Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

TCLim

macrumors newbie
Apr 23, 2015
6
3
Wew.. mine looks pretty bad but honestly, its not affecting me in anyway. Works with white background or bright background most of the time with my M1MBA.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5131.JPG
    IMG_5131.JPG
    222.6 KB · Views: 212

0906742

Cancelled
Original poster
Apr 11, 2018
2,313
613
I bought the pro, I think its worth the extra cost if you are really peaky about the screen, it really is a different screen.
I know it is better since I had MBP 13" 2019 but I did not find screen so much better it was worth over 300 euros today. Bulk part price difference is minimal in reality.

The sound is a bit fuller and extends a bit more into the lows, you can almost say it have lows and the body vibrates much lake the air, but the air does sound louder if you really need loudness, just don't extend too well into lows.
Interesting since Notebookcheck review measured better bass in hearing range for Air. Pro did seem to go lower in lower HZ but it was already so much lower db it would not be possible to hear based on that. Anyway, not sure they are tuned different way in M1's but my MBP 13" 2019 sounded lot worse (very tinny) than MBA M1 (or MBA 2018 did).

in my opinion the rumors that the new MacBook by the end of the year would lose the little screen is probably going to be a step back in the wrong direction in my opinion.
I agree going 14" is wrong step and it will increase overall size, just like all other manufacturers their 14" model is larger than 13.3".

About micro-led, I think micro-led is a way to have a full array on ips displays, and its a good alternative to oled. But I'm not sure I would ditch the current MBP for a micro-led one.
I guess that should be rather big step up with micro-led and price will be likely the same as current model. Also I think Pro gain finally faster CPU too, so those things alone makes me think MBP M1 in current form is more like a "placeholder" so that there is even one Pro model with Apple Silicon now until real Pro comes out.
So MBP M1 likely lose a lot of its value at that moment. MBA likely takes longer as usual to get Pro features fall in to them, so nothing real big coming there soon, I think.
 

0906742

Cancelled
Original poster
Apr 11, 2018
2,313
613
Wew.. mine looks pretty bad but honestly, its not affecting me in anyway. Works with white background or bright background most of the time with my M1MBA.
Yeah, looks similar as all others here. You can also see this in the dark with black image with 100% brightness (on the right edge or upper corner)?
 

Fred Zed

macrumors 603
Aug 15, 2019
5,820
6,517
Upstate NY . Was FL.
Im weighing up the pros and cons of the air v pro, two things come to mind for me. Battery screen on time and display. But since I have no experience in either for these models I’d appreciate feedback from those that do. Thanks.
 

0906742

Cancelled
Original poster
Apr 11, 2018
2,313
613
Im weighing up the pros and cons of the air v pro, two things come to mind for me. Battery screen on time and display. But since I have no experience in either for these models I’d appreciate feedback from those that do. Thanks.
Battery run time is obviously better in Pro due to practically over 20% higher battery capacity (I'm referring to actual capacity readings with Coconutbattery rather than spec's 50W vs 58,2W). For me that MBA M1 battery gives in actual harder use with display brightness at full minus 4-5 clicks about 10 hours operating time. I know some claim getting 15-20 hours and yes, that is possible too with letting it sit idle on desktop (or use some very basic apps like writing a book with a simple text editor) and have screen brightness around say below half to 1/3 or so, or something else with extremely low screen brightness. But still MBA M1 battery life is decent, around say 30% better than my MBP 13" 2019 was in the same use.

Display is also fine other than in situation described in this thread. In bright room it is just fine and very good even whites (no difference in tint between sides etc.) but that can vary a bit from unit to unit. In Pro you get much better black level and higher contrast ratio but it may or may not be even in brighter image (I had good panel in my MBP 2019 but not sure it is the same in M1, as based on photos here not quite as good as mine was). Anyway I would not pay the current premium for MBP M1 and I consider it kind of a "placeholder" for future Pro. I also like Air form factor more and appreciate more silent and solid keyboard and trackpad plus speaker sound quality.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fred Zed

Fred Zed

macrumors 603
Aug 15, 2019
5,820
6,517
Upstate NY . Was FL.
Battery run time is obviously better in Pro due to practically over 20% higher battery capacity (I'm referring to actual capacity readings with Coconutbattery rather than spec's 50W vs 58,2W). For me that MBA M1 battery gives in actual harder use with display brightness at full minus 4-5 clicks about 10 hours operating time. I know some claim getting 15-20 hours and yes, that is possible too with letting it sit idle on desktop (or use some very basic apps like writing a book with a simple text editor) and have screen brightness around say below half to 1/3 or so, or something else with extremely low screen brightness. But still MBA M1 battery life is decent, around say 30% better than my MBP 13" 2019 was in the same use.

