Should I replace my iPad Pro with a MB Air or a MB Pro?

[PeterInTheNorth]

Currently I have an iPad Pro 12.9 M1 that is getting on for 4 years of use. It is used daily and always with the MagicKeyboard attached. Nothing else is attached, and it gets moved from the breakfast table to the armchair as necessary. I like the iPP and KB for travel; I’m retired and don’t need anything more. Recently, I noticed that the keyboard is starting to fall apart (it isn’t built to the same standard as the iPad itself) and when I looked at the Keyboard cost and how I use it I wondered if I would just be better off with a MacBook. But I am wondering if an Air or a Pro would be best.

For completeness of information: The iPP has a 1TB Memory. I also have a 2021 16” MBP M1 Max with 64 GB memory and a 4 TB SSD. It is too big to lug round the house, so sits on my desk almost all the time. I sometimes take it out to meetings where I need to make a presentation. It is normally connected to a wide gamut 32” monitor and various hard drives.

The iPP is fine for most things I do but I find on many occasions that I need to access files or some such and the iPP is frankly a royal PITA when I want to do more than just answering emails or searching the web. (I don’t do anything that is all that demanding these days, but many years of my career I was always short of computer power, so I have been “trained” to overbuy these days. 🙄) The most demanding task I do now would be relatively simple photo editing and storage in addition to storing and reading large pdf files and short presentations. If what I’m doing gets beyond the iPP (photography, files, etc.) then I head for the MBP.

I don’t care about how long a device can run on battery power or if fans come on. I don’t care about the speakers as I don’t listen this way, but I DO care about how good the screen is to read for long periods. AND it should be comfortably light and small.

All a roundabout way of asking should I get a MBA 13” with 24 GB and 1TB SSD, or a MBP 14” with matching specs? (It will take all my self control to NOT buy the maxed out MBP if I go that route!)

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Maybe sit down and prioritize what your “wants” for this new device. Do you want iPadOS or another macOS device? Portability? Do you want to consolidate devices so you don’t have multiple laptops?

Stuff like that.

 

[Slartibart]

as much as I agree on the extended possibilities of the MBx, if

but I DO care about how good the screen is to read for long periods. AND it should be comfortably light and small.

is the important bit, an iPP/iPA it is. IMHO. YMMV.

 

[PeterInTheNorth]

The more I think about it, the more I am leaning toward the MacBook Pro. I want something that replaces the iPP with a decent OS that can be used for more than emails and internet. I think I will take a trip to my local Apple store and compare my iPP with the MBA and MBP for weight and screen appearance.

 

[Teletypewriter]

I also have an M1 iPad Pro 12.9 1TB 5G w/Magic Keyboard. I also have a 2018 Mac Mini that is nearing the end of its life. I am looking for Apple laptop replacement for both systems. I tend to over-spec my computers, in order to get the maximum amount of life out of them. I am budgeting about $2,500.

My preference is a 15.3” Macbook Air, but I am waiting a few weeks for the M4 variant, which will add a faster hard drive, another Thunderbolt/USB-C port, 2 more CPU cores, and hopefully a brighter screen (500 to 600 nits).
Text is easier to view on the larger screen vs the 14”.

All the laptops weigh about the same as the iPad w/keyboard. I did not want a monster power supply. The1st laptop is for video editing and has more processor, faster HD, faster Thunderbolt. The 2nd laptop if I had to order today or becomes available on Apple refurb site. The 3rd laptop is my preference, but only in M4 processor. The 4th laptop compares in size to iPad Pro, but less weight.

