MacBook Air M3 13 for travel? (Movies, surfing)

[IPreferYourUsername]

I currently have an 2022 ipad pro 12,9 with the normal keybard, which i mainly use for surfing and videos during travel. I have around 140 travel days yearly, so plenty of time watching movies/series on flights. VLC for the downloaded stuff, then the standard apps for streaming where i have the offline stuff

Overall pleased, but it’s at a point where we need a second unit at home for my daughter and wife to use while i’m away.

One option is to get a macbook air m3 13 and bring that on my travel. I suppose the increased battery life would come in handy, even though the screen isn’t as good as on my ipad, one concern would be that it’s slightly less portable and thus less ideal for watching series/movies on flights (?), especially the short haul flights

The other alternative would be to get the M4 ipad pro with the new magic keyboard, but that’s a fairly big bump in price compared to the Macbook air, close to $500 usd to be precise, and i’m not entirely sure if it’s actually worth it.

 

[Rainman1915]

You are better off using your current iPad Pro for travel and buy the MacBook Air for your wife and daughter to use. The iPad is much better to use on an airplane.

 

[IPreferYourUsername]

You are better off using your current iPad Pro for travel and buy the MacBook Air for your wife and daughter to use. The iPad is much better to use on an airplane.

Also an option, but my daughter is more or less at an age where everything has to be touch based in order for her to navigate, so i think that’s going to be a less viable option than the macbook on an airplane.

 

[Shirasaki]

Also an option, but my daughter is more or less at an age where everything has to be touch based in order for her to navigate, so i think that’s going to be a less viable option than the macbook on an airplane.

Then let your daughter be exposed to non-touch nased navigation. Your wife can help that out. Xcode is a gold mine for kids at young age. iOS dumbs people down, while macOS is far more versatile.

 

[IPreferYourUsername]

Then let your daughter be exposed to non-touch nased navigation. Your wife can help that out. Xcode is a gold mine for kids at young age. iOS dumbs people down, while macOS is far more versatile.

She’s turning 3 in about 4 months, i doubt she’ll be anywhere near xcode for the next 3 or so years, i suppose my current ipad pro would be retired within then anyway.

 

[Shirasaki]

She’s turning 3 in about 4 months, i doubt she’ll be anywhere near xcode for the next 3 or so years, i suppose my current ipad pro would be retired within then anyway.

I’d let my kids to use an actual computer that is without touch anyways rather than giving them an expensive iPad Pro. But if iPad is absolutely the only thing your wife and daughter can accept, maybe consider buying an iPad Air, second hand/discount, for them.

 

[IPreferYourUsername]

I’d let my kids to use an actual computer that is without touch anyways rather than giving them an expensive iPad Pro. But if iPad is absolutely the only thing your wife and daughter can accept, maybe consider buying an iPad Air, second hand/discount, for them.

Oh, the M4 would definetely be my new travel companion while the wife gets the older pro.

But yeah, maybe not the worst idea to get a macbook air, mix it up and occasionally bring it on travels and leave the ipad at home.

 

[arc of the universe]

I currently have an 2022 ipad pro 12,9 with the normal keybard, which i mainly use for surfing and videos during travel. I have around 140 travel days yearly, so plenty of time watching movies/series on flights. VLC for the downloaded stuff, then the standard apps for streaming where i have the offline stuff

Overall pleased, but it’s at a point where we need a second unit at home for my daughter and wife to use while i’m away.

One option is to get a macbook air m3 13 and bring that on my travel. I suppose the increased battery life would come in handy, even though the screen isn’t as good as on my ipad, one concern would be that it’s slightly less portable and thus less ideal for watching series/movies on flights (?), especially the short haul flights

The other alternative would be to get the M4 ipad pro with the new magic keyboard, but that’s a fairly big bump in price compared to the Macbook air, close to $500 usd to be precise, and i’m not entirely sure if it’s actually worth it.

i would wait until the (expected) new iPad (base model) is launched a few days from now.
if its still affordable, i would buy that in an instant for my family's home use.
hopefully apple will still offer the great (easily detachable, user friendly, light weight, affordable cost) keyboard/cover that that it currently has.
i would imagine your family could use this setup for 5 years for fun apps, light work, and homework.

i would continue to use the 2022 iPad Pro for my own use for another couple of years until you feel its too slow.

