Apple’s laptop offerings now include devices with its M3 chip. The company has slowly released the different models, but now we can compare them. In this article, we’ll pit the MacBook Air against the MacBook Pro—the more “economical” vs. its big sibling.
MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro Specs
|
|
MACBOOK PRO M3 (14-inch) |
MACBOOK AIR M3 (13-inch) |
|---|---|---|
|
SIZE AND WEIGHT |
Height: 0.61 inch |
Height: 0.44 inch |
|
DISPLAY |
14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display 3,024-by-1,964 native resolution at 254 pixels per inch XDR brightness: 1,000 nits sustained full-screen, 1,600 nits peak2 (HDR content only) |
13.6-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology |
|
CHIP |
8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores 10-core GPU |
8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores |
|
ram and STORAGE |
RAM: 8GB or 16GB unified memory configurable to 16 GB or 24 GB Storage: 512 GB or 1 TB SSD configurable to 1 TB or 2 TB |
RAM: 8 GB unified memory configurable to 16 GB or 24 GB Storage: 256 GB SSD configurable to 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB |
|
CAMERA |
1080p FaceTime HD camera |
FaceTime HD |
|
AUDIO |
High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers |
Four-speaker sound system |
|
CONNECTIVITY |
Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 |
3.5 mm headphone jack Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports |
|
BATTERY |
Up to 15 hours wireless web Up to 22 hours Apple TV app movie playback |
Up to 18 hours Apple TV app movie playback |
|
PRICE |
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, Touch ID; Midnight
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M3 Pro chip with 11‑core CPU, 14‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 18GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage; Silver
Table of Contents (7)
MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro Features
Design
Beyond the pretty similar aesthetics, the difference comes from what each user wants in a laptop. For those looking for lightness who need to carry the computer as a faithful work companion, the ideal choice is the MacBook Air, which weighs 2.7 pounds and is much lighter than its Pro sibling.
On the other hand, the MacBook Pro is the ideal choice for those who prioritize power and a fuller screen, no matter how much the computer weighs. Although it’s still a laptop, its dimensions are slightly larger.
Display
MacBook Air M3
The MacBook Pro features a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display with adaptive ProMotion technology that delivers up to 120Hz, 1,600 nits maximum brightness (HDR), and a wide color gamut.
The MacBook Air, meanwhile, has a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2,460 x 1,664 pixels, an IPS LCD panel, 500 nits of brightness, 60 Hz, and True Tone technology.
Audio
This is another substantial difference, although both have high-quality sound systems. The MacBook Pro has a six-speaker hi-fi system with force-canceling woofers. In contrast, the latest version of the MacBook Air includes four speakers, sacrificing sound performance.
Why You Should Choose the MacBook Air
- The 2024 version has matched hardware strengths with the M3 chip.
- Lighter and more compact.
- More economical.
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, Touch ID; Midnight
Why You Should Choose the MacBook Pro
- Display with better panel, higher brightness level, and 120 Hz refresh rate.
- Better audio system.
- Slightly longer battery life.
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M3 Pro chip with 11‑core CPU, 14‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 18GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage; Silver
Now that you know the differences between the two Apple laptops, which would you choose based on your budget and preferences?
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links and may make a profit for Xataka On. In case of unavailability, offers may vary.
Images | Apple
Related | I Tried to Replace My MacBook Pro With the New iPad Pro. I Was Stopped by iPadOS
View 0 comments