Here are my notes on the various laptops:

M4 14.2” Pro, 3.4lbs, 24GB, 2TB SSD, $2,599
M4 Pro w/12‑core CPU, 16‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
3 Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot,
Headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port, 70W Charger
273GB/s memory bandwidth
14.0 = 3024x1964@264 ppi, 1,000 nits, 5.9M pixels

M4 14.2” Pro, 3.4 lbs, 32GB, 2TB SSD $2,599
M4 w/10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
3 Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot,
Headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port, 70W Charger
120GB/s memory bandwidth
14.0 = 3024x1964@264 ppi, 1,000 nits, 5.9M pixels

M3 15.3” Air, 3.3 lbs, 24GB, 2TB SSD, $2,299
M3 w/8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
2 Thunderbolt/USB-4 ports, Magsafe 3 port, 70W charger,
Headphone jack, 1080p Facetime HD Camera
100GB/s memory bandwidth
15.3 = 2880x1864@224ppi, 500 nits, 5.4M pixels

M3 13.6” Air, 2.7 lbs, 24GB, 2TB SSD, $2,099
M3 w/8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
2 Thunderbolt/USB-4 ports, Magsafe 3 port, 70W charger,
Headphone jack, 1080p Facetime HD Camera
100GB/s memory bandwidth
13.6 = 2560x1664@224 ppi, 500 nits, 4.3M pixels

M1 iPad Pro & Keyboard, 3.06 lbs
12.9 = 2732x2048@264 ppi, 600 nits, 5.4M pixels

 

[Mega ST]

Personally I'd prefer a fully featured Apple computer over any IOS based device like an iPad. And I would prefer an integrated keyboard over an iPad one.
Coming from the iPad and being used to ultraportability the MBA should be your perfect choice. The MBP feels much heavier and bigger. (by grams it is not that much more)
However the perfection of screen and sounds and the very well done entire package would make me go MBP.

 

[PeterInTheNorth]

My preference is a 15.3” Macbook Air, but I am waiting a few weeks for the M4 variant, which will add a faster hard drive, another Thunderbolt/USB-C port, 2 more CPU cores, and hopefully a brighter screen (500 to 600 nits).
Text is easier to view on the larger screen vs the 14”.

You raise the interesting point that the next Air could get an upgraded screen as well as moving from M3 to M4. It may be a short wait to find out. I'm quite happy with the text visibility on my 12.9 iPP and my 16" MBP, but I don't want a downgrade in the display as that is most of what I would use it for. I really need to spend some time in the Apple store when it is quiet and examine all the options.

 

[Isamilis]

I also have an M1 iPad Pro 12.9 1TB 5G w/Magic Keyboard. I also have a 2018 Mac Mini that is nearing the end of its life. I am looking for Apple laptop replacement for both systems. I tend to over-spec my computers, in order to get the maximum amount of life out of them. I am budgeting about $2,500.

My preference is a 15.3” Macbook Air, but I am waiting a few weeks for the M4 variant, which will add a faster hard drive, another Thunderbolt/USB-C port, 2 more CPU cores, and hopefully a brighter screen (500 to 600 nits).
Text is easier to view on the larger screen vs the 14”.

All the laptops weigh about the same as the iPad w/keyboard. I did not want a monster power supply. The1st laptop is for video editing and has more processor, faster HD, faster Thunderbolt. The 2nd laptop if I had to order today or becomes available on Apple refurb site. The 3rd laptop is my preference, but only in M4 processor. The 4th laptop compares in size to iPad Pro, but less weight.

Here are my notes on the various laptops:

M4 14.2” Pro, 3.4lbs, 24GB, 2TB SSD, $2,599
M4 Pro w/12‑core CPU, 16‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
3 Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot,
Headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port, 70W Charger
273GB/s memory bandwidth
14.0 = 3024x1964@264 ppi, 1,000 nits, 5.9M pixels

M4 14.2” Pro, 3.4 lbs, 32GB, 2TB SSD $2,599
M4 w/10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
3 Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot,
Headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port, 70W Charger
120GB/s memory bandwidth
14.0 = 3024x1964@264 ppi, 1,000 nits, 5.9M pixels

M3 15.3” Air, 3.3 lbs, 24GB, 2TB SSD, $2,299
M3 w/8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
2 Thunderbolt/USB-4 ports, Magsafe 3 port, 70W charger,
Headphone jack, 1080p Facetime HD Camera
100GB/s memory bandwidth
15.3 = 2880x1864@224ppi, 500 nits, 5.4M pixels

