Should you invest in a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro in the year 2022?
The MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro appear to be very comparable at first appearance, and Apple’s MacBook series delivers remarkable performance. They share the same CPU/GPU, connectors, FaceTime camera, and other features. The more powerful 2021 14-inch MacBook Pro, on the other hand, may make your selection more difficult. Let’s take a deeper look at the differences between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro to assist you to decide which to buy in 2022.
There’s no assurance that a new MacBook will be released in March, but a new Apple notebook was named in a recent Eurasian database file, so it’s possible. Meanwhile, the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro computers, which were released towards the end of 2021, are unlikely to receive upgrades until much later.
Aside from the bigger displays, the new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops include a revamped design, mini-LED display backlighting, HDMI, SD card port, MagSafe, and the Touch Bar has been removed. Additionally, With the M1 Pro and M1 Max processors, they have greater power than ever before.
Initial comments to Apple’s announcement of the new M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in late 2020 included questions about whether the two should be offered at all, given how similar they seem.
While the fact that the $999 base M1 MacBook Air has the same CPU/GPU and neural engine as the $1,299 and above M1 MacBook Pro is amazing and somewhat perplexing, there are some major distinctions worth noting before making a choice. There are even more changes now that the new 14-inch M1 Pro/Max MacBook Pro is out.
Hardware
With 2020 MacBook Air and Pro machines, you’ll receive the powerful and efficient M1 processor, which has four high-efficiency cores and four high-performance cores for the CPU. However, the base MacBook Air models include a 7-core GPU rather than the 8-core GPU seen in the higher-end Air variants and all MacBook Pro models. Overall, both devices will easily run heavy processing apps such as photo finder without any hassle.
Aside from the tiny GPU change, the MacBook Pro has active cooling. This is significant because it enables the laptop to retain excellent performance for longer periods of time when subjected to prolonged loads.
The M1 Pro or M1 Max processor is available for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, featuring extra CPU and GPU cores, greater RAM, a full HD 1080p FaceTime camera, and more. Furthermore, and maybe less important in the grand scheme of things, both MacBook Pro versions have high dynamic range stereo speakers and “studio-quality” microphones.
It’s fantastic to know that Wi-Fi 6 is compatible with all models. The 2020 MacBooks, however, only have a 720p FaceTime camera. Apple claims that its image signal processor has increased image quality. However, you’ll need to purchase the new 14-inch MacBook Pro to receive the full HD 1080p FaceTime camera.
All three machines provide excellent performance for everyday working, but the new MacBook Pro is the clear victor if you work with larger workloads. As a result, if you have a light to medium workload, the MacBook Air is a wonderful alternative for mobility and those on a budget.
Display
In case of screen, brightness is crucial to you, the MacBook Pro gets an extra credit for having 500–1600 nits of brightness against 400 nits on the MacBook Air.
The new MacBook Pro’s up to 1,000 continuous nits brightness (1,600 peaks) may be reserved for HDR content, while ProMotion, mini-LED illumination, and even smaller bezels ensure up to 120Hz frame rates.
There is a notch in the top center of the new 14-inch MacBook Pro display for the 1080p FaceTime camera. However, unlike the iPhone, the new MacBook Pro laptops do not include Face ID hardware or support.
I/O
The Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro and a dedicated row of function keys on the MacBook Air are the only differences between the 2020 Air and Pro with the remainder of the I/O not addressed above. One disadvantage of the 2020 MacBooks is that they only support one external monitor up to 6K at 60Hz.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro, on the other hand, has a lot more connectors, including three USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, HDMI, an SDXC slot, MagSafe, and compatibility for up to three external displays.
Battery Life
When opposed to older Intel MacBooks, Apple Silicon MacBooks have significantly longer battery life. However, bear in mind that you won’t get anywhere near the Apple ratings of up to 15–20 hours without making concessions like dimming the display, etc. In any case, Apple Silicon offers significant increases in power efficiency and battery longevity.
Pricing
There’s a $300-$1,000 difference between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro depending on the setup.
For the 13-inch Air and Pro, the 256GB/8GB RAM and 512GB/8GB RAM variants are available. The 2020 Air and Pro models with 16GB RAM are special orders. The 14-inch MacBook Pro basic model, with the M1 Pro CPU, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, starts at $1,999.
Which one should you get?
The MacBook Pro is the way to buy if you value the greatest power, active cooling for extended hard workloads, a brighter screen, and more ports.
Meanwhile, if you only require light to medium performance and want the lightest computer with the best battery life, the MacBook Air is a terrific option, beginning at just $999. If you’re interested in the MacBook Air, though, waiting a few weeks to see what Apple announces at its March 8 event may be worthwhile.
