Some quick questions:
1. Will you still have access to the student discount as late as April 2023? (MBPs could be refreshed in Q4/Fall 2022, but it could be longer)
2. How much do you value the $150 gift-card (assuming you're in the US) and do you have a use for it?
3. What are you planning to actually use this Mac for? Does your use-case actually benefit from having the extra power of a MBP?
If you'll still have access to the student discount waiting is probably a good option, but if you're going to need it this semester you may well benefit more from just buying it now.
That said. You say you like the MBA design... but that you prefer larger screens... thus you wouldn't buy a 14" MBP.
What is it exactly about the MBA design that you like vs the MBP??? Because if its size, weight, or both then you should just get the MBA and be done with it. Also, do realize that if a MBA would meet your needs you're talking about a pretty big leap in both price and size/weight just for a larger (16") screen. If you don't actually need it and you're going to be lugging it around campus all day I think the MBP would be a less than ideal choice (you can always get an external monitor.) I have a friend with a 16" Intel MBP who sincerely wishes he had something smaller...
If you're hoping the MBPs get a redesign that's not happening. The MBP JUST got a new design last year. This IS the new design and I doubt they will fundamentally change it anytime soon.It sure as heck isn't getting the "Air" treatment anytime soon after all the (well deserved) hate the Intel MBPs got for being form over function.
As far as the M2 goes, assuming Apple doesn't do anything crazy with the M2 Pro/Max (and that the performance trend is thus similar to the M2 in the MBA,) the biggest, most noticeable improvement by far on a day to day basis is going to be the improved efficiency cores and the better battery life they can bring. The extra performance on the Performance Cores and GPU will be nice but not game changing.
Sure there's always chatter about a mythical "big" Air but I don't see it materializing anytime soon. I think there's too much overlap for Apple to really want to release a machine like that.
1. Will you still have access to the student discount as late as April 2023? (MBPs could be refreshed in Q4/Fall 2022, but it could be longer)
2. How much do you value the $150 gift-card (assuming you're in the US) and do you have a use for it?
3. What are you planning to actually use this Mac for? Does your use-case actually benefit from having the extra power of a MBP?
If you'll still have access to the student discount waiting is probably a good option, but if you're going to need it this semester you may well benefit more from just buying it now.
That said. You say you like the MBA design... but that you prefer larger screens... thus you wouldn't buy a 14" MBP.
What is it exactly about the MBA design that you like vs the MBP??? Because if its size, weight, or both then you should just get the MBA and be done with it. Also, do realize that if a MBA would meet your needs you're talking about a pretty big leap in both price and size/weight just for a larger (16") screen. If you don't actually need it and you're going to be lugging it around campus all day I think the MBP would be a less than ideal choice (you can always get an external monitor.) I have a friend with a 16" Intel MBP who sincerely wishes he had something smaller...
If you're hoping the MBPs get a redesign that's not happening. The MBP JUST got a new design last year. This IS the new design and I doubt they will fundamentally change it anytime soon.It sure as heck isn't getting the "Air" treatment anytime soon after all the (well deserved) hate the Intel MBPs got for being form over function.
As far as the M2 goes, assuming Apple doesn't do anything crazy with the M2 Pro/Max (and that the performance trend is thus similar to the M2 in the MBA,) the biggest, most noticeable improvement by far on a day to day basis is going to be the improved efficiency cores and the better battery life they can bring. The extra performance on the Performance Cores and GPU will be nice but not game changing.
Sure there's always chatter about a mythical "big" Air but I don't see it materializing anytime soon. I think there's too much overlap for Apple to really want to release a machine like that.