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

TheWraith

macrumors regular
Feb 20, 2024
133
300
That's a toughie. For me, the screen quality and 14.2" being just a bit bigger would be MY choice, especially since you will use for content consumption as well. But, take the screen out of the picture, that Air will serve all your needs and more, for a long time, and the added plus is those machines are suuuuper light and portable, great for a college student.

It is a tough one as described, but I agree—I'd go M3 MBA. I'm typing this on one of them now!
 

Allen_Wentz

macrumors 68040
Dec 3, 2016
3,334
3,770
USA
It is a tough one as described, but I agree—I'd go M3 MBA. I'm typing this on one of them now!
The initial post had RAM and chip level (base or pro or max) the same, in which case the M2 MBP and the M3 MBA are at similar levels. But if either box has more RAM or higher chip level that one solidly wins.

Forty years of Mac evolution say RAM needs always increase over time, and both Apple's Unified Memory Architecture and AI will likely exacerbate that forever trend.
 
Last edited:
  • Wow
Reactions: _Mitchan1999

Tyler O'Bannon

macrumors 6502a
Nov 23, 2019
886
1,497
It is a tough one as described, but I agree—I'd go M3 MBA. I'm typing this on one of them now!
Oh nice, well, no matter how you slice it, that's going to be a great machine and easily serve you for an undergraduate college career.

Congrats on your new purchase. New Mac day is always a good day
 
  • Like
Reactions: _Mitchan1999

_Mitchan1999

macrumors member
Jan 18, 2024
66
114
I would get the MacBook Air with M2 that has 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM at Best Buy that's currently on sale for $849. It sounds like it will do everything that you will need to do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: smirking

Milly342

Suspended
Original poster
May 27, 2024
169
24
I would get the MacBook Air with M2 that has 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM at Best Buy that's currently on sale for $849. It sounds like it will do everything that you will need to do.
Is it much worse than the m2?
 

Milly342

Suspended
Original poster
May 27, 2024
169
24
It is the M2 MacBook Air. I would stick with M2 because it looks look it will do everything that you will need to do as long as you can get it on sale for $849.
I kinda need at least 16gb and the 512 ssd bc my current MacBook the 8gb is not enough
 

_Mitchan1999

macrumors member
Jan 18, 2024
66
114
Is their a major difference between m2 and m3
Not really unless you're into gaming. I think that you talked about gaming earlier in a post and I don't know if the gaming service that you use will take full advantage of the M3 chip.
 

Milly342

Suspended
Original poster
May 27, 2024
169
24
Not really unless you're into gaming. I think that you talked about gaming earlier in a post and I don't know if the gaming service that you use will take full advantage of the M3 chip.
Yeah I don’t know either tbh GeForce now I think it’s mostly the display which the pro blows the air out of the water
 

_Mitchan1999

macrumors member
Jan 18, 2024
66
114
Yeah I don’t know either tbh GeForce now I think it’s mostly the display which the pro blows the air out of the water
Do you notice things like 120Hz and the other features that the M3 MacBook Pro offers? I would recommend going to a Best Buy and looking at the MacBooks and see if you notice a difference between them.
 

Milly342

Suspended
Original poster
May 27, 2024
169
24
Do you notice things like 120Hz and the other features that the M3 MacBook Pro offers? I would recommend going to a Best Buy and looking at the MacBooks and see if you notice a difference between them.
I noticed a hdr difference, I haven’t ever used a Mac Pro before, but I do like the 120hz on my iPhone idk if as important on a Mac as it would on a phone
 

_Mitchan1999

macrumors member
Jan 18, 2024
66
114
I noticed a hdr difference, I haven’t ever used a Mac Pro before, but I do like the 120hz on my iPhone idk if as important on a Mac as it would on a phone
A Mac Pro is a desktop. An MacBook Air/Pro are laptops. Then I would get a M3 Pro MacBook Pro that has 512GB of storage and 18GB of RAM for the real price of $1999 but you can get the price lower if you look around.
 

Milly342

Suspended
Original poster
May 27, 2024
169
24
A Mac Pro is a desktop. An MacBook Air/Pro are laptops. Then I would get a M3 Pro MacBook Pro that has 512GB of storage and 18GB of RAM for the real price of $1999 but you can get the price lower if you look around.
I meant to say MacBook Pro my bad
 

_Mitchan1999

macrumors member
Jan 18, 2024
66
114
You seem knowledgeable so I just have 1 question would the iPad Pro with the keyboard be better than the MacBook Air for college?
I like my iPad for watching Hulu and YouTube and for browsing the web and it's perfect for doing that. But for real work and multitasking, I recommend using a Mac. If you do get an iPad Pro then what size do you need/want? It comes in two sizes, an 11 inch version for $999 and an 13 inch version for $1299. Both comes with 256GB of storage as standard.
 
Last edited:

Milly342

Suspended
Original poster
May 27, 2024
169
24
I like my iPad for watching Hulu and YouTube and for browsing the web and it's perfect for doing that. But for real work and multitasking, I recommend using a Mac. If you do get an iPad Pro then what size do you need/want? It comes in two sizes, an 11 inch version for $999 and an 13 inch version for $1299. Both comes with 256GB of storage as standard.
It would be the 11inch
 

smirking

macrumors 68040
Aug 31, 2003
3,942
4,009
Silicon Valley
You seem knowledgeable so I just have 1 question would the iPad Pro with the keyboard be better than the MacBook Air for college?

No, don't do that. You need to have a proper computer. Your needs are basic enough that you can choose either an M2, M3, Air, or Pro in any specification and it's likely to last you a good long time.

Want to save some cash, get an M2. Want to save weight? Get an Air. Want the screen? Get the MBP. Don't overthink it. You can choose any of these and be really happy.
 
  • Love
Reactions: _Mitchan1999

Milly342

Suspended
Original poster
May 27, 2024
169
24
No, don't do that. You need to have a proper computer. Your needs are basic enough that you can choose either an M2, M3, Air, or Pro in any specification and it's likely to last you a good long time.

Want to save some cash, get an M2. Want to save weight? Get an Air. Want the screen? Get the MBP. Don't overthink it. You can choose any of these and be really happy.
Is the iPad limited like in the case since I’m a business major if I need to instal forward for something?
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.