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M1 MBA 16GB RAM 512GB or M1 MBP 8GB 256GB?
- Thread starter Appletise
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If you can only pick between those two, then I'd go with the Air that has more RAM. But it honestly depends on what you do. If it were me, I'd wait until I could make the difference and then just get the Pro with 16GB; but I'm more of a fan of having my cake and eating it too.
We can't help without more info. What do you plan to do with it? What's your current usage? (apps, average number of Safari / Chrome tabs etc?)
For many users, 8GB is enough. I call myself a reasonably heavy user, and I would be borderline 8/16GB. I don't have a M1, just a 16GB Intel MBP. I'm well over 8GB RAM on the Intel MBP, but with the M1, 8GB is likely enough for my current usage.
For more people, 256GB SSD space might be a critical factor. It's enough for many, but certainly wouldn't be enough for me - I'm over 512GB SSD usage so I need my 1TB SSD. At a push I could manage with a 512GB but I would feel squashed.
It all depends on your particular usage.
For many users, 8GB is enough. I call myself a reasonably heavy user, and I would be borderline 8/16GB. I don't have a M1, just a 16GB Intel MBP. I'm well over 8GB RAM on the Intel MBP, but with the M1, 8GB is likely enough for my current usage.
For more people, 256GB SSD space might be a critical factor. It's enough for many, but certainly wouldn't be enough for me - I'm over 512GB SSD usage so I need my 1TB SSD. At a push I could manage with a 512GB but I would feel squashed.
It all depends on your particular usage.
It depends on your daily usage requirements, as well as your storage needs. How much as you using now those areas? Have you had any page outs? What about memory pressure?
What will you be using the M1 for on a regular basis? What apps are you using? How long do you plan on keeping the M1?
If you want a cogent response, you need to provide some basic information.
What will you be using the M1 for on a regular basis? What apps are you using? How long do you plan on keeping the M1?
If you want a cogent response, you need to provide some basic information.
thanks for replies all, daily usage browsing ~20 tabs, libre office and stock trading software.plan to keep at least few years, currently mbpr 2012, and its running well. l still feel MBA at higher spec better, do like the look of the MBP 13' though. When are the new macs coming? MBA and MBP are getting 'long' in tooth, currently in HKG till mid August, so hope they can release by then, as they are quite bit cheaper than UK where l live.
I currently have the 8/256 Mac Mini. It is very sluggish.
I have kept it for now because it has a three month return policy, and I plan to get a Macbook Pro to replace it with better performance.
If the new laptop does not arrive fast enough I will return for a 16/512.
Sure plenty of people find 8gb is enough, but why take the chance?
I have kept it for now because it has a three month return policy, and I plan to get a Macbook Pro to replace it with better performance.
If the new laptop does not arrive fast enough I will return for a 16/512.
Sure plenty of people find 8gb is enough, but why take the chance?
What are you doing that makes it sluggish?
Where did you buy it that has a 90 day return policy?
I'm not sure..I don't think I'm doing anything particularly unusual. I have several safari and chrome browsers open with probably half a dozen tabs in each, Thunderbird, an app called friendly? for watching netflix, word, excel, onedrive. All the kinds of things I did on my old (admittedly high end) PC.
The activity monitor always shows a lot of RAM usage, so I suspect 16gig would resolve things!
I sometimes run Civilization in steam, but it only successfully starts about half the time - I regularly see is using more than 4GB of ram, so I think it might just be buggy with Apple Silicon.
Costco has a 90 day return policy
