calling BS on Apple’s marketing. I realize software needs to get native for Apple’s silicon etc. but after months of having a 16” MacBook Pro M1 Pro, its performance has gotten no better on anything.
I went in and looked at my new 14” MBP’s activity monitor and with about 8 applications running, two of which could be considered heavy (Safari and Excel), 23 GB of RAM was eaten up. Overall, about 15 application windows going, half minimized in the Dock, and say 25 total tabs in Safari.
Safari is a pig, but I think the problems run deeper than this. Mac OS may have some performance issues. At the least Safari is a complete trainwreck when it comes to resource usage. Something has to give.
Just got the new Air M2. Maxed out 24 GB RAM, extra cores, 1 TB. Yes I will be returning this and keeping my M1 Max MBP but I am pretty impressed by it. Geekbench numbers: 8964 multi-core CPU score and 27,596 OpenCL score. I posted my MBP numbers in this thread and it spanks this. But real world performance isn’t always the same as benchmarks. So far I am really liking this machine and it feels fast.
@booksbooks
Like many I'm kinda thorn between MBA M2 and MBP 14' as well.
For me money isn't an issue on this buy. And both would offer enough performance for what I need them for. I also don't care about extra ports or the option to connect multiple monitors on the MBP. So what it comes down to is:
Amazing speakers and a better screen vs. improved portability and IMO a machine that is way more beautiful.
Was it the same for you?
Still not sure what to do 😅
Like many I'm kinda thorn between MBA M2 and MBP 14' as well.
For me money isn't an issue on this buy. And both would offer enough performance for what I need them for. I also don't care about extra ports or the option to connect multiple monitors on the MBP. So what it comes down to is:
Amazing speakers and a better screen vs. improved portability and IMO a machine that is way more beautiful.
Was it the same for you?
Still not sure what to do 😅
I did that. Returned the MBP 14 and kept the MBA M2 16gb/512gb
For me, I would choose the Air, no fan and silent. I don't need the extra grunt, prefer silence. I'd miss the better screen but people say, oh the fan never kicks in, but it would and it would get noisier as it gets dust in it. My Mac mini fans kick in but that is under the desk, your laptop is right next to you.
why if I may ask?
You said earlier that you really liked the pros speakers and the screen for media consumption. But I guess in the end the difference wasn't big enough to outweigh the Air's overall design?
Yes you are right. my top priority is a slim and light machine that has great battery life. The M2 Air just felt effortless to use and i can do what i can do on the MBP 14 with it as well.
Initial impressions of just a few hours of using the MBA M2 Midnight vs. my 14" MBP M1 Max:
- I like the design of the Air better. It is more inviting and has a gentler feel... the corners/edges seem a bit rounder. It's also smaller physically and thinner which, all together, create an amazing feel.
- I swear the trackpad is better on the Air.
- I'm not really noticing the degraded screen quality or lack of ProMotion on the Air. I've looked really close at the screen and it's hard to tell much difference. Sure, if I look very close up and compare the screens side-by-side the MBP is better, but the Air's screen is very good and improved over the M1 Air (which I also owned).
- Overall, the thinner, lighter, smaller, and fanless Air creates a real grab and go experience that gives a feeling of being effortless to use and maintain. The MBP, while not that much thicker and bigger... is more blunt and obtuse. For instance, grabbing it on both sides underneath you feel the sharp fan vents on your fingers... you also probably have to think more about bringing your AC adapter with you since the MBP can output more heavy workloads and runs a faster more power hungry CPU. The physically smaller size of the Air just feels really good when handling it: it's not a whole lot bigger than a 12.9" iPad Pro.
- Perhaps I should just keep it and use both the 14" MBP and Air at my discretion.
Update:
I've decided to keep the M2 Air and will also keep the 14" MBP. I just like this Air too much.
I've decided to keep the M2 Air and will also keep the 14" MBP. I just like this Air too much.
I understand you. For me I would have kept the MBP 14 if I didn’t already have an M1 Mac Mini that is doing me well.