M1 MBA or M1 MBP?

[4sallypat]

As for my next computer, I am keeping my fingers crossed for the M1 iMac - can't wait to dump my 2013 iMac - it's been running on an external SSD.

 

[kp98077]

Was debating the same thing MBP vs Air. After some analysis of how I use the computer and predicting future resale value I went with the Air 16GB 1TB (helped that it was in stock locally). My logic is that the Air will likely have a better resale value since when the 16" M1 Pros come out, people will prefer that over the 13" Pro. I don't think Apple will update the Air again before the 16" Pro comes out so hopefully will be able to sell the Air for about what I bought it for (and then get the 16" M1? Pro which is what I really want lol).

i can never find 16GB at the apple store, is that where people are referring to having it in stock?

 

[pshufd]

The model in a few local stores are 16/1TB. Usually it's available a day or two later at local stores. The 8 GB RAM models are plentiful.

 

[4sallypat]

i can never find 16GB at the apple store, is that where people are referring to having it in stock?

You have to constantly check inventory at all your Apple stores - they change daily...

 

[kp98077]

You have to constantly check inventory at all your Apple stores - they change daily...

Yes looks that way ! Seems to be a few around here. 16gb would certainly make it snappy I hope!

 

[dougellison]

If you do not game, video edit, or photography on it, will MBA be suffice

Get the Air. If you're not doing heavy sustained loads, it's as fast as the 13", and you've not paying a pointless premium for the Touch Bar. As for the fan.....that's just something to go wrong

I was able to order a 16G/1T Air on Tuesday and pick it up from my local store on Thursday.

 

[jsoto]

Get the Air. If you're not doing heavy sustained loads, it's as fast as the 13", and you've not paying a pointless premium for the Touch Bar. As for the fan.....that's just something to go wrong

I was able to order a 16G/1T Air on Tuesday and pick it up from my local store on Thursday.

That is what I am getting. Same config as yours.

 

[clarencek]

I went with the Pro for the extra battery life. I’m on video calls all day and somewhat portable.
The battery so far has been amazing. On calls all day and still 44% left. The machine def gets warm and the only time the fan spin on was on an hour long vid conference when the machine was on a blanket.
I also find the flat design of the case more comfortable on the wrists vs the wedge design.

 

[4sallypat]

Yes looks that way ! Seems to be a few around here. 16gb would certainly make it snappy I hope!

16GB would be good for video editing, gaming, and intensive need apps.
From what I have a base M1 Mini - it's not needed for what I do and the base is more than adequate for the majority of users.

What I learned from the new M1: don't get suckered into thinking that more RAM is better, unless you are truly a hard core power user.

My base 8GB Mini for the past 3 days has shown me that more is not needed.

It runs faster, loads quicker, apps snap open, and handles 20+ tabs on Chrome without a single spinning beach ball.

The plus side is that I no longer have to place the M1 Mini on a cooling fan as I had to for 6 years because the old i7 Mini which ran hot, fans were noisy, and hated the slow downs when it got hot.

 

[CalMin]

With the M1 generation, the differences are minimal unless you’re doing something that requires sustained cpu performance.

The Air is the choice for most general purpose computing. The Pro is most of a luxury edition of the Air than a Pro. It will do all the same tasks with equal competence. If you have work that requires sustained CPU loads for more than 10 mins (long renders, compiles etc) then the pro might give an edge.

 

[kp98077]

16GB would be good for video editing, gaming, and intensive need apps.
From what I have a base M1 Mini - it's not needed for what I do and the base is more than adequate for the majority of users.

What I learned from the new M1: don't get suckered into thinking that more RAM is better, unless you are truly a hard core power user.

My base 8GB Mini for the past 3 days has shown me that more is not needed.

It runs faster, loads quicker, apps snap open, and handles 20+ tabs on Chrome without a single spinning beach ball.

The plus side is that I no longer have to place the M1 Mini on a cooling fan as I had to for 6 years because the old i7 Mini which ran hot, fans were noisy, and hated the slow downs when it got hot.

Is the fact it’s 1tb and 16gb, will that drain battery faster just doing basic task suck as office and you tube?

 

[kp98077]

16GB would be good for video editing, gaming, and intensive need apps.
From what I have a base M1 Mini - it's not needed for what I do and the base is more than adequate for the majority of users.

What I learned from the new M1: don't get suckered into thinking that more RAM is better, unless you are truly a hard core power user.

My base 8GB Mini for the past 3 days has shown me that more is not needed.

It runs faster, loads quicker, apps snap open, and handles 20+ tabs on Chrome without a single spinning beach ball.

The plus side is that I no longer have to place the M1 Mini on a cooling fan as I had to for 6 years because the old i7 Mini which ran hot, fans were noisy, and hated the slow downs when it got hot.

Good to know !! Thx !

 

[James_C]

There is little difference between the Air and the Pro in terms of performance - This comparison was posted today that looks at the differences. In summary the extra cost is probably for most people not worth the additional sustained performance gain for the MBP.

One of the key things is do you like the Touch Bar or not. If you do, go for the MBP, if you don't then go for the Air.

 

[kp98077]

There is little difference between the Air and the Pro in terms of performance - This comparison was posted today that looks at the differences. In summary the extra cost is probably for most people not worth the additional sustained performance gain for the MBP.

One of the key things is do you like the Touch Bar or not. If you do, go for the MBP, if you don't then go for the Air.

