Whose going with the M1 Air vs Pro?

[Internaut]

So, I have the base Air. I bought it out of curiosity. What I got was unexpected (in a nice way).... Should I have gone with the Pro? Dunno! The only aspect of the Pro that would appeal to me is the better sound system. I understand it's the same Dolby system as my iPad Pro, and for a tablet sized thing with tablet sized speakers, that thing can throw sound around pretty well. I guess the Pro also has a better microphone array (though a Zoom session with my Air was fine, with no need to worry about sound from the Air's output contaminating the input).

 

[Hiredgoon6]

So, I have the base Air. I bought it out of curiosity. What I got was unexpected (in a nice way).... Should I have gone with the Pro? Dunno! The only aspect of the Pro that would appeal to me is the better sound system. I understand it's the same Dolby system as my iPad Pro, and for a tablet sized thing with tablet sized speakers, that thing can throw sound around pretty well. I guess the Pro also has a better microphone array (though a Zoom session with my Air was fine, with no need to worry about sound from the Air's output contaminating the input).

I got the Pro but will return it. I picked up an Air this morning. I do a lot of work in dark environments and the touch bar is a nuisance. It's too bright imo and the way it turns on and off automatically is distracting in the dark. Plus I'll save $300.

I honestly can't tell a difference in the speakers or mic. The differences don't matter day to day.

 

[Mac... nificent]

If you are constantly using your MacBook then go with the Pro.

If you use it on and off throughout the day, go with the Air.

 

[justinf77]

I have both Air and Pro on hand and will say the keyboard on the pro is noticeably snappier. It has a crisper pressure point while the Air's feels mushier. Has anyone else noticed?

I have both as well and I greatly prefer the feel of the keyboard on the Air, it feels more solid whereas the Pro feels sort of hollow to me.

I really thought I had fully decided on the Pro but I just find myself reaching for the Air over the Pro nearly every time.

 

[James_C]

If you are constantly using your MacBook then go with the Pro.

I use my MBA all day, I would have exactly the same performance if I had the MBP. The MBA only throttles under extreme constant load, and even then performance only declines by 10-15%. If you spend hours each day video editing or playing games then the Pro makes sense, as the fan will kick in, but if you are using Zoom, Microsoft Office, Web Browsing and playing music then performance will be the same for the M1 Pro and Air.

To be honest the only reason for spending extra on the Pro apart from above is if you want the Touch Bar.

 

[Never mind]

If you are constantly using your MacBook then go with the Pro.

If you use it on and off throughout the day, go with the Air.

Doesn’t make any sense. I use my computer throughout the day, many hours, and I don’t need a higher end slightly more expensive MacBook Pro. I don’t push it to the limit and I don’t need that much memory for what I do, but throughout the day, I leave it on so your post or suggestion, doesn’t make any sense. I definitely don’t like the Touch Bar but I would like to have a slightly brighter screen but not a dealbreaker

 

[Quackers]

Yep 16GB/512GB Air for me

 

[Populus]

Well, another 16GB/512GB MacBook Air over here. Although I purchased the base model to try it and check compatibility issues, I'll definitely exchange it for the modified version before the Christmas sales period time ends.

I didn't go with the Pro basically because of the TouchBar. You either love it or hate it, and in my case, I happen to hate it. Also I always loved fan-less computers, and this Air is crazy fast and the thermal throttling is minimum so... The Air is definitely my choice.

 

[Mac... nificent]

I use my MBA all day, I would have exactly the same performance if I had the MBP.

All of the people who are having "issues" with the MBA M1 are those who use it all day. MBP M1 users are not having these same issues, so the fan does come into play at some point.

 

[gregpod9]

I have the MBA M1 16GB/512GB/8C GPU. It's a really great laptop. I tried out the MBP M1 8GB/512GB a few days ago and returned it yesterday. Here are links on my comparisons, https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-it-worth-the-compromise.2273948/post-29373182 and https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/which-would-be-better.2274432/?post=29375341#post-29375341. One thing I wish it would have a slightly brighter screen, however the screen is bright enough for everyday usage.

 

[kp98077]

I have both Air and Pro on hand and will say the keyboard on the pro is noticeably snappier. It has a crisper pressure point while the Air's feels mushier. Has anyone else noticed?