M3 13.6” Air, 2.7 lbs, 24GB, 2TB SSD, $2,099
M3 w/8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
2 Thunderbolt/USB-4 ports, Magsafe 3 port, 70W charger,
Headphone jack, 1080p Facetime HD Camera
100GB/s memory bandwidth
13.6 = 2560x1664@224 ppi, 500 nits, 4.3M pixels

M1 iPad Pro & Keyboard, 3.06 lbs
12.9 = 2732x2048@264 ppi, 600 nits, 5.4M pixels

Second this for 15” MBA. The weight is similar to 13” - 14” but the display feels significantly bigger.

 

[elmoss]

Screen not as good though

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

The more I think about it, the more I am leaning toward the MacBook Pro. I want something that replaces the iPP with a decent OS that can be used for more than emails and internet. I think I will take a trip to my local Apple store and compare my iPP with the MBA and MBP for weight and screen appearance.

It has been quite a while since the MacBook Air was only good for email and web browsing.
You can do full intensive 4K video editing on those things without a problem.
The only reason you would choose a Pro over an Air is the ports and display and speakers.
But you already said you have a 16 inch MacBook Pro that you don’t like to move around because it’s very heavy. Well guess what? The 14 inch MacBook Pro is not that much lighter, it’s even heavier than the 15 inch MacBook Air. At that point just go and grab your 16 inch and use that, or get rid of the 16 inch consolidate all of your devices down to one single 14 inch.
As for the screen, my understanding is that the majority of the time, especially when just browsing through files and such, the Air and Pro both don’t really go above 500 nits of brightness. Now the MacBook Pro will increase its brightness when you go into daylight or you’re watching HDR content, but day-to-day usage of the computer you probably won’t notice much of a difference unless you’re sitting them side-by-side.
Another comparison point, your 12.9 inch iPad Pro with the keyboard attached is about three lb.
The 14 inch Pro is half a pound heavier than that, with the Air being 0.3 lb lighter, and the 15 inch MacBook Air being 0.2 lb heavier. So the 14 inch MacBook Pro is still quite the weight increase over the iPad.

 

[JamesMay82]

I have the iPad 12.9 m1 with Magic Keyboard a 14 inch m3 pro and the m3 air 13 which is my work machine.

I rarely use the iPad and while I love my 14 pro if I could do it again I’d get a high spec air as it’s the perfect weight I think

 

[1BadManVan]

Being that you're going for portability, and already have a large MacBook Pro, I would go for an air for the portability aspect, quite a bit lighter and thinner than the current MacBook pros out there. I love my 13" m2 air, currently sitting on the couch and typing this out on it, one of my favourite uses for it lol.

 

[heretiq]

Currently I have an iPad Pro 12.9 M1 that is getting on for 4 years of use. It is used daily and always with the MagicKeyboard attached. Nothing else is attached, and it gets moved from the breakfast table to the armchair as necessary. I like the iPP and KB for travel; I’m retired and don’t need anything more. Recently, I noticed that the keyboard is starting to fall apart (it isn’t built to the same standard as the iPad itself) and when I looked at the Keyboard cost and how I use it I wondered if I would just be better off with a MacBook. But I am wondering if an Air or a Pro would be best.

For completeness of information: The iPP has a 1TB Memory. I also have a 2021 16” MBP M1 Max with 64 GB memory and a 4 TB SSD. It is too big to lug round the house, so sits on my desk almost all the time. I sometimes take it out to meetings where I need to make a presentation. It is normally connected to a wide gamut 32” monitor and various hard drives.

The iPP is fine for most things I do but I find on many occasions that I need to access files or some such and the iPP is frankly a royal PITA when I want to do more than just answering emails or searching the web. (I don’t do anything that is all that demanding these days, but many years of my career I was always short of computer power, so I have been “trained” to overbuy these days. 🙄) The most demanding task I do now would be relatively simple photo editing and storage in addition to storing and reading large pdf files and short presentations. If what I’m doing gets beyond the iPP (photography, files, etc.) then I head for the MBP.

