MacBook Air vs Pro: Which is better for the holidays?

Over the past year, Apple's MacBook lineup has been completely refreshed between the 2022 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chips, and the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros released in late 2021. for yourself or someone else, here is a detailed overview of the differences between MacBook Air and Pro to help you choose the best one.

Tables

Differences between MacBook Air and Pro
- CPU, GPU, RAM, and more
- Displays
- I/O: difference between MacBook Air and Pro
- Size, weight and finish
- Battery life
- Pricing
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Difference between MacBook Air and Pro pins

Late 2021 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops feature new design, mini-LED backlit display, I/O return , including HDMI, an SD card slot and MagSafe, and no Touch Bar.

And they're more powerful than ever, thanks to the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips (if you choose between 14- 16-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, check out our detailed guide).

And more affordable are the 2022 and 13-inch MacBook Air th MacBook Pro running on an upgraded M2 chip. The MacBook Air has received the most changes with an all-new design, larger 13.6-inch display, flat-edged design, new midnight color, updated webcam, and more.

Difference between MacBook Air and Pro

CPU, GPU, RAM, etc.

While a notable upgrade from the M1, the M2 is less powerful than the M1 Pro, Max, and Ultra chips.

M2 supports up to 24GB RAM, up to 10 GPU cores and comes with a faster 8-core processor than M1. Here's a closer look at the M1 and M2 chips.

Meanwhile, with the 14-inch MacBook Pro, you get the M1 Pro or M1 Max chip with the option of even more CPU and GPU. cores and RAM up to 64 GB.

< td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">7 -core

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Hardware	2022 MacBook Air	2020 MacBook Air	13″ MacBook Pro (2022)	14″ MacBook Pro (2021)
CPU	M2 – 8-core	M1 – 8-core	M2 – 8-core	M1 Pro or Max – 8 or 10 cores
Storage	Up to 2TB	Up to 2TB	Up to 2 TB	Up to 8 TB
RAM	8, 16 or 24 GB	8 or 16 GB	8, 16 or 24 GB	16GB to 64GB
Graphics	Up to 10 cores	10-core	Up to 32 cores
Neural Engine	16-core	16-core	16-core	16-core
FaceTime Camera	1080p	720p	720p	1080p
Speakers	4-wide sound speaker system	Wide sound stereo speakers	High dynamic range stereo speakers	6 speaker high fidelity audio system
Microphones	3-mic array	3-mic array	Studio quality 3-mic array	Studio quality 3-mic array
Temperature control< /strong>	No fan	Fanless	Active cooling with fans	Active cooling with fans

Apple claims the M2 is 18% faster in CPU performance and up to 35% faster GPU performance than the M1, it has over 20 billion transistors and can process up to 15.8 trillion operations per second.

The M2 chip is also equipped with a media engine that supports H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW hardware acceleration. It also has video and a ProRes encode and decode engine.

Another nice addition to the 2022 MacBook Air is a 1080p webcam like the 14-inch MacBook Pro. Apple says it has the same “Advanced Image Signal Processor with Computational Video.” Meanwhile, the 13″ MacBook Pro M2 uses an old 720p webcam.

Displays

If screen brightness is important to you, the 2022 MacBook Air will get a nice improvement in brightness from 400 to 500 nits.

Another redesign-related change is that the 2022 MacBook Air has a larger 13.6-inch screen with thinner bezels.

While the 14-inch MacBook Pro has consistent brightness up to 1000 nits (1600 peak) for HDR content only, you still get up to 120Hz refresh rates with ProMotion, mini LED backlighting and thin bezels.

	2022 MacBook Air	MacBook 2020 Air	13″ MacBook Pro (2022)	14″ MacBook Pro (2021)
Actual screen size	13.6 inches< /td>	13.3 inches	13.3 inches	14.2 inches
Resolution	2560 x 1664	2560 x 1600	2560 x 1600	3024 x 1964
Aspect ratio	16:10 + notch	16:10	16:10	16:10 + cutout
PPI	224	227	227	254
Nits (brightness)	500	400	500	500 for SDR , 1000 sustained, up to 1600 peak HDR
Retina display	–	✅	✅	–
Retina Liquid Display	✅	❌	❌	✅ + XDR
ProMotion (up to 120Hz)	❌	❌	❌	✅
mini LED backlight	❌	❌	❌	✅
True Tone	✅	✅	✅	✅
P3 wide color	✅	✅	✅	✅

M2 MacBook Air and 14 1-inch MacBook Pros have a notch in the top center of the display for the FaceTime 1080p camera. But unlike the iPhone, the notch does not include Face ID hardware/support.

I/O: difference between MacBook Air and Pro

The 2022 MacBook Air is getting MagSafe charging, as are the 2021 MacBook Pro laptops. However, Apple has retained additions such as HDMI, an SDXC slot, and support for up to 4 external displays exclusive to the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

2022 MacBook Air and 13-inch Pro only support 1 external display up to 6K resolution at 60Hz, even with the new M2 chip. For some, this can be a roadblock.

Best USB-C display and Thunderbolt display for MacBook

Along with two USB4/Thunderbolt 3 ports, the MacBook Air M2 has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

< td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">❌

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Size, weight and finish

As you might expect, the MacBook Air remains the lightest machine, with the 13-inch MacBook Pro weighing slightly more while the 14-inch inch is the heaviest. The 2022 MacBook Air is even 0.1 pounds lighter than its 2020 predecessor.

