Selecting your next MacBook has become a nuanced decision. If you've already ruled out the smaller 13-inch MacBooks due to a preference for a larger screen or enhanced performance, the choice often boils down to two appealing contenders: the 15-inch MacBook Air and the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Having extensively reviewed and used both these laptops, I'm here to break it all down for you. Let's explore the distinctions between these machines and uncover the most suitable one for your needs.
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The Simple Approach to Decide
I'm offering you a straightforward method to determine which MacBook suits you best. It boils down to answering one fundamental question: what tasks do you intend to accomplish with your new MacBook? If you're heavily engaged with applications like Premiere, Final Cut, Pro Tools, or Lightroom for more than half of your day, the 15-inch MacBook Air might not be the right choice. Its fanless design falls short in powering through tasks as swiftly as you might desire.
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However, if you occasionally use these applications but predominantly operate within a browser or Word, the 15-inch MacBook Air becomes the preferable choice. It offers a more affordable, slimmer, and lighter profile, without compromising on key features like display quality, speakers, webcam, and keyboard.
My only caveat is for those who require connecting multiple displays to their MacBook. In such cases, the 15-inch MacBook Air might not be ideal, as it inherently supports only one external monitor. While there are workarounds, they might involve some technical maneuvering.
If this alone doesn't lead you to a decision, delve into the comprehensive comparison below for more practical insights derived from our own rigorous testing.
Specifications and Configurations
| Apple MacBook Air 15 | Apple MacBook Pro 14 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.40 inches x 9.35 inches by 0.45 inches | 12.31 inches x 8.71 inches x 0.60 inches |
| Weight | 3.3 pounds | 3.5 pounds |
| Processor | Apple M2 (8 cores) | Apple M2 Pro (10-core, 12-core)Apple M2 Max (12-core) |
| Graphics | 10-core GPU | 16-core GPU 19-core GPU 30-core GPU 38-core GPU |
| RAM | 8GB16GB24GB | 16GB32GB64GB96GB |
| Display | 15.3-inch 16:10 Liquid Retina IPS 2880 x 1864 | 14.2-inch 16:10 Liquid Retina XDR 3024 x 1964 |
| Storage | 256GB SSD512GB SSD1TB SSD2TB SSD | 512GB SSD1TB SSD2TB SSD4TB SSD8TB SSD |
| Touch | No | No |
| Ports | 2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 41 x 3.5mm audio jack | 3 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 41 x HDMI 2.01 x 3.5mm audio jackSD card reader |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Webcam | 1080p | 1080p |
| Operating System | MacOS Monterey | MacOS Monterey |
| Battery | 66.5 watt-hour | 70 watt-hour |
| Price | Link | Link |
Price plays a pivotal role in distinguishing these laptops, with the 15-inch MacBook Air being notably more affordable. Starting at $1,299, it features an 8-core CPU/10-core GPU M2 processor, along with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. You can configure it to reach $2,500 with 24GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD.
Comparatively, the initial price of the 14-inch MacBook Pro at $1,999 might seem steep. However, it includes 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Aligning the 15-inch MacBook Air's specifications to match the MacBook Pro's, the price difference is only $300. For this, you receive a 10-core GPU, 16-core GPU, a significantly brighter mini-LED display, additional ports, and much more. Thus, as we delve into each facet of these laptops, remember this perspective.
Macbook Pro Vs Air Design
The 15-inch MacBook Air follows the design language of the 13-inch MacBook Air. While not dissimilar from the 14-inch MacBook Pro, it showcases a few notable differences. The most significant distinction is size. A one-inch variance in screen dimensions might not sound substantial, but the 15-inch MacBook Air boasts slightly broader bezels, contributing to its overall device footprint. When juxtaposed, the 15-inch MacBook Air occupies more space on a surface. The width is particularly striking, offering an enhanced screen area to engage with. This, indeed, stands as the predominant allure of the 15-inch MacBook Air and a primary rationale for choosing it.
Thickness and weight also diverge in terms of size. With a mere 0.45-inch profile, the MacBook Air 15-inch prevails over the MacBook Pro 14-inch's 0.6 inches. Presently, the MacBook Air remains the slimmest 15-inch laptop available, imparting an elegant contrast to the MacBook Pro. While the two laptops share proximity in weight, the MacBook Air retains its edge at 3.3 pounds, compared to the MacBook Pro's 3.5 pounds.
From a design stance, further contrasts encompass the keyboard. Unlike the MacBook Pro's striking black backdrop, the MacBook Air's keyboard lacks this visual distinction. Additionally, it omits the on-deck speaker grille cutouts.
Furthermore, the MacBook Air offers a broader array of color choices, including Starlight, Midnight, Silver, and Space Grey. In contrast, the MacBook Pro restricts options to Silver and Space Grey.
Apple Signature Ports
In terms of connectivity, the MacBook Air 15 has fewer ports than the MacBook Pro 14, encompassing two Thunderbolt 4 ports and an audio jack (akin to the MacBook Air 13-inch). Contrarily, the Pro models feature three Thunderbolt 4 ports, supplemented by an HDMI port and a full-size SD card reader. This renders the MacBook Pro 14 substantially more expandable. Both employ MagSafe 3 chargers, preserving a Thunderbolt 4 port for external utilization. Wi-Fi 6 is listed for the MacBook Air 15 on the Apple website, while the MacBook Pro 14 embraces the newer Wi-Fi 6E, accompanied by Bluetooth 5.3 support.
