Macbook Pro vs. Macbook Air: Which should you buy? Currently, Apple sells two powerful laptop lines: the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. The MacBook Air has a 15-inch or 13.5-inch display, and the MacBook Pro has a 16-inch or 14-inch display. And among these powerful models are a wide range of specs.
Apple has been very busy refreshing this model lineup, adding over 5 new configurations, and retiring over 3 in the past 18 months. If you are currently in the market to purchase a new Macbook, it will be tough to choose between a Macbook Pro and a MacBook When purchasing a model, you will need to consider many factors, such as performance, design, efficiency, battery life, and many more. To save you all that stress, in this article, we have everything you need to know when you want to choose between the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
Macbook Pro vs. Air: Design
These two share a machined aluminum shell and come in two colors: gray and silver. And have a lip at the base front for opening the screen easily. The Air comes with a tapered-wedge design. The new pro version has slim bezels and no touch bar in favor of the function row. Just so you know, there is a notch at the top for the webcam, but this is not distracting at all. They also come in the same space gray shades and silver, just like the air.
The 2022 Air M2 has a design that is very similar to the 2022 Pros. It has a notch for the camera and thinner bezels. The M2 Pro has the same dimensions as the M2 model, but it has a new color and comes in a very enticing “Space Black.” While the M1 Air’s teardrop design is very impressive, its best feature is that it has a gold color option. Which looks much more enticing than the dark and silver options.
MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro: Ports
If you are looking for plenty of ports, then the Air is not the best choice for you. This is because it only provides two thunderbolts. Just so you know, the M1-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro only has two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports too. The newer M2-powered machines share a similar number of ports; however, they are Thunderbolt 4/USB4. The 16-inch and 14-inch pros have the most ports. This includes an HDMI port, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and an SD card slot. Also, it has MagSafe charging.
Display
The displays on the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina technology are sharp and vibrant, but if brightness is a priority, there’s a compelling reason to opt for the Pro model. In our lab tests, the MacBook Air (M1) reaches a maximum brightness of 365.8 nits, while the M1 MacBook Pro (13-inch) surpasses it with 434.8 nits. The newer M2 MacBook Pro achieves 474.6 nits, and the MacBook Air 2022 reaches an impressive 489 nits in our testing.
When it comes to color output, the M1 laptops show more similarity. The Air (M1) boasts a 114.3% sRGB rating, slightly outperforming the 110.6% rating of the M1 13-inch Pro. The later models maintain or even improve upon this color quality.
For those looking for top-notch display quality, the 2021 and 2023 MacBook Pros stand out with their Liquid Retina XDR displays. These displays are rated for 1,000 nits of brightness, and our tests confirm their ability to achieve this brightness, especially when viewing HDR content. The mini-LED technology employed in these models enhances colors and contrast, and they feature a 120Hz ProMotion display for smoother performance. If you prioritize having the best display in your MacBook, the new M3 MacBook Pro, with a claimed 20% brightness boost over its M2 predecessor for SDR content, might be worth the investment.
Keyboard
Just so you know, all the MacBooks you can purchase provide Apple’s Magic Keyboard. This keyboard delivers strong comfort and tactile performance. Just like I have mentioned, the Air does not feature a touch bar, and it may be that the 16-inch Pro and 14-inch Pro have left the touch bar for function row physical keys. The Pro is the best in this category, as its dedicated function keys are much easier to use than the half-sized variants for the Macbook Air.
MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Air
MacBooks are the king when it comes to power and battery life. All of the lineups come with amazing battery life. For instance, the new M3 Pro can last for about 22 hours without running low. It is very unlikely to see a laptop that boasts such a long battery life.
Audio
Although the MacBook Air has good sound, the Pros are on a big level thanks to their six-speaker setup, which boasts two sets of force-canceling woofers and a pair of tweeters. In literal terms, the 16-inch and 14-inch Pros offer more bass with an octave-lower sound for a better audio profile. Also, the Pro supports Dolby Atmos via the speakers, as opposed to normal headphones.
Price
The M1 Macbook Air is still the leader at a starting price of $999. On the contrary, the M2 Pro 14-inch has a starting price of $1,999. It has lots of amazing features, and you will have a lot of workload to appreciate more of these benefits. The M2 Pro 16-inch is the leader of the Apple laptops for people who want a big display, and it is priced at $2,499. And keep in mind that Apple is about to release its M3 Pro line-up, so the prices of M2 models are going to come down immediately.
MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Air: Which should you buy?
The answer depends on how you see yourself using the Apple Laptop. A good and reliable laptop is a good investment. You don’t want to spend more than your budget on a qualified laptop or purchase a laptop that is not enough for your needs.
Your type of work and your needs will determine the right one for you. No matter which one you choose, a MacBook is a good one for people who want to enhance their ecosystem. With a smart device that works well with the Apple Watch, AirPods, iPhone, and other smart products.