MacBook Air vs. MacBook Professional: Which Mac Ought to You Purchase in 2021?
Apple’s laptops at the moment are comprised of a 13-inch MacBook Air and three flavors of MacBook Professional: 13 inches, 14 inches and 16 inches. It may be robust deciding which MacBook to purchase, particularly since Apple gives some fashions with M1 chips and others with M1 Professional or M1 Max processors.
That’s the place our MacBook Air vs. MacBook Professional information is available in. Between the MacBook Air, the 13-inch MacBook Professional, the 14-inch MacBook Professional and the 16-inch MacBook Professional, we’ll show you how to resolve which laptop computer is value your cash by evaluating value, options, efficiency, battery life and extra. By the tip of this information, it is best to know precisely which laptop computer to spend your hard-earned cash on — or whether or not it is best to look ahead to the following model to reach.
If you wish to get accustomed to life with a MacBook earlier than shopping for one, try our assessment of macOS Large Sur, the latest model of Apple’s desktop OS. Undecided you need to go along with a Mac? Think about giving our greatest laptops rankings a glance to see all the opposite glorious choices obtainable out there.
Which MacBook is finest?
It is a unbelievable time to be looking for a MacBook now that Apple has accomplished its transition from Intel CPUs to customized Apple Silicon chips. Now the MacBook Air and all three MacBook Professional fashions include M-series processors designed proper in Cupertino.
To date, they ship breathtaking efficiency and record-setting battery life. The M1 chip within the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Professional brings unmatched efficiency and endurance to those ultra-portable machines, making them the laptops to beat of their respective classes. To not point out, they help iOS and iPadOS apps, and within the case of the MacBook Air, do not even want a fan to remain cool.
Then there may be the brand new 14-inch MacBook Professional and 16-inch MacBook Professional, which include both an M1 Professional an M1 Max chip. We have not examined the brand new silicon but however Apple is promising bonkers CPU and GPU efficiency, like 70% quicker efficiency than the M1 and as much as 2x quicker GPU speeds. And that is only for the M1 Professional, not the extra highly effective M1 Max.
MacBook Air vs. MacBook Professional: Specs in contrast
| Finest for Most | Most Pace for $ | For energy customers | For energy customers who want a big display screen | |
| MacBook Air | MacBook Professional 13 (Entry Degree) | MacBook Professional 14-inch | MacBook Professional 16-inch | |
| Worth | $999 | $1,299 | $1,999 (beginning) | $2,499 |
| CPU | M1 | M1 | M1 Professional or M1 Max | M1 Professional or M1 Max |
| RAM | As much as 16GB | as much as 16GB | As much as 64GB | as much as 64GB |
| Show | 13.3 inches (2560 x 1600) | 13.3 inches (2560 x 1600) | 14.2 inches (3024 x 1964), 120Hz | 16.2 inches (3456 x 2234), 120Hz |
| Ports | 2 Thunderbolt 3, headphone | 2 Thunderbolt 3, headphone | 3 Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC card, headphone | 4 Thunderbolt 3, headphone |
| Graphics | M1 | M1 | M1 Professional or M1 Max | M1 Professional or M1 Max |
| Storage | as much as 2TB | as much as 2TB | As much as 8TB | as much as 8TB |
| Battery Life (hrs) | 14:41 (examined) | 16:32 (examined) | 17 hours (rated) | 21 hours (rated) |
| Safety | Contact ID | Contact ID | Contact ID | Contact ID |
| Dimension | 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches | 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches | 12.3 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches | 14 x 9.8 x 0.66 inches |
| Weight | 2.8 kilos | 3.1 kilos | 3.5 kilos | 4.7 kilos |
MacBook Air (M1, 2020): Finest for most individuals
Execs: The brand new MacBook Air delivers nearly all the pieces you would need in an Apple laptop computer due to its M1 chip, which allows record-setting efficiency and battery life. Particularly, the MacBook Air lasted for 14 hours and 41 minutes on our battery check, making it one of many longest-lasting laptops round.
Our MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM scored a convincing 5,962 on the Geekbench 5.2 general efficiency check, crushing the XPS 13 (5,319, Core i7-1165G7) with an eleventh Gen (Tiger lake) Intel Core. The Floor Laptop computer 3 (4,791) with tenth Gen Intel chips dropped additional behind, however nonetheless topped the class common (4,178).
And, in fact, the MacBook Air has the Magic Keyboard, which is way extra comfy and dependable than the earlier Butterfly keyboard. We in contrast these two keyboards side-by-side and unanimously voted in favor of the brand new model because of its bouncier keys and improved structure.
The display screen is sharp, too, with a 2560 x 1600-pixel decision. The most recent model of the Air helps the P3 shade vary for punchier tones and True Tone, which adjusts the colour temperature on the show based mostly on ambient lighting circumstances.
One other function is Contact ID, which makes it simple to unlock the system, make safe funds, and change passwords. The brand new MacBook Air’s 720p webcam additionally obtained a minor improve due to the M1 chip, and the system helps iOS and iPadOS apps now, though few are optimized for laptops.
The MacBook Air, at 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches and a pair of.8 kilos, is bigger than the Dell XPS 13 (11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches, 2.8 kilos), however extra compact than the 13.5-inch Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 3 (12.1 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches, 2.9 kilos).
