Tell me I'm wrong, please

[dizmonk]

I'm in the final week of my return window for the MBA 15 which I generally like... The sole problem is tons of deals for the M1 16...

Basically, I can get an M1 16" 16gb 1tb for the same price as an M2 15 MBA 16 GB 1tb ($1700). I don't need the power but feel torn passing up a much more powerful machine (and deal)...

Any advice is welcome.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Do you make a habit of buying an item with a bunch of features you don't need, just so you can say you got some kind of deal?

1. Is the 15" MBA meeting your needs? If it is, there is no dilemma or need to ruminate over the obvious.
2. If the 15" isn't meeting your current needs, get a computer that will meet your day to day need.

Buy for what you need not on the lure of some deal from a retailer.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

You'd be gaining a nicer screen and speakers. You'd also be gaining more weight. Which of these compromises would you be happiest with?

 

[BigMcGuire]

Grass is always greener on the other side. If it’s doing what you need it to do, you are good.

 

[h.gilbert]

I think just look at the pros and cons of getting the 16" Pro. Just because your 15" Air is currently meeting your needs doesn't mean it's the better option. A crappy windows laptop with a 1080p screen would meet my needs but yet I still went for an M1 Air because it's just a nicer experience.

If you get the 16" Pro you'll get more power, a larger better quality screen, better speakers, better mic, and more ports. However, it's much bigger and heavier. So really it comes down to your requirements for portability IMO.

 

[dizmonk]

You'd be gaining a nicer screen and speakers. You'd also be gaining more weight. Which of these compromises would you be happiest with?

Yea this is what I'm the most torn about.

 

[Marko1965]

I have the MBA M1 16GB with 512 SSD, and I’m very happy with it serves my purpose surfing playing Diablo to Xtream settings

 

[arcite]

1st world problems. Buy the machine that works for you and your budget.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Yea this is what I'm the most torn about.

Actually I bought my M2 MBP at the start of the circulating rumours re the 15". After 13 yrs use of an older 15" I knew I didn't want to lose even an inch on the display, going to 14", this was much more detrimental that gaining an inch with the 16" for me.

I gambled that with all the product segmentation the current 15" Air will have a different display to the Pro's and this was of importance for my hobby photography. I also didn't (as yet) need all the ports but the SD card reader is practical in my case. Even though my external audio system takes care of the music/ HT front, for occasional YT stuff, I'm always impressed by the immersive sound of the internals. There was even a clear difference to the 14" M2 MBP.

Weight: well, coming from a slightly heavier MBP it's a non issue for me. My 16" doesn't really see much daylight so for my use case it's not a problem. Caveat: it's my only computer.

 

[ekuLoN]

If weight and thickness are not the only determinants of purchase preference, I recommend you buy a 16 m1 macbook pro without thinking. Thinner bezels, bigger battery (bigger potential for age-related regression), better speakers, more ports that are functional at times depending on your workload, better display technology, plus promotion and finally a better GPU . These are big pluses for you when the same money is spent.

Air isn't even an option unless it's cheaper in the same configuration.

 

[h.gilbert]

1st world problems.

It goes without saying, this is a forum about premium tech products.

 

[Kottu]

I had a 16" M1 which I thought I would replace with a 15" MBA. The main reason was, portability became a bit more important recent months. But as 15" MBP costs a lot more than a 14" M1P, I got settled down for it. The weight difference was just 100g.
I had been using my 14" for a month now and I love the portability but miss the larger screen. So, If you don't mind the weight of 16" which is around 650g or 1.4lbs heavier than 15", I would suggest to take the 16". As eKulon wrote earlier, you get a much better product than MBA.

 

[okkibs]

Yea this is what I'm the most torn about.

How should we know if you need a more lightweight device? The 16" is big, and heavy. I wouldn't wanna carry that around on a daily commute, that's for sure. People who commute by car usually aren't bothered by the extra weight though. Otherwise, the 16" has hands down the better hardware all around, speaker and display quality are the most noticeable. Battery life is shorter.

You could also look at the 14".

 

[Ubele]

Earlier this year, I bought a refurbished 16" M1 MBP with a 1TB SSD and 16GB of RAM, and I couldn't be happier. It has more power than I need, but since I do a lot of hobby photo editing and other multimedia work, I wanted the 16" screen. The multiple ports have come in handy, too. Size and weight aren't an issue for me, since I use it mostly in different rooms of my house. If I were in your position, and size and weight weren't a big deal, I'd return the MBA and get the MBP -- especially for $1,700. I paid $2,079 and thought it was a great deal.

 

[Madhatter32]

I would say buy the best computer you can get for the money unless you need to make sacrifices for the sake of mobility by going with a smaller/lighter machine.

 

[noblesoul117]

I'm in the final week of my return window for the MBA 15 which I generally like... The sole problem is tons of deals for the M1 16...

Basically, I can get an M1 16" 16gb 1tb for the same price as an M2 15 MBA 16 GB 1tb ($1700). I don't need the power but feel torn passing up a much more powerful machine (and deal)...

Any advice is welcome.

You should buy the computer you're most personally and intuitively drawn to. Not dabble in some useless "pros & cons" debate which is already tormenting you. I stand completely against Madhatter's advice of "best computer for the money."

I buy the best item for my life and my interests, not for my money.

I like good screens and great speakers. I use an SD card from my drone.

But whenever I get rid of my 13" starlight MBA, I'll be getting the 15" starlight MBA. I have no interest in the MBP.

1" more of screen doesn't sway me, screen doesn't inspire me, speakers I don't care about. I'll deal with using an SD card reader, because I'm 100% more drawn to the MBA than the MBP. No reason to get the wrong computer for a "deal," which would actually be a deal made against my deeper interests. I'd hate the MBP if I got it, even for the same price and with "better features."

