Just tell me what to replace my M1 Air with

[Azeroth1]

I dropped my M1 Air with 16/512 on the floor. It still works but the body is all beat up and dented and sharp.

Just tell me please what is the best value MacBook Pro or MacBook Air for the money and long term. I tend to keep my machines a long time and use this as a support machine to my 2018 iMac Pro.

This machine is not used for heavy lifting. But again, I like to keep my machines as long as possible (unless I trip on the power cord and yank it off the table). There are so many deals right now I am having analysis paralysis.

Also, things like size and weight don’t matter to me. I just want the best value for my money.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If the M1 MBA was meeting your needs, I would just get the newer MBA with the same specs and call it an Apple day. No need to overthink this.

 

[Azeroth1]

If the M1 MBA was meeting your needs, I would just get the newer MBA with the same specs and call it an Apple day. No need to overthink this.

Thanks. That’s The M3 13.6 model correct?

 

[skaertus]

I dropped my M1 Air with 16/512 on the floor. It still works but the body is all beat up and dented and sharp.

Just tell me please what is the best value MacBook Pro or MacBook Air for the money and long term. I tend to keep my machines a long time and use this as a support machine to my 2018 iMac Pro.

This machine is not used for heavy lifting. But again, I like to keep my machines as long as possible (unless I trip on the power cord and yank it off the table). There are so many deals right now I am having analysis paralysis.

Also, things like size and weight don’t matter to me. I just want the best value for my money.

The main difference between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro these days is the processor (apart, of course, from the screen and the other amenities).

Thinking long-term, I think the bottleneck would be RAM and storage, and not the CPU/GPU of either laptop, which should capable enough of handling non-heavy tasks for some time.

The MacBook Air will be the best option. You may need to replace it sooner, as Apple may drop support before it does for the MacBook Pro, but it still costs $300 less upfront. Even if you replace it sooner, it will be worth it financially due to the lower cost of acquisition. It of course depends on how long you wish to keep the laptop.

Here is a simulation:

	13-inch MacBook Air (16 GB/512 GB)	14-inch MacBook Pro (16 GB/512 GB)
1 year	$1,299.00	$1,599.00
2 years	$649.50	$799.50
3 years	$433.00	$533.00
4 years	$324.75	$399.75
5 years	$259.80	$319.80
6 years	$216.50	$266.50
7 years	$185.57	$228.43
8 years	$162.38	$199.88
9 years	$144.33	$179.67

In any case, I think buying the Air is more worth it. If anything happens with the laptop during this time (i.e., it gets stolen or broken), you lose less money that you paid upfront. And, if you upgrade it in shorter cycles, you will benefit from more up-to-date technology (wifi, Bluetooth, ports, faster speed drives and RAM, etc.).

 

[chrono1081]

I dropped my M1 Air with 16/512 on the floor. It still works but the body is all beat up and dented and sharp.

Just tell me please what is the best value MacBook Pro or MacBook Air for the money and long term. I tend to keep my machines a long time and use this as a support machine to my 2018 iMac Pro.

This machine is not used for heavy lifting. But again, I like to keep my machines as long as possible (unless I trip on the power cord and yank it off the table). There are so many deals right now I am having analysis paralysis.

Also, things like size and weight don’t matter to me. I just want the best value for my money.

I would wait for Black Friday and snag an M3 Air base model (or a 512 if you need the extra storage). The base models come with 16 gigs of ram now. It'll last you a long time.

 

[raythompsontn]

Just tell me please what is the best value MacBook Pro or MacBook Air for the money and long term

In your situation, I would get the 14" M4 MacBook Pro, 16Gig, 512GB, 10 Core CPU, 10 Core GPU. That machine will last a long time and serve your needs well.

But is your money, your decision. What I recommended is just my opinion.

 

[Azeroth1]

The main difference between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro these days is the processor (apart, of course, from the screen and the other amenities).

