Biggest difference is the displays brightness and that will most likely bring me over from the air to the pro. But I do like to use the air more with its trackpad because it is more comfortable with its lower front.
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Practical Reasons to Pick the M1 based 2-port 13" MacBook Pro over the M1 based MacBook Air
- Thread starter Yebubbleman
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I'm definitely going to have to look into it. I've only used a Touch Bar Mac at a six month contract IT job I worked at last year. I didn't hate it. I just didn't find myself thinking it was any more useful than the function keys. I was not at all a fan of not having a physical escape key (I was using a 2016 4-port 13" MacBook Pro) for situations where force-quitting an app was a must, but thankfully, that's no longer an issue!
Right, for $150, when you're already spending $1200+, it seems like one might as well. I merely ask the question as I know that some of the people i consult for will invariably try to cut costs and ask me if certain things are REALLY necessary. My view is that much of it isn't initially. But I'd personally feel more comfortable buying an M1 Mac as a long-term Mac ownership (which everyone I consult for would be wanting to do) without compromising so that I'm not finding myself wishing I had a certain feature or another later on.
It seems worthy of $150, in my opinion. Though, for someone asking me if they'd be fine without it, it becomes hard to justify. The point of my asking this is to see where people found that they wouldn't be fine without the 2-port 13" Pro's niceties and went for the 13" Pro out of necessity or whether or not it was merely peace of mind.
The over-time tolerances bit, I'll definitely agree with you on. Frankly, that's my chief concern as far as the cooling system is concerned and why I am more comfortable nudging people in the direction of the 2-port 13" Pro over the Air. I think the displays have been measured. There are numerous videos out there comparing the two. Seems for the most part, they're the same save for a 100nits brightness difference.
If you configure the two identically and it's assuming you're working with an 8-GPU-Core Air instead of a 7-GPU-Core one, it's only a $150 difference if SSD and RAM are the same between said Air and 2-port 13" Pro. But your point still stands, for sure. And I agree, it's definitely a case of "might as well". I guess my question is more, if you're dealing with someone asking if they need all that stuff, what do you say? Certainly, I feel better recommending the 2-port 13" Pro as a long-term purchase to someone. I think if someone's needs are stock Apple apps (including GarageBand, iMovie, and iWork) and Microsoft Office apps, give or take Google Chrome, then the Air should be fine. I guess I'm wondering where the dividing line exists between someone needing one versus someone needing the other. With their direct now-discontinued Intel based predecessors, this dividing line was clear. Now, the features and performance gaps are minimal at best.
So, is the dividing line between the two now more akin to that of what the dividing line would've been between, say a 13" MacBook Pro circa 2013-2018 and its 15" counterpart, where the only real benefits lie in gaming and serious graphics applications (such as modeling and video editing)? Because that would make sense as a dividing line between the two.
I see the Air and the 12.9" iPad Pro as very Apples and Oranges. There are use cases where I'd definitely prefer one over the other and others where I'd prefer the other over the one. But I see your point.
I'm on team "it wasn't lost". The 2-port 13" MacBook Pro made the jump; the 4-port 13" MacBook Pro did not. Nothing was lost. There just isn't an Apple Silicon 4-port 13" MacBook Pro yet. That's probably waiting for the redesign and shift to 14".
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Yeah, this is essentially what it boils down to... at least for me.
I "need" a MacBook Pro 13" with a fan because I may try to run some emulators and/or do intensive 3D graphics work. Such workloads will require every bit of performance possible, so the M1 Pro is a better machine to me. It certainly is a case of "might as well" since the Air is no slouch here either, but I think Apple themselves also drew this distinction. The base Air has 7-core GPU vs the base Pro having 8-core GPU.
Beyond that, if there's any workload that is lighter than intensive coding/gaming/3D graphics, then I'd prefer to use my iPad Pro for those, since it's the lighter, quieter device with a better touch-based interface.
For sure. And I think, for someone with your use cases, this definitely makes 100% perfect sense.
Right, but what if we're comparing higher-end Air model versus 2-port 13" Pro assuming RAM and SSD are identical? I agree that the GPU difference does further distinguish the two, but if you match them, it's still a cost difference, albeit only $150. Not saying that for your particular use cases it would still make a difference (as you've appropriately established that the Pro gives you overhead that you'll likely need). But it would seem to be an even narrower dividing line for someone else in that case, no?
I would personally choose the Air anytime. Here are 10 reasons why:
1. No fan
2. No fan
3. Less weight
4. No fan
5. Less weight
6. No fan
7. Less weight
8. No fan
9. No fan
10. No fan
For other regular users with no need for a powerful Mac:
1. Cheaper
2. No fan
3. Less weight
1. No fan
2. No fan
3. Less weight
4. No fan
5. Less weight
6. No fan
7. Less weight
8. No fan
9. No fan
10. No fan
For other regular users with no need for a powerful Mac:
1. Cheaper
2. No fan
3. Less weight
It's a .2 pound difference though. Barely noticeable for most people.
