For the same price: m1 Air or Quad i5 Pro?

[gdourado]

Hello, hope everyone is doing well.
I am currently looking at two deals and trying to decide between the two…
Both computers cost the same, so price is not an issue.

The first one is a 2020 MacBook Air with the M1 with 7 core GPU, 8gb of ram and 512gb SSD.

The second is a 2020 MacBook Pro 13 with the Quad core 2ghz i5 (I5-1038NG7), 16gb of ram, 512gb SSD and 4tb ports and touch bar.

What is the better machine in regard to performance, usability, longevity and overall the best bang for the buck?

Please point me out in the right direction.
Thanks!

 

[maflynn]

What is the better machine in regard to performance, usability, longevity and overall the best bang for the buck?

For longevity, its a no brainer the M1 MBA.

What apps do you use, Do you need X86 apps? Do you want to run bootcamp/parallels? if so the MBP would be the better option, otherwise, the M1 is the best option, both for performance, and longevity.

 

[Ray2]

I went from a 2.5GHz quad-core i7 in a 2015 MBP and a 3.2GHz 6-core i7 in a 2018 mini to an 8/16 M1 Air. The Air seems quicker, is more fluid, no noise, no heat, more portable, better built than the MBP. Not sure I can think of any area where I see any benefit to the Intel machines.

 

[e1me5]

Intels are old tech by now, unless your workflow specifically requires one. M1 is almost twice faster than the i5.

 

[headlessmike]

I had a 2020 MacBook Pro with 4 TB ports that recently died of a motherboard failure. I temporarily switched to an M1 Mac mini before I got a replacement laptop (a 14" M1 Pro). The base M1 blew the i5 out of the water in terms of performance. The jump from the i5 to the M1 was greater than the jump from my 2013 MacBook Pro to the 2020 model in terms of perceived performance. If you're sure that you don't need the extra RAM and aren't in need of specific software that doesn't run well under Rosetta, then I wouldn't hesitate to take the Air over the Pro.

 

[JustAnExpat]

>What is the better machine in regard to performance,

MacBook Air M1
Single Core: 1700
Multi Core: 7380

MacBook Pro 13"
Single Core: 1167
Multi Core: 4335

WINNER: MacBook Air M1

>usability

The only advantage of the MacBook Pro is the ability to run Windows, having multiple external monitors, and more ports. The MacBook Pro also has a brighter display (500 nits vs. 400 nits).

The MacBook Pro has a worse battery (10 hours wireless web vs. 15 hours). The MacBook Pro also only supports USB 3.1 Gen 2, and not USB 4.0 like the MacBook Air. The MacBook Air has WiFi 6, while the MacBook Pro only has 802.11ac ("WiFi 5").

The 8 GB of Ram for the MacBook Air vs 16 GB of Ram for the MacBook Pro MAY BE a factor in your decision. BUT, if you have to ask if you need the 16GB of Ram, then the answer is no. See

Apple’s M1 MacBook Air has that Apple Silicon magic

Review: No piece of hardware is perfect, but man, this is a hell of a laptop.

arstechnica.com

Apple MacBook Air with M1 review: new chip, no problem

We are stunned by how good this laptop is.

www.theverge.com

For MacBook Air M1 reviews

>longevity

The MacBook Air M1 will be supported longer than the MacBook Pro. There are features the M1 is getting that the MacBooks won't. See this list for example

If you don't have an M1 Mac you won't get these Ventura features

The M1 is required to run some features in macOS Ventura.

www.macworld.com

I expect the Intel Macs will be getting less and less features.

>overall the best bang for the buck

The MacBook Air M1. Hands down.

 

[gdourado]

Thanks for the replies.
I don’t really need any specific software and not windows.
My wife has a good windows laptop I can use if needed.

I am a high school teacher as my main occupation, so most things I do on the computer is web browsing, research and use office to write documents and prepare presentations.
Nothing too demanding.

My biggest question is the 16gb of ram for longevity purposes and the pro body with better screen, more ports and touchbar.

Regards.

 

[JustAnExpat]

>16gb of ram for longevity purposes

My opinion: The 8GB in the MacBook Air M1 is the same as 16 GB of Ram in the MacBook Pro.

> pro body

That's subjective.

> with better screen

You're talking about 100 nits difference. Besides the 100 nits difference, it's the same screen. That's only helpful if you're using the machine outside or in a sunny environment.

> more ports

How often would you use all four ports, and would you be able to use some type of hub for a MacBook Air M1 instead?

>touchbar

Very polarizing. If you like the Touch Bar, use it. However, I like the function keys myself.

IF I was you, I would get the MacBook Air M1. It's such a nicer machine, and it'll be supported longer.

 

[chrono1081]

Hello, hope everyone is doing well.
I am currently looking at two deals and trying to decide between the two…
Both computers cost the same, so price is not an issue.

The first one is a 2020 MacBook Air with the M1 with 7 core GPU, 8gb of ram and 512gb SSD.

The second is a 2020 MacBook Pro 13 with the Quad core 2ghz i5 (I5-1038NG7), 16gb of ram, 512gb SSD and 4tb ports and touch bar.

What is the better machine in regard to performance, usability, longevity and overall the best bang for the buck?

Please point me out in the right direction.
Thanks!

M1 air all the way. Intel is in the dust. I got an M2 MacBook Air and it puts my $4500 Intel I9 with 64 gigs of ram to shame.