Thinking long-term, I think the bottleneck would be RAM and storage, and not the CPU/GPU of either laptop, which should capable enough of handling non-heavy tasks for some time.

The MacBook Air will be the best option. You may need to replace it sooner, as Apple may drop support before it does for the MacBook Pro, but it still costs $300 less upfront. Even if you replace it sooner, it will be worth it financially due to the lower cost of acquisition. It of course depends on how long you wish to keep the laptop.

Here is a simulation:

	13-inch MacBook Air (16 GB/512 GB)	14-inch MacBook Pro (16 GB/512 GB)
1 year	$1,299.00	$1,599.00
2 years	$649.50	$799.50
3 years	$433.00	$533.00
4 years	$324.75	$399.75
5 years	$259.80	$319.80
6 years	$216.50	$266.50
7 years	$185.57	$228.43
8 years	$162.38	$199.88
9 years	$144.33	$179.67

In any case, I think buying the Air is more worth it. If anything happens with the laptop during this time (i.e., it gets stolen or broken), you lose less money that you paid upfront. And, if you upgrade it in shorter cycles, you will benefit from more up-to-date technology (wifi, Bluetooth, ports, faster speed drives and RAM, etc.).

Just wanted to say you’re a good person for doing this. Thank you.

 

[Azeroth1]

In your situation, I would get the 14" M4 MacBook Pro, 16Gig, 512GB, 10 Core CPU, 10 Core GPU. That machine will last a long time and serve your needs well.

But is your money, your decision. What I recommended is just my opinion.

Appreciate the perspective. Thank you!

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Personally, I'd get the best MBA you can find on the Refurbished store. If the M1 was meeting your needs, no need to spend more than necessary.

16/512 M3 is US$1,129 right now... or there's a 16/1TB M1 for $1,119. M2/M3 does give you MagSafe which is a nice update.

 

[Azeroth1]

Personally, I'd get the best MBA you can find on the Refurbished store. If the M1 was meeting your needs, no need to spend more than necessary.

16/512 M3 is US$1,129 right now... or there's a 16/1TB M1 for $1,119. M2/M3 does give you MagSafe which is a nice update.

Thanks. The MagSafe I definitely want. Not having it is why I need a new machine.

 

[gpat]

I dropped my M1 Air with 16/512 on the floor. It still works but the body is all beat up and dented and sharp.

Just tell me please what is the best value MacBook Pro or MacBook Air for the money and long term. I tend to keep my machines a long time and use this as a support machine to my 2018 iMac Pro.

This machine is not used for heavy lifting. But again, I like to keep my machines as long as possible (unless I trip on the power cord and yank it off the table). There are so many deals right now I am having analysis paralysis.

Also, things like size and weight don’t matter to me. I just want the best value for my money.

Basic M4 14" MBP would fit you just fine. Add 1TB SSD at most.
You'll probably find a discount if you shop around.
And add annual AppleCare+, it's a godsend for accidental damage.

 

[dmr727]

If you were happy with your M1 Air, I think I'd look for a Black Friday sale on an M3 Air and call it good. It'll be a nice update from what you had, and as you noted - MagSafe is a nice improvement.

A MBP is great, but if you're not jonesing for any of its specific advantages, I think I'd save my money and enjoy a lighter device.

 

[JPack]

MBA offers the best value.

In an ideal situation, you’d wait for M4 early next year. If you’re in a pinch, get the M3 MBA since it already comes with 16GB RAM.

 

[Corefile]

You can pickup another M1 MBA for the undroppable price of $649 from Wal-Mart.

 

[v0lume4]

To echo others here, I think if you were content with your Air then I would just buy another Air. At least match the same specs as before. Good news is 16GB of RAM is now standard, so you won't have to pay extra for that if you're getting a brand new machine.

Look at how much storage you're using now and consider whether you are good where you are or whether you need more. You might just fine where you're at with 512GB.

