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Shopping around for a Mac notebook? You have some great choices in the newly updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. There are key differences between them—and similarities—which may well affect your decision regarding which one to buy. Yes, the Pro is generally more powerful. And definitely, the Air is featherweight. But you also have to consider the likes of screen size, battery life, and of course, what price you can afford—among other factors. Ideally, you’ll want to go visit an Apple retailer and compare the two side-by-side in person, to see which is best for you and your specific needs. Some basic criteria to consider:
Screen Options
The all-new Air, which debuted in late October, is offered in a 13.3-inch screen size only. However, there are two options: The standard LED-back-lit model and the retina display option with IPS technology (think brilliant color and viewing angles). The Pro comes in your choice of 13.3-inch or 15.4-inch, both with retina display. You really can’t go wrong with any of these.
Weight and Bulk
This is close. At 0.61 inches thin and weighing just 2.75 pounds, the Air is the envy of all other laptops. It’s so lightweight, thanks to its aluminum body, that they incorporated “Air” into its name. The 15-inch Pro is also just 0.61 inches thin but weighs a relatively hefty 4 pounds. But the 13-inch Pro is even thinner—0.59 inches—and weighs 3.02 pounds.
Processing Speed
The Air with Retina Display comes with a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz, with 4MB L3 cache, while the standard version boasts a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 2.9GHz, with 3MB shared L3 cache. The latter model can be upgraded, too. Meanwhile, the Pro was updated in May with faster 8th- and 9th-generation Intel Core processors, bringing it eight cores for the first time. The 13-inch Pro comes standard with a 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz, with 64MB of eDRAM. A 13-inch model with a Touch Bar (Apple’s on-screen shortcut menu) comes standard with a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz, with 128MB of eDRAM. The 15-inch Pro comes in your choice of a 2.6GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz, with 12MB shared L3 cache or a 2.3GHz 8-core Intel Core i9, Turbo Boost up to 4.8GHz, with 16MB shared L3 cache. All configurations are upgradeable.
Storage
Both Air models can be had with a 128GB solid state hard drive, but can be upgraded in a big way. The Retina Display models can go up to 1.5TB. As you would expect, the Pros start with even more storage as standard. And the larger model can be upgraded to 4TB. Being that these machines are built to last for years, you may never run out of hard drive space—regardless of how much music, documents, photos and videos you to tend to hang on to.
Battery Life
The Air essentially runs 12 hours per charge with up to 30 days of standby time, while the Pro goes 10 hours between charges with up to 30 days of standby time.
Price
Airs start from $999-$1,299 with standard configurations before upgrade, while Pros range from $1,299-$2,799.
Bottom Line
You honestly cannot go wrong with any Air or Pro. With great-looking screens, all-day battery life, lightweight bodies, and outstanding build quality, they’re ideal for college and business life. Plus, Apple Store “Geniuses” are always available to answer any product questions or fix any issues—which is great for peace of mind.