Also, the fans don't spin up much on the M1 2-port 13" Pro. When they do, it's for things that the M1 Air would get warm for. I don't know how not having a fan is an advantage in the case of an M1 Mac.
The advantage of no fan is that you can never hear fan noise. Computers (really any device) should be completely silent.
I would probably pay $1000 extra to have computers with no fan noise and which restricts performance due to heat.
Seems a tad extreme. Not saying ARM shouldn't allow this. But capping performance for the sake of not hearing a fan once in a blue moon seems like a lousy tradeoff.
If you never hear the fan, does it matter if it is there?
FWIW, there were various fan control apps for the Intel systems, I'd expect similar will exist on M1 if not yet released. This would (presumably) then allow someone to ensure the fan remained at a level which was silent to them, while retaining the flexibility to change the setting if they should encounter new circumstances in which allowing the fan to run free would be advantageous.
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I had the MPB M1 and disliked the Touch Bar, also the form of the Air is really sweet
What gravitated you towards the Pro initially?
That's the main thing I care about in this thread.
Well, even if not for my use case, the Pro will still have these things:
1. Slightly brighter and more color accurate screen
2. Bigger battery, longer battery life
3. Maybe slightly better speakers (debatable)
4. Touch Bar, some folks like it
5. A more uniform body from front to back, also slightly thinner than Air at the thickest point.
So it's not just performance, but the Pro does have other things going for it as well. One extra hour on battery sounds like something everyone can appreciate, for instance. And so is a brighter and slightly more color accurate screen.
#1 - citation on the greater color accuracy of the MBP's P3 display vs the MBA's P3 display please?
#2 - only relevant if someone is already finding the lower battery life to be insufficient on a regular enough basis to matter. i.e. if someone never uses more than 60% of their MBA battery capacity, what is the benefit to them of a MBP?
So yes - good rundown of various subjective aspects which may lead folks to choose MBA vs MBP for reasons other than sustained CPU performance (which like battery is also somewhat irrelevant depending on use case)
I remain curious as to this more color accurate screen - please do point me to the details on that difference. Thanks.
#1 here:
Brighter, higher contrast ratio, better blacks, etc...
#2 still, one extra hour of battery doesn't hurt, right?
Those specs are WAY deep in the weeds and to a degree that's not likely to impact anyone but the most color-critical work -- which won't be done on a laptop display to begin with.
In what specific scenarios do you anticipate those stats having a real world impact on someone's usage of the system?
No, it doesn't "hurt" - but something which offers zero practical advantage to a person's use case isn't relevant as a differentiator. We're coming from having had 10-11 hours battery life - now we're at 18-20 hours spec'd. Someone who needs only 12 hours sees no advantage to whether there's an unused 6 hours or an unused 8 hours.
Oh sure, folks who are trying to find physical differences as a way to justify their emotionally-based decision will grab at things like the MBP having 11% more spec'd battery life than the MBA -- despite both being nearly double the battery life they had on their previous MacBook.
For me, it’s the MBA over the MBP. Because:
My use case is not processor intensive - mostly word processing (80% of the time), browsing the internet, watching youtube videos, streaming (I have HBO Max). Given this use case, I don’t see when the fan might be useful, given the tests out there.
BUT. I am a very outdoors, out of the home type person (difficult time for me during COVID). I like to work outside. So to me mobility is key. The only thing that might speak for the MBP is if I’m sitting in the sun, on the beach or in hot weather (I live in Southern CA) - *maybe* the fan might kick in and be useful... but judging by my experience with the iPad Air 3, I’ve never had it get too hot for me.
So the fan is useless to me given my use scenario.
However, continuing with the mobility - LIGHTER is a plus on the MBA, maybe it’s not much weight, but it counts. That’s one reason why I’ve been using my iPad Air 3 (plus ASK keyboard) to work outside - IT’S LIGHTER. However, the apps I use for wordprocessing (mainly screenwriting software) is horrendous on iOS, so I’ve dreamed of the time when a decent Apple laptop would come around so I can use MacOS apps and type on a real keyboard.
Next, because I do so much typing, the MBA is better suited due to the tapered design - the hands lie better. That’s a BIG factor for me in picking the MBA over the MBP.
More with mobility - the one thing that would have me seriously thinking about the MBP is battery life being better than the MBA. Nothing worse than being out there without access to power and your battery collapses. However, the MBA battery life is good enough so that if I fully charge it, I can be out pretty much all day and not lose all charge.