The Apple refurbished store is always a great option as another commenter said. There are sometimes some good deals on there.

Best Buy actually has an early Black Friday sale right now on the M2 Airs (let me repeat: M2 not M3). But let me caution you, these only have 256 GB of storage. I wouldn't typically recommend downgrading on storage, but that's a call you would have to make yourself.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch Apple M2 chip Built for Apple Intelligence 16GB Memory 256GB SSD Midnight MC7X4LL/A - Best Buy

Shop Apple MacBook Air 13-inch Apple M2 chip Built for Apple Intelligence 16GB Memory 256GB SSD Midnight at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee.

www.bestbuy.com

EDIT - Also, I just saw your username. For the Alliance!

 

[Onshore]

I just bought a M2 Air, I would get a M3 Air, as It won't be much different than the M4 for a better price, but won't be as old as the M2.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

If the M1 MBA was meeting your needs, I would just get the newer MBA with the same specs and call it an Apple day. No need to overthink this.

Actually there is need to think about this further. MBAs are still sold with M2 or M3 chips, whereas most Mac products including MBPs are at M4 now. M4 is quite a big deal for multiple reasons that one can research at many good sites including MR. No one should buy M2 or M3 in an M4 world without first giving careful thought.

Also tech and personal finances constantly evolve, so when buying a new box IMO should always carefully evaluate the status of the very latest hardware choices. With laptops that means handling the current available choices to evaluate/compare the latest displays and speakers. MBP displays and speakers are far better than MBA displays and speakers, well worth a few hundred dollars to me, but each individual needs to hands-on test the boxes and make their own decisions.

Personally I think that anyone who has been using 16 GB of RAM before 2024 should get more than 16 GB for 2025 and thereafter, especially since OP states "I tend to keep my machines a long time." Clearly the Mac OS and apps will be taking advantage of more and more RAM in the future, just has always been the case in the past. Note that when one computes, using RAM has always been a superior way to do it.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Actually there is need to think about this further. MBAs are still sold with M2 or M3 chips, whereas most Mac products including MBPs are at M4 now. M4 is quite a big deal for multiple reasons that one can research at many good sites including MR. No one should buy M2 or M3 in an M4 world without first giving careful thought.

Also tech and personal finances constantly evolve, so when buying a new box IMO should always carefully evaluate the status of the very latest hardware choices. With laptops that means handling the current available choices to evaluate/compare the latest displays and speakers. MBP displays and speakers are far better than MBA displays and speakers, well worth a few hundred dollars to me, but each individual needs to hands-on test the boxes and make their own decisions.

Personally I think that anyone who has been using 16 GB of RAM before 2024 should get more than 16 GB for 2025 and thereafter, especially since OP states "I tend to keep my machines a long time." Clearly the Mac OS and apps will be taking advantage of more and more RAM in the future, just has always been the case in the past. Note that when one computes, using RAM has always been a superior way to do it.

Even if MBAs had M4 chips today, MBPs are much superior in every way except price [read specs].

The OP already has a Mac for heavy lifting and he only uses his MBA casually. I see no reason (given those current facts) for the OP to spend money on more RAM much less an MBP.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Even if MBAs had M4 chips today [which they do not], MBPs are much superior in every way except price [read specs]; and, RAM demands will be increasing over the life of any new box. So I say no, do not follow the guidance here that suggests simply follow what some box of three years ago did.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

You could, theoretically, get any Mac with those specs and be fine. Especially considering that you're not doing any "heavy lifting".

And, although we're yet to see any Apple Silicon Mac reach the "no updates" stage, I would assume that M2, M3 and M4 get more years of updates than the M1 Macs do.

Doing a little speculative "Apple math", I would, however, suggest you avoid anything less than 16GB RAM, and nothing older than M3 or M4.

Considering the current line-up, and where Apple is going with MacOS and AI, I do see a near future where M1 and M2, and especially <16GB Macs, will lose most future additions to MacOS (even if they will still get MacOS updates).

