ULTIMATE MacBook shootout: 14' M1 Pro vs M2 MacBook Air

It's been over a year since M1 Pro came out, and about 3 months since the new M2 MacBook Air, but I'm still wrapping my head around how to compare the Ultimate MacBooks: Performance or portability? Quiet efficiency vs efficient power? Ports vs thinness, size vs weight, there are so many metrics to choose from it's hard to know where to start! Today in this MacBook comparison I'll help you break down which is which and get to the bottom of this epic comparison between MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air!

Gear:
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#tech #apple

[bdavali]

I needed to replace my 2013 Macbook Air (4GB/128) because the USB-A ports had gotten intermittant. Over the last 9 years the Air did everything I needed it to with all the ports it came with (particularly with the SD card slot for expanded storage of video files). The M1 Macbook Pro (16GB/1TB) was what I chose and couldn't be happier, even though I paid list price. I'm 77 so this is likely my last computer I'll ever buy. It has all the ports, mag safe, great screen, AND FANS that I can ramp up with Macs Fan Control so I don't have to live with100°C CPU temps!

[myhighboy]

The M1 MacBook Air is still the best value in the history of laptops. The combination of power, build quality, and price is absolutely unmatched.

[AZisk]

Your conclusion is spot on. the machines are meticulously designed for optimal non-overlap.

[joshuagiles]

I definitely love the m2 air but i still say that the base 14” pro is a much better value. Especially since it can be had for like 16/1700 on sale right now which is about the same as a similarly spec’d air. But has a much more powerful chip, active cooling, more ports, and much better screen

[samcook]

Totally agree. Personally went with m2 air, despite lower performance of the air the pro is overkill for a student like me and the portability can't be beaten.

[LoLStaticX]

It was very hard for me to choose between these two, but I ended up picking a refurbished 14´ base model, which cost me just a little bit more than a M2 Air with 16GB o RAM and 512 of storage. I think that with the actual prices it's very hard to justify the M2 Air over the M1 Pro.

[tyosh]

I think I'm gonna go with the m1 pro due to the just the fact that the base comes with 16gb ram and 512gb storage (which should be the standard for todays computers). All the other features become like this sweet bonus. The weight is literally the main appeal to the air, I just wish apple made the ram/storage better price to value.

[arslan]

I ultimately chose the base midnight m2 air over the m1pro as a university student. I do keep my laptops for a while, and I'm able to make program some IOS mock applications, mid-level video editing, business related inquires etc. Yes, I am aware of the SSD issue but it's blown out of proportion, although I wish Apple didn't make this cost cutting move. Sometimes though, I do wish I upgraded to 16GB ram but alas, I am a proud first time MacBook owner :)

[yanggang]

I recently made this choice and I started out with the M2 Air, but then switched to the 14" Pro. As a non-pro, the M2 Air actually fit my strict needs better, but a few factors made me make the switch:

- 1) I needed the larger screen -- I was coming from an older 15" MBP, and while the difference wasn't that drastic on paper, I could definitely feel the loss of space.
- 2) I needed more on-board storage and wanted more RAM, and while I could have just upgraded the Air, that got the price uncomfortably close to the discounted 14", especially considering...
- 3) I wanted the extra ports, particularly the hdmi and sd card readers. Yes, I could have just purchased a dongle, but that would have gotten me even closer to the 14" price while also cutting into the portability benefit of the Air. But that said...
- 4) I didn't actually need or want the increased portability -- The 14" was already much more portable than my old 15", and the Air actually felt too insubstantial; it made me feel like it was more susceptible to damage.

So with all of that taken together, plus the nice-to-have bonuses like the 14" having better audio output, an all-around better screen, and a more powerful chip (with active cooling) for if and when I do need to do more intensive work, the 14" ended up being a bit of a no-brainer.

[dnl]

For me, knowing I needed at least 512GB storage and 16GB RAM - specking the MBA up to that point was basically the exact same cost as the MBP on sale. No brainer. I LOVE the 14” base model MBP.

[markmitchell]

I went for the 14” MBP @$1600. The screen was the tipping point. Add the Vivid extension and it’s usable outdoors in broad daylight. A little heavier than I would prefer but it does have everything.

[Eric]

I have an M1 MBA and I've been trying to find an excuse to upgrade, but I can't. First, I still can't decide between these two devices, but if I had to I keep leaning toward the M2 Air, and then the only REAL improvement I'd see in upgrading is magsafe, which would be a big deal to open up another port, but not enough to justify the money to upgrade. So every time I end up just sticking with the M1 Air. I bought it to be a secondary computer, and it's become my primary one.

[MadMaxx]

I bought and tried both of these great laptops. Each has everything that one could want in a laptop, except the one thing that would make it the perfect laptop. Ironically, or perhaps not, each has that one thing the other lacks. The M1 MBP 14 has that XDR miniLED display. The M2 Air is light and easy to carry. It's the Goldilocks paradox.

[liltimmy]

Man I just love these comment sections were there aren’t just a bunch of nerdy gamers bashing apple for no reason

[irensaga]

I grabbed the M1 MacBook Air over a year ago, and got it for less than 999. It has been fantastic, and I have no plans to upgrade any time soon.

I feel the M1 Air is by far the best amount of computer for the money. Especially if you can get one on offer.

[rightwingsafetysquad]

The extra weight of the Pro vs the Air doesn't matter in your bag. Where it matters is if you're trying to use it on the sofa or on a plane/transit. Carrying an extra pound or using it on your lap while stationary is basically unnoticeable. The real deciding factor here is do you use your PC exclusively for office and browsing and is 250GB of storage enough. If the answer to both is yes, get the Air; if the answer to either is no, get the Pro.

[JustRolly]

I got both the M2 Air and the 16 inch M1 Pro. The 16 is my main workstation while the air is the travel/mobility laptop. Very expensive operation overall (about €4000) but I feel it's worth is as an investment for my productivity

[crestofhonor]

Personally I think the 16in MBP is my favorite option. I love larger screens and the better hardware plus the extra ports are very nice. Second choice would be the 14in MBP thanks to it's similar benefits besides the larger screen. I also would not call the MBP screen the best screen in any laptop but it's in the top 5 for sure.

[Kaugar]

Yeah but you didn't mention that you got 16GB ram in the base 14inch which is really important for any workflow bigger than browsing. I had 8GB M1 Macbook pro and had a lot memory pressure issues.

[kaap]

just went from a M1air to a M1pro14. The M1air was good!, but the M1pro14 is awesome!! The display, just incredible. The speakers, big upgrade. I went for the M1pro with 16/512 since I needed more memory & space. A M2air with 16/512 (in my contry...) is veeery close to the baseline M1pro14.. And with a 20% mastercard discount, it became within reatch :) My conclution, the baseline M1Pro14, is STILL(!) the all in one best laptop on the market. A refresh is surely coming.. but I dont care.