Whose going with the M1 Air vs Pro?

[1240766]

If you actually need that kind of computing might, then I'd wait until you can at least get the M1X, 32/2TB

Crystal ball?

 

[rui no onna]

Unfourtunately i dont have any laptop atm

I understand

I really like the touchbar but i need a silent machine.I watch on youtube many big youtubers saying the mbp is silent no fan noise at all but normal users said opposite

MBP has a fan, no idea how quiet it is since I don't have one. I just saw Lisa's review and she said it was super quiet. Inaudible unless you put your ear right next to the machine. Mind, I still prefer Function keys over Touch Bar so I'd still choose MBA. Now if the MBP had more ports, that would've tipped the scales.

MBA is completely silent.

 

[deeddawg]

I really like the touchbar but i need a silent machine.I watch on youtube many big youtubers saying the mbp is silent no fan noise at all but normal users said opposite

You sure you're reading comments from M1 owners?

I've heard the fan on my M1 MBP exactly once in the nearly four weeks I've had it. If I remember correctly I was recreating previews for ~4000 images from 16MP RAW files. It was audible but low volume, nothing obtrusive, lasted a couple of minute towards the end of the batch job.

What's your workload? I'd expect also that a fan control App could easily keep the fan below an audible level if you find you actually ever do hear the fan.

Edit - I don't game though, so perhaps that'd have an effect. Still think you could keep the fan quiet at the expense of greater throttling than otherwise if that were the preference.

 

[dieselm]

You sure you're reading comments from M1 owners?

I've heard the fan on my M1 MBP exactly once in the nearly four weeks I've had it. If I remember correctly I was recreating previews for ~4000 images from 16MP RAW files. It was audible but low volume, nothing obtrusive, lasted a couple of minute towards the end of the batch job.

What's your workload? I'd expect also that a fan control App could easily keep the fan below an audible level if you find you actually ever do hear the fan.

Edit - I don't game though, so perhaps that'd have an effect. Still think you could keep the fan quiet at the expense of greater throttling than otherwise if that were the preference.

You're making your own argument. It hardly needs the fan.

If you're the obessive type, you're never going to stop thinking that maybe you'll trigger the fan and it'll ruin your enjoyment. Those have had an older macbook know what i'm talking about.

Be willing to take a 15% CPU hit on the rare occasion where you have a batch job lasting over 10 minutes, and you never have to think about it again.

FWIW, consider putting the $$$ towards extra memory. I had the 8GB and I have the 16GB now. It's noticably better. If you have an external display, load up long running help extensions (dropbox, creative cloud), or keep lots of tabs (35+, 80+, 100+), (not even mentioning Apps like Adobe Lightroom) they all lock down a lot of memory. They never do this when doing reviews and yet it's not uncommon for the slight power user.

MacOS also uses spare memory to agressively caches all the files it can.

Put together it's all noticeably smoother day to day. Compared to older macs, the 8GB model seems quite satisfying, but it can be even better still with 16GB.

 

[rui no onna]

You're making your own argument. It hardly needs the fan.

If you're the obessive type, you're never going to stop thinking that maybe you'll trigger the fan and it'll ruin your enjoyment. Those have had an older macbook know what i'm talking about.

Be willing to take a 15% CPU hit on the rare occasion where you have a batch job lasting over 10 minutes, and you never have to think about it again.

Same. I've used iPads with AX chipsets and that's pretty much what the M1 is. The iPad Air 4th gen with non-X A14 3.0 GHz (2 fast cores, 4 slow cores) gets 1600/4200 on GB5 versus M1 3.2 GHz 1700/7300. The previous gen A12Z gets 1100/4700.

Throttling is just not an issue for my workload and from experience, AX nevers gets down to slow-to-a-crawl bad like with Intel. The only time I've had an iPad shut down on me due to overheating, it was in a car in California desert summer with the iPad being used as GPS.

As quiet and as rarely as the fan may run, I figured I'd rather take the extremely rare CPU hit than deal with the potential issues with active cooling (fan dying, dust, etc). Plus, as mentioned, I'd rather have Function keys than Touch Bar and the lower price is pretty nice, too.

 

[serpico007]

Very interesting poll results. Checked my local Apple stores and only MacBook Pro models in stock. All the Air and Mac Mini models out of stock until January-February.

 

[KShopper]

Same. I've used iPads with AX chipsets and that's pretty much what the M1 is. The iPad Air 4th gen with non-X A14 3.0 GHz (2 fast cores, 4 slow cores) gets 1600/4200 on GB5 versus M1 3.2 GHz 1700/7300. The previous gen A12Z gets 1100/4700.

Throttling is just not an issue for my workload and from experience, AX nevers gets down to slow-to-a-crawl bad like with Intel. The only time I've had an iPad shut down on me due to overheating, it was in a car in California desert summer with the iPad being used as GPS.

