Which of these, simply put, is better?

[nervousrhino]

1) Macbook Air
2.2GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz

• 8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 memory
• 256GB SSD storage
• Intel HD Graphics 6000
• Backlit Keyboard - British

£1100

2) Macbook Pro

• 2.3GHz dual-core 7th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
• 8GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory
• 256GB SSD storage
• Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
• Two Thunderbolt 3 ports
• Backlit Keyboard - British

£1304

(These prices are with student discount).

I'm looking for better in terms of performance.

 

[sunapple]

Benchmarks:

2017 Air i7: 3558 (Single-core), 6818 (Multi-Core)
2017 Pro 13": 4322 (Single-core), 9192 (Multi-Core)

So, simply put with some form of proof, the MacBook Pro is better.

It's also equipped with processors that are 3 years newer than the Air, therefore has better graphics performance, it has a much better screen and it's thinner than the Air's thickest point and has a smaller footprint too (about same weight).

 

[nervousrhino]

Benchmarks:

2017 Air i7: 3558 (Single-core), 6818 (Multi-Core)
2017 Pro 13": 4322 (Single-core), 9192 (Multi-Core)

So, simply put with some form of proof, the MacBook Pro is better.

It's also equipped with processors that are 3 years newer than the Air, therefore has better graphics performance, it has a much better screen and it's thinner than the Air's thickest point and has a smaller footprint too (about same weight).

Thanks so much! Do you think it would be suitable for my sister - she's in urgent need of a laptop as her Windows laptop failed her the other day, she's a student so would do some heavy word processing and the usual media consumption etc.

 

[sunapple]

Thanks so much! Do you think it would be suitable for my sister - she's in urgent need of a laptop as her Windows laptop failed her the other day, she's a student so would do some heavy word processing and the usual media consumption etc.

No problem. Word and media consumption can be done on basically any current Mac without issues. I’d still recommend the Pro although if you’re too concerned about the price, the Air would be capable as well.

 

[Panch0]

Thanks so much! Do you think it would be suitable for my sister - she's in urgent need of a laptop as her Windows laptop failed her the other day, she's a student so would do some heavy word processing and the usual media consumption etc.

That's not really a performance workload. Either of the configurations that you posted would be more than capable of handling those activities. You might also want to consider that the MBA still has "legacy" USB ports and an SD Card slot, while the MBPro has Only USB-C/TB3. No question about the MBPro being "better" in terms of performance.