As the MacBook Air employs the foundational M2 CPU, its capability is confined to driving a sole external display, sustaining up to 6K resolution at 60Hz. In contrast, the MacBook Pro 14, powered by the M2 Pro, adeptly handles two external displays. It manages one at 6K/60Hz via Thunderbolt 4 ports and a second at 6K/60Hz coupled with a 4K resolution at 144Hz when the HDMI port drives the secondary display. Elevated configurations, such as the M2 Max model, extend support to four external displays—three at 6K/60Hz via Thunderbolt 4 and one at 4K/144Hz through HDMI. For scenarios involving three displays, the HDMI port can accommodate up to 4K/240Hz.
If your usage necessitates multiple external displays, the MacBook Pro 14 presents itself as the more fitting choice.
15-inch MacBook Air and 14-inch MacBook Pro Performance
Both the 15-inch MacBook Air and 14-inch MacBook Pro share the same M2 chip foundation, rendering them highly comparable in the majority of tasks. Observe the single-core test results below, where the two laptops exhibit strikingly similar scores.
However, when engaging applications that leverage additional CPU and GPU cores, substantial performance discrepancies arise due to the MacBook Air's reliance on the standard M2, featuring 8 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores.
Conversely, the 14-inch MacBook Pro offers configurations extending up to the M2 Max, equipped with 10 CPU cores and 38 GPU cores. The ensuing contrast is vivid in tasks such as video encoding and exporting, exemplified below. It's important to note that the scores depicted pertain to the most potent version of the 14-inch MacBook Pro. The base $1,999 configuration, equipped with 18 GPU cores, delivers a less formidable performance.
| Geekbench (single/multi) | Handbrake (seconds) | Cinebench R23 (single/multi) | Pugetbench Premiere Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 15 M2 (M2 8/10) | 2606 / 10024 | 144 | 1596 / 8020 | 325 |
| MacBook Pro 14 M2 (M2 Max 10/38) | 2668 / 14422 | 85 | 1608 / 14789 | 467 |
Both laptops excel in battery life, delivering remarkable endurance. Surprisingly, the enhanced performance of the 14-inch MacBook Pro doesn't necessitate sacrificing battery longevity. As per our comprehensive assessment, both machines align closely, affording up to 18 hours of battery life. It's noteworthy that the MacBook Pro 14-inch, with its propensity for heavier applications, might consume battery power at a swifter pace.
For newcomers to Apple Silicon MacBooks, the impressive battery life of these laptops is bound to astonish.
Display and Speakers
Another distinct advantage of the MacBook Pro 14 lies in its 14.2-inch mini-LED Liquid Retina display, boasting a 3024 x 1924 (254 PPI) resolution. This delivers superior sharpness, brightness, color, and contrast compared to the standard IPS Liquid Retina display found in the MacBook Air line. This includes the MacBook Air 15, featuring a 15.3-inch IPS Liquid Retina display at 2880 x 1864 (228 PPI).
Both displays should exhibit similar color performance in terms of gamut and accuracy. Yet, the Mini-LED panel of the MacBook Pro 14 outshines its counterpart, especially when rendering high dynamic range (HDR) content, where it achieves luminosities of around 1,200 nits or higher. The MacBook Pro's panel also excels in generating deep contrasts, yielding rich blacks.
Although the MacBook Air 15's display is commendable, the MacBook Pro 14 introduces a genuinely premium encounter, amplified by the incorporation of a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate.
| MacBook Air 15 (IPS) | MacBook Pro 14 (Mini-LED) | |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness (nits) | 475 | 511 |
| AdobeRGB gamut | 100% | 100% |
| sRGB gamut | 90% | 89% |
| Accuracy (DeltaE, lower is better) | 1.23 | 1.13 |
| Contrast ratio | 1,200:1 | 35,450:1 |
Both laptops incorporate six-speaker sound systems, enhanced by force-canceling woofers. They share identical technologies, ensuring an exceptional auditory experience from either device, ranking among the finest in contemporary laptops.
Although the 15-inch MacBook Air impresses in this domain, the 14-inch MacBook Pro delivers more pronounced bass, contributing to a more robust audio profile. It's worth highlighting that both laptops provide outstanding sound quality.
Reserve the MacBook Pro 14 Inch for the Pros
In this contest, the branding distinction holds true. Reserve the MacBook Pro for the creative professionals who heavily rely on enhanced performance to fulfill their work requirements. For everyone else, the 15-inch MacBook Air promises a delightful experience.
However, if this comprehensive comparison still leaves you uncertain about your direction, allow me to offer one more piece of advice.
If you're drawn to the augmented performance of the 14-inch MacBook Pro but wary of its price tag, I recommend exploring prices for last-generation models. Refurbished variants are available at affordable rates, sometimes as inexpensive as the 15-inch MacBook Air, yet capable of delivering significantly superior performance. These laptops are nearly identical to current-generation MacBook Pros, minus the modest performance boost from M1 to M2.
Furthermore, I suggest visiting an Apple Store to witness these machines side by side. Observing the variance in screen dimensions and overall form may assist you in making a more informed decision about your ideal choice.
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