 

[russell_314]

I dropped my M1 Air with 16/512 on the floor. It still works but the body is all beat up and dented and sharp.

Have you thought about cosmetic repair? It’s not difficult to smooth out sharp edges and some minor dings add character. This way you’ll be less upset when you drop it again vs a new one. Just a suggestion 🤷‍♂️

 

[raythompsontn]

I do see a near future where M1 and M2, and especially <16GB Macs, will lose most future additions to MacOS (even if they will still get MacOS updates).

MacOS takes less than 4 Gig. On my M4 Pro 8 Gig is being used with 4+ Gig for App memory. I don’t see MacOS doubling in size in the next 10 years. I think 16 Gig is fine for many years. OS updates no longer being able to install will more than likely be a CPU issue than a memory issue.

With that being said, it is certain that more memory is better, sort of. If the workload is light, I don’t think workloads for most increases much over the years for home use. If the machine works now, it should still be OK 5 years from now.

 

[ThailandToo]

In your situation, I would get the 14" M4 MacBook Pro, 16Gig, 512GB, 10 Core CPU, 10 Core GPU. That machine will last a long time and serve your needs well.

But is your money, your decision. What I recommended is just my opinion.

I think the display quality is worth it alone. Let alone TB4 and extra ports! The $1599 MBP is a beast with the M4. Worth every penny. Have Studio and MBP both M2 Max with 64GB of RAM and they’re probably about on par with the base MBP for 90% of the stuff I would use them for. Cheers and good luck to the OP.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

The main difference between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro these days is the processor (apart, of course, from the screen and the other amenities).

Thinking long-term, I think the bottleneck would be RAM and storage, and not the CPU/GPU of either laptop, which should capable enough of handling non-heavy tasks for some time.

The MacBook Air will be the best option. You may need to replace it sooner, as Apple may drop support before it does for the MacBook Pro, but it still costs $300 less upfront. Even if you replace it sooner, it will be worth it financially due to the lower cost of acquisition. It of course depends on how long you wish to keep the laptop.

Here is a simulation:

	13-inch MacBook Air (16 GB/512 GB)	14-inch MacBook Pro (16 GB/512 GB)
1 year	$1,299.00	$1,599.00
2 years	$649.50	$799.50
3 years	$433.00	$533.00
4 years	$324.75	$399.75
5 years	$259.80	$319.80
6 years	$216.50	$266.50
7 years	$185.57	$228.43
8 years	$162.38	$199.88
9 years	$144.33	$179.67

In any case, I think buying the Air is more worth it. If anything happens with the laptop during this time (i.e., it gets stolen or broken), you lose less money that you paid upfront. And, if you upgrade it in shorter cycles, you will benefit from more up-to-date technology (wifi, Bluetooth, ports, faster speed drives and RAM, etc.).

You look only at price, which is not value. Often in life the cheapest version is not the best choice. The MBP is a better device in every way except price.

I would also disagree with the statement "The main difference between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro these days is the processor..." IMO everything about the MBP is superior, read the specs; once the MBAs get to M4 the processor will actually be the least important difference.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

The OP already has a Mac for heavy lifting and he only uses his MBA casually. I see no reason (given those current facts) for the OP to spend money on more RAM much less an MBP.

Just because a "machine is not used for heavy lifting" does not mean one should cheap out choosing lesser display, lesser speakers, lesser everything. The only possible reason OP should choose the lesser-in-every-regard MBA would be price.

As to RAM, it gets to whether or not one chooses to build a new box to be optimal in 3-5 years, or not. RAM demands have increased every year for 40 years, so folks simply planning on doing what worked in 2022 are making bad decisions IMO. Apple knows, and they suddenly jumped their available laptop RAM by ~6x and doubled base RAM for presumably good reasons.

Obviously one buys what one can afford, but cheapest does not necessarily mean best choice.