Apple laptop

[jayboy]

My current laptop is coming to the end of its useful life, 8 years now.As a committed Apple guy, I shall be replacing it with either a 15 inch Mac book Air or 15 inch Mac book Pro.There's quite a price differential but I don't mind that, and the Mac book Pro is newer and has a better chip.Still though I like new tech my head tells me there's nothing the Mac book Pro does that the Mac book Air doesn't do almost equally well.So slightly regretfully I'm leaning to the Mac book Air.But does anybody consider the very well reviewed Mac book Pro stands out even if not the best buy financially?

[proton]

Sound on the Macbook Air is amazing, and do you really need the latest chip?

[sometimewoodworker]

18 hours ago, jayboy said:

But does anybody consider the very well reviewed Mac book Pro stands out even if not the best buy financially?

There are a few things, apart from the CPU, that the MbP can do that the MbA can not, or does better. So the benefits and value for money depends on your need, or want, for those. But of course the same is true for the Air. So only you can know which is best overall for you.

[jas007]

On 1/20/2025 at 3:37 PM, jayboy said:

My current laptop is coming to the end of its useful life, 8 years now.As a committed Apple guy, I shall be replacing it with either a 15 inch Mac book Air or 15 inch Mac book Pro.There's quite a price differential but I don't mind that, and the Mac book Pro is newer and has a better chip.Still though I like new tech my head tells me there's nothing the Mac book Pro does that the Mac book Air doesn't do almost equally well.So slightly regretfully I'm leaning to the Mac book Air.But does anybody consider the very well reviewed Mac book Pro stands out even if not the best buy financially?

Last year I bought a 15" MacBook Air with the M3 chip.  I can't think of anything to complain about.  I am glad I bought the 15" version.  Bigger is better.  From what I read, the MacBook Air with the M4 chip will be released very soon.  

 

Unless you have some specific need for the MacBook Pro, why spend the extra money?  

 

Just for the heck of it, I also bought the new MacMini with the M4 chip.  The base model.  That's a good deal if you can get by with a desktop computer and already have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor.  It's very small. 

[Phillip9]

I just got a new macbook pro last year and I love it.  I had a couple of different airs previously, and I much prefer the pro.  One thing that is better with the pro is the cooling.  If you do any intensive work with an air, it will get hot.  The pro stays cool no matter what I do.   Battery life is also better with the pro.  I can work all day long without charging.

[mstevens]

I have a MacBook Pro and my Mrs has a MacBook Air. The Pro feels a bit faster although for everyday stuff, the speed essentially makes no difference. The big difference for me is that the screen on the Pro is a good deal brighter and that makes it a lot nicer to use. That wasn't the reason I went for the Pro, but it is one area where the Pro really is significantly better. If you spend a lot of time in front of your computer, a fantastic screen makes a difference and this is a decent reason to go for the Pro.