Apple MacBooks are notebooks designed and developed by Apple Inc. using Apple’s Operating System. Just like all Apple’s products, MacBook, too, was a huge success.
MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are the new MacBook models released recently by Apple. Apple fans may want to know in which release they should invest if they are planning on purchasing or looking to replace the old one. If you are one of them, you are in the right place. Keep on reading to know all details where we compare both MacBook Pro with M2 Pro chip and MacBook Air with M2 chip, so you can choose the one best suiting you.
Design
When comparing the appearance of the MacBook Pro with the MacBook Air, they have slight differences that may matter to the users. As of its name, MacBook Air is lightweight weighing only about 2.7 pounds or 1.24 kg, while MacBook Pro weighs 3.5 pounds or 1.6 kg.
MacBook Pros are thicker when compared to the MacBook Air’s thinness. The thickness of the closed MacBook Air is as same as the bottom part of the MacBook Pro that thickness. Though by any chance, MacBook Pro is not a thick laptop, its thickness may be noticed when compared to the lightweight MacBook Air.
If the display size matters to you, MacBook Pro has two sizes, 16.2 inches (16”) and 14.2 inches (14”), while MacBook Air has only one size 13.6 inches. However, both models’ designs are similar with a flat aluminum chassis, round edges, and an incision at the top of the display.
MacBook Pro comes only in two colors; space grey and silver, while MacBook Air has four options; space grey, midnight, starlight, and silver.
Both models support Touch ID, in the same place; the top right corner. They both offer Force Touch Trackpad below in the middle where you can by enabling it, force touches it to use its features on your MacBook. The keyboards are the Magic Keyboard with a back-lit.
Hardware and Connectivity
Both these MacBooks have differences in their hardware like audio and ports, and their connectivity like Bluetooth and wifi.
When you compare the sound systems between these two MacBooks, Pro wins here, too. With a six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers. Meanwhile, MacBook Air has only a four-speaker sound system which offers a wide stereo sound.
MacBook Air is designed with two Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C), a MagSafe Connector, and a Headphone Jack. Meanwhile, the MacBook Pro is designed with an additional Thunderbolt 4 port (USB-C) and an SDXC card slot, and an HDMI 2.1 port. With the HDMI 2.1 port, the users will be able to connect from 4K 240Hz to 8K 60Hz displays. Meanwhile, MacBook Air can only connect to a 6K 60Hz display through one of the USB ports. Also, MacBook Pro M2 Pro can support two external displays at the same time up to 6K 60Hz.
When comparing the Bluetooth and wifi supports of both the MacBook, here too, the connectivity of the MacBook Pro wins. As the wifi supported by MacBook Pro is Wi-Fi 6E, while Air’s is 6.
Bluetooth of the MacBook Pro is 5.3, meanwhile, MacBook Air’s is 5.0.
Both models support video and audio of Dolby Atmos for Spatial Audio, on the speakers in-built. And when using the compatible AirPods, they also support dynamic head tracking Spatial Audio.
Display and Battery
MacBook Air comes with the display of Liquid Retina display, meanwhile, MacBook Pro’s display is Liquid Retina XDR. And when comparing the sizes of each MacBook, MacBook Pro has two options (14.2 and 16.2 inches) and MacBook Air is only available in one size (13.6). The resolution of each size varies; the 16.2-inch resolution is 3456 X 2234, the 14.2 inch is 3024 X 1964, and the MacBook Air’s resolution is 2560 X 1664.
MacBook uses Apple’s ProMotion Technology, too, while all other models use P3 wide color gamut and True Tone Technology, offering up to 120Hz refresh rate.
Brightness offered by the MacBook Air is the standard 500nits, while the MacBook Pro uses up to 1600nits top brightness, for HDR content and around 1000nits for full-screen content. This may look like a big difference and will matter if you are working or interested in clear-cut reflections.
When looking at the new models, everyone cares about their battery life and health. Apple has confirmed that MacBook Pro has the longest battery life of all Macs. But, MacBook Air’s battery life is also outstanding, and nothing short. To shortly say, the battery life of MacBook Pro 16” is 15 hours spent on web browsing and 12 hours on MacBook Air.
Chargers used in both these models are MagSafe chargers but dissimilar power adapters according to the model you choose. MacBook Air has the standard 30W USB-C power adapter as its charger, while the MacBook Pro 14” standard charger of a 67W USB-C power adapter, and the MacBook Pro 16” standard charger has a 140W USB-C power adapter. There are also chargers available in the market that are sold separately, which can be used for faster charging.
Camera and Microphone
Though the camera and microphone of both the MacBook are the best designs so far, there are huge differences that can change the experience. Apple confirmed of using the “Advanced Image Signal Processor with Computational Video” on both models. Both provide better video output in better lighting, than the models before, but in a dim-lit place, you can see each camera’s design. With the Artificial Smoothing available on the MacBook Pro, you can eliminate a lot of unnecessary details; while on MacBook Air the video is far less quality.
Apple also informed of using three-mic arrays with directional beamforming, which is an improvement compared to the old models. But, Apple especially calls out the microphones of MacBook Pro to have ‘Studio Quality’. When testing both the models’ microphones; MacBook Pro had a better sound with less high pitch and echo than the MacBook Air.
Price
As we know what features each MacBook holds, we can easily guess which MacBook will cost higher. And you are right, MacBook Pro is far more expensive than the MacBook Air; and what with its outstanding features we expect.
MacBook Pro starting prices start from $1999 in US, and MacBook Air $1199. Of course, the price will vary and increase depending on the memory, GPU, storage and configuration, etc. Nonetheless, MacBook Air is lower than the MacBook Pro. And if you need of a MacBook with all the amazing features of Apple for a budget-friendly price; MacBook Air is the best choice.
Conclusion
Both models of MacBook from Apple are new designs and had many improvements. They are better than the old models in the market. With the improved versions and better configuration, Apple introduced MacBook Air in 2022 and MacBook Pro in 2023. Here we compare MacBook Air (M2 chip) and MacBook Pro (M2 Pro); for a better understanding of the main difference in features; so that the users can purchase the one best suits them.
When comparing all these features, we know MacBook Pro has many improved features than MacBook Air; making the MacBook Pro the most expensive model of both. Nonetheless, MacBook Air is not anywhere inferior to MacBook Pro. It is far better and well performing than the old models. If you are looking for a new model of Apple at a budget-friendly price; MacBook Air is the best choice.
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