MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro 2023 – Laptop Mag

As we creep via winter 2024 in direction of one other potential spring Apple occasion, the query of “MacBook Air vs. MacBook Professional?” stays a tricky one. The present Apple laptop computer lineup contains 13.3-inch, 13.6-inch, and 15.3-inch MacBook Airs and two flavors of MacBook Professional: 14.2 inches, and 16.2 inches. 

The Air lineup at its peak provides the Apple M2 chipset, whereas the most recent MacBook Professional 14 and 16 are powered by the Apple M3, M3 Professional, or M3 Max. Solely the Professional fashions provide the extra highly effective “Professional” or “Max” chipsets, this is without doubt one of the clearest differentiators between the Air and Professional MacBooks. Solely the bottom MacBook Professional 14 blurs these traces with its customary M3 chip. Each single one of many present MacBooks is great, incomes our Editor’s Selection award, so relaxation assured whether or not you go together with MacBook Air or MacBook Professional, there are not any improper selections, simply figuring out which finest meets your wants. 

However don’t fret, we have reviewed all of them, so simply observe alongside and we’ll aid you resolve which Apple laptop computer is best for you by evaluating value, options, efficiency, battery life, and extra. By the tip of this information, we’ll settle whether or not the MacBook Air or MacBook Professional is best for you to spend your hard-earned cash on.

MacBook Air vs. MacBook Professional: Specs in contrast

The Fast Record

MacBook Air (13-inch, M2): Finest for most individuals

Execs: The most recent chapter within the MacBook Air’s saga is compelling, to say the least. The laptop computer eschews the wedge design of outdated for a glance that places it squarely in MacBook Professional territory. However staying true to its title, the Air is 20% smaller than its predecessor when it comes to quantity. You even get some snazzy new colours to select from this time round. Apple’s additionally added just a few different new goodies reminiscent of a 1080p webcam, a brand new speaker setup, and a much bigger show. 

However the actual star of the present is Apple’s M2 chip, which provides nice efficiency for an ultraportable laptop computer. It’s sooner and extra highly effective than the earlier mannequin and is good for anybody in search of a super-light workhorse. Plus, it lasted over 14 hours on our battery take a look at and has quick charging. 

Larger display screen, smaller bezels — that’s the secret for the M2 MacBook Air. The laptop computer boasts a 13.6-inch, 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina show, in comparison with the earlier model’s 13.3 inches. And in the case of shows, as a rule, larger is all the time higher. As anticipated, the M2’s display screen is an explosion of shade with sharp particulars. 

The M2 Air additionally carried out nice throughout our artificial benchmarks. After we ran Geekbench 5.4, for instance, the pocket book hit 8,919, decimating the 6.054 premium laptop computer common and the Slim 7 Carbon’s (AMD Ryzen 7 5800 CPU) 6,241.

On the Handbrake take a look at, the Air M2 transcoded a 4K video to 1080p in 7 minutes and 52 seconds. That rating roasted the 10-minute common in addition to the XPS 13 (Intel Core i7-1185G CPU) and Spectre x360 (Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU) which had occasions of 18:33 and 18:39, respectively. The Slim 7 Carbon got here the closest at 8:51, greater than a minute slower. 

Weighing a slight 2.7 kilos and measuring 12 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches, the MacBook Air can simply slide into any medium-sized purse, messenger bag, or backpack.

Cons: Whereas nobody could be mad at over 14 hours of battery life, it is nonetheless barely lower than the earlier mannequin. That is not an enormous drawback, however if you happen to’re trying to get each ounce of juice out of your MacBook, then the M1 MacBook Air could also be extra to your tastes.

Sure, the $1,199 beginning value is a bit steep, particularly when in comparison with the last-gen’s $999 beginning value. Nevertheless, the M2 outclasses the M1 in nearly each class, making it nicely definitely worth the funding. 

Apple’s lightest laptop computer has all the time been gentle on ports and that continues to be true with the M2 Air. Though the MagSafe charger made a triumphant return, you continue to solely get a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headset jack to work with, so that you would possibly want a dongle or two. 