Screen - the second reason why I might think about the MBP. If I’m out there in the bright sun, a screen that’s brighter is better. But from what I read, the 100 nits is not linearly brighter, so not 20% brighter, but more like 11% - which is not that much. So it’s not enough reason to go for the MBP. And for my use scenarios, having a slightly better screen (contrast, color whatnot) is not essential.
MBP - better microphone. Don’t care. The quality difference in the mic between the MBA and MBP is minimal. If I’m really going to need stellar mic quality, I’ll hook up an external mic anyway.
MBP - better speakrs. Don‘t care. The quality difference in the speakers between the MBA and the MBP is minimal. And anyhow, most of the time, I use earbuds/headphones anyway, especially outside, so this is pretty much a non-issue for me.
The $150 difference plays zero role in my decision. I‘d be more than happy to pay $150 if I got a better computer.
What I’d like from MBA v.2, would be a bigger screen in the same body - i.e. get rid of the bezels. The current MBP has no such advantage. Also, more connectivity options - I know this is supposed to be a higher tier laptop option down the line in 2021, but I’d like it in the humble Air too Plus, of course, the usual, if possible - lighter, yet longer battery life (Steve Jobs claimed that Apple coud defy the laws of physics, so why not ).
So to me, the choice is the MBA.
My use case is not processor intensive - mostly word processing (80% of the time), browsing the internet, watching youtube videos, streaming (I have HBO Max). Given this use case, I don’t see when the fan might be useful, given the tests out there.
BUT. I am a very outdoors, out of the home type person (difficult time for me during COVID). I like to work outside. So to me mobility is key. The only thing that might speak for the MBP is if I’m sitting in the sun, on the beach or in hot weather (I live in Southern CA) - *maybe* the fan might kick in and be useful... but judging by my experience with the iPad Air 3, I’ve never had it get too hot for me.
So the fan is useless to me given my use scenario.
However, continuing with the mobility - LIGHTER is a plus on the MBA, maybe it’s not much weight, but it counts. That’s one reason why I’ve been using my iPad Air 3 (plus ASK keyboard) to work outside - IT’S LIGHTER. However, the apps I use for wordprocessing (mainly screenwriting software) is horrendous on iOS, so I’ve dreamed of the time when a decent Apple laptop would come around so I can use MacOS apps and type on a real keyboard.
Next, because I do so much typing, the MBA is better suited due to the tapered design - the hands lie better. That’s a BIG factor for me in picking the MBA over the MBP.
More with mobility - the one thing that would have me seriously thinking about the MBP is battery life being better than the MBA. Nothing worse than being out there without access to power and your battery collapses. However, the MBA battery life is good enough so that if I fully charge it, I can be out pretty much all day and not lose all charge.
Screen - the second reason why I might think about the MBP. If I’m out there in the bright sun, a screen that’s brighter is better. But from what I read, the 100 nits is not linearly brighter, so not 20% brighter, but more like 11% - which is not that much. So it’s not enough reason to go for the MBP. And for my use scenarios, having a slightly better screen (contrast, color whatnot) is not essential.
MBP - better microphone. Don’t care. The quality difference in the mic between the MBA and MBP is minimal. If I’m really going to need stellar mic quality, I’ll hook up an external mic anyway.
MBP - better speakrs. Don‘t care. The quality difference in the speakers between the MBA and the MBP is minimal. And anyhow, most of the time, I use earbuds/headphones anyway, especially outside, so this is pretty much a non-issue for me.
The $150 difference plays zero role in my decision. I‘d be more than happy to pay $150 if I got a better computer.
What I’d like from MBA v.2, would be a bigger screen in the same body - i.e. get rid of the bezels. The current MBP has no such advantage. Also, more connectivity options - I know this is supposed to be a higher tier laptop option down the line in 2021, but I’d like it in the humble Air too
Plus, of course, the usual, if possible - lighter, yet longer battery life (Steve Jobs claimed that Apple coud defy the laws of physics, so why not ).So to me, the choice is the MBA.
I have both and I’m having such a hard time deciding between the two.
MBA pros:
MBA pros:
- Thinner, lighter, nicer form factor. Somehow it feels easier to just grab the MacBook Air and use it almost like I would use an iPad.
- No fan. Something about not having a fan in the computer is really appealing to me, and I'm not exactly sure why. I think it's just the fact that this is now possible makes it feel like a computer from the future. A fanless MacBook with the ability to edit 4K video seems unreal to me.
- The keyboard to me feels a bit more solid (less hollow) than that of the Pro.
- The fact that it's the best of its class. Unlike the low-end MBP, which always felt a bit like the "fake" Pro to me.
