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The Cockney Rebel

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 16, 2018
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Thoughts compared to your MBA M2?
Speakers are much better.

Screen is huge.

No "tappy" keys, like the volume up key on my MBA.

It's just a beautiful device; I do love my MBA also, though.

Going to have my MBP at my place, and my MBA at my nan's.

Both lovely machines, so I'm not knocking any of them.

What are you currently using, if you don't mind me asking?
 

maka344

macrumors 68020
Nov 4, 2009
2,144
1,316
London, UK
Speakers are much better.

Screen is huge.

No "tappy" keys, like the volume up key on my MBA.

It's just a beautiful device; I do love my MBA also, though.

Going to have my MBP at my place, and my MBA at my nan's.

Both lovely machines, so I'm not knocking any of them.

What are you currently using, if you don't mind me asking?
I just purchased the base 14 M2 Pro. It’s awesome and the battery seems to be better than the MBA M2 thus far 98% and I’ve just finished setup. Coming from the 16/1TB M2 MBA. I like them both however the screen size of the pro and speakers are definitely an advantage.
 

The Cockney Rebel

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 16, 2018
2,828
3,436
I just purchased the base 14 M2 Pro. It’s awesome and the battery seems to be better than the MBA M2 thus far 98% and I’ve just finished setup. Coming from the 16/1TB M2 MBA. I like them both however the screen size of the pro and speakers are definitely an advantage.
The speakers are much better.

The MBA is much more portable.

So, I guess you either have to decide what's more important to you, or you are fortunate enough to buy both.

As a student, I would recommend the Air. As basically a desktop machine, I'd recommend the Pro.

Both lovely machines, though.
 
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luked14

macrumors 6502
Aug 1, 2010
387
58
I just purchased the base 14 M2 Pro. It’s awesome and the battery seems to be better than the MBA M2 thus far 98% and I’ve just finished setup. Coming from the 16/1TB M2 MBA. I like them both however the screen size of the pro and speakers are definitely an advantage.
Very curious to see how the 14 M2 Pro battery holds up compared to the MBA M2 over an extended period of time. Currently trying to decide between the two. It seems like doubling the efficiency cores should result in more than just one hour of additional battery life.
 

The Cockney Rebel

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 16, 2018
2,828
3,436
Very curious to see how the 14 M2 Pro battery holds up compared to the MBA M2 over an extended period of time. Currently trying to decide between the two. It seems like doubling the efficiency cores should result in more than just one hour of additional battery life.
If you want portability, go with the Air.

If it's a home machine, go with the Pro.

Both lovely machines.
 

luked14

macrumors 6502
Aug 1, 2010
387
58
If you want portability, go with the Air.

If it's a home machine, go with the Pro.

Both lovely machines.
I need it to be about 50-50. M2 Air vs M1 Pro 14”, I lean toward the Air for battery life. But if the M2 Pro is enough of an improvement in battery life, that might sway me.
 
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The Cockney Rebel

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 16, 2018
2,828
3,436
I need it to be about 50-50. M2 Air vs M1 Pro 14”, I lean toward the Air for battery life. But if the M2 Pro is enough of an improvement in battery life, that might sway me.
To be honest, I don't think the battery life on the Air is that good.

And I'm just doing general computer stuff.

If you're a full-time student, I wouldn't recommend lugging a Pro around all day.

The Pro is stunning, but you have to think practically.

I hope this helps you in your decision.

Any questions, just let me know.
 
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uller6

macrumors 65816
May 14, 2010
1,072
1,777
As a student I lugged around a 17” PowerBook then a 17” MacBook Pro. It was fine. I have a 14” M1 pro now and it is no problem to lug around. It was hard for me to even notice the air in a backpack at all. If I were you I would go M1 Pro. It’s a really sweet machine and the HDMI port is useful to have. Also the super-bright 120 hz screen is sweet too.
 

abruisedapple

macrumors newbie
Aug 27, 2020
20
18
I'm in a similar place; trying to work out which to keep.

I have a M1 Air 16/512 which I have been happy with, but need to buy a new home machine and thought I would convert the Air into a mostly-static desktop computer connected via HDMI to a single monitor. So I just bought a UK refurb M1Pro 14" 16/512 to try out.

But after using it all-day today in the office and on trains I am struggling to justify it, and might return the 14". I probably go into the office once per week, work from home the rest, and have a M1 Mini 16/256 for normal home office work.

I mainly use Office automation with lots of Teams and Sharepoint, Office Docs, some Docker, K8S, Git and basic dev tools.

Pros;
- screen is amazing, so much better than air (notch is not noticeable)
- smaller bezels are nicer to look at
- camera for video calls looks better, but not loads better
- in-built HDMI port is so useful
- speakers are great

Cons;
- battery life seems to be draining a lot faster, but I think it can get to 14 hours if I keep the display at 50% (just shows how the battery/M1 combo and the efficiency cores on the Air are truly amazing)
- don't need the additional ports, don't intend to use the SD slot
- height (wrists) aren't great, I miss the slim front of the laptop of the Air
- a little heavier but not that much more
- I don't like the 'chunky' old laptop style look

It is a tough call but I am thinking of returning it based on battery performance and this height at the front of the machine - the Air is just nicer to work on.....but the screen on this thing is lovely. Can I justify keeping it for some ad-hoc work at home, evenings and one day in the office a week? Need to give it a few more days I think.

