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This summer, Apple announced two new MacBook models. Both of them have the powerful new M2 chip and a dedicated ProRes video engine that makes editing videos faster. The processor isn’t the only thing that the 2022 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro have in common.
This makes it hard to choose between the two when you need a new Mac laptop. Since these two laptops cost about the same, the small differences between the current MacBook Air and MacBook Pro become more important. The M2 MacBook Air is the clear winner and the one most people should buy.
MacBook Pro M2 vs MacBook Air M2 Comparison Table
| MacBook Pro M2 | MacBook Air M2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 14.2-inch or 16.2-inch | 13.6-inch |
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD camera | 1080p FaceTime HD camera |
| RAM | 8GB / 24GB | 8GB / 24GB |
| Storage | 1TB SSD | 256GB |
| GPU | Up to 10 | Up to 10 |
| Battery | Up to 20 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| Weight | 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) | 2.7 pounds |
| Price | $2,499.00 | $1199 |
MacBook Pro M2 vs MacBook Air M2: Display and speakers
The screen and speakers of the MacBook Pro are much better than those of the Air, which is a clear sign of its value. Both have more than enough pixels per inch, but the M2 MacBook Air has an Apple “Liquid Retina” screen while the MacBook Pro has an XDR screen. This XDR display is mini-LED, so the backlight is made up of thousands of zones whose brightness can be changed individually to make shadows darker or brighter.
This lets the MacBook Pro’s screen reach a maximum brightness of 1,600 nits, with a maximum HDR brightness of 1,000 nits for the whole screen. The brightest display on the MacBook Air is only 500 nits. Apple’s ProMotion variable refresh rate tech is also in the MacBook Pro. This lets the screen run at up to 120Hz for a smoother user experience. You can get this laptop from its official website.
MacBook Pro M2 vs MacBook Air M2: Design
The 2023 MacBook Pro comes in two sizes: 14.2 inches and 16.2 inches. The 2022 MacBook Air (M2), on the other hand, only has a 13.6-inch screen. So, if you want a bigger MacBook, you should look at the 16-inch model of the MacBook Pro. But the design is the same for both the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air.
The MacBook Air (M2, 2022) comes in Space Grey, Silver, Starlight, and Midnight. The MacBook Pro (M2 Pro, M2 Max, 2023) models, on the other hand, only come in Space Grey and Silver, so they look a bit more serious, which is also reflected in their prices. As you might expect, the MacBook Pro models are also thicker and heavier than the MacBook Air.
MacBook Pro M2 vs MacBook Air M2: Battery life
The battery life of the MacBook Air is 18 hours, which is the same as the battery life offered by the 14-inch MacBook Pro but is four hours less than what is offered by the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
MacBook Pro M2 vs MacBook Air M2: Performance
In terms of performance, the MacBook Pro 13-inch has slightly better performance, especially in tasks that hit the CPU for a longer period of time. That’s thanks to the fans included in the MacBook Pro, unlike the fanless design of the MacBook Air. This was true in the M1 models of these laptops too, but the difference is reduced due to how Apple continues to tune its fans.
It takes them a long time to ramp up and still allows the chip to get well over 100 degrees Celsius. If you really want a meaningful jump up in performance, you need to jump up to the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro.
MacBook Pro M2 vs MacBook Air M2: Camera and microphone
On the specs page, it says that both the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro have a “Advanced image signal processor with computational video” and a 1080P FaceTime camera. Even though they look the same, the two cameras work very differently. In good lighting, either can create a video acceptable for virtual meetings, but once the lighting is dim the cameras really show their differences.
The MacBook Air’s picture becomes far more noisy than the MacBook Pro’s, but the artificial smoothing on the Pro really shows up and eliminates a lot of detail. Both the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro are said to have three-mic arrays with directional beam-forming, but Apple says that the microphones in the MacBook Pro are “Studio Quality” with a high signal-to-noise ratio.
MacBook Pro M2 vs MacBook Air M2: Price
The price of the MacBook Pro 2023 is much more because to the inclusion of the brand new M2 chips. Although we won’t be going through the prices of each laptop’s individual configurations, we do know that the 14-inch edition of the M2 Pro with 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU, 16GB RAM, and 1TB storage has a starting price of $1999/£2149. This pricing is the base price for the laptop. The 16-inch model’s entry-level configuration.
On the other hand, the price of the MacBook Air M2 base model, which includes a Processor with 8 cores and a GPU with 16 cores, 8 gigabytes of random access memory, and 256 gigabytes of storage, is $1199 or £1249. Although neither of these computers is particularly inexpensive in comparison to other brands available on the market, the MacBook Air is easier to get your hands on than the MacBook Pro because of its lower pricing.
WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU BUY?
Overall, the MacBook Air is the best choice for most people because it has a great mix of features and performance in a design that makes it easy to carry around. The MacBook Air’s price of $1,199 is cheaper than that of the MacBook Pro, and you can get at least $100 off that price with an education discount or an offer from our Apple Deals Roundup. Most users won’t think it’s worth the extra $800 to get the MacBook Pro.
MacBook Air M2 PROS AND CONS
Pros:
- Remarkably slim and light
- Larger, brighter Retina display
- 1080p webcam (at last)
Cons:
- Pricier than previous model
- Notch a bit distracting
MACBOOK PRO M2 PROS AND CONS
Pros:
- Powerful performance
- Long battery life
- Best speakers on a laptop
Cons:
- Runs hotter and louder
- RAM and SSD upgrades are very pricey
FAQs
What is the difference between M2 air and M2 Pro?
There are also some differences between these models when it comes to ports, audio capabilities, and how they connect. The MacBook Pro models are the first MacBooks to have Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. The MacBook Air models, on the other hand, have Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.
Why is a MacBook Pro better than an air?
This means that the M1 Pro chip is much faster, the 14-inch mini-LED screen is bigger and better, the refresh rate is 120Hz, the 1080p webcam is better, and there are more ports. But it’s likely that you’ll need a busy schedule to enjoy all of these benefits.
Does the M2 MacBook Air overheat?
Recent reports say that both the MacBook Air M2 and the MacBook Pro M2, which have an Apple M2 chip, have serious problems with getting too hot. Customers and reviewers have been disappointed by how quickly and often their MacBook Air and Pro devices get hot.