As quiet and as rarely as the fan may run, I figured I'd rather take the extremely rare CPU hit than deal with the potential issues with active cooling (fan dying, dust, etc). Plus, as mentioned, I'd rather have Function keys than Touch Bar and the lower price is pretty nice, too.

I agree 100%. Having a fan in your laptop is such an anachronism in December, 2020. lol. Fanless and free! Love it.

 

[jerryk]

Not enough difference between the Air and Pro to justify the $300 extra IMHO. So for now went with base Air and will likely add a 14" MBP with M1xx/M2 + 16-32GB and large SSD next year.

 

[Zazoh]

I disagree with the general idea that these are "Gen 1" devices that will "quickly get left behind".

What are the 1st gen devices that got left behind quickly in "modern apple history" ?

The original iPhone, the original iPad and the original Apple Watch.

All those were very new devices for their times and the hardware was clearly running at his limits just to keep up with daily tasks. (And honestly, the first Apple Watch was already not able to keep up when it launched)

I see your point, but those are exactly what I’m talking about. We’ll see in two years. The current version of watch is not even the same device really. Whose to say 4K front camera, pencil support base 14 inch models, voice typing, medical diagnostics ... unless one is working in the lab, we’re just guessing.

I'll tell you this, I bet you $1 I’m trading in two years.

 

[darngooddesign]

But I needed a computer TODAY - or VERY SOON, like within days. My trusty late 2009 iMac has started failing - the HDD is making odd clicking sounds and I'm afraid it's going to be toast very soon. I'm trying to back up stuff before it collapses. Meanwhile I need a computer pronto.

Yeah, that sound is your drive failing...but why didn't you just replace the drive so you can wait for the computer you want.

 

[rui no onna]

I see your point, but those are exactly what I’m talking about. We’ll see in two years. The current version of watch is not even the same device really. Whose to say 4K front camera, pencil support base 14 inch models, voice typing, medical diagnostics ... unless one is working in the lab, we’re just guessing.

I'll tell you this, I bet you $1 I’m trading in two years.

There's a difference between the device actually running like crap after 1-2 updates versus just wanting to have the latest features. The 1st gen iPhone and iPad were the former. I expect the M1 MBA to newer would be more of the latter.

I mean, sure, the 2018 iPad Pro was a very nice upgrade with FaceID, new chassis, smaller bezels, Apple Pencil 2, etc. However, it didn't suddenly render my 2017 iPad Pro unusable.

As for dictation, the only reason it might not be on M1 Macs is if the microphones are not up to par (Siri's supported so doubt it). Otherwise, that's a feature that's been available on iOS for a long time so I really don't see any reason why the M1 couldn't handle it performance-wise.

 

[Argon_]

Unfourtunately i dont have any laptop atm

I'd pick up a base Air as a tide over in that case. Like a snack to satiate you until dinner. Then, if you find yourself needing more power, upgrade once the M1X machines drop.

 

[justinf77]

Fwiw, I used the MBA all day today instead of the MBP. Both 8gb ram which seems fine for my general usage.

- The MBP keyboard has slightly stiffer feedback. But nothing bad about the MBA keyboard whatsoever - I like both.
- The battery is at 32% at end the day. The MBP would probably be 50% or thereabouts.
- I very much prefer the MBA wedge design.
- I didn't notice much about the screen. Ill see tomorrow when I switch back to MBP.
- Prefer physical keys rather than Touch Bar but no big deal.
- The MBA seems to run slightly hotter than MBP (1-3 degrees) - between 26-38 degrees range.

I could toss a coin - save £235 or have 20% extra battery - and id be fine either way. Not charging for 2 full days is good but maybe not worth £235 🤷‍♂️

As I might go for the 14" (only if it has no bezels) if/when its released (if ever) I might go for the MBA to save money. This switch is partly about transferring max value from my intel MBP to an M1 Macbook.

Will know tomorrow how I feel fully about each after using the MBP - then decide.

Did you decide yet on which one to keep?

 

[1240766]

You're making your own argument. It hardly needs the fan.

If you're the obessive type, you're never going to stop thinking that maybe you'll trigger the fan and it'll ruin your enjoyment. Those have had an older macbook know what i'm talking about.

Be willing to take a 15% CPU hit on the rare occasion where you have a batch job lasting over 10 minutes, and you never have to think about it again.

FWIW, consider putting the $$$ towards extra memory. I had the 8GB and I have the 16GB now. It's noticably better. If you have an external display, load up long running help extensions (dropbox, creative cloud), or keep lots of tabs (35+, 80+, 100+), (not even mentioning Apps like Adobe Lightroom) they all lock down a lot of memory. They never do this when doing reviews and yet it's not uncommon for the slight power user.

MacOS also uses spare memory to agressively caches all the files it can.

