Fully upgraded M1 Air or 16/256 Pro ?

[Dazzle5]

Hi everyone,

I decided to get one of the new M1s but I still can’t figure out which one to go with. For approximatively the same price I have the choice between the fully upgraded M1 Air with 16 GB RAM/512 Gb SSD and the 512/8 Pro or 256/16 M1 Pro.

I would use it for some basic stuff (Office/web browsing/Netflix), light/average gaming (mainly to play game like Rocket League and some STRs, I have a PS5 for stronger sessions), light to average content creation (short videos, photo editing, a little bit drawing) especially to help a friend launching his business to communicate (I work in digital marketing but am not a graphist or a pro video maker). I plan to keep the device for 3-4 years for sure.

I read and watched many reviews and threads but still can’t decide. Most reviews show the Air has become a very powerful machine even for Pro use but it‘s difficult to be sure. For now, I think the fully upgraded Air could match with this case of use but I’d like to get some feedbacks before deciding myself.

Thanks for your help !

 

[jrmmdy]

Edit : deleted

 

[Dazzle5]

Thanks for the votes but I’d like to get some feedbacks to make my choice

 

[Never mind]

The Air will be my primary computer and the only reason I’m getting this over the Pro model, is that darn Touch Bar that I do not like and do not want to pay for. I saw both models at Best Buy and played with both of them for a short period of time and was very happy that the Air will meet my needs using some of the same apps that you listed. I’m not a power user by any stretch of the imagination. Even impressed with the screen resolution and brightness of the air which was another concern of mine.

 

[crymimefireworks]

M1 Macbook Air is incredible. Even pro users are getting it. So that's the best option for you.

 

[Paul1980]

I have the MBA 16/1TB and my use case it pretty much identical to yours. All I can say is, I don't regret my decision at all. The benefits the pro gives you just doesn't seem worth the extra and in my opinion the extra 8Gb memory on the air and extra storage is far more beneficial than a slightly brighter screen and a fan.

I only went for the 1tb because that's what they had in stock and im a little impatient. I would have gone for 512gb if they had that in stock.

 

[Dazzle5]

So it seems that the boosted MBA is the way to go !

I have the MBA 16/1TB and my use case it pretty much identical to yours. All I can say is, I don't regret my decision at all. The benefits the pro gives you just doesn't seem worth the extra and in my opinion the extra 8Gb memory on the air and extra storage is far more beneficial than a slightly brighter screen and a fan.

I only went for the 1tb because that's what they had in stock and im a little impatient. I would have gone for 512gb if they had that in stock.

I’m glad a user with the sale average use confrims the choice to get the Air ! Are you using Adobe suite and softwares like FCPX ?

 

[turbineseaplane]

I don't find the M1 MBP to be a good value.

At the stock 8/512 configs, $250 more for just "the TouchBar" is simply - terrible.
(a lot of us would pay more to NOT have that thing...)

Had they upped the specs to 16/512, it would be in-line a bit.

Truly though, the Pro is essentially the MBA with a fan and a TouchBar.
(touch brighter screen, slight battery bump, speaker/mic subtleties -- really rather minor differences)

I surmise that the MBA will be **way** more popular than this particular MBP
Once there is a 4 port M-chip MBP with more differentiation = different story.

To me - almost nobody should buy the current 2 port M1 MBP