Maybe a little. But wouldn’t say significantly so. I still don’t miss the “boxy” feel of the pro

 

[Hiredgoon6]

Maybe a little. But wouldn’t say significantly so. I still don’t miss the “boxy” feel of the pro

Ok good to know it's not just me. Definitely prefer the physical function keys

 

[nylon]

I'm going from a 2016 TB 15" MBP (launch model) to a base M1 MBA until the 14" & 16" M1* MBP's arrive i.e. interim purchase. It's crazy that the base model MBA is benching more than 2x as fast as my current machine.

 

[Buck987]

One thing I wish it would have a slightly brighter screen, however the screen is bright enough for everyday usage.

If it is bright enough why do you wish it be slightly brighter. Is it not bright enough for outside use?

 

[bsmr]

I have both as well and I greatly prefer the feel of the keyboard on the Air, it feels more solid whereas the Pro feels sort of hollow to me.

Same for me. But the display from the MBP is so much better. No contrast issues, no red glow on black content.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Going for higher-end Air (8C/16GB/1TB) if I go for anything with an M1. I'm already getting a 2020 4-port Intel Ice Lake 13" MacBook Pro because I still need Intel for the bulk of what I do (i.e. Boot Camp and x86 OS virtualization). The M1 Air is so that I can effectively do Apple consulting on the side and be familiar with how to support Apple Silicon Macs (as many conventions are different now). If it were the crux or primary focus of my tech upgrade, I'd go Pro. But really, this is a secondary machine, so I'd rather pocket the extra $250.

 

[badsimian]

I had 8GB/512 Air and switched to 16GB/512GB Air, fantastic machine it is too. I dislike the Touch Bar, I had it on my 16" MBP and far prefer function keys. The speaker and microphone differences are minimal, side by side I could hardly tell the difference. The screen is very slightly brighter on the Pro, but again not the difference 400v500 nits might lead you to believe. I had this Air side by side with my 16" MBOP too and actually think it looked identical to that.
Silence, no fans, function keys...amazing machine.

 

[Pressure]

A large retailer in Denmark is selling the base model MacBook Pro 13” for 20% off, so it’s basically the same price as the base model MacBook Air.

Great deal if you can live with the base model.

 

[kp98077]

Same for me. But the display from the MBP is so much better. No contrast issues, no red glow on black content.

I thought it was the same display minus the slight nit difference ?

 

[James_C]

I thought it was the same display minus the slight nit difference ?

Specs are the same for M1 MBA and MBP apart from the max brightness. My M1 MBA display is perfect and does not have contrast or red glow on black problems.

 

[bsmr]

Specs are the same for M1 MBA and MBP apart from the max brightness. My M1 MBA display is perfect and does not have contrast or red glow on black problems.

Nope. You're wrong. You can find it in several tests, specs, user feedback.

If you have a M1 MBP and MBA side by side you will see it.

It's an other display at all. With M1 MBA you get:
- Lower black level
- Lower contrast (even lower than 2020 Intel MBA)
- Lower Sharpness
- Lower nits

 

[James_C]

Nope. You're wrong.

I am sitting right in front of my M1 Air and I don't see any problem on my display with black contrast or any red glow on black content so I am not the one who is wrong and I have not seen any significant complaints about the M1 MBA screens in these forums. I am sure like any computer there are a few people with defective screens. I had a 15" MacBook Pro from 2016, which I compared to this screen and the MBA had a significantly better screen, apart from the max brightness level.

 

[bsmr]

Yes of course there are differences. But you cannot say, that they're the same screen, if you didn't compare them ;-)

It's not only the nits.

 

[gregpod9]

Nope. You're wrong. You can find it in several tests, specs, user feedback.

If you have a M1 MBP and MBA side by side you will see it.

It's an other display at all. With M1 MBA you get:
- Lower black level
- Lower contrast (even lower than 2020 Intel MBA)
- Lower Sharpness
- Lower nits

The screen benefits on the MBP are best for watching movies, photo editing, and video editing. For most tasks the MBA screen is perfectly fine.

 

[bsmr]

Apple MacBook Air 2020 M1 Entry Review: Apple M1 CPU humbles Intel and AMD

The M1 based entry-level Macbook in our extensive technical test.

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