MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro: How to Choose Which Is Right for You

It’s never been a better time to shop for a new MacBook. Since Apple switched over to using its own processors a few years ago, there have been impressive speed boosts and notable battery improvements across the board. Even the least-expensive MacBook Air is highly capable for almost every task, while the MacBook Pro is an absolute powerhouse.

Apple

MacBook Air (13-inch, M2)

$949 at B&H

$1100 Save $151

$1,099+ at Apple

Apple

MacBook Air (15-inch, M2)

$1049 at Amazon

$1250 Save $201

$1099 at B&H

$1350 Save $251

The MacBook Air with an M2 processor, available in 13-inch and 15-inch configurations, is the right choice for most people who use their laptops for daily tasks like online shopping, watching YouTube, doing homework and editing family photos. Not surprisingly, it’s also our top pick for college students. 

Apple

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Pro)

$1799 at B&H

$1999 Save $200

$1,999 at Apple

If you know you need more power for developing apps, heavy video editing or professional music production, and you want the largest screen you can get or need the widest range of ports available in your computer, choose a MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro or M3 Max processor. You’ll pay more for it, but you’ll get a lot more power that makes the kinds of tasks mentioned above significantly faster. 

*all listed have a headphone jack

Size

Screen size and overall dimensions are important to take into account when buying a new Mac. Until very recently, if you wanted a screen bigger than 13 inches (measured diagonally), you had to pay at least $2,000 for a MacBook Pro. Now the 15-inch MacBook Air is available, and it’s a great option for anyone seeking screen real estate without having to overspend on power they won’t use. The biggest screen option is on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which starts at $2,500. The MacBook Pro also has a brighter screen and adaptive refresh rate, but we see those as benefits if you choose a Pro, not reasons to buy one.

As a general rule, MacBook Pros are thicker, heavier and have a larger footprint than MacBook Airs, although since they have different screen sizes, it’s not a direct comparison. The 14-inch MacBook Pro, which is the smallest in the lineup, is 0.17 inches thicker and nearly a pound heavier than the 13-inch, M2 MacBook Air, and it naturally takes up more desk space. If space in your bag or weight are more important to you than raw power, the Air is the best solution. 

What about the M3 14-inch MacBook Pro?

Apple

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3)

$1449 at B&H

$1599 Save $150

$1,599 at Apple

Apple introduced a MacBook Pro with an M3 processor in Oct. 2023. This is the first time since the switchover to Apple Silicon that a “Pro” machine has had the base-level processor. If you don’t have particularly heavy computing needs, but value the HDMI port or SDXC card slot, this could be a good option for you. We think most people are still better off with a MacBook Air, though. If the MacBook Pro’s 14-inch screen is a draw, you can get an even larger 15-inch Air for less than the cost of the Pro. 

Performance

Apple’s processors are fast. Even the M1 chip in the “old” 13-inch MacBook Air is zippy enough that you don’t really have to think about it; most applications will launch within a second or two and you’ll rarely see the spinning rainbow wheel unless you’re trying to tax the system. Apple says the M2 is about 18% faster than that, so it’s really just speed plus speed. 

The only time you’d need a faster processor is for running very heavy tasks including compiling code, 3-D visualizations and editing multiple streams of 4K video. These are all tasks you can accomplish on an M1- or M2-based machine, but you’ll get faster performance from a MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro or M3 Max.

Storage and memory

How much storage space and memory (RAM) the computer you’re buying has are important decisions that have to be made at the time of purchase. While you can use an external drive or cloud storage to hold additional files, there’s no way to add more RAM after the fact. 

All three versions of the MacBook Air start at 256 gigabytes of storage and can be configured with 512GB ($200), 1TB ($400) or 2 TB ($800). The MacBook Pro has 512GB of storage to start, and the M3 Pro and M3 Max versions can be custom-ordered with up to 8TB for an extra $2,400. Those storage upgrades are quite expensive compared to external storage—you can buy an 8TB external drive for one-fourth the price of the upgrade to the MacBook Pro—so while it’s less convenient, an external SSD is one way to save money if you know you’ll need a lot of storage. With so much content either streaming or being stored in the cloud these days, we think most people will be totally fine with 256GB, with the upgrade to 512GB offering peace of mind for those anxious about running out of space. You most likely don’t need to buy a Pro just for the storage. 

RAM is important when it comes to multitasking. The more you have, the more, and more heavy-duty, apps you can run without slowing your computer down. The MacBook Air comes standard with 8GB, and you can double that for an additional $200. While it used to be well-accepted that it’s worth upgrading the RAM to get more years out of your computer, the Apple Silicon chips are incredibly efficient and even 8GB is enough for running multiple apps, including web browsers, email clients, word processing applications and more, all at the same time, without seeing any speed reductions. You can go up to 24GB of RAM in the Air, but unless you already know that the apps you run are going to require that much power, there’s no reason to spend the extra money. 

As for the MacBook Pro, you get either 8 or 18GB or RAM to start, depending on which processor you choose, with the option to go up to 128GB. If you’re doing high-end video production, music recording or app development, you may need that extra power; if you’re doing anything else, stick with whatever your chosen machine comes with. And don’t buy a Pro simply for more memory unless you know you specifically need it.

Ports

If you value a wider array of ports, the MacBook Pro is the best choice. Both the M1 and M2 MacBook Airs pack two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports and a headphone jack. The M2 versions also have MagSafe power connectors that free up one of those Thunderbolt ports, while the M1 requires you to use one to charge your computer. The M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pros adds an additional Thunderbolt port (the M3 version only has two) plus an HDMI port and an SDXC card slot, neither of which is necessary for most people most of the time. You can achieve the majority of those extra ports’ functionality using a USB-C hub like this one from Anker. But having them built in could be useful for people who use them often. 

Making your decision

If you want to stream shows and movies, shop online, edit and share your vacation photos, the M2 13-inch MacBook Air is almost certainly the right computer for you (unless you want a bigger screen, in which case you should choose the 15-inch Air). Don’t worry about spec bumps or customizations; the base model of either is a powerful machine that’ll last you for years. And if you do require more power for heavy-duty photo, video or music editing, app development or the like the M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pro lineup is strong and you’ll be able to build the machine you need.