I was eagerly anticipating the expected Apple silicon Macs announced at this past week's "One more thing," event. And then, Apple threw us a curve ball. While many (myself included) expected the focus to be on the higher efficiency and longer battery life, Apple zigged, when we expected them to zag.
Apple went all in on performance, declaring that the Apple M1 chip enables the new MacBook Air and new MacBook Pro to trounce not just their Intel-based predecessors but the vast majority of Windows laptops. These look like sure-fire candidates for top spots on our best laptops list.
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And then the MacBook Air beekbenchmark leak showed that the new MacBook Air was obliterating its competition, posting numbers that should have Intel CPUs, and even that brawny 16-inch MacBook Pro, looking over their proverbial shoulders.
But even though the MacBook Air seems like it's got MacBook Pro-level speed right now, I'm gonna pay more for the Pro. Here's why.
The MacBook Pro gives you more
"Wait, why would someone buy the new MacBook Pro when the Air has the same processor?" But while both have the same M1 processor, they're not exactly going to be the same in how they're going to use that processor.
Specifically, the M1 in the MacBook Pro will probably be faster because it's got fans inside, cooling the M1 so it can deliver better sustained performance over longer periods. Instead of fans, the new MacBook Air's M1 processor has an "aluminum heat spreader," which means its M1 processor probably won't be pushed as hard, as its cooling solution isn't as active.
On top of that, the M1 MacBook Pro is rated for 2 hours of extra battery life, at 17 hours of web browsing to the MacBook Air's 15 hours. And of all the upgrades you can give a Mac (RAM, storage, etc), battery life is the one place where I'd always pay more.
The M1 MacBook Pro also features a brighter screen (500 nits to the Air's 400 nits), and that screen brightness is another place where I'd actually value the difference. 400 nits, to me, is sort of the entry-level minimum for a premium laptop. But once you go above that, you get the strong image quality that leads to colors staying strong at a wider array of angles, and a laptop that's simply better for Netflix and YouTube.
Last, but most certainly not least, the MacBook Pro's speakers support high dynamic rage, and the MacBook Air's do not. And while my next laptop may be plugged into the same speakers I connect to my record player, that's only when I'm at my desk. When I take my laptop to any other spot in my house (and anywhere else on earth, once this pandemic is over), I'm going to want my music and movies to sound as good as possible.
I won't notice the new MacBook Air's perks
The biggest reasons to get the Air are for your budget and back.
The entry-level MacBook Pro is $300 more expensive than the MacBook Air, and while that is a not-insubstantial amount of money, I want to buy a laptop for the next 8+ years.
That's how long my current MacBook Pro has lasted, and when it comes to laptops I've got a very strong "invest in the future" mentality. The extra battery life mentioned above isn't just important for today, but for the inevitable long-term degradation of endurance, as 2 hours more today will mean some extra amount for each and every year going forward.
Spread out over 8 years? That's just around $3 per month. For everything I listed above, even if I end up upgrading after 4 years (which would convert to $6 per month), I'm more than willing to spend more up front for a laptop that I enjoy using that much more.
And yeah, the MacBook Air is lighter than the MacBook Pro, at 2.8 pounds to the Pro's 3.0 pound chassis. But — again — I won't notice that. Why? I'm updating from a mid-2012 MacBook Pro (the first Retina display model), which weighs a whopping 4.5 pounds.
Because of that, I've felt that the 3.0-pound 2020 MacBook Pro was more than light, and good enough for my next laptop. I'm surrounded by thin and light laptops in my work-from-home office, and while each of the ones that are around 3 pounds are light, I don't ever notice these smaller differences.
Outlook
I need a new MacBook, and I need to buy one soon. My 2012 MacBook Pro is showing its age more with each passing month, and it doesn't support macOS Big Sur. And since I've seen the writing on the wall for months now, I've been waiting for this moment.
And to look at the M1 MacBooks available, I can see why the MacBook Air is probably the best MacBook for most people.
But when it comes to getting a laptop that will last through the decade — through to the PS6 and Xbox Series Z — the MacBook Pro's practically won me already. If our testing for our reviews turns out to match Apple's claims the M1-based MacBook Pro is the 13-inch MacBook for the future, thanks to its longer battery life, brighter screen and more detailed sound.
And this is why we review laptops (and why I don't pre-order something this expensive) and not just take manufacturers' word. Stay tuned for our new MacBook Air and new MacBook Pro reviews to find out how good these laptops are.