What’s the difference between MacBook Air and Pro? If you also wonder about that, pay attention to this post. It summarizes all the differences between MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Explore the content with MiniTool Partition Wizard now!
The M1 chip was integrated into MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini once it was introduced by Apple. Then they sell well. In 2022, the company revealed the M2 chip and built it in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
Though both MacBook Air and Pro have the same chip, they are different in some ways. MacBook Air vs Pro: what’s the difference? This post would reveal the details for you.
#1. Difference Between MacBook Air and Pro: Specs
First and foremost, you should learn the difference between MacBook Pro and Air in the aspect of specs. To be specific, find what CPU and GPU they use, how much storage space and RAM they have, what’s their resolution, etc. To help you find these facts quickly, we summarize the specs of the two MacBook models in the table below.
Items | M2 MacBook Air | M2 MacBook Pro |
CPU | Apple M2 (8-core CPU + 16-core Neural Engine) | Apple M2 (8-core CPU + 16-core Neural Engine) |
GPU |
| 10-Core GPU |
RAM | 8GB, 16GB, 24GB | 8GB, 16GB, 24GB |
Display | 13.6-inch liquid Retina, 2560 x 1664, 500 nits | 13.3-inch Retina, 2560 x 1600, 500 nits |
Ports |
|
|
Webcam | 1080p FaceTime HD camera | 720p FaceTime HD camera |
Capacity | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
#2. Difference Between MacBook Air and Pro: Appearance
The design of the 2022 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are more alike one some aspects than ever. Even now the MacBook Air looks like a thinner version of the MacBook Pro, but there still are some differences in their appearance.
For instance, the 2022 MacBook Air has a larger 13.5-inch screen with slimmer bezels, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro has an older 13.3-inch display (identical to the M1 MacBook Air). Another difference is that the 13-inch MacBook Pro is the only Mac laptop that features Apple’s Touch Bar strip.
Apple removed the Touch Bar from the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, but all the models have a Touch ID sensor and Force Touch trackpad.
The color option is one of the differences between MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. The available colors of these MacBook models are collected as follows.
M1 MacBook Air: Silver, Space Gray Gold
M2 MacBook Air: Silver, Starlight, Space Gray, Midnight
M2 MacBook Pro: Silver, Space Gray
#3. Difference Between MacBook Air and Pro: Size
The MacBook Pro comes in 13-inch M2, 14-inch M1 Pro/Max, and 16-inch M1 Pro/Max models. The MacBook Air includes models like 13-inch, 13.3-inch M1, and 13.6-inch M2.
The dimension of the two MacBook models is listed as follows.
- M1 MacBook Air: 30.41cm x 21.24cm x 1.61cm – 0.41cm
- M2 MacBook Air: 30.41cm x 21.5cm x 1.13cm
- M2 MacBook Pro: 30.41cm x 21.24cm x 1.56cm
The weight of the MacBook varies depending on the specific model, but the gap is small.
- M1 MacBook Air: 2.8 pounds (1.29kg)
- M2 MacBook Air: 2.7 pounds (1.24kg)
- M2 MacBook Pro: 3 pounds (1.4kg)
#4. Difference Between MacBook Air and Pro: Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is important, especially if you are in business or go on a trip. You can find the difference between MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in battery life from the content below.
M1 MacBook Air: 49.9Whr battery, 30W charger, up to 18 hours of video playback
M2 MacBook Air: 52.6Whr battery, 30W charger, up to 18 hours of video playback
M2 MacBook Pro (13-inch): 58.2Whr battery, 67W charger, up to 20 hours of video playback
M2 MacBook Pro (14-inch): 70Whr battery, 67W charger, up to 17 hours of video playback
M2 MacBook Pro (16-inch): 100Whr battery, 140W charger, up to 21 hours of video playback
#5. Difference Between MacBook Air and Pro: Price
The price is also a difference between MacBook Pro and Air. The price varies according to the size and model of MacBook. You can refer to the price listed below.
- M1 MacBook Air: starts at $999
- M2 MacBook Air: starts at $1,199
- M2 MacBook Pro (13-inch): starts at $1,299
- M2 MacBook Pro (14-inch): starts at $1,999
- M2 MacBook Pro (16-inch): starts at $2,499
#6. Difference Between MacBook Air and Pro: Pros and Cons
Pros of M2 MacBook Air
- Stunning, slim design
- Larger and more vibrant 13.6-inch display
- Multiple color options
- Excellent performance thanks to the M2 chip
Cons of M2 MacBook Air
- Shorter battery life than 2020 M1 MacBook Air
- Camera notch encroaches on display panel
- Limited to two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports (though mitigated, in parts, by MagSafe connector)
Pros of M2 MacBook Pro
- Performance tops M1 predecessor and Intel competitors
- Tried-and-true design
- Fantastic 22-hour battery life
Cons of M2 MacBook Pro
- Dated physical design
- Lackluster 720p webcam and 2,560-by-1,600-pixel display
- Support just one external display
- Touch bar has its proponents, but feels like a design throwback
MacBook Pro vs Air: which is better? There’s no definite answer. You can make your choice after learning the difference between MacBook Air and MacBook Pro and their pros & cons.
Conclusion
What’s the difference between MacBook Air and Pro? Well, this post shows you the main difference between the two MacBook models. Like MacBook, you need to manage your device after buying a new Windows PC. Then MiniTool Partition Wizard comes in handy. It helps you partition the hard drive and manage it effectively. After the PC slows down, you can clean up and optimize it with this partition manager to speed up the computer.