The MacBook Air is also very thin at 11.3 mm (0.44 inches). And if you like gold or the new midnight colors, they're only available on the MacBook Air.

	2022 MacBook Air	2020 MacBook Air< /td>	13″ MacBook Pro (2022)	14″ MacBook Pro (2021)
Magic Keyboard	✅	✅	✅	✅
Touch ID	✅	✅	✅	✅
Touchpad	✅	❌< /td>
USB-C/Thunderbolt ports	2	2	2	3
Headphone jack< /strong>	✅	✅	✅	✅
HDMI	❌	❌	❌	✅
SDXC card reader< /td>	❌	❌	❌	✅
MagSafe Charging	✅	❌	❌	✅
Bluetooth	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11.ax)	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11.ax)	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11) .ax)	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11.ax)
External display support	1 external display up to 6K@60Hz	1 external display up to 6K@60Hz	1 external display up to 6K at 60Hz	Up to 2 external displays at 6K at 60Hz (M1 Pro ) or up to 3 external 6K displays and 1 external display up to 4K at 60Hz (M1 Max)

< td>< strong>Weight

< td class="has-text -align-center" data-align="center">2.8 lbs. (1.29 kg)

< td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.61 inch (1.55 cm)

< td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Silver or space gray

	MacBook Air 2022	2020 MacBook Air	13″ MacBook Pro (2020)< /td>	14″ MacBook Pro (2021)
2.7 lb (1.24 kg)	3 lbs (1.4 kg)	3.5 lb (1.6 kg)
Thickness	0.44 inches (1.13 cm)	0.16-0.63 inches. (0.41-1.61 cm)	0.61″ (1.56 cm)
Width	11.97 inches (30.41 cm)	11.97 inches (30.41 cm)	11.97 inches (30.31 cm)	12.31 inches (31.26 cm)
Depth	8.46 inches (21.5 cm)	8.36 inches (21.24 cm)	8.36 inches (21.24 cm)< /td>	8.71 inches (22.12 cm)
Screen size	13.6 inches	13.3″	13.3″	14.2 inches
Finish	Silver, Space Gray, Starlight, Midnight	Silver, space gray and gold	Silver or Space Gray

/> The 2022 MacBook Air has changed from the wedge design it's had for years and now has a flat chassis like the MacBook Pro. But Apple made it very thin – only 11.3 mm (1.13 cm).

Battery life

The actual battery life of the Apple Silicon MacBook compared to older Intel models is impressive and generally in line with Apple's claims. But it may depend on what you're doing with your MacBook, screen brightness, and other settings.

In any case, the MacBook Air M2 is highly energy efficient and has great battery life.

< td class="has-text-align-center" data- align="center">14-inch MacBook Pro (2021)

< td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center ">67W or 96W USB-C + MagSafe

< td class= "has-text-align-center" data-align="center">✅

	2022 MacBook Air	2020 MacBook Air	13″ MacBook Pro (2022)
Wireless power bank	15 hours	15 o'clock	17 o'clock	11 o'clock
Play video	18 hours	18 hours	20 hours	17 hours
Power adapter included	30W, 35W or 67W USB-C + MagSafe	USB-C 30W	USB-C 67W
Battery capacity	52.6 Wh	49.9 Wh	58.2 Wh	70Wh
Fast Charge	❌	❌	✅< /td>

Apple says that when used with a 67W power adapter, the new MacBook Air can quickly charge up to 50% charge in just 30 minutes.

Prices

Starting at $1,199, the MacBook Air is $800 less than the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,999.

Standard 2022 Air models are configured with 256GB SSD/8GB RAM and 512GB SSD/8GB RAM. Models with 16 or 24 GB of RAM for Air 2022 with upgraded M2 chip are custom order.

$1,999 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with M1 Pro chip, 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD.

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< td class="has-text-align-center" data- align="center">Up to $1999

Model/Price	< strong>2022 MacBook Air	2020 MacBook Air	13″ MacBook Pro (2020)	14″ MacBook Pro (2021) )
256/8GB	$1199	$999	$1299	–
512/8GB< /td>	$1399	$1199	$1499	–
256/16 GB	$1399	$1199	$1499	–
512/16GB	$1599	$1399	$1699	From $1999
1TB/16GB	$1799	$1599	1899 USD	From USD 2199
1TB/24GB	$1999	–		–
1TB/32GB	–	–	–	From $2599
Custom Assemblies	Up to $2499	Up to $2299	Up to $5899

Difference between MacBook Air and Pro pins

I hope it's clear now which MacBook is better choose.

For small to medium performance needs and some limited intensive needs, in the lightest machine with the longest battery life, the MacBook Air is best suited from a reasonable price of $1,199 or $1,099 for students and educators.

For those who want to save some money and use simple workflows (web, documents, media), the $999 (often discounted) MacBook Air M1 is still in the lineup .

But if you value maximum power, active cooling for long-term heavy workloads, a brighter screen, more ports, and more external display support, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is the way to go. what you need. go.

Despite the fact that the 13-inch MacBook Pro has been upgraded with the M2 chip, there are hardly many people who should buy it.

The main difference between the 2022 MacBook Air and Pro is the presence of fans for the Pro and Touch Bar. But if you're worried about performance and overheating, you should probably consider a 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro.

And the 2022 MacBook Air offers a lot of upgrades that the new 13-inch MacBook Pro doesn't like: a larger Liquid Retina display, a 1080p webcam, MagSafe charging, Midnight and Starlight color options. light” and much more.