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Macbook Air M2 VS Macbook Pro M2 Pro and Max: which one to choose?

Similar but perfectly different

New
March 19, 2023
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Macbook Air M2 VS Macbook Pro M2 Pro and Max: which one to choose?

In short

  • Similar design, with minor aesthetic differences
  • Lighter Air, Better Pro for portability and performance
  • Air with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, Pro with three Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1 and SDXC slot
  • 13.6-inch Air, 14.2 and 16.2-inch Pro screen
  • Display Technology: Air with Liquid Retina LCD, Pro with Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED
  • Chip: Air with M2, Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max
  • Memory and storage: Air up to 24GB and 2TB, Pro up to 72GB and 6TB
  • Audio and microphones: Air with four-speaker system, Pro with six speakers
  • Battery life: Air and Pro 14-inch with 18 hours, Pro 16-inch with 22 hours
  • Verdict: Air ideal for most, Pro for professionals and high budgets

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Let's go deeper

Here we are with the comparison, friends!

Apple surprised us with the update of MacBook Pro, putting under the hood the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, a battery that lasts longer, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and an HDMI 2.1 port.

You may wonder how they compare with the MacBook Air, right?

Here's the truth: MacBook Air and MacBook Pro they are different machines.

In short, you It is better to save and take the €1529 MacBook Air or go for the 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro models, which cost at least 1000 euros more?

Let's understand together.

Let's make it simple simple at this time.

The differences that matter

Between MacBook Air and MacBook Pro There are a few key differences, such as screen size, screen technology, ports, and memory. The MacBook Pro has a slightly larger screen and many more ports, making it more versatile for connectivity.

Design, what a passion

The design of the MacBook Air And of the MacBook Pro It's similar, but with a few minor differences. Both have a 'notch' at the top for the webcam, but the MacBook Pro has thinner edges. And the keyboard area of the high-end MacBook Pro is all black.

MacBook Air

MacBook Pro

What a style!

Size and weight: who wins?

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro they also differ in size and weight.

THEAir is lighter, so more portable. However, the Pro offers a better mix of portability and performance.

Ports and connectivity: the challenge

The doors are another aspect that sets the two apart. The Air has only two Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the MacBook Pro 14 and 16 inches have three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port and a SDXC card slot. Both have the 3.5 mm headphone jack, but the Top of the line MacBook Pro supports up to four external displays with the M2 Max chip.

MacBook Air

MacBook Pro

Screens: bigger is better?

The screen of the MacBook Air It is 13.6 inches, smaller than the 14.2-inch Pro and definitely smaller than the 16.2-inch Pro. But its 13.6-inch outperforms the larger iPad Pro (12.9-inch) and other MacBooks before it, so it should be enough for many. The 14.2-inch Pro offers a little more screen space for those who want the top.

The MacBook Pro 16.2 inches is theideal alternative to a desktop computer, with plenty of space for multiple windows and professional apps that require a larger viewing area.

LThe battle of technologies

The two MacBooks have different screens: the Air has a Liquid Retina LCD display, while the Pro 14 and 16 inch models have the Liquid Retina XDR Mini-LED technology, offering deeper blacks, better dynamic range and color accuracy. Gli XDR screens are brighter (up to 1600 nits) and MacBook Pro they also have ProMotion screens up to 120Hz.

THEAir is sufficient for most users, but the Pros offer a smoother and more immersive experience.

M2 vs M2 Pro vs M2 Max

The Air has the M2 chip, while the MacBook Pro offer the M2 Pro and M2 Max. The M2 Pro and M2 Max have more CPU and GPU cores, making them considerably better at multi-core and graphics tasks. The M2 chip in the MacBook Air is consumer-oriented and offers impressive performance and energy efficiency.

Not to forget: the Air has a passive cooling system, without fans, which can limit peak performance compared to the Pro, equipped with fans to actively cool the system and push the chips to the maximum.

A bit of data:

  • GPU: M2 chips have 8 or 10 GPU cores, M2 Pro has 16 or 19, and M2 Max has 30 or 38 for great graphics power.
  • CPU: M2 has 8 cores (2+6), M2 Pro has 10 (2+8) and 12 (4+8) core versions, while M2 Max has 12 (4+8) cores.
  • Neural Engine: M2 is 40% faster than M1, while M2 Pro and M2 Max are 40% faster than M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.
  • RAM: M2 has versions with 8, 16 and 24 GB of RAM, M2 Pro has 16 and 32 GB, and M2 Max has 32, 64 and 96 GB.
  • Transfer rate: M2 has 100 Gb/s, M2 Pro has 200 Gb/s, and M2 Max has 400 Gb/s.

Basically choose the M2 chip for everyday use and basic work. If you need more performance, go for M2 Pro. If you want maximum power, choose M2 Max.

That's it.

Memory, Storage, and Speed

The Air can have up to 24GB of memory and 2TB of storage, while the Pro can have 72GB of extra memory and up to 6TB of storage. The M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in the Pro offer higher memory bandwidths.

care: the basic Air and Pro models have slower SSDs than configurations with more storage.

Audio and Microphones

The Air has a good four-speaker, three-microphone audio system. The Pro enhances audio with a six-speaker system and “studio-quality” microphones, ideal for audio professionals or music lovers.

Duration of bBattery

The Air and the MacBook Pro The 14-inch Pro offers 18 hours of battery life, while the 16-inch Pro offers 22 hours.

Final Verdict

THEAir It's theideal option for most users, with a good balance between functions and performance, in a portable design. It costs less than the Pro and also offers more colors.

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The Pro From 14 and 16 inches it is designed for professionals that need larger screens, extra ports, more memory and storage, and great performance. The higher price reflects these advanced features.

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If you're on a big budget, the Pro offers a larger Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion and a six-speaker audio system that can be enjoyed by everyone. The 16-inch model can also replace a desktop computer.

If you compare an upgraded Air with a 14-inch Pro, the price difference is smaller, and the Pro offers many improvements, making the additional investment convenient.

Written by Human, Not by AI

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