What do you think? Should I go consider the M2 Air.....but the price for the same spec as this 14" is only £10 more on UK Refurb!
 
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AllThingsTruth

macrumors newbie
Nov 2, 2022
14
232
The same as the reviewers got. Also, the plastic has gone and it has the paper strips like the iPhone now.
That’s a bummer about the box’s wallpaper. I was really hoping for one’s Apple has been marketing to be on the box - that’s what they normally do.

The one’s I have seen just look like updated ones of last years version. That’s lazy on Apple’s part.
 

The Cockney Rebel

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 16, 2018
2,828
3,436
I'm in a similar place; trying to work out which to keep.

I have a M1 Air 16/512 which I have been happy with, but need to buy a new home machine and thought I would convert the Air into a mostly-static desktop computer connected via HDMI to a single monitor. So I just bought a UK refurb M1Pro 14" 16/512 to try out.

But after using it all-day today in the office and on trains I am struggling to justify it, and might return the 14". I probably go into the office once per week, work from home the rest, and have a M1 Mini 16/256 for normal home office work.

I mainly use Office automation with lots of Teams and Sharepoint, Office Docs, some Docker, K8S, Git and basic dev tools.

Pros;
- screen is amazing, so much better than air (notch is not noticeable)
- smaller bezels are nicer to look at
- camera for video calls looks better, but not loads better
- in-built HDMI port is so useful
- speakers are great

Cons;
- battery life seems to be draining a lot faster, but I think it can get to 14 hours if I keep the display at 50% (just shows how the battery/M1 combo and the efficiency cores on the Air are truly amazing)
- don't need the additional ports, don't intend to use the SD slot
- height (wrists) aren't great, I miss the slim front of the laptop of the Air
- a little heavier but not that much more
- I don't like the 'chunky' old laptop style look

It is a tough call but I am thinking of returning it based on battery performance and this height at the front of the machine - the Air is just nicer to work on.....but the screen on this thing is lovely. Can I justify keeping it for some ad-hoc work at home, evenings and one day in the office a week? Need to give it a few more days I think.

What do you think? Should I go consider the M2 Air.....but the price for the same spec as this 14" is only £10 more on UK Refurb!
I say treat yourself, buddy.

You seem to know your wants and needs, so I’d say let the decision switch from your head to your heart.

All I know is that my new 16” M2 is stunning, but I wouldn’t consider it for everyday carrying around. The Air is more portable.

Whatever you decide, I hope you’re happy.
 

UltimateSyn

macrumors 601
Mar 3, 2008
4,970
9,206
Massachusetts
To be honest, I don't think the battery life on the Air is that good.

And I'm just doing general computer stuff.

If you're a full-time student, I wouldn't recommend lugging a Pro around all day.

The Pro is stunning, but you have to think practically.

I hope this helps you in your decision.

Any questions, just let me know.
I wouldn't really call bringing the 3.5lb 14" Pro around with you "lugging" ! :)

The 4.7lb 16", on the other hand...
 

The Cockney Rebel

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 16, 2018
2,828
3,436
I wouldn't really call bringing the 3.5lb 14" Pro around with you "lugging" ! :)

The 4.7lb 16", on the other hand...
I was referring to the 16”.

I haven’t felt the weight on the 14”.

I don’t even know what the weight differences are, between the three models. All I know is that the 16” Pro is much heavier than the M2 Air.
 
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UltimateSyn

macrumors 601
Mar 3, 2008
4,970
9,206
Massachusetts
I need it to be about 50-50. M2 Air vs M1 Pro 14”, I lean toward the Air for battery life. But if the M2 Pro is enough of an improvement in battery life, that might sway me.
In my oh-so-humble opinion the incredible speakers and spectacular screen quality (mini-LED and 120Hz) on the 14" MBP *far* outweigh the potential increase in battery life, decrease in cost, and negligible weight decrease with the Air. Not to mention the ports, greater available processing power, etc.

My wife's M2 MBA is very nice, but I would take my 14" MBP 10/10 times.
 

maka344

macrumors 68020
Nov 4, 2009
2,144
1,316
London, UK
In my oh-so-humble opinion the incredible speakers and spectacular screen quality (mini-LED and 120Hz) on the 14" MBP *far* outweigh the potential increase in battery life, decrease in cost, and negligible weight decrease with the Air. Not to mention the ports, greater available processing power, etc.

My wife's M2 MBA is very nice, but I would take my 14" MBP 10/10 times.
Plus the battery advantage of the MBA M2 has been closed, for now with the MBP M2.
 
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BigJohno

macrumors 65816
Jan 1, 2007
1,470
588
San Francisco
Can you confirm that Apple is turning off the fans when there is no load? They have this under overview online: Thanks to the efficiency of Apple silicon, the fans don’t even have to turn on for most of your daily tasks. And for heavier workflows, the advanced thermal systems move air at low fan speeds.
 
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