I don’t care about how long a device can run on battery power or if fans come on. I don’t care about the speakers as I don’t listen this way, but I DO care about how good the screen is to read for long periods. AND it should be comfortably light and small.

All a roundabout way of asking should I get a MBA 13” with 24 GB and 1TB SSD, or a MBP 14” with matching specs? (It will take all my self control to NOT buy the maxed out MBP if I go that route!)

The M3 MBA has comparable CPU performance to your 16” M1 Max and is more portable than an iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard. However, while the MBA has a very good display it is not as good as the M1 iPad Pro that you’re accustomed to.

The 14” MBP provides better portability than your 16” M1 Max (lighter and less bulky) and has a great display. So, if your preference for a great display overrides portability, the 14” MBP seems to be the best fit.

If you value portability with a good display then the MBA is a great bet and would be my recommendation — if you weren’t already accustomed to the great iPad Pro Display.

Hope this helps.

 

[ubinko]

Currently I have an iPad Pro 12.9 M1 that is getting on for 4 years of use. It is used daily and always with the MagicKeyboard attached. Nothing else is attached, and it gets moved from the breakfast table to the armchair as necessary. I like the iPP and KB for travel; I’m retired and don’t need anything more. Recently, I noticed that the keyboard is starting to fall apart (it isn’t built to the same standard as the iPad itself) and when I looked at the Keyboard cost and how I use it I wondered if I would just be better off with a MacBook. But I am wondering if an Air or a Pro would be best.

For completeness of information: The iPP has a 1TB Memory. I also have a 2021 16” MBP M1 Max with 64 GB memory and a 4 TB SSD. It is too big to lug round the house, so sits on my desk almost all the time. I sometimes take it out to meetings where I need to make a presentation. It is normally connected to a wide gamut 32” monitor and various hard drives.

The iPP is fine for most things I do but I find on many occasions that I need to access files or some such and the iPP is frankly a royal PITA when I want to do more than just answering emails or searching the web. (I don’t do anything that is all that demanding these days, but many years of my career I was always short of computer power, so I have been “trained” to overbuy these days. 🙄) The most demanding task I do now would be relatively simple photo editing and storage in addition to storing and reading large pdf files and short presentations. If what I’m doing gets beyond the iPP (photography, files, etc.) then I head for the MBP.

I don’t care about how long a device can run on battery power or if fans come on. I don’t care about the speakers as I don’t listen this way, but I DO care about how good the screen is to read for long periods. AND it should be comfortably light and small.

All a roundabout way of asking should I get a MBA 13” with 24 GB and 1TB SSD, or a MBP 14” with matching specs? (It will take all my self control to NOT buy the maxed out MBP if I go that route!)

Easy. What's more important to you, screen or portability?

Screen - get the 14 inch M4 MacBook Pro

Portability - wait for the 13 inch M4 MacBook Air

Since you have mentioned that the 16 inch MBP is too big/heavy, my gut feeling is that you would be delighted with a MBA - they are light, portable and very capable machines.

 

[xxFoxtail]

I think the transition from my M1 12.9" iPP to a 13" MacBook Air worked well for me. I sacrificed screen quality, Face ID and a touch screen. But I got a more capable computer. There's so much I prefer about iPadOS, so I ended up getting a M4 11" iPP last month, while keeping my MacBook pretty much at my desk now. I have a lot of redundancy over the two devices - mainly emails, web stuff, photography, and work related tasks. But the iPad offers me a more portable laptop, being able to use Fitness+ on something that's not my phone or TV, and just a better ebook and magazine reader. The MacBook is slightly better with those same work related tasks (spreadsheets, word documents) and offers maybe a bit more of a mature OS.

The MacBook Air is extremely capable and I think that might suit your needs more. Maybe just keep your iPad as a tablet instead of a full on laptop replacement?

 

[Matz]

I fully understand the desire to buy something new; and the MBA is a fine machine. I expect you'd be happy with it. I'd be excited too.

However, since you mentioned your MKB failing as the precipitating factor in deciding to go with a different platform, I'll offer my own experience for your consideration.

