MacBook Air Vs. Pro: Which laptop is best for you?
The MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro? Which one should you choose? It really boils down to what you're using it for and where you'll be using it. Both options are top laptops for graphic designers as well as general use, and at first glance, they appear to share a number of advantages: they both use the same version of the macOS operating system, place a strong emphasis on usability, and have long battery lives.
MacBook Air vs. Pro: Things to consider before buying
With recent enhancements, such as the launch of the M2 chip, new Magic Keyboard, both gadgets are better than ever. However, some subtleties can significantly impact certain jobs you may need the laptop for.
The MacBook Air is capable of light photo and video editing, but for real 3D work, you'll want to upgrade to the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Some designers also place a premium on the latter's large 16-inch display and processing power, although most users probably won't need it if you're simply looking for more general use.
We'll walk you through all you need to know about each laptop, from the stats inside to the screen connectivity, so you can select the MacBook that's right for you.
MacBook Air vs. Pro: Specs
If you've been paying attention to Apple's naming practices, you'll notice a significant difference in power between the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. The 'Air' items have lower raw performance but are less expensive; the 'Pro' models have more power and some additional higher-end features.
The MacBook Air and Pro 13-inch 2022 models both feature the Apple M2 (8-core CPU, 16-core Neural Engine) chip, with the MacBook Air M1 2020 model still available at a lower price. On the other hand, the 2021 Pro 14 and 16 featuring the Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max CPUs, are considerably more powerful and have advancements for better video editing without draining the battery.
The MacBook Air comes standard with 8GB of RAM, with a maximum of 16GB, which can be limited for design and creative work. The Pro supports up to 32GB in the 13-inch tablet and 64GB in the 16-inch device. The Air may be too congested for some tasks, but it will most likely suffice for the majority.
MacBook Air vs. Pro: Performance
Apple's unified memory architecture integrates the central processing unit (CPU), cache, neural engine, graphics processing unit (GPU), security, and more onto a single silicon chip, allowing for more efficient data transfer. The MacBook Air's integrated 7-core or 8-core M1 GPU makes it a perfectly capable machine for usage with Adobe's applications or other editing tools. It can even manage 4K video editing if you're just seeking to assemble footage, but it's not designed for extremely sophisticated 3D work.
The M2 chip is driven by an 8-core CPU, with four high-performance cores running at 3.49GHz and four power-efficient cores running at 2.06GHz. The efficient cores are not dissimilar to those found in the standard M1 microprocessor. The M2 differentiates itself from the M1 by including 10 GPU cores instead of 8.
The M1 Pro and M1 Max chips available in the 14-inch and 16-inch models still feature higher performance than the M2 chip in the new 13-inch models, boasting 10-core CPUs and up to 32 GPU cores. The most powerful model, the M1 Ultra, has 20 CPU cores and up to 64 GPU cores. However, the M1 range, in contrast to the M2, features slower top CPU clock speeds.
Memory bandwidth is also different. After the M1 Max (up to 400GB/s), the next fastest is the M1 Pro (up to 200GB/s), then the M2 (100GB/s), and the slowest is the M1 at around 68GB/s.
The maximum storage capacity of the M1 Pro is 32GB, 8GB more than the M2. However, the M1, being the baby of the family, can only handle up to 16GB of RAM. Apple uses a unified memory architecture, so adding more RAM to an existing device is not an option.
The MacBook Pro 16-inch ups the ante, promising two times quicker graphics processing. It also contains a specialised media engine for decoding and two for encoding, allowing for up to twice the speed of video encoding.
Storage is another crucial feature of all three computers' performance: Apple uses the quickest flash storage in all Macs. This is especially helpful in Pro machines since it allows for tasks like live editing of 4K video in numerous tracks when combined with the CPU power. It also helps with the quickness of opening or saving huge files, retrieving folders of assets to utilise in a project, and many other little ways.
MacBook Air vs. Pro: Design
Apple's design of all of these computers has been subtly improved but not substantially altered throughout the years, and they all seem very similar, but some were startled to see Apple incorporate a notch on the new MacBook Pros.
The MacBook Air is the most portable option; the 13-inch MacBook Pro packs a punch in a small package, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro on the other hand is the heftier, higher-spec option.
The MacBook Air's streamlined shape means it has the smallest volume and is the lightest at 1.29kg/2.8lbs. However, the 13-inch MacBook Pro weighs only 1.4kg/3.1lbs, so you wouldn't choose the Air based on weight alone.