 

[1BadManVan]

is it really less portable than an iPad an keyboard though? iPad 12.9 with a Magic Keyboard weighs more and is thicker than a 13" MacBook Air.

 

[bellflyer14]

I love my MacBook Air. I picked up the M2 version recently for $799. It is lighter and thinner, and far less expensive than a 12.9 IPP and MK. I absolutely love this device for the relatively light work load that I have. I take it with me while traveling and it is great for watching tv shows, movies, etc on the go.

 

[StrollerEd]

A short while back I bought a s/h M1 MBA 256 for travel. Much earlier I had tried the iPadPro/Keyboard combo but it was never as satisfying.

OK, no touch screen but I'm so used to thinking & writing with a proper keyboard.

 

[DeepSix]

I highly suggest wearing a helmet on the plane and getting a laptop mount to attach to the helmet. It will hold your laptop with no weight on your hands or lap.

 

[raythompsontn]

I used my 13” M2 Air on several airline trips. Worked great. Even on a long 9 hour overseas flight, and return. Nice fit on the tray. Battery life was excellent, even watching movies. Light and easy to carry. It also worked well on the German trains in 1st class.

 

[IPreferYourUsername]

is it really less portable than an iPad an keyboard though? iPad 12.9 with a Magic Keyboard weighs more and is thicker than a 13" MacBook Air.

I wouldn't say so.

Just for the fun of it, I got an MacBook air and a iPad Pro to compare for daily use, one of them will be returned.

At the moment I'm a bit "meh", almost at the point where maybe it's not such a bad idea to get a cheaper iPad for the home.

A bit surprised at the lack of app support for streaming services on Mac OS. Playing videos offline is fairly crucial to me. Feels like the biggest let down at the moment, otherwise it's a really lovely laptop

The iPad with the Apple keyboard. It just feels limited by the os. It's a bit "is this really it". The quality of the keyboard is very good, same with the trackpad, but the position of the iPad itself feels off. I honestly prefer the 6th gen iPad Pro position on the normal apple keyboard compared to how high up the new one sits, but maybe that's just me.

 

[GooseInTheCaboose]

I wouldn't say so.

Just for the fun of it, I got an MacBook air and a iPad Pro to compare for daily use, one of them will be returned.

At the moment I'm a bit "meh", almost at the point where maybe it's not such a bad idea to get a cheaper iPad for the home.

A bit surprised at the lack of app support for streaming services on Mac OS. Playing videos offline is fairly crucial to me. Feels like the biggest let down at the moment, otherwise it's a really lovely laptop

The iPad with the Apple keyboard. It just feels limited by the os. It's a bit "is this really it". The quality of the keyboard is very good, same with the trackpad, but the position of the iPad itself feels off. I honestly prefer the 6th gen iPad Pro position on the normal apple keyboard compared to how high up the new one sits, but maybe that's just me.

For your stated uses, the screen of the iPad Pro is far superior.

If you truly only do what you described the iPad Pro is the better tool. The MBA is good IF you need to use MacOS to do something that iOS can’t do.

If you need that, I suspect you will know it already.. but if you don‘t , the MBA screens are inferior..so I would keep that in mind. They are inferior by FAR.

 

[JamesMay82]

I've just gone from iPad Pro to MacBook Air and I much prefer the air.. it's so much lighter and more capable if I ever need to use excel or any work related stuff.

I watch all my content via Apple TV and just download my purchases from iTunes.

 

[jerrah]

I have a iPad Pro 12.9", a 14" MacBook Pro and a recent MacBook Air M3. On my last overseas trip I took the M3 air and I found it to be a much better traveling companion. It was smaller in my carry on bag than even the iPad and allowed me to do more things than the iPad would normally do. (Full strength video editing apps). No issues watching content on the plane with the MacBook.