Good video. Wonder if the results would be better with the 16gb? Trying to decide between that and the base MBA.

 

[MFDoom]

Given all of the videos comparing the two I’ve changed my order from a MBP to the MBA. Going full 8c GPU though.

 

[kp98077]

Given all of the videos comparing the two I’ve changed my order from a MBP to the MBA. Going full 8c GPU though.

Ditto, but I may go 16 gb to be safe

 

[Yebubbleman]

If you do not game, video edit, or photography on it, will MBA be suffice or will MBP be more future proof per the active cooling? Still debating which one to get? It will be one or the other for sure. Just need some help deciding?

It's not about what you do on either M1 notebook. It's about how long you do it at a time. If you only do occasional high-end tasks and for short periods at a time, go MacBook Air. If you think you might find yourself doing long stretches of work and/or don't want to have to worry about whether or not your CPU might be throttled, go 2-port 13" MacBook Pro.

 

[honestone33]

My early 2017 13" MBA has been a good performer (has a 252 gig SSD and 8 gig of RAM), but based on a review on Macworld's site of the "base" M1 MBA, I am leaning towards getting one soon. Given that I use my late 2018 Mac Mini more than my MBA, I don't need it to be anything more than the base configuration, ie, 252 gig SSD and 8 gig of RAM.

Then of course there's this comparison:

MacBook Air M1 vs. Dell XPS 13: Which laptop wins?

The MacBook Air vs. Dell XPS 13 battle crowns a new winner

www.tomsguide.com

My primary concerns at this point are 1) "stability" of Big Sur, and 2) software compatibility with Big Sur. There are 5 critical programs (one of them being SuperDuper!) that are not yet compatible.

 

[jsoto]

It's not about what you do on either M1 notebook. It's about how long you do it at a time. If you only do occasional high-end tasks and for short periods at a time, go MacBook Air. If you think you might find yourself doing long stretches of work and/or don't want to have to worry about whether or not your CPU might be throttled, go 2-port 13" MacBook Pro.

Thanks

 

[KPOM]

My early 2017 13" MBA has been a good performer (has a 252 gig SSD and 8 gig of RAM), but based on a review on Macworld's site of the "base" M1 MBA, I am leaning towards getting one soon. Given that I use my late 2018 Mac Mini more than my MBA, I don't need it to be anything more than the base configuration, ie, 252 gig SSD and 8 gig of RAM.

Then of course there's this comparison:

MacBook Air M1 vs. Dell XPS 13: Which laptop wins?

The MacBook Air vs. Dell XPS 13 battle crowns a new winner

www.tomsguide.com

My primary concerns at this point are 1) "stability" of Big Sur, and 2) software compatibility with Big Sur. There are 5 critical programs (one of them being SuperDuper!) that are not yet compatible.

That review understates the performance of the M1. They appear to have been running the x86 version of GeekBench in Rosetta 2. My MacBook Air easily scores 7400 in the multi-core test.

 

[Sanpete]

Is the fact it’s 1tb and 16gb, will that drain battery faster just doing basic task suck as office and you tube?

Probably not noticeably. I haven't checked the latest hardware, but generally such components in laptops have very low-power states for when they or parts of them aren't in use.

 

[Argon_]

Thanks everyone for all the replies. The MBP has many tempting things. If it just had the regular function keys I would be sold on it in a heartbeat! I am coming from a VERY old MBP. It is a MBP mid 2010 i7 2.66 GHz Dual Core. So any machine will smoke what I currently have. Made it last this long with a SATA SSD even though it has only SATA 2, and maxed out RAM which for this machine is 8GB. It has been a great machine till it started to experienice the GPU kernel panic 3 years ago. The GPU panic has gotten really bad this year to almost make it not useable. Have been getting by with my various Windows machines and would occasionally fire up the MBP for a special need. I am leaning towards the MBA it will be my main MAC machine. I am really curios for what a M1 iMac will be down the road. Have iPad Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro. Just missed having the MAC.

Now should I get the 7 or 8 Core GPU? I will be upgrading to 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD.

I already purchased my Apple Gift Cards since they are on sale at 10% off at the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for this purchase!

You might be able to run a GPU disabler and use the iGPU, if you want to turn the '10 MBP into a Mac chromebook, so to speak.

 

[anshuvorty]

Agree!

I just got the M1 Mini and love it's cool operation and no fan at all!

Now that I can see firsthand how cool the Mini runs, I am thinking of replacing my 16" MBP that is a real lap thigh burner.

The Intel i7 cooker is so hot running all day not doing anything that I had to get a laptop cooling fan to keep the heat down.

Since I don't do any video editing or heavy work on it, I am looking at the M1 MBA to replace the Intel heater - which is similar to my fanless 12" rMB which I love so dearly!

The M1 Mac Mini has a fan....

 

[KPOM]

The M1 Mac Mini has a fan....

But she’s looking at the MacBook Air, which doesn’t have a fan.

 

[anshuvorty]

But she’s looking at the MacBook Air, which doesn’t have a fan.

@4sallypat mentioned the following in the 1st sentence of the post:

I just got the M1 Mini and love it's cool operation and no fan at all!

I was responding to this particular sentence. I meant to clarify that the M1 Mac Mini does have a fan and that this sentence is incorrect. The Mac Mini M1 has a fan, and that the poster is incorrect in the observation that the M1 Mini doesn't have a fan.

My apologies if I was not clear enough.