In terms of thickness, the Air measures 0.41cm/0.16in at its narrowest point, but 1.61cm/0.63in at its thickest, which is thicker than the 13-inch MacBook Pro's 1.56cm/0.61in.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro weighs 1.6 kg/3.5lb, whereas the 16-inch MacBook Pro is noticeably heavier at 2.1 - 2.2kg/4.7 - 4.8lbs depending on whether you go for the M1 Pro or M1 Max; however, this is only a weight difference of roughly 600g. It's not as much of a burden as a large laptop used to be, but you'll notice the extra weight in your backpack.
MacBook Air vs. Pro: Display
Apple's laptop displays are currently relatively comparable, with three main differences: brightness, colour gamut, and size. The MacBook Pro 16-inch provides the maximum workspace, whether you want (just about) enough space to run two apps side by side or you want the largest canvas available with area for palettes and so on. It has a resolution of 3072x1920 and a pixel density of 226 pixels per inch.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro has the same density of 226PPI as the 15-inch MacBook Pro; however, the lower size results in a resolution of 2560x1600. The MacBook Air also has a 13-inch display with a resolution of 2560x1600 and a pixel density of 226PPI. It is, however, rated at 400 nits and lacks P3 wide colour gamut capabilities.
MacBook Air vs. Pro: Battery Life
The M1 MacBook Air and the M1 MacBook Pro 13-ins have significant advantages when it comes to battery life which is over 15 and 17 hours of wireless web browsing, respectively.
On the other hand, the 14-inch claims up to 11 hours of wireless web browsing, while the 16-inch MacBook Pro claims up to 14 hours of wireless web browsing. Which you choose once again is dependent on the intended purpose.
MacBook Air vs Pro: Ports
Apple laptops only come with a handful of different sorts of ports, but the good news is that they all contain Thunderbolt 3, which opens up a wide variety of possibilities for attaching high-speed hubs, displays, and other peripherals. These ports also provide electricity to all of the computers.
The MacBook Air has two Thunderbolt 3 ports that also function as USB Type-C ports (they have the same connector shape). A 3.5mm, headphone/mic jack is also included.
The base-level 13-inch MacBook Pro has two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports and one 3.5mm jack, while higher-tier 13-inch MacBook Pro models include four Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, two on each side, plus the 3.5mm jack. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros have four ports and a 3.5mm jack, as well as an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port, and a MagSafe 3 port.
MacBook Air vs Pro: Keyboard and Touch Bar
All MacBooks include Apple's Magic Keyboard, which provides excellent tactile performance and comfort. The MacBook Air lacks a Touch Bar, unlike the 13-inch MacBook Pro does; however, this OLED bar isn't particularly useful.
It's somewhat telling that the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models discarded it in favour of a separate function row of physical keys.
MacBook Air vs Pro: Audio
The new MacBook Pros are a step above the already impressive stereo sound of the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro.
This is due to the fact that both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro feature a total of six speakers. The audio is even more robust, with deeper bass and a lowered pitch of an octave. In addition, the latest MacBook Pros have headphone and speaker capability for Dolby Atmos.
MacBook Air vs Pro: Value and price
The MacBook Air M1 2020 starts at AU$1,499 for 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage while the newer model, the MacBook Air M2 2022 starts at AU$1,899 for 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
On the other hand, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is priced from A$1,999. The $1,999 price tag also includes 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You get 16GB of faster RAM, 512GB of storage, and two extra Thunderbolt 3 connections for AU$2,999.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro costs $2,999 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The 16-inch MacBook Pro costs $3,749. You can customise the specifications of any of the machines. The most popular extras are storage and RAM, while the 16-inch model has a more powerful processor and an 8GB graphics option.
Best MacBook overall
The decision between the MacBook Pro and Air boils down to power, size, and affordability. The MacBook Air is designed for lightweight use and for those where using it on the go is a priority, while the 13-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro can perform more demanding work. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is a full-fledged desktop replacement, however lacks the obvious conveniences when it comes to portability of a smaller Pro or Air model.
There is some overlap between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro, but the fact remains: the MacBook Pro will provide better performance even when the specs are scrutinised.
The MacBook Air can run Adobe applications and other design tools just as well, but don't expect it to handle large or complex projects smoothly, and keep in mind that it has a less bright screen with a more limited colour range.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro has a larger screen and more power, as well as maximum RAM, giving you a lot more headroom - for those working in 2D, it can handle all but the most severe items while being a relatively portable package. And the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros are up to the most demanding tasks (including 3D), with improved video editing capability.
The main thing is to know that what you buy will allow you enough space for the next several years. It's best not to buy a MacBook Air today only to discover that your work will likely evolve to require a MacBook 16-inch Pro in a year. On the other hand, if you tend to travel alot with your laptop and just want something slim and neat for general use, the MacBook Air is the way to go. However, for most the MacBook Pro 13-inch and 14-inch will be the right choice for you if you want a middle ground between portability and power.
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