See our full MacBook Air M2 evaluation

MacBook Air (13-inch, M1): A sub-$1,000 MacBook

Execs: The MacBook Air with M1 delivers nearly all the things you possibly can need in an Apple laptop computer due to its M1 chip, which permits wonderful efficiency and battery life. Particularly, the MacBook Air lasted for 14 hours and 41 minutes on our battery take a look at, making it one of many longest-lasting laptops round, even longer than its succesor. 

Our MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM scored a convincing 5,962 on the Geekbench 5.2 total efficiency take a look at, crushing the XPS 13 (5,319, Core i7-1165G7) with an eleventh Gen (Tiger lake) Intel Core. The Floor Laptop computer 3 (4,791) with tenth Gen Intel chips dropped additional behind, however nonetheless topped the class common (4,178).

The display screen is sharp, too, with a 2560 x 1600-pixel decision. The M1 Air helps the P3 shade vary for punchier tones and True Tone, which adjusts the colour temperature on the show primarily based on ambient lighting situations.

One other characteristic is Contact ID, which makes it simple to unlock the system, make safe funds, and substitute passwords. The MacBook Air’s 720p webcam is not going to exchange the most effective exterior webcam, however the M1 chip gave it a lift to efficiency, and the system helps iOS and iPadOS apps, though we’ve not seen huge uptake on that characteristic.

The MacBook Air, at 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches and a pair of.8 kilos, is bigger than the Dell XPS 13 (11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches, 2.8 kilos), however extra compact than the 13.5-inch Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 3 (12.1 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches, 2.9 kilos). 

Cons: Two USB-C ports aren’t sufficient for most individuals so be prepared to make use of a dongle. Additionally, the MacBook Air is not essentially the most compact or lightest 13-inch laptop computer, and the show bezels that had been chunky in 2020 are solely more durable to soak up 2024. Talking of which, it is getting slightly lengthy within the tooth after 3 years, however Apple nonetheless sells it instantly and can help it for years to come back.

See our full MacBook Air (M1) evaluation

MacBook Air (15-inch, M2): Massive display screen on a funds

Execs: Getting that massive 15.3-inch show for as little as $1,299 is tough to move up contemplating for years that will value you not less than $2,499. Whereas it lacks the 120Hz refresh fee of the Professional fashions, Apple did not skimp because it provides a wonderful 473 nits of brightness in our testing and a barely extra vibrant panel than the 13-inch Air.

At 3.3 kilos and simply 0.45 inches thick it’ll be a tempting choice for enterprise vacationers or faculty college students that worth a bigger laptop computer that will not crush their laptop computer bag. It can additionally tick one other field for these patrons due to 14 hours and 59 minutes of battery life in our testing.

Whereas it options the identical M2 chip because the 13-inch Air, it is barely extra highly effective in each efficiency metric (maybe as a consequence of improved thermal efficiency) and it fixes certainly one of our solely complaints in regards to the smaller Air by dramatically boosting its SSD write pace.

Cons: Not many. The port scenario is barely irritating because it options the identical pair of Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports, MagSafe charger, and headphone/mic jack because the a lot smaller MacBook Air 13-inch. Nevertheless, most of us that want extra ports have way back added a USB-C hub or laptop computer docking station to our assortment of drugs.

The one different con is the rumor of an M3 MacBook Air on the horizon. That chip will symbolize a bigger change than the M1 to M2 improve, nevertheless, it is unclear when it’s going to arrive within the Air. The truth that the MacBook Air 15 is launching now with the M2 suggests to me that will probably be not less than spring of 2024 earlier than we see the brand new chip in an Air. So if you happen to want a brand new laptop computer now, it isn’t value worrying about as one thing new is all the time coming.

See our full MacBook Air 15-inch evaluation.

MacBook Professional (14-inch): Finest for artistic execs on the go

Execs: The MacBook Professional 14 M3 arrived this fall as a brand new extra reasonably priced choice for the 14-inch MacBook Professional, beginning at $1,599. No, that is not low-cost, however it’s $400 lower than the earlier $1,999 place to begin, which remains to be what the M3 Professional mannequin will set you again. For many customers the bottom M3 will get the job completed, but when time is cash for you then the M3 Professional and M3 Max processors Apple are among the many quickest, most power-efficient chips ever constructed for moveable computing.

