When Is the Best Time to Buy a 14-Inch MacBook Pro Instead of a 15-Inch MacBook Air

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Until now, if you wanted to buy a 15-inch MacBook, you had to buy a $2,500 16-inch model packed with features and power that most average users will never need. Not anymore: After years of rumors and speculation, Apple has finally released the 15-inch MacBook Air . Hallelujah.

At first glance, this seems like a sweet deal. Heck, it might even seem like Apple has made the laptop you’ve been waiting for years. The 15-inch version of the laptop we all love already ? Hell yes. But, unfortunately, not everything is so simple. While the 15-inch Air is certainly a great machine, if you’re looking for a new big-screen MacBook, you should seriously consider the 14-inch MacBook Pro . You can even save money in the process.

Oversized MacBook Air

It could be called Air, but the 15-inch version is not as light. The 15-inch Air weighs 3.3 pounds, while the 13-inch model weighs 2.7 pounds. It’s hardly ultra-light laptop material: Windows laptops like the 14-inch LG Gram weigh just 2.2 pounds.

The 15-inch MacBook Air is also nearly identical to the 13-inch version. The screen is the same (only bigger, of course) with up to 500 nits of brightness at 224 PPI. You get a base-level M2 chip with an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. Apple increased the size of the trackpad (it’s a bigger machine, after all) and added a six-speaker setup, but reviewers noted that they didn’t match the 14-inch Pro . And while you get MagSafe charging, you’re still stuck with two USB-C ports and a chip that can’t drive multiple displays.

MacBook Pro is the best experience for many

If you want the best overall Mac experience, you’ll love the MacBook Pro. Yes, the sticker price is $2,000, but you can find the M2 Pro model on sale for $1,799 if you search hard. If you agree to a refurbished route , which you absolutely need , you can buy the M1 Pro model for even less. (More on this later.)

This MacBook Pro has a 14.2-inch display, while the Air has a 15.3-inch one. While it doesn’t quite hit that 15-inch top spot, it’s pretty damn close, and in real life you might not notice the difference that much. (You may want to visit an Apple Store before making your decision.) Plus, the screen is a heck of a lot better. You have an XDR display with a dynamic refresh rate (up to 120Hz), up to 1000 nits of continuous brightness, and up to 1600 nits with HDR content. Take your sunglasses with you.

Plus, you get more ports, including an HDMI connector and an SD card slot. In the past, the former was only available on MacBook Pros, but an SD card slot was available on older MacBook Airs until Apple switched to USB-C only for a while. In addition, Thunderbolt 4 USB ports allow you to connect multiple displays at the same time if desired. The acoustic system of the MacBook Pro is also quite good. They have a high-quality six-speaker sound system with forced-cancellation woofers and stereo sound.

In terms of performance, the MacBook Pro is a beast – frankly, it’s overkill for most everyday tasks. But what that extra power gives you is future-proof. Even a basic MacBook Pro with an M1 Pro or M2 Pro chip will run smoothly for years , as they both start with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage and have more cores than the Air’s M2 chip. And, unlike the Air, Pro series laptops have active cooling with fans, so the chips don’t slow down as quickly. Many tasks in 2023 won’t be too burdensome for any Apple M-series chip, but once the software gets more advanced and starts to challenge these chips more and more, actively cooled machines will have an advantage, as will Pro chips with extra power to start.

The real price of a good MacBook Air is $1,799.

The base model of the 15-inch MacBook Air is not exactly underpowered , but also underpowered, coming with only 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This is simply not enough in 2023. Sure, you can get by with 8GB of RAM for now if all you’re doing is light work, but if you don’t manage your storage diligently, you’ll eat up those 256GB. . Plus, 8GB of RAM will catch up with you over the years .

This wouldn’t be a big deal if Apple didn’t charge so much for updates. Each step up this ladder costs an additional $200. Looking to upgrade your RAM from 8GB to 16GB? It’s 200 dollars. Want to upgrade your storage up to 512 GB? That’s another 200 dollars. These two upgrades alone bring the price up to $1,799.

Are you starting to see it? At the same (or less) speed, the MacBook Pro has a much better screen, a much faster processor, and the same 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, all in a chassis that’s only slightly heavier, with a slightly smaller screen.

Only a basic MacBook Air makes sense

With that in mind, the cost to upgrade to a MacBook Air simply doesn’t match reality. This doesn’t mean the Air is a bad buy or that you shouldn’t buy it. If you want a bigger display and don’t care about the extras like a better screen, better speakers, or extra storage and power, buy a MacBook Air. Even if you opt for the MacBook Air, make sure you don’t pay the $1299 price tag. This model is often discounted on online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, and you’ll always get $100 off Apple’s Educational Online Store .

For everyone else, if you can, we recommend investing in a 14-inch MacBook Pro. You might not even have to strain: A basic 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro usually costs around $1,550 on Amazon. If you buy it refurbished, you can get it for around $1350 . A refurbished 2023 MacBook Pro with M2 Pro can be yours for as little as $1,700.

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