Apple’s M2 chip has created quite the frenzy in the tech industry, especially with Apple boasting 1.4 times faster processing when compared to the M1. Moreover, Apple has released not one, but two products sporting the new M2: the M2 MacBook Air and M2 MacBook Pro.
Like the rest of us, you’re probably in a hurry to get your hands on one of these but can’t decide which. Don’t worry, we’ve got you. Read on for an enlightening comparison of both the MacBook models.
Price and Release Date
As the trend goes with all of Apple’s Pro models, the MacBook Pro is a little more expensive than the MacBook Air. The former begins its pricing at $1199, while the Pro starts at $1299. With a $100 price difference in the starting prices for the two models, you’re probably very curious what you get for the Pro. Well, we’ll detail that below.
Both machines are available to order from July 2022.
Design
Considerable differences are present when you look at the design of these two machines. The MacBook Air sports Apple’s newer, squared-off design language that was introduced with the 14-inch MacBook Pro. But the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro makes use of tapered edges and smaller feet to fit Apple’s pre-existings designs.
The M2 MacBook Air 2022 is 11.3 mm thin and weighs around 1.2 kg. It has an aluminum case and features two Thunderbolt USB-4 ports, along with a MagSafe port and a 3.5mm audio jack.
When looking at the M2 MacBook Pro, it is thicker and heavier than the MacBook Air. It is 15.6 mm thick and weighs around 1.4kg. While this may seem like a disadvantage at first, there’s a reason that the MacBook Pro is thicker. Apple has included a fan to increase processing efficiency in the Pro model. The Pro version also has two Thunderbolt USB-4 ports, but it doesn’t have a MagSafe port.
In conclusion, if you’re someone who would prefer a sleek, thin, and lightweight laptop inclusive of MagSafe charging, the M2 MacBook Air is the perfect fit. However, if the specs and functioning are of utmost importance, and you’d rather take no risks with your processing unit, you might want to lean towards the MacBook Pro due to its fan.
Colors
The MacBook Air has a more extensive variety of colors when compared to the Pro, but both the models follow a similar neutral palette.
The M2 MacBook Air comes in four colors:
- Midnight
- Starlight
- Space Gray
- Silver
The M2 MacBook Pro only has two shades:
- Space Gray
- Silver
Display
The specifications for the displays are as follows:
- M2 MacBook Air: A 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, sporting 2560x1664-pixels, a PPI of 224, and 500 nits of brightness. A small rectangular notch is present on the top of the display screen.
- M2 MacBook Pro: A 13.3-inch Retina display with 2560x1600-pixels, a PPI of 227, and 500 nits brightness. No notch is present, giving it a cleaner look, but it’s got larger bezels as.
This may look like a lot of numbers that don’t make sense, so here’s a straightforward take on it. The MacBook Air has a slightly larger display and no significant difference in the resolution. The major difference is the size—the Air has a slightly larger display—and the notch, which you only need to suffer with on the Air.
Memory and Storage
There is no difference in either of the models with the memory and storage available. For both the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro, you will find 8, 16, and 24GB options for memory and 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB options for SSD storage.
Battery Life and Performance
With both models sporting Apple’s M2 chip, an increase in battery life from the previous models is to be expected. According to Apple’s website, the MacBook Air has a battery life of 18 hours during video playback. On the other hand, the MacBook Pro features a battery life of 20 hours during video playback.
There’s not much to discuss when it comes to specs. Both the models have up to 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. With the M2 chip, that’s a powerhouse right there. However, by default the M2 MacBook Pro comes with a 10-core GPU while the Air comes with an 8-core version.
Camera
There’s a stark difference between the cameras of the two models. One would expect the camera of the MacBook Pro to have the upper hand due to its higher price. On the contrary, the MacBook Air is the one with the better quality camera among the two.
The M2 MacBook Air has a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, while the M2 MacBook Pro’s camera stands at 720p.
Touch Bar and Touch ID
The Touch ID sesor on the MacBook is a convenient feature. It allows you access to your device, lets you authorize purchases, and is compatible with Apple Pay. Luckily, both these models feature Touch ID, so you can set it up in your Mac settings and get started quickly.
The difference arises in the presence of the Touch Bar. There are many things a MacBook Touch Bar can do. MacBook Pro models traditionally have a Touch Bar, and the M2 MacBook Pro is no different. However, this will likely be the last of the models that include one as Apple removed the Touch Bar in the 14-inch MacBook Pro. The M2 MacBook Air does not have a Touch Bar.
Who’s Your Winner in the Air vs. Pro Battle?
The M2 MacBook Air is cheaper, thinner, more lightweight, has four color options, and has a better camera. On the other hand, the M2 MacBook Pro is slightly thicker due to its fan, to help increase efficiency and offers better battery life. It also doesn’t have a notch in the display.
With all those features set out, is the extra money worth it for the Pro? Most likely not. In fact, we think Apple is probably only keeping the M2 MacBook Pro around to entice people into the even more expensive M1 Pro MacBook Pro models.