MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Pro M2: Which MacBook to Buy?

Let’s look at all the currently available MacBooks and find out more about them to make a calculated decision.

MacBook Air M2: Top New Features

MacBook Air M2 is Apple’s latest offering in the Air segment. This new laptop has a slightly bigger screen than the M1 version. This laptop is also brighter than its predecessor, with a peak brightness of 500 nits. The M2 chips give it the capability to work on heavier tasks.

Design-wise, MacBook Air M2 is now more in-line with iPhone, iPads, and bigger MacBook Pros. That means Air now has a notch in the screen, ultra-thin flat shape, very thin bezels, and full-sized function keys.

Despite all the changes, it is still a silent, fanless laptop from Apple. It has also received significant upgrades in the camera and speakers.

MacBook Pro 13” M2: Top New Features

The MacBook Pro 13”M2 has arrived and is visibly thicker than the Air M2, and its design hasn’t changed as compared to MacBook Pro M1.

The only major difference between M1 and M2 is the new processor chip, making it faster and even more powerful. Its proactive cooling system takes care of all the heating and lets you easily work on performance-heavy tasks.

MacBook Air M2 vs. MacBook Pro M2: Performance

Apple has claimed that its M2 laptops are 20% faster than the previous versions. When you compare MacBook M2 Pro and MacBook M2 Air, M2 Pro gives better performance. It has a fan to keep the processors cool, unlike MacBook Air M2, which does not have a fan and takes a hit when the CPU heats up.

Apple has also claimed MacBook Pro has 2 extra hours of battery life compared to the MacBook Air in terms of 20 hours of video playback.

MacBook Air M2 vs. MacBook Pro M2: Design

MacBook Pro 13” offers a good design with better performance than the two laptops. MacBook Air has also received several upgrades this year, but its performance takes a hit compared to the M2 pro in two departments.

The first is the battery life, and the second is the cooling mechanism

However, MacBook Air beats MacBook Pro M2 with its superior looks, a better webcam, a set of speakers, and a lower price.

MacBook Pro M2 weighs 1.38 Kg and is available in 13”, 14”, and 16” options. Dimensions for 13” are 1.56x30.41x21.21 cm, and it is available in Silver and Space Gray colors. MacBook Air weighs 1.24 Kg, and its dimensions are 1.13x30.41x21.50 cm.

Its color options include Silver, Starlight Gold, Midnight Blue, and Space Gray.

MacBook Air M2 vs. MacBook Pro M2: Ports

Ports on both MacBook Air M2 and MacBook Pro M2 are the same as the M1 versions. Both the laptops have two USB4/Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 3.5 mm jack. The M2 Air also has a MagSafe 3 charger similar to 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops.

When it comes to an external display, both laptops can support only one additional device.

MacBook Air M2 vs. MacBook Pro M2: Display

The new MacBook Air M2 has a bigger 13.6-inch screen with slimmer bezels and an advanced Liquid Retina display. Apple has also improved the brightness and taken it to 500 nits from 400 in the previous model. The MacBook Pro M2 13” has the same 1,000 nits brightness ideal for HDR content.

Both MacBook Pro and MacBook Air have a notch at the top center of the display for the FaceTime Camera. This notch does not come with the hardware for Face ID.

MacBook Air M2 vs. MacBook Pro M2: Camera, Audio, and Video Calling

MacBook M2 Air has a 1080 p webcam which gives good results in low light. The M2 MacBook Pro still has a 720 p camera.

Talking about Audio, both M2 Pro and M2 Air have better speakers than M1 laptops. They support Spatial Audio with a stereo speaker setup in MacBook Pro and 4 speakers in MacBook Air.

MacBook Air M2 vs. MacBook Pro M2: Price

MacBook Pro M2 has the price tag from 5,499 AED, while the MacBook Air has gotten itself a price bump from 4,299 AED.

And in this lower price tag, Apple MacBook Air packs a better keyboard, an improved screen, thinner chassis, thinner bezels, and a Magsafe power adapter.

Which MacBook is Right for You?

It is clear that Apple MacBook Pro M2 is a better choice for performance-heavy tasks. And Apple MacBook Air M2 is great for looks and price. So, it all boils down to what you intend to do with your laptop.

If you are a student, you must consider your course and the number of CPU-heavy tasks you will take up daily.

For example, if you are learning visual design, you must consider the MacBook Pro 2 since you need CPU performance and a cooling fan. But if you are a Finance student who needs a laptop for simple finance software, some movie-watching, and regular assignments, a MacBook air will be good for you.

Similarly, working professionals have to consider their job requirements and choose MacBook Pro 13” for performance-heavy daily tasks and MacBook Air for routine tasks that won’t heat the chip. MacBook Pro 16” also offers a bigger screen and handles multitasking like a pro while the MacBook Pro 14” offers power in a small, easy to carry size.

Which M-Series Chip Is Right for You?

Let’s find out by talking about the M1 Chip, M1 Pro, and M1 Max.

• M1 Chip - The M1 Chip has an 8-Core CPU, a GPU of up to 8-Core, and a unified memory of 16 GB. It is faster than the previous Intel-powered MacBook Pro and can easily handle the load of gaming and photo and video editing.
• M1 Pro - M1 Pro chip has up to 10 cores on the CPU and up to 16-cores on GPU. It comes with up to 32 GB of unified memory that offers faster performance and graphics that can handle performance-heavy tasks. This chip is perfect for jobs such as music production and photo and video editing.
• M1 Max - M1 Max is the most powerful chip of the series. It has a 10-core CPU and a powerful 32-core GPU. This chip supports up to 64 GB of unified memory and is 4 times faster than the M1 chip. M1 Max is an extremely powerful chip and is perfect for CPU-heavy functions. It handles streaming of 4K and 8K footage like a breeze.

Mac Book Connectivity with Other Apple Devices

You can enjoy top-notch connectivity with other Apple devices using Continuity. It provides features such as Instant Hotspot, AirDrop, Relay, and Handoff so that you can work on your MacBook in sync with iPad, iMac, Apple TV, and Monitors.

MacBook Accessories

Working on MacBook is easy and fun. You can add up to your experience with Apple Air pods, Multiport Adaptors, USB cables, and Magic Mouse. All of these are available at the online Jumbo store, along with MacBook Pro M2 and MacBook Air M2.

Consider your requirements, laptop features, and budget before finalizing your next laptop.