People who work with video: how important is the XDR display on the 14”/16” MBP M1?

[Backstreet]

I work with light 4K video and I’m eyeing a $500 used MBA M1, but for $300-$500 more I can get a used MBP M1 14”/16”. Has the XDR screen on the MBP helped you enough with editing/viewing video that you’d pay twice as much as an M1 MBA? I’m thinking of just getting the MBA and either using my 4K TV or another external monitor when I need perfect color accuracy.

Any advice would be so appreciated!

 

[irock101]

The XDR display was by far the best display I owned. Used it with a MBA M1 and now a 14" MBP M1 Pro. For me it was total overkill since I don't use 4k video editing, just light photoshop and Illustrator work but for that it was perfect.

 

[throAU]

the pro also has the engine for prores decode. the m1 air does not.

screen as above. i would again buy a pro for the screen. it’s the best display i own. extra cores and 2x better gpu as baseline are gravy.

 

[Backstreet]

the pro also has the engine for prores decode. the m1 air does not.

screen as above. i would again buy a pro for the screen. it’s the best display i own. extra cores and 2x better gpu as baseline are gravy.

I’ve watched a lot of comparison videos, and for what my use case (working with 4K video) the MBA performs just as well as well as the MBP for half the cost. I don’t work with ProRes either. Between the MBP being 2x the cost of the base M1 MBA, and heavier/thicker, I’m thinking of just going with the MBA.

 

[throAU]

go compare the screens in person with hdr content like your iphone can shoot

 

[e1me5]

Not much at all. You will gain more due to better hardware, although for simple editing with FCP even the M1 air is enough.