Upgraded Air vs Base Pro

[Ellezk]

would it be better for me to buy an upgraded M1 air (16gb/512gb) or a base model m1 pro (8gb/256gb)?

I don’t game or do any photo/video editing, but I want the laptop to be fast + not overheat with multiple tabs/apps open, have good battery power, and last a long time.

Also, if you had to choose between upgrading 8gb to 16gb or 256 to 512, which would you choose and why? I’m still not completely clear on what the upgrades would do.

 

[tensixturtle]

I have an M1 Mac mini and it runs very well. What kinds of apps are you planning to use? I believe the apps that require the most power is when the computer has to render something itself. But for other tasks like web browsing, text editing, etc. I am sure that M1 is sufficient. It also runs really well on 8GB and I've been able to run multiple Xcode simulators along with some other apps while the memory usage hangs around 80%. I read somewhere online that 16GB is useful if you are doing something like 4K video rendering. I would also see this article. It works because the M1 chip uses the memory extremely efficiently compared to the Intel chips which would have filled up 8GB very quickly. I also got the 512GB because I have multiple times filled up my 256GB MacBook Pro over the years. I don't try to store a bunch of things on it, but I might accumulate a number of larger video files as well as have a large app, an OS installer, among other things without realizing it, and soon, it was too full to update so I had to clear things out. If all you store is a music library and documents, however, I'd imagine 256GB is enough. So if I would be buying it, I might get the 8GB/512GB M1 MacBook Air.

 

[lixuelai]

Get the Air.

 

[Technerd108]

I would not buy a Mac that I intend on keeping for more than a couple years with only 8gb ram.

I also always buy the latest Mac available and wait for a new model and save up rather than buy an older model.

That being said of the two you are suggesting it would be the 13" pro 16gb ram and 256gb ssd. The pro is not much more in cost but is much more durable and has a fan and longer battery life and brighter screen and better speakers. More ram is always better over time and can become a limiting factor and since it can't be added later it is best to go bigger here. As for SSD your use case doesn't seem to need huge storage and you can always get a external ssd to add storage any time for small cost.

I think the 13" pro with regular m1 is still a good value. There is a new air coming out with most likely m2 processor and better screen and new colors which seems best suited for you. You may be able to get a base configuration of the new air and be happier than the current generation 13" air or pro.

If I were you I would wait for the new air with m2 and new colors. The air redesign seems like it will be worth the wait and best suited to your needs.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

At this point, I wouldn't get either and wait for the new MacBooks (Air) with M2 chip. IF you can wait, of course.

 

[wilberforce]

I would get the 16/512 Air.
8GB is just too small, 16GB will much more efficient for multiple tabs and multitasking, and last more years.
Most people will fill up 256GB SSD pretty quickly, especially as you should not fill more than 80% for caching and swaps and for faster operation, and some is already occupied by the OS and apps. But maybe you have little storage need.

 

[Natzoo]

The air is a nice laptop but I don't get the point of it in the apple lineup, since the base pro is not much more (since you are already paying $$$$) and get so much more. I would go for the pro and enjoy it, just seems that you are getting the most of the money. There are deals if you are talking about the 13inch but can you wait? I would go for the 14in if you cannot since it is the most up-to-date.

I like 16GB of ram in this day, however, storage is important too (hence 14in). But I know it is expensive and if you can wait for the refreshed version of the air, do it.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

h

would it be better for me to buy an upgraded M1 air (16gb/512gb) or a base model m1 pro (8gb/256gb)?

I don’t game or do any photo/video editing, but I want the laptop to be fast + not overheat with multiple tabs/apps open, have good battery power, and last a long time.

Also, if you had to choose between upgrading 8gb to 16gb or 256 to 512, which would you choose and why? I’m still not completely clear on what the upgrades would do.

how about pro with 16/256?

 

[wys]

The air is a nice laptop but I don't get the point of it in the apple lineup, since the base pro is not much more (since you are already paying $$$$) and get so much more. I would go for the pro and enjoy it, just seems that you are getting the most of the money. There are deals if you are talking about the 13inch but can you wait? I would go for the 14in if you cannot since it is the most up-to-date.

I like 16GB of ram in this day, however, storage is important too (hence 14in). But I know it is expensive and if you can wait for the refreshed version of the air, do it.

Not sure where you are getting this idea

You can get a 16GB/1TB 2020 M1 MBA for about $1900; the base model 8GB/256GB MBP starts at about $1900. The performance between the two is mostly identical. There's simply no reason to buy the MBP. Unless you really must have the "new" ports but even that's not a good excuse, we're all coming down off of "dongle life" so you surely have all the adapters you already need. In short the MBP just doesn't have any good reason to exist