Cons: Two USB-C ports aren’t sufficient for most individuals so be prepared to make use of a dongle. Additionally, the MacBook Air is not probably the most compact or lightest 13-inch laptop computer, and the show bezels are too chunky for 2021. The laptop computer additionally lacks an IR digital camera (for facial recognition login)) and USB Sort-A ports so these legacy gadgets will want an adapter.
See our full MacBook Air (M1, 2020) assessment
MacBook Professional (13-inch): Finest for energy customers on a finances
Execs: The 13-inch MacBook Professional crams loads of energy right into a slim and light-weight (3 kilos) chassis with its new M1 chip — and it even has keyboard. Sure, the 13-inch MacBook Professional will get the identical M1 chip because the MacBook Air however this highly effective machine can run demanding duties for longer as a result of it has a fan inside for conserving issues cool.
Wanting on the numbers, the MacBook Professional achieved 5,882 on the Geekbench 5 check, surpassing the 4,215 premium laptop computer common. The XPS 13 got here the closest to matching the MacBook whereas the Asus ZenBook and HP Spectre x360 13 weren’t wherever close to as highly effective.
This machine is just a bit heavier than the MacBook Air, however you get the identical M1 processor and longer battery life. I need to emphasize that battery life: the MacBook Professional lasted for 16 hours and 32 minutes on our check. That is simply…properly, ridiculous, and it places the MacBook Professional in a unique league than its opponents.
Apple introduced the Contact Bar to the MacBook Professional, in addition to a Contact ID sensor. The 13-inch MacBook Professional additionally gives an improved 720p webcam, a ridiculously quick SSD and a modern design. What extra are you able to ask for?
Cons: Sadly, the bottom mannequin MacBook Professional has solely two Thunderbolt 3 ports versus 4 ports on the pricier MacBook Professional 13-inch. Oh, and it is time for Apple to eliminate these ugly show bezels.
See our full 13-inch MacBook Professional (M1, 2020) assessment
MacBook Professional (14-inch): Finest for artistic execs needing portability
Execs: For those who’re prepared to spend $1,999, the 14-inch MacBook Professional is shaping as much as be the most effective MacBook, if not the most effective laptop computer, available on the market. We have not examined this mannequin simply but, however the M1 Professional and M1 Max processors Apple revealed promise to be the quickest, most power-efficient chips ever constructed for transportable computing.
The opposite efficiency specs are simply as spectacular, with the laptop computer supporting as much as 64GB of RAM (with M1 Max solely) and an 8TB SSD. Battery life is rated at 17 hours.
Furthermore, this redesigned laptop computer comes with a 14.2-inch, 3024 x 1964-pixel Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED show with a 120Hz refresh price. This panel guarantees to be the brightest laptop computer display screen ever (at 1,600 nits of peak luminance), and probably the most vivid exterior of OLED panels.
At 12.3 inches x 8.7 x 0.6 inches and three.5 kilos, the 14-inch MacBook Professional stays transportable regardless of the facility it packs beneath the hood.
Another good options together with a 1080p webcam, Contact ID, a six-speaker setup, and a keyboard with no Contact Bar.
Cons: So, what’s mistaken with the laptop computer? Effectively, there’s a notch. Sure, very similar to the iPhone 13, the MacBook Professional has a cutout on the high heart of the show. It should not be too distracting, although, due to how a lot bigger the panel is. Additionally, there is no such thing as a Face ID regardless of the scale of that cutout. One other unquestionable con with the 14-inch MacBook Professional is its $1,999 beginning value. Ouch.
See our full MacBook Professional 14-inch preview
MacBook Professional 16-inch: Finest for energy customers needing a big show
Execs: All the things we love in regards to the 14-inch MacBook Professional however with a big 16-inch show. It has the identical M1 Professional and M1 Max chips together with as much as 64GB of reminiscence and as much as an 8TB SSD. Battery life on this mannequin, nevertheless, is rated at an impressive 21 hours (we’ll check that to make sure).
Cons: Similar because the Professional: the 16-inch MacBook Professional is all the pieces we love in regards to the 14-inch model with a big display screen. Meaning you’ll be able to rating the smaller mannequin at a a lot cheaper price with out sacrificing the rest apart from show dimension. For those who want the bigger panel, then get this 16-inch MacBook Professional. For those who do not, then it is in all probability will not be definitely worth the value trade-off.
Additionally at 14 x 9.8 x 0.66 inches and 4.7 kilos, the 16-inch MacBook Professional is significantly bigger than the 14-inch mannequin.
See our full MacBook Professional 16-inch preview
To search out out extra about how for much longer Apple will hold your MacBook wholesome, learn our complete Apple Guarantee Examine information.
How we check MacBook laptops
We put MacBooks by way of in depth benchmark testing — each artificial and real-world — earlier than they find yourself within the palms of our reviewers. We consider all the pieces from pace and battery life to show brightness, speaker quantity and system warmth.
We use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and sRGB shade gamut of a laptop computer’s show. For efficiency benchmarking, we run the laptop computer by way of a gauntlet of benchmarks, together with Geekbench 5.0 and 3DMark skilled graphics checks.
To find out real-world efficiency, we job the laptop computer to transform a 4K video to 1080p decision and to duplicate a 25GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics check is the Grime 3 benchmark with medium settings and 1080p decision.
We additionally run warmth checks by enjoying a 15-minute full-screen video and our battery check consists of steady net browsing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. We contemplate all the pieces over the class common (8 hours and 36 minutes) to be outcome. After all, these checks are complemented with hands-on testing from our reviewers.
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