Apple’s MacBooks M1 bring big performance gains and, at first glance, the new MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro look quite similar. They have the same CPU / GPU, the same ports, the same FaceTime camera and more. However, let’s take a closer look at the M1 MacBook Air vs Pro to see what differentiates the two to help you decide which one to buy.
Update 3/8: The end of the 2020 M1 MacBook Air and Pro are still quite new and are expected to last a long time. However, we are learning more and more about all the new features and changes that will come with the next 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pro Apple Silicon models.
If you don’t immediately need a new MacBook, it may be worth waiting until the end of this year, or at least taking the time to think about it. In addition to the larger screens, we should see a new design, backlighting of the mini-LED screen, the return of I / O including HDMI, SD card slot and MagSafe, and the removal of the Touch Bar.
In addition, larger Apple Silicon MacBook Pro machines will offer official support for more than one external monitor. The next generation MacBook Pro models are expected to arrive in the fall of 2021.
Initial reactions to Apple’s launch of the new M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro on the web included confusion as to what the goal was to continue to offer both, since they look so similar. While it is impressive and somewhat confusing that the $ 999 MacBook Air M1 has the same CPU / GPU and neural engine as the $ 1,299 and higher MacBook Pro M1, there are some notable differences that are worth considering before taking a decision.
Although MacBooks M1 provide much improved performance across the board (speed and battery life being two big aspects), there are some areas where they are less capable or at least not improved compared to Intel’s predecessors. In the charts below, we highlight the differences between the M1 MacBook Air and the Pro in bold.
M1 MacBook Air vs Pro hardware comparison
You are getting the phenomenal M1 chip with both machines with 4 cores of high efficiency and 4 cores of high performance for the CPU. But, interestingly, it is actually a 7-core GPU on the basic MacBook Air models instead of 8 cores on the high-end Air configurations and on all MacBook Pro models. My colleague Ben Lovejoy wrote an explainer about what is going on with this. .
In addition to the slight difference in GPU, you get active cooling with the MacBook Pro. This is remarkable, as it allows the notebook to sustain high performance under sustained loads for longer.
Perhaps more secondary on the big picture, but the M1 MacBook Pro features high dynamic range with its stereo speakers and “studio quality” microphones.
It’s great to see support for Wi-Fi 6 on both models! However, it is a real bummer to see the 720p FaceTime camera around. Apple says it has improved image quality with a new image signal processor. But comments say the quality is still poor.
If you have any questions or doubts about limiting RAM to just 16 GB, be sure to check out my colleague Stephen Hall pushing the base MacBook Air M1 to the limit, delivering super impressive performance. If you are not an advanced user, 8 GB of RAM with these machines may be more than enough.
In short: you will see incredible performance for everyday computing with both computers, but if you lean towards heavier workflows for long periods of time, active cooling on the MacBook Pro may be enough to make your decision.
Comparison of the M1 MacBook Air vs Pro screen
If the screen brightness is important to you, mark another point for the MacBook Pro with its brightness of 500 nits against 400 on the MacBook Air. Otherwise, you will have the same excellent Retina display on both notebooks.
Comparison M1 MacBook Air vs Pro I / O
The only difference between the two with the rest of the I / O not covered above is the Touch Bar that comes on the MacBook Pro and a dedicated line of function keys (also new for dictation, spotlight, more) on the MacBook Air.
However, the specifications below also reveal some disadvantages compared to older Intel MacBooks. First, you will have a maximum of 2 USB-C (USB4) / Thunderbolt ports on all M1 models. Intel’s sophisticated 13-inch MacBook Pro offered 4 (2 on each side).
The second downgrade is support for an external monitor. These MacBooks M1 support a maximum of 1 external monitor up to 6K at 60Hz. Intel’s previous generation MacBooks could run up to 2 4K monitors at 60Hz, in addition to working with up to 1.6K monitors at 60Hz.
Comparison of size, weight and finish
Everything here is identical to previous Intel MacBooks, except for the 13-inch MacBook Pro M1 which reduces 0.1 ounce to go from its 3.1 pound predecessors.
If the golden color is attractive, remember that it is only available on the MacBook Air.
Comparison of battery life
Real-life usage is showing massive battery life gains for the MacBooks M1 compared to older Intel models. However, keep in mind that you probably won’t see Apple’s ratings for up to 15-20 hours without compromise, such as dimming the screen for light workflows.
But in any case, the improvements in energy efficiency and battery life are huge!
Price comparison
Among the different configurations, when looking at the same storage and RAM, there is a $ 300 difference between the M1 MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro.
For now, the available models are the configurations of 256 GB / 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB / 8 GB of RAM. Models with 16 GB of RAM will have longer shipping times as they are customized orders.
Completion of M1 MacBook Air vs Pro
Hopefully, you already know which MacBook M1 is right for you. If you value longer battery life, active cooling for extended heavy workloads, a slightly brighter display and / or like the Touch Bar, the MacBook Pro is the way to go and offers a lot of value from the US $ 1,299. If those things aren’t important to you, the MacBook Air is the really reasonable $ 999 choice for everything you get.
Update 3/8: As mentioned above, it may be worth taking a break to consider whether it is better to wait for the 14 or 16 inch MacBook Pros due this fall.
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