MacBook buying help - Air or Pro

[Josieb1]

Hi

I used to have a 13” MacBook Pro 2016. I sold it back in 2023 and currently use a 16” Windows 11 Laptop. I’d like to get another Mac but I’m just not sure what to get. I don’t play games or do any video editing but I am a heavy office user (mainly excel and word) and create ebooks using a program called calibre. Would an Air be good enough? I’d like the 15” Air if I went for an Air, if I went for a Pro I’d have to stick with the 14”. I’d like as much Ram as I can get and a large hard drive.

Any advice would be most appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Apple_Robert]

An MBA would be more than enough for your needs.

 

[Josieb1]

An MBA would be more than enough for your needs.

Thank you. My only issue is that ideally I’d like 24Ram and 1TB of storage so I’d be stuck buying from Apple and configuring the top MBA, whereas today I’ve seen a 14” MBP M4 with 24Gb Ram and 1TB of storage for £1805, nearly £200 less than Apple.

To say I am conflicted is putting it mildly 😟. Do I go for screen size or internals.

 

[Apple_Robert]

For your use, 24GB RAM is overkill. You wouldn't need that much. 16GB of RAM would be fine, in my opinion. If you want more than that, go for 18, if offered.

 

[Josieb1]

For your use, 24GB RAM is overkill. You wouldn't need that much. 16GB of RAM would be fine, in my opinion. If you want more than that, go for 18, if offered.

Thank you

 

[Alameda]

Thank you. My only issue is that ideally I’d like 24Ram and 1TB of storage so I’d be stuck buying from Apple and configuring the top MBA, whereas today I’ve seen a 14” MBP M4 with 24Gb Ram and 1TB of storage for £1805, nearly £200 less than Apple.

To say I am conflicted is putting it mildly 😟. Do I go for screen size or internals.

The MBP has a better quality screen, and its CPU (at least on some) is M4 Pro, with more processing cores than the M4 used on the Air. The MBP has a cooling fan, used when CPU intensive tasks are performed, and the Air does not.

But for these reasons, the Air is much thinner and lighter. You don’t seem to need the added features of the MBP, but those are the main differences.

 

[russell_314]

For your use, 24GB RAM is overkill. You wouldn't need that much. 16GB of RAM would be fine, in my opinion. If you want more than that, go for 18, if offered.

I believe 16 GB is standard on the new air so you won’t have to spend money to upgrade on this one.

Apple makes some really nice and affordable laptops, but how they get you with the upgrades. If you don’t need them then don’t spend the money. People to include me drop way too much money into unnecessary upgrades that aren’t really helping.

 

[ChrisA]

Thank you. My only issue is that ideally I’d like 24Ram and 1TB of storage so I’d be stuck buying from Apple and configuring the top MBA, whereas today I’ve seen a 14” MBP M4 with 24Gb Ram and 1TB of storage for £1805, nearly £200 less than Apple.

To say I am conflicted is putting it mildly 😟. Do I go for screen size or internals.

You have 1TB of Office documents? I think maybe you are using the computer for more than just Word and Calibre.

If you can get a MBP cheaper than a MBA with same specs, go for it.

 

[mysticmanix]

Wait a couple of weeks for the M4 air. The webcam is upgraded and tracks your face, you will get 2 more CPU cores for free, and you'll be able to connect 2 external monitors while using the laptop monitor as well.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Thank you. My only issue is that ideally I’d like 24Ram and 1TB of storage so I’d be stuck buying from Apple and configuring the top MBA, whereas today I’ve seen a 14” MBP M4 with 24Gb Ram and 1TB of storage for £1805, nearly £200 less than Apple.

To say I am conflicted is putting it mildly 😟. Do I go for screen size or internals.

Go for that MBP.

 

[Josieb1]

The MBP has a better quality screen, and its CPU (at least on some) is M4 Pro, with more processing cores than the M4 used on the Air. The MBP has a cooling fan, used when CPU intensive tasks are performed, and the Air does not.

But for these reasons, the Air is much thinner and lighter. You don’t seem to need the added features of the MBP, but those are the main differences.

Thank you

 

[Josieb1]

You have 1TB of Office documents? I think maybe you are using the computer for more than just Word and Calibre.

If you can get a MBP cheaper than a MBA with same specs, go for it.

Our Dropbox account (hubby and 1 share an account) is over 800gb so if I got a 1TB technically I could have everything on my Mac. I wouldn’t though, I would use selective sync. My current windows laptop is 1TB.

 

[Josieb1]

Wait a couple of weeks for the M4 air. The webcam is upgraded and tracks your face, you will get 2 more CPU cores for free, and you'll be able to connect 2 external monitors while using the laptop monitor as well.

Thank you. I will keep an eye out.