The opposite efficiency specs are simply as spectacular, and whereas the bottom mannequin might be greater than sufficient for many customers, you possibly can spec the M3 Max configuration as much as 128GB of RAM and an 8TB SSD. Battery life is examined at 17 hours and 03 minutes.

Furthermore, that redesign from 2021 nonetheless feels contemporary with the 14.2-inch, 3024 x 1964-pixel Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED show with a 120Hz refresh fee. This panel is without doubt one of the brightest laptop computer screens ever (at 1,600 nits of peak luminance), and essentially the most vivid outdoors of OLED panels. 

At 12.3 inches x 8.7 x 0.6 inches and three.5 kilos, the 14-inch MacBook Professional stays moveable regardless of the facility it packs beneath the hood. 

Another good options embrace a 1080p webcam, Contact ID, a six-speaker setup, and a keyboard and not using a Contact Bar. 

Cons: So, what’s improper with the laptop computer? Properly, there’s that notch. When you do modify to it rapidly, we nonetheless do not love that design determination, significantly because it does not include Face ID. If you’re considering these are minor complaints then you might be completely proper, that is an impressive laptop computer that belongs on the brief listing for anybody with portability and efficiency in thoughts.

See our full MacBook Professional 14 2023 evaluation

MacBook Professional 16-inch: Finest for peak efficiency

Execs: Every little thing we love in regards to the 14-inch MacBook Professional however with a big 16-inch show. It has the identical M3 Professional and M3 Max chips together with as much as a daft 128GB of reminiscence and as much as an 8TB SSD. Battery life is even barely higher at 18 hours and 5 minutes in our testing. Given the efficiency that it nearly unbelievable, actually, it looks like Apple might have created a pocket dimension that homes some extra battery on this factor.

Cons: Aside from that battery life and the show dimension, you will get all the things discovered within the 16-inch MacBook Professional within the 14-inch mannequin for $500 much less. If you happen to want the bigger panel, then get this 16-inch MacBook Professional. If you happen to do not, then it in all probability will not be definitely worth the value trade-off. 

Additionally at 14 x 9.8 x 0.66 inches and 4.7 kilos, the 16-inch MacBook Professional is significantly bigger than the 14-inch mannequin, so in case you are toting your laptop computer round recurrently that is value contemplating as nicely. 

See our full MacBook Professional 16-inch 2023

To seek out out extra about how for much longer Apple will hold your MacBook wholesome, learn our complete Apple Guarantee Test information.

How We Take a look at MacBooks

We put MacBooks via intensive benchmark testing — each artificial and real-world — earlier than they find yourself within the palms of our reviewers. We consider all the things from pace and battery life to show brightness, speaker quantity and system warmth.

We use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and sRGB shade gamut of a laptop computer’s show. For efficiency benchmarking, we run the laptop computer via a gauntlet of benchmarks, together with Geekbench 5.0 and 3DMark skilled graphics exams. 

To find out real-world efficiency, we job the laptop computer to transform a 4K video to 1080p decision and to duplicate a 25GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics take a look at is the Filth 3 benchmark with medium settings and 1080p decision. 

We additionally run warmth exams by enjoying a 15-minute full-screen video and our battery take a look at consists of steady internet browsing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. We take into account all the things over the class common (8 hours and 36 minutes) to be a great outcome. In fact, these exams are complemented with hands-on testing from our reviewers.

Why Belief Laptop computer Magazine

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We’re 100% unbiased and have many years of expertise that can assist you purchase with confidence. In reality, Laptop computer Magazine has been testing and reviewing merchandise for 3 many years, and we proceed to ship reliable opinions you possibly can depend on. 

Our skilled group of writers and editors scour the obtainable details about the laptop computer and put it via its paces to find out which is finest for you. However earlier than they begin, the testing group topics every system to a rigorous routine of artificial and real-world exams to see how a system handles the kind of work and video games you’re probably to throw at it. 

Our editorial trustworthiness is enforced by one of many world’s largest know-how publishers, Future Publishing. As an organization, we now have unmatched expertise throughout each tech sector — and we are the group’s specialist for all issues cell tech.

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