I retired three years ago, but this past summer started consulting part time. I sold my last Mac laptop a few years earlier and went with a 12.9" 2018 IPP as my mobile computing platform. My desktop needs are met with a Mac Mini.

While there have been a few limitations with the IPP, I have been more than satisfied with it. Even Files, which many apparently dislike, seems to work well for me. Since I have a desktop available for heavy lifting, I have yet to regret getting rid of the MBA.

When the M4 IPP was introduced, I was excited, and looked hard at buying one. But after WWDC, it was clear that there would be no advances in iPadOS to warrant spending that kind of money. It turns out that earlier M series IPPs would work just fine. So I looked for an older IPP, and found a used 2022 M2 1TB 12.9", in excellent condition, with a one year warranty. It will handle AI if I choose to use it, and has plenty of overhead both in power and storage. At $1200, I had what I needed.

It has worked out splendidly. There is no visible evidence of its having been used. It functions perfectly. However, my old Apple keyboard didn't work with it, plus it was falling apart. I really wanted a new MKB, but choked on the price. I looked at alternatives, but found them all wanting.

Then I stumbled across a used MKB, on eBay, for $75. I was quite skeptical, but knowing that I could return it if it was junk, I ordered it. Once again, it worked out splendidly. Signs of wear were barely perceptible; it functions perfectly, and at a fraction of the cost of a new one for that generation of IPP. Similarly-priced MKBs are still available.

Food for thought.

 

[PeterInTheNorth]

Thanks all for your replies. As I said I might, I went to the Apple Store this morning while it was still quiet – most of the people in the store were the assistants looking for someone to assist. I got an 13” Air and a 14” Pro beside each other and spent some time comparing the displays. I have to admit that I was not able to see any difference! – perhaps my eyesight is not what it was! But if they look the same to me, then that is what I need to go by. There was however a significant difference in the “heft” of the two. The Air seems much easier to handle, although the MB Pro was not over the top by any means. An assistant asked for details on how the machine would be used, and then pointed me to the Air M2, saying it would be all I needed. I’m sure he was right, but I still can’t bring myself to buy a computer with a chip that is soon to be replaced. So it looks like the M4 13” Air it will be…

 

[xxFoxtail]

Thanks all for your replies. As I said I might, I went to the Apple Store this morning while it was still quiet – most of the people in the store were the assistants looking for someone to assist. I got an 13” Air and a 14” Pro beside each other and spent some time comparing the displays. I have to admit that I was not able to see any difference! – perhaps my eyesight is not what it was! But if they look the same to me, then that is what I need to go by. There was however a significant difference in the “heft” of the two. The Air seems much easier to handle, although the MB Pro was not over the top by any means. An assistant asked for details on how the machine would be used, and then pointed me to the Air M2, saying it would be all I needed. I’m sure he was right, but I still can’t bring myself to buy a computer with a chip that is soon to be replaced. So it looks like the M4 13” Air it will be…

I agree, you might as well wait for the M4 if you don't need one right away, rumors pointing at it coming out sometime this Spring. The M2 MBA is certainly no slouch, but its chip is already two generations old now.

 

[ubinko]

Thanks all for your replies. As I said I might, I went to the Apple Store this morning while it was still quiet – most of the people in the store were the assistants looking for someone to assist. I got an 13” Air and a 14” Pro beside each other and spent some time comparing the displays. I have to admit that I was not able to see any difference! – perhaps my eyesight is not what it was! But if they look the same to me, then that is what I need to go by. There was however a significant difference in the “heft” of the two. The Air seems much easier to handle, although the MB Pro was not over the top by any means. An assistant asked for details on how the machine would be used, and then pointed me to the Air M2, saying it would be all I needed. I’m sure he was right, but I still can’t bring myself to buy a computer with a chip that is soon to be replaced. So it looks like the M4 13” Air it will be…

You will love the 13" macbook air. It's so light and comfortable to use anywhere - on the sofa, on a train, a plane, in a hotel, etc.