Put together it's all noticeably smoother day to day. Compared to older macs, the 8GB model seems quite satisfying, but it can be even better still with 16GB.

Or you can think the other way and be willing to take the almost inaudible fan on the rare occasion you need the 15% extra CPU hit where you have a batch job

 

[1240766]

I'd pick up a base Air as a tide over in that case. Like a snack to satiate you until dinner. Then, if you find yourself needing more power, upgrade once the M1X machines drop.

And then when the M1X comes out, get the base M1X so you can upgrade when the M2X comes out, then repeat...

you cannot catch up with technology, next year there will be the next great thing... get what you want now, hold on for two or three years then get the next great thing again

 

[deeddawg]

And then when the M1X comes out, get the base M1X so you can upgrade when the M2X comes out, then repeat...

you cannot catch up with technology, next year there will be the next great thing... get what you want now, hold on for two or three years then get the next great thing again

Exactly.

Seems silly to buy a machine that doesn't meet your needs.

If what's currently available on Apple Silicon doesn't do what someone needs to do, then they should wait until an Apple Silicon model meeting their needs is released.

 

[Wizec]

I just bought a 16GB/512 M1 Air.

The slanted keyboard (I don’t like how much the Pro cuts into my wrists now), slightly lighter weight, fanless design and reportedly great battery life convinced me.

I have a 2018 MacBook Pro right now with an 8th gen 2.3Ghz i5 that runs macOS and Xcode slow and hot. Reading and watching the M1 compile Xcode without breaking a sweat (roaring fans) tipped the scales for me to trade in.

I saw a video on YouTube (there are many like it) where the M1 crushes the 2.3Ghz 8-core Intel Core i9 in a 2019 15” MacBook Pro.

 

[Argon_]

And then when the M1X comes out, get the base M1X so you can upgrade when the M2X comes out, then repeat...

you cannot catch up with technology, next year there will be the next great thing... get what you want now, hold on for two or three years then get the next great thing again

The poster I quoted previously had a machine with 64 gigs of ram. He might need a higher spec machine than the M1 is offered with, for a particular use case.

 

[deeddawg]

The poster I quoted previously had a machine with 64 gigs of ram. He might need a higher spec machine than the M1 is offered with, for a particular use case.

In that scenario I’d advise against buying any of the current Apple Silicon offerings.

Buying something less than what one needs isn’t typically a wise choice.

 

[Argon_]

In that scenario I’d advise against buying any of the current Apple Silicon offerings.

Buying something less than what one needs isn’t typically a wise choice.

The poster in question also mentioned not currently having a laptop, due to selling the 16MBP.

 

[mobutt]

Had an order for 16/512 Pro. Returned it and got a 16/512 air. I like the form factor better, it's been updated more recently design wise, and no Touch Bar.

Will probably pick up a 16 M1X 32gb ram with monitor too whenever that releases.

 

[Argon_]

Had an order for 16/512 Pro. Returned it and got a 16/512 air. I like the form factor better, it's been updated more recently design wise, and no Touch Bar.

Will probably pick up a 16 M1X 32gb ram with monitor too whenever that releases.

I've thought of the future M1X machines, but the idea of a fast Mac laptop with no touch bar is rather tempting.

 

[mobutt]

I've thought of the future M1X machines, but the idea of a fast Mac laptop with no touch bar is rather tempting.

Not having a Touch Bar is great. I only had a Touch Bar for about a month when I bought a 16 earlier this year, and then a day with the M1 Pro.

I much much prefer having the function keys. Wonder when Apple will backpedal and decide the Touch Bar isn't a good idea. Hopefully with these M1X's! I won't mind too much since I will keep it docked 95% of the time, but still a useless thing.

 

[Chairman.Jobbie]

Did you decide yet on which one to keep?

Short answer : Not really. Im still switching between MBA and MBP for the next week.

If I had to choose it'd probably be the pro for the battery and keyboard. But that's not to say the MBA is lacking in either of these... As ive said, I really like the longer battery even though its not necessary. And the Touch Bar is actually nice to have - I probably prefer it now.

I just wrote on another thread about 8gb v 16gb RAM - that I probably should have tested and kept the 16gb - so no constant swap memory usage. I constantly have up to 3-6gb swap memory. And Im not someone who really looks to upgrade every 2 years and so then it'd be a longer term purchase (5yr+).

When I have to spend time trying to convince myself of something im realising it often means it's not the ideal choice. Having said that all the MacBook variations would work for me and its not a big deal.

Im currently deciding whether to reorder the 16gb MBP or stick with either the MBA or MBP 8gb. If I stick with 8gb I will upgrade to 14" with 16gb ram whenever its released. (in which case I should save money and keep MBA, but my preference is MBP 😫!)

 

[Chairman.Jobbie]

Fwiw, just switched from using MBP to MBA - def prefer keyboard on Pro - better feedback, less tinny.