Apple’s laptop range is probably the only product category that holds to the Steve Jobs’ product matrix that he introduced to the company on his return in 1997. He divided Apple’s products into four groups. Laptops and desktops were split into consumer and professional devices. That makes it easier to choose the right Mac laptop.
The challenge is there’s an overlap in performance and price depending on which Apple laptop you choose.
The differences between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro
Apple’s MacBook Pro comes in two screen sizes: 14-inch and 16-inch. Processors range from the base level M4 (with 10-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 16GB Unified Memory and 512GB SSD Storage) through to the M4 Max (16-Core CPU, 40-Core GPU, 48GB Unified Memory and 1TB SSD Storage).
There are different chip options for the 14-inch and 16-inch models. While there’s overlap in chip specifications, the 16-inch model boasts the most powerful chips, presumably because the larger body offers better heat dissipation – a major factor in system performance for laptops.
The MacBook Air also comes in two size: 13-inch and 15-inch. The only chip option is the M4. The slightly smaller sizes differentiate the Pro and Air lines and come with a lower price tag. The entry level MacBook Air comes with a 10-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU, 16GB Unified Memory and 256GB SSD Storage.
The high-end 15-inch MacBook Air is equipped with a 10-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 24GB Unified Memory and 512GB SSD Storage.
When choosing between a MacBook Air and a MacBook Air, the big question is “How much power do you need?”.
When to choose a MacBook Air
Choosing the right MacBook Air starts by deciding whether a 13-inch or 15-inch model is right for you. This comes down to three main factors.
- Portability: A smaller laptop can make travelling more comfortable. It reduces the weight of your bag (the 13-inch weighs 1.24 kg with the larger MacBook Air tips the scales at 1.51 kg) and the smaller model fits more easily on an airplane tray table.
- Cost: The base level 13-inch MacBook Air has a starting price of $1699 while the 15-inch model starts at $2099. A maxed out 13-inch MacBook Air with 32GB of Unified Memory and a 2TB SSD costs $3499 while a similarly equipped 15-inc MacBoom Air comes in at $3899.
- Desktop use: The screen size decision will come down to where the laptop will be used. For many, the larger screen size will be more important than portability as it will mainly be used in places where space is not limited.
The next decision is specifications. All six MacBook Air options (three 13-inch and three 15-inch variants) come with the same M4 chip. They vary in the amount of storage and Unified Memory they have.
Once you buy a MacBook Air or Pro you cannot upgrade the memory or storage. Cloud services negate the need to huge amounts of local storage. But it’s important to ensure you have adequate storage for the files you need to carry. Storage for the MacBook Air maxes out at 2TB.
If you plan to watch movies or listen to music and podcasts with a MacBook Air, the 15-inch model has a six-speaker system with force-canceling subwoofers. The 13-inch model has a four-speaker array without the subwoofers.
Apple offers 16GB as a base level on entry level Macs (this is highlighted in our Mac desktop buying guide).
Given the longevity of Apple’s laptops we recommend buying as much storage and memory as your budget allows.
With the MacBook’s Air’s two Thunderbolt 4 ports, it’s possible to add fast external storage to complement the internal SSD. So, given a choice, we’d suggest adding more memory as there’s no easy way to boost that.
Apple’s MacBook Air page: https://www.apple.com/au/macbook-air/
When to choose a MacBook Pro
Choosing a MacBook Pro is a more complex task as there are several more chip/processor options.
The MacBook display is brighter, runs at a higher resolution and offers a superior refresh rate to the MacBook Air. Apple also offers its Nano-Texture Display on the MacBook Pro. This reduces screen glare in bright light. The MacBook Pro ha a better speaker and a superior microphone system than the MacBook Air.
The MacBook Pro’s chip options don’t only offer better performance. They also support Thunderbolt 5. If you opt for an M4 Pro or M4 Max chip, then you’ll also get faster external connectivity. You also get a SDXC card slot and HDMI port along with 3 USB-C ports. Those are Thunderbolt 4 for the M4 models and Thunderbolt 5 for the M4 Pro and M4 Max models. And storage maxes out at 8TB SSD with models offering up to 128GB of Unified Memory.
The same three factors we used for the MacBook Air apply when deciding on whether a 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro is right for you: portability, cost and desktop use.
With cost, the entry level 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2499. A maxed out 14-inch model, with the M4 Max,
Nano-texture display, 128GB of Unified Memory and 8TB SSD will lighten your wallet by $10779. A similarly based out 16-inch version costs $11529 – up from the base model price of $3999.
Apple’s MacBook Pro page: https://www.apple.com/au/macbook-pro/
Which Apple laptop is for you?
The MacBook Air is a very capable device that will meet the needs of most portable Mac users. It’s light, comes in a nice range of colors and the M4 chip is more than capable of meeting the needs of modern applications and services. Unless you’re a power user creating apps, waking with large AI models, handling large graphic and video files or other intensive tasks, the MacBook Air will meet your needs.
Power users will gravitate to the MacBook Pro. The ability buy it with more system memory and the larger internal storage options paired with more external ports and faster connectivity is extremely valuable to that cohort of users.
In the Steve Jobs product strategy matrix, the MacBook Pro is made for a cohort of users that demand the best possible performance and prepared to pay a premium for it.