Display is also fine other than in situation described in this thread. In bright room it is just fine and very good even whites (no difference in tint between sides etc.) but that can vary a bit from unit to unit. In Pro you get much better black level and higher contrast ratio but it may or may not be even in brighter image (I had good panel in my MBP 2019 but not sure it is the same in M1, as based on photos here not quite as good as mine was). Anyway I would not pay the current premium for MBP M1 and I consider it kind of a "placeholder" for future Pro. I also like Air form factor more and appreciate more silent and solid keyboard and trackpad plus speaker sound quality.
Many thanks for the comment and feedback, appreciated it.
I think I want to spend the least amount of money on a current MacBook, because I won’t be doing any video editing or music production nor anything intensive. To be honest my previous MacBook Pro 16 i9 with 16GB and 1TB spec was wasted hardware due to me thinking I’d need all those extras. I used it primarily for Office, zoom calls etc.
I think this time around I’ll be sticking to base model with 512GB storage.
 

0906742

Cancelled
Original poster
Apr 11, 2018
2,313
613
Many thanks for the comment and feedback, appreciated it.
I think I want to spend the least amount of money on a current MacBook, because I won’t be doing any video editing or music production nor anything intensive. To be honest my previous MacBook Pro 16 i9 with 16GB and 1TB spec was wasted hardware due to me thinking I’d need all those extras. I used it primarily for Office, zoom calls etc.
I think this time around I’ll be sticking to base model with 512GB storage.
Sounds like MBA M1 is good enough easily. Only better screen in MBP but is it worth that much? I don't think so.
 

peleh

macrumors newbie
Feb 20, 2013
22
11
Disabling the text smoothing on the MBA solved something that is not bothering me on the MBP, maybe the coating is playing a role here. The whites on the MBP are also more uniform at least on my unit.

The general use of the keyboard and trackpad are good on both, but you are right, the MBA is something different, its slightly better on the MBA, it feels solid, the trackpad click feels more consistent also, it even have additional options like silent click available, so not everything on the MBP could actually be incrementally better.
 

Never mind

macrumors 65816
Oct 25, 2018
1,071
1,191
Dunedin, Florida
Sounds like MBA M1 is good enough easily. Only better screen in MBP but is it worth that much? I don't think so.
You sound like you’re only adding the better screen as to your comment, is it worth it $$. Don’t forget there’s a Touch bar, there is the additional battery time, Studio-quality three-mic array, 61W USB-C Power Adapter as opposed to the 30 watt for the air, and better speakers as well for that cost. Surprises me that some people accidentally or deliberately failed to add the additional hardware when they report this and the cost.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Leon1das

Fred Zed

macrumors 603
Aug 15, 2019
5,820
6,517
Upstate NY . Was FL.
Sounds like MBA M1 is good enough easily. Only better screen in MBP but is it worth that much? I don't think so.
Well the difference depending on where I purchase it from is between 200 to 300$. I’m not trying to be one of those ( because I was and am) that says oh for another 200$ I can add this and then for just another $200 I can get that. It never ends 😂
 

Fred Zed

macrumors 603
Aug 15, 2019
5,820
6,517
Upstate NY . Was FL.
You sound like you’re only adding the better screen as to your comment, is it worth it $$. Don’t forget there’s a Touch bar, there is the additional battery time, Studio-quality three-mic array, 61W USB-C Power Adapter as opposed to the 30 watt for the air, and better speakers as well for that cost. Surprises me that some people accidentally or deliberately failed to add the additional hardware when they report this and the cost.
Some valid points there.
 

peleh

macrumors newbie
Feb 20, 2013
22
11
You sound like you’re only adding the better screen as to your comment, is it worth it $$. Don’t forget there’s a Touch bar, there is the additional battery time, Studio-quality three-mic array, 61W USB-C Power Adapter as opposed to the 30 watt for the air, and better speakers as well for that cost. Surprises me that some people accidentally or deliberately failed to add the additional hardware when they report this and the cost.

I agree when some people find the Air better because of certain elements or nuances, $300 is not a big difference in my opinion, to give you some perspective, these machines on my country cost between $2700 for the 512mb Air and $3200 for the 512mb Pro.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Fred Zed

Leon1das

macrumors 6502
Dec 26, 2020
285
214
I will say it again.

Base MBA is the best value for money...

The moment you start adding features to the base MBA (either RAM or HDD space) you already are in the MBP price range... and MBP starts making sense + it brings the number of (tiny) upgrades over the MBA
 
Last edited:

Fred Zed

macrumors 603
Aug 15, 2019
5,820
6,517
Upstate NY . Was FL.
I will say it again.

Base MBA is the best value for money...

The moment you start adding features to the base MBA (either RAM or HDD space) you already are in the MBP price range... and MBP starts making sense + it brings the numbee of (tiny) upgrades over the MBA
Yeah I agree, but I needed ( or seemed to have thinked ) 512GB .
 

jdb8167

macrumors 601
Nov 17, 2008
4,859
4,599
I will say it again.

Base MBA is the best value for money...

