MacBook Air M1 vs MacBook Pro M1 - Which is Best? | The Tech Chap

Summary

This video compares the base MacBook Air with M1 chip to the MacBook Pro 13 with M1 chip, focusing on design, battery life, performance, and value. Both devices have similar specs but differ in features like the Pro’s extra GPU core, fan, and better mic and speakers. The MacBook Air is lighter and cheaper but still offers comparable performance. Battery life tests show minimal difference, and while the Pro performs slightly better in sustained tasks like video editing, the Air offers great value, especially with upgrades to RAM or storage. The presenter suggests that the Air is a better buy for most users.

Takeaways

• 😀 The MacBook Air (M1) is priced at £1000, while the MacBook Pro 13 (M1) costs £1300, with a price difference of £300.
• 😀 Both laptops have the same M1 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, making their base specifications nearly identical.
• 😀 The MacBook Pro offers extra features, such as an additional GPU core, fan, brighter screen (500 nits vs 400 nits on the Air), and better speakers/microphone.
• 😀 The MacBook Air is thinner, lighter, and more affordable than the MacBook Pro.
• 😀 Both MacBook Air and Pro have very similar screens with the same size, resolution, and color accuracy, making them equally suitable for photo and video editing.
• 😀 Despite having a slightly bigger battery, the MacBook Pro and Air showed very similar battery life during testing, lasting roughly 10 hours of video playback.
• 😀 Battery tests showed a similar performance, with both devices surviving a series of tasks (YouTube, Zoom, gaming, and video editing) until they died within a few minutes of each other.
• 😀 The MacBook Pro charges faster than the Air, but the difference is not substantial, with the Pro's 61W charger outpacing the Air's 30W charger.
• 😀 In terms of performance, the MacBook Pro is better for sustained loads due to its fan, preventing throttling that occurs on the MacBook Air during long tasks.
• 😀 The MacBook Pro outperformed the Air in tasks like gaming and video editing, showing better performance after extended usage and in applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve.
• 😀 While the Pro’s speakers and microphones are slightly better (HDR speakers and studio mics), the difference is minimal in real-world usage and hard to notice unless side by side.

Q & A

What are the main differences between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro in terms of design?

The MacBook Air is lighter by 100 grams and tapers toward the front, making it sleeker than the MacBook Pro. Both laptops are made from all-aluminum bodies and feature the Magic Keyboard. The MacBook Pro includes a touch bar, which the Air lacks, but the Air is thinner and lighter overall.

Are the screens on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro the same?

Yes, the screens on both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are identical in terms of size, resolution, and color accuracy. Both support True Tone and have comparable sharpness, so there's no significant difference for photo or video editing between the two.

How does the brightness of the screens on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro compare?

The MacBook Pro has a peak brightness of 500 nits, while the MacBook Air maxes out at 400 nits. Although the difference is noticeable, it's not a major reason to choose one over the other for most users.

Which laptop has better battery life, the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?

Despite the MacBook Pro having a larger battery (58 watt-hours vs. 49.9 watt-hours in the Air), the battery life is nearly identical between the two. Both laptops last roughly the same amount of time under typical usage, with a very small difference of about 16 minutes longer on the MacBook Pro during a YouTube playback test.

How does the MacBook Air handle sustained performance compared to the MacBook Pro?

The MacBook Pro outperforms the MacBook Air in sustained performance, especially in tasks like gaming or video editing. The Pro benefits from having a fan, which allows it to maintain performance without throttling, whereas the Air starts throttling after a few minutes of heavy use, causing a drop in performance.

Is there a significant performance difference between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in gaming?

In gaming, both laptops perform reasonably well but the MacBook Pro maintains its performance better over time. For example, after an hour of playing Fortnite, the MacBook Air dropped its frame rate by 8 fps, while the MacBook Pro only dropped by 2 fps.

How do the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro compare in video editing performance?

In video editing, the MacBook Pro is around 10% faster in rendering times compared to the MacBook Air. This performance boost is especially noticeable in more intensive tasks, like exporting videos in software such as Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro.

What is the difference in audio quality between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro?

The MacBook Pro has slightly better audio quality with HDR speakers and three studio microphones, while the MacBook Air uses regular microphones. However, the difference is minimal and not very noticeable unless the two devices are used side by side with the volume at maximum.

Which laptop charges faster, the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?

The MacBook Pro charges slightly faster than the MacBook Air due to its 61-watt charger, compared to the 30-watt charger in the Air. However, the difference in charging speed is not as significant as one might expect given the larger charger in the Pro.

Is it worth spending the extra 300 pounds for the MacBook Pro over the MacBook Air?

It depends on your usage. For most users, the MacBook Air offers great value, especially if you're not heavily into video editing, rendering, or gaming. However, if you need the extra performance for sustained tasks, like long video editing sessions or gaming, the MacBook Pro is a better choice. Alternatively, you could save the 300 pounds by opting for the MacBook Air and upgrading the RAM or storage.