- The Touch Bar. Yes, I like the Touch Bar. I don't use it that much, but it has a lot of little conveniences I've grown accustomed to like predictive text, easy video scrubbing, photo rotation, etc.
- This is dumb, but I like the bigger Touch ID / power button on the Pro.
- Better battery. The MBA battery is great, but the Pro's is better. This may ultimately not matter much considering how great the MBA battery is too.
- Bigger trackpad. I freakin' love the bigger trackpad on the MBP.
- Slightly better speakers. Don't care about the microphone.
As for form factor, I actually prefer the more simple, solid look of the MBP. The wedge design of the MBA was cool when it first came out, but now I see it as less efficient packaging and more of an effort to create an illusion of being lighter and thinner than it actually is. I would rather have the extra battery capacity.
Having used both (I still have a 13" MacBook Pro), I find the sloped design of the Air a bit more ergonomic.
Yeah, but it's not about making excuses... like "who would use this" or "who is impacted by this", because arguably, anyone will be fine with a MacBook Air that doesn't have a DCI-P3 screen that reaches 400 nits, and most everyone will be fine if the MacBook Air can still last 8 - 10 hours with light tasks. By that token, an "excuse" can also be made that no one will actually "need" the speed or the battery life of the M1 MacBook Air. Then they should be fine with their 2020 Intel MacBook Air, no?
The simple fact is just that the MacBook Pro has a better screen and longer battery life. That makes it worth the extra $250 or $150 someone will spend on the thing. I don't think that makes the MacBook Air any lesser of a machine, but it does make the MacBook Pro the better machine to me.
You might be confused. It's around 250 US$ when things are even (8GR + 512HD @ 8C)
I think that's a lot for people who aren't doing anything specialised with their computers. It makes the Air are really compelling computer considering how well rounded it now is. It's rare to say this about Apple, but the MBA M1 is good value for money!
As for the Pro: It's a lot of little things and not one particular thing. You've listed the things that are different, so the best way to put it to people is to ask them if not having any of those things is a deal breaker. If they answer yes based on their expected use case, then they should get the Pro. TBH, if people are asking advice then they probably don't need the pro.
Of course if they have a use case beyond these two entry level laptops they should definitely wait. And unless somebody MUST use windows or a particular program that is shown to not work on M1, you shouldn't recommend an intel machine... IMO.
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I've been going back and forth.
The two port MBP is the base model and since they haven't killed the high end model 13" MBP that tells me a new M1 version of it will come with better performance. This makes me want to get the MBA and wait for the high end MBP
The fan is only a factor if you're doing processor intensive apps that last more than a few minutes. It's not going to make the CPU last any longer as it will just throttle and not damage itself. I might want the MBP to play some games but if the new one comes out soon that means I'll take a significant loss trading it in. If I get the MBA I can just keep it.
The brighter screen is a factor if you're in bight light I guess. This leans me to the MBP but not by much
I don't know enough about the touch bar to love or hate it. I've never had one. I do like the real keys on top but not too excited that the keyboard brightness key was removed and an emoji key added... That says 2020 perfectly ?♂️
The two port MBP is the base model and since they haven't killed the high end model 13" MBP that tells me a new M1 version of it will come with better performance. This makes me want to get the MBA and wait for the high end MBP
The fan is only a factor if you're doing processor intensive apps that last more than a few minutes. It's not going to make the CPU last any longer as it will just throttle and not damage itself. I might want the MBP to play some games but if the new one comes out soon that means I'll take a significant loss trading it in. If I get the MBA I can just keep it.
The brighter screen is a factor if you're in bight light I guess. This leans me to the MBP but not by much
I don't know enough about the touch bar to love or hate it. I've never had one. I do like the real keys on top but not too excited that the keyboard brightness key was removed and an emoji key added... That says 2020 perfectly ?♂️
Which one is the emoji key?
I just see search/spotlight, dictations, and do-not-disturb?
If you're talking about the new imprint on the Fn key, the MBP gets it too.
Interesting that you mention this, as I'd expect just the opposite from the Air due to its tapered design. I'm actually deciding between the Air and Pro as well and due to sharp edges on my 2011 MBP I've been considering Air this time around since it seems more wrist-friendly for typing on it? But as mentioned, it seems that earlier generations of MBA seemed to have that cheap/hollow feel when typing... so you're saying that definitely is not the case?
FWIW, I've had my M1 MBP all of two days so far, but haven't yet had any issues with the front edge - whether at my desk or in my living room chair.
This is having come from a 2020 Intel MBA and having had the same concerns. Just hasn't been an issue for me in practice.
So - my advice - buy what you think is best based on other criteria and try it for yourself. Be sure to buy from someplace with a good return/exchange policy just in case it doesn't work out.