Late 2013 MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Air 2015

[bananagranny]

I’m looking to buy one of these machines but I’m having a little trouble picking one.

I really love the Retina screens on the Pro and the extra thunderbolt port is great since I have two monitors.

But the MacBook Air 2015 is going to be supported for macOS Monterey even though it’s a worse machine?

Thoughts?
Also, I’m mainly going to be doing light gaming (Minecraft, etc.), and some 1080p video editing with the machine.

 

[mystery hill]

Can you not find a 2015 MacBook Pro?

 

[bananagranny]

Can you not find a 2015 MacBook Pro?

I’m just on a budget, and the 2015 MBP is out of my price range. Would love to have it one day though!

 

[mystery hill]

I’m just on a budget, and the 2015 MBP is out of my price range.

I understand. If you want Monterey, then the Air is the obvious choice.

The 2015 Air can be used with a 4K monitor, which may make up for the lack of a builtin Retina display.

 

[bananagranny]

I understand. If you want Monterey, then the Air is the obvious choice.

The 2015 Air can be used with a 4K monitor, which may make up for the lack of a builtin Retina display.

Oh wow! I didn’t even know the 2015 Air could do that! That’s a huge plus. But is the performance better than a 2013 MBP?

 

[mystery hill]

But is the performance better than a 2013 MBP?

The difference in performance is negligible. In some tests it's almost the same, in others it either slightly better or worse.

If you want Monterey then the MacBook Air will be a good choice when paired with an external display.

I'd go for the MacBook Pro if you don't plan on using monitors as the Retina display is so much better than the TN panel on the Air.

 

[Amethyst1]

But is the performance better than a 2013 MBP?

If it's a 15" MBP, its quad-core is quite a bit more powerful than the MBA's dual-core. The 15" can also run a 4K monitor at 60 Hz whereas the 13" can't.

 

[bananagranny]

The difference in performance is negligible. In some tests it's almost the same, in others it either slightly better or worse.

If you want Monterey then the MacBook Air will be a good choice when paired with an external display.

I'd go for the MacBook Pro if you don't plan on using monitors as the Retina display is so much better than the TN panel on the Air.

Hmm, yeah, I think I'll go with the Pro. Thanks!

 

[bananagranny]

If it's a 15" MBP, its quad-core is quite a bit more powerful than the MBA's dual-core. The 15" can also run a 4K monitor at 60 Hz whereas the 13" can't.

Ooh, good to know!