The moment you start adding features to the base MBA (either RAM or HDD space) you already are in the MBP price range... and MBP starts making sense + it brings the numbee of (tiny) upgrades over the MBA
Well I needed 16 GB. I could only get it in a reasonable amount of time by ordering at an Apple store with the 1 TB update which I didn't need. An 8GB MBA wouldn't meet my needs. A 16 GB MBP with the same 1 TB required for purchasing in a reasonable time was $250 more than for the MBA and would be nearly the same computer for my use. Not a great value.
 

lJoSquaredl

macrumors 6502a
Mar 26, 2012
522
227
I can see it slightly when at 100% brightness while watching HDR movies, otherwise it hasn't really been an issue at all. I have a bigger issue with it being slightly warmer than my old 2016 15" MBP cuz I don't really know which is correct lol but still close enough that it probably won't matter for anything I'm doing.
 

0906742

Cancelled
Original poster
Apr 11, 2018
2,313
613
You sound like you’re only adding the better screen as to your comment, is it worth it $$.
Well, to me that is the only real difference between the two and considering the hard fact about panel price difference between the two is likely just some dollars.

Don’t forget there’s a Touch bar,
I don't but I had that in my MBP 2019 and I never used it for anything. I actually noticed that I even preferred adjusting volume and screen brightness by hitting + and - icons instead of using the slider in TB. :)
So actually I prefer real keys in MBA. But surely if one has real actual use for TB (does anyone?) then surely it is worth maybe.

there is the additional battery time, Studio-quality three-mic array
Absolutely if either of these is needed.

61W USB-C Power Adapter as opposed to the 30 watt for the air
Again depending on use does it make difference or not.
My finding between my MBP 13" 2019 vs MBA M1 was that the charging time is actually shorter in my MBA when I charge them starting from my usual about 1/3 to 40% to 100%. It is that MBP never pulls full 61W from charger to charge the battery and it gradually drops it well below 30% when battery is above 50% or so, this makes charging wattage very similar above that level and due to smaller battery in MBA the time it takes actually goes like this. Sure that is useful if charging MBP while running something CPU demanding during that.


and better speakers as well for that cost.
Again, I have never seen any test where they actually measured speakers with measuring gear Pro being better. Just read Notebookcheck reviews and you see MBA M1 got 95% for speakers while MBP M1 only 90% rating. Also measurements are shown in the same review.

These are useful reviews for all considering MBA M1 vs MBP M1 with actual measurements.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple...o-gets-the-M1-performance-boost.510883.0.html

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple...le-M1-CPU-humbles-Intel-and-AMD.508057.0.html


Surprises me that some people accidentally or deliberately failed to add the additional hardware when they report this and the cost.
I guess it is all about whether any of those are something you actually use or need.
 

Fred Zed

macrumors 603
Aug 15, 2019
5,820
6,517
Upstate NY . Was FL.
Being hyper critical MBP slightly green left and pink right of screen. The only thing I do notice during day to day usage perhaps is the lower right side being dimmer or slightly pinker. Unless I look at it directly which minimizes it.
 

mi7chy

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2014
10,622
11,294
No uniformity color issues on mine but black level has a bit more grey glow than Surface Pro X.
 

Fred Zed

macrumors 603
Aug 15, 2019
5,820
6,517
Upstate NY . Was FL.
MBP (next to MBA, and I have them both)

- Screen is better (no red glow on right), plus has better contrast and max brightness

- battery is 20% bigger

- has 60w charger instead of 30w for MBA

- keyboard is better, more firm

- trackpad bigger and more firm

- CPU doesnt throttle, and has fan which speed can be fully controlled to user likes..

- has one GPU core vs base MBA

Add to this what Apple says:

- studio mics and better speakers...

For me - price diff between base MBP and base MBA in Europe are justified.
WRONG.

Mines got a slight magenta tint on the right side and green on right side when viewing Safari at brightness below 50%
 

0906742

Cancelled
Original poster
Apr 11, 2018
2,313
613
all my lcd type panels are like this. Bearing in mind I have my brightness levels at 3 dots low.
No they are not. I reject panels every time when they are like that. There are good panels too (except in 12 Pro obviously as that is probably the first lost battle for me after several exchanges :( )
My MBA M1 is even with white no matter what brightness setting.
Only thing with it is this red glow in mentioned conditions (which are not so normal use anyway but definitely it should not be like that).

Even my MBP was good, it was just slightly getting these blue spots, which is I guess something happening when they age (mine had nearly 70 charge cycles and over 1 year old to give some impression of machine age and usage).
WRONG.

Mines got a slight magenta tint on the right side and green on right side when viewing Safari at brightness below 50%
Like if you open google.com? Or if you read this forum and there are white sides, you see it there too?
My is completely even tint.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Fred Zed

Fred Zed

macrumors 603
Aug 15, 2019
5,820
6,517
Upstate NY . Was FL.
No they are not. I reject panels every time when they are like that. There are good panels too (except in 12 Pro obviously as that is probably the first lost battle for me after several exchanges :( )
My MBA M1 is even with white no matter what brightness setting.

Even my MBP was good, it was just slightly getting these blue spots, which is I guess something happening when they age (mine had nearly 70 charge cycles and over 1 year old to give some impression of machine age and usage).

Like if you open google.com? Or if you read this forum and there are white sides, you see it there too?
My is completely even tint.
Yes , Im very sensitive to these things and I base my judgment on day to day usage like Safari or Google white background
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.