What's challenging you is how out of tune you are with your own intuition and knowing yourself. Get out of your head, get into your soul, and get the computer that makes you happy to open the lid.

 

[dizmonk]

You should buy the computer you're most personally and intuitively drawn to. Not dabble in some useless "pros & cons" debate which is already tormenting you. I stand completely against Madhatter's advice of "best computer for the money."

I buy the best item for my life and my interests, not for my money.

I like good screens and great speakers. I use an SD card from my drone.

But whenever I get rid of my 13" starlight MBA, I'll be getting the 15" starlight MBA. I have no interest in the MBP.

1" more of screen doesn't sway me, screen doesn't inspire me, speakers I don't care about. I'll deal with using an SD card reader, because I'm 100% more drawn to the MBA than the MBP. No reason to get the wrong computer for a "deal," which would actually be a deal made against my deeper interests. I'd hate the MBP if I got it, even for the same price and with "better features."

What's challenging you is how out of tune you are with your own intuition and knowing yourself. Get out of your head, get into your soul, and get the computer that makes you happy to open the lid.

Excellent points... Why no interest in this pro line of Macs? I know my use case warrants a MBA but I'm trying to assess this whole PWM issue as my eyes do hurt a little more on the Pro line vs. the MBA. I tend to overthink stuff but I hate getting ripped off.

 

[Spotlighter9]

I ordered the 16" M1 MBP on launch day 2021 to replace my then 12 year old 15" OG unibody MBP after painfully waiting a long time for the overheating low profile Intel Era of unreliable keyboards and limited ports to finally end. Apple did not disappoint with the 16" and I still fall in love with this machine everyday. It is the perfect successor to the OG unibody MBP in both size and weight. I certainly would have considered the 15" M2 MBA had it been available in 2021, but after seeing MBA recently (and it is very nice), I think my 2021 self would have still opted for the 16" MBP given the immersive display and, OMG, speakers!

 

[pshufd]

I've toyed with getting a 15 for the times when I don't want the weight of my 16. I could just carry both on trips as I often prefer having an additional screen.

 

[ericwn]

You should buy the computer you're most personally and intuitively drawn to. Not dabble in some useless "pros & cons" debate which is already tormenting you. I stand completely against Madhatter's advice of "best computer for the money."

I buy the best item for my life and my interests, not for my money.

I like good screens and great speakers. I use an SD card from my drone.

But whenever I get rid of my 13" starlight MBA, I'll be getting the 15" starlight MBA. I have no interest in the MBP.

1" more of screen doesn't sway me, screen doesn't inspire me, speakers I don't care about. I'll deal with using an SD card reader, because I'm 100% more drawn to the MBA than the MBP. No reason to get the wrong computer for a "deal," which would actually be a deal made against my deeper interests. I'd hate the MBP if I got it, even for the same price and with "better features."

What's challenging you is how out of tune you are with your own intuition and knowing yourself. Get out of your head, get into your soul, and get the computer that makes you happy to open the lid.

Awesome post, thank you for sharing.

 

[dizmonk]

I ordered the 16" M1 MBP on launch day 2021 to replace my then 12 year old 15" OG unibody MBP after painfully waiting a long time for the overheating low profile Intel Era of unreliable keyboards and limited ports to finally end. Apple did not disappoint with the 16" and I still fall in love with this machine everyday. It is the perfect successor to the OG unibody MBP in both size and weight. I certainly would have considered the 15" M2 MBA had it been available in 2021, but after seeing MBA recently (and it is very nice), I think my 2021 self would have still opted for the 16" MBP given the immersive display and, OMG, speakers!

I'm leaning toward keeping the 16 as the speakers are really hard to let go of. How often are you carrying it around?

 

[Spotlighter9]

I'm leaning toward keeping the 16 as the speakers are really hard to let go of. How often are you carrying it around?

Not often. A few times a month outside and then also around the house...but it really isn't a bother, IMO. I use it mostly as a portable desktop. The speakers really pull you in, even at low volume. I found the lack of keyboard deck speaker grills on the 15" MBA a bit odd.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Not often. A few times a month outside and then also around the house...but it really isn't a bother, IMO. I use it mostly as a portable desktop. The speakers really pull you in, even at low volume. I found the lack of keyboard deck speaker grills on the 15" MBA a bit odd.

The speakers on the 16" are ridiculous. I've a decent 2.0/ 5.1 HT set up and am always taken aback how they managed to make these little things so immersive. What happened to physics?

 

[HawkTheHusky1902]

The speakers on the 16" are ridiculous. I've a decent 2.0/ 5.1 HT set up and am always taken aback how they managed to make these little things so immersive. What happened to physics?

They left the chat

 

[Luna Murasaki]

I'm using an M1 MacBook Pro 16" myself. My previous machine was a 2018 MacBook Pro 15" that my dad now uses. I found that one inch definitely makes the difference for me. The kiddos these days seem quite comfortable watching movies on their iPhones and so on, and maybe I'm weird to say this, but I've just never gotten small screens. Even the 16" is not ideal but I feel like it's just barely crossed the threshold where I can be comfortable using it for long periods. I didn't feel that way with the 15" screen.

Something else though that I think is worth factoring into this: support. An M2 is likely to enjoy an extra year more of support than an M1. I don't like going without security updates myself so I'm always wary of the idea of saving money buying the already long-replaced generation and then needing to pay for a new machine sooner. In that sense, $1700 for an M1 and $1700 for an M2 aren't actually the same cost.

All that said, I know what you are going through. I'm a really indecisive person myself and I know how awful these situations are. Hang in there.