Wait?

[XianNewman]

I'm a non-creative professional.

I work with numerous large Google Docs, Sheets and Slides files, large Google Meet meetings, screen recordings and countless Chrome tabs on a daily basis.

I also design websites using Squarespace, and perform novice edits on occasional video files (usually screen recordings) before uploading them to YouTube.

I connect to a 4K USB-C monitor, all my work in the cloud.

My 2016 i5/8GB MBP struggles with rendering big Google Docs and Sheets, and lags when I join Google Meet events with more than a few video tiles. I've been waiting for the new MBPs all year because I need a new Mac, stat.

Over the past few weeks, I've gone back and forth 100 times (rough estimate ?) on 14" MBP configurations, ultimately landing on the base model... but here's the thing: It's not for me.

I'm not a creative professional who needs to render 4K video regularly, compile code or create animations. I never use pro-res, nor do I ever use HDMI or memory cards.

I need a slim, portable machine with USB-C ports, a great battery and a nice screen (the nicer the better).

Aside from the new MBP's XDR screen (?), I can do better on every other measure with a 8/8-core, 16GB memory 2020 MBA and save several hundred dollars and several hundred grams in the process.

Thing is, it's a year old, and coming due for refresh.

Anyone else in my boat, or am I the only non-creative professional who feels stuck in between an over-powered, over-ported, over-weight MBP, and an older MBA that would work well, but quickly become outdated?

 

[SigEp265]

Is it possible to use MS Edge (Chromium) instead of Chrome itself? Chrome is known for using a lot of computer resources.

 

[smoking monkey]

Top spec MBA for mine. You could be waiting a long time for the new MBA. IF that's not an issue then definitely wait.

 

[darngooddesign]

Buy a used M1Air; then when you sell it to upgrade you won’t lose much money.

 

[MacDaddyPanda]

Sounds like the 14" MBP M1 Pro would fill your needs perfectly for another 5+ yrs. It'll perform the tasks you do now perfectly well. And set you up for future needs. Unless you absolutely know you won't need all that extra performance? What about the 13" MBP?

 

[XianNewman]

Top spec MBA for mine. You could be waiting a long time for the new MBA. IF that's not an issue then definitely wait.

I could get a 2020 MBA, then trade it in if/when a new model is announced. I could survive on the 2016 MBP, but it's frustrating.

 

[CWallace]

I bought the MBP 14" only because I want MiniLED and I do not want to wait 6-8 months for the 2022 MBA (which is rumored to get MiniLED). So if you don't need / want MiniLED, then an 8/8 MBA with 16MB seems like the right call for you.

 

[XianNewman]

I bought the MBP 14" only because I want MiniLED and I do not want to wait 6-8 months for the 2022 MBA (which is rumored to get MiniLED). So if you don't need / want MiniLED, then an 8/8 MBA with 16MB seems like the right call for you.

Definitely want miniLED (screen quality is the only thing attracting me to MBP 14).

 

[Falhófnir]

Speccing the MBA to equivalence on the basic options (16GB RAM and 512GB SSD) brings it up to $1,449 (and you'd need to BTO*) so that's about a $550 saving - I guess whether the better display, extra ports, better speakers, not having to BTO is worth $550 to you is the $550 question!

Notably, I'm not convinced we'll see a MBA refresh until late next year. I believe the M2 chip will be based on the A16, which will debut in September, though I don't have any sources to back me up on that other than some (at this stage very vague) rumours from the usual leakers.

*Longer wait on order and shipping, no option to walk in and pick up, more of a hassle if something goes/ is wrong (Apple store won't have stock for a quick unit exchange).

 

[mblm85]

Thing is, it's a year old, and coming due for refresh.

The M1 chip is still the current one and an upgrade to the Air is probably still 12 months away. If you're discounting the M1 Pro for being over-powered, I don't see how holding out for an M2 processor is any different.

Having upgraded from a mid 2014 MacBook Pro to an 8-gig, 256 SSD M1 MacBook Air soon after launch, I have to say that I would still buy the M1 Air today if I were in your shoes. Performance is SO impressive and I charge once every couple of days.

The new MacBook Pro's look fantastic but they're overpowered for my needs. They obviously have other fantastic features but I don't miss what I've never had and have never needed.

Chasing the Next Big Thing is either incredibly expensive or you find yourself constantly waiting. I expect to get a good five years out of this M1 Air.

 

[darngooddesign]

The M1 chip is still the current one and an upgrade to the Air is probably still 12 months away. If you're discounting the M1 Pro for being over-powered, I don't see how holding out for an M2 processor is any different.

If I had to guess I’d say that the M2 will be more powerful without sacrificing battery life like the M1-Pro does.

 

[jerryk]

Another vote for the Air. I went from a 2019 16" MBP with 32 GB of memory and 1 TB SSD I was sure I needed, to an M1 Air. Turned out to be of my better moves in computing.

 

[smoking monkey]

I could get a 2020 MBA, then trade it in if/when a new model is announced.

If you're financially able to do this, I'd def do it. Get the 2020 and trade it in when the new model is announced.

I could survive on the 2016 MBP, but it's frustrating.

If the 2016 is frustrating you, sounds like you need to upgrade.