What's the Difference Between MacBook Air and MacBook Pro?

Over the last year, Apple has upgraded its lineup of MacBooks to include a variety of screen sizes, new designs, M2 chips, and more. The MacBook Pro laptops released in late 2021 feature a new design, mini-LED display backlighting, I/O including HDMI, MagSafe, an SD card slot, and the removal of Touch Bar. 

Let’s begin by highlighting the key differences between the Apple MacBook Air and MacBook Pro—starting with definitions and comparisons of the most important specifications. 

CPU, GPU, Ram, and more 

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of the computer, responsible for executing all tasks. The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is designed to handle graphics-related work. Random Access Memory (RAM) refers to the memory bank of the computer. RAM stores data temporarily, while Storage saves your files permanently.

The following are the key technical and visual specs for the latest MacBooks: 

MacBook Air M2 (13-inch and 15-inch models)

• CPU: Apple M2 (8 CPU cores + 16-core Neural Engine) 
• GPU cores: 8-core or 10-core
• RAM: 8GB, 16GB, or 24GB
• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2 TB
• Webcam: 1080p FaceTime HD camera
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 
• Design: Available in Silver, Starlight, Space Gray, and Midnight (the M1 MacBook Air is also available in gold)
• Displays: 13-inch MacBooks offer 2560 x 1600 resolutions and 13.6-inch or 15.3-inch screen are available with higher brightness, 1 external display with up to 6K resolution at 60HZ, LCD Liquid Retina display
• Input/output: There is not an HDMI port, so you will need a USB-C adapter to connect to an HDMI display 
• Size, weight, and finish: 13-inch model starts at 2.7 lbs and 15-inch model starts at 3.3 lbs, all laptops offer an aluminum finish 
• Battery life and charging: Up to 18 hours of video playback on a charge
• Pricing: 13-inch model starts at $1,099 and 15-inch model starts at $1,299
• Ports and expansion: 2 Thunderbolt/USB-C ports (40Gbps, power delivery, 1 external display), MagSafe 3 port, and headphone jack, you can add an external SSD for additional expansion
• Thermal management: Both the 2020 & 2022 MacBook Air models are fanless
• Additional features: 3.5 mm headphone jack, Magic Keyboard, Touch ID, MagSafe charging (not available with 2020 model), 3-mic array, 4-speaker system with wide sound (2022 model), and stereo speakers with wide sound (2020 model), no Touch Bar

Pro tip: If you’re seeking a low-cost Mac, the Mac mini may be another option for you—depending on what you’ll be using it for. 

MacBook Pro M2 (13-inch model)

The 13-inch MacBook Pro M2 is comparable to the 13-inch MacBook Air M2. Here are the key specs for reference:

• CPU: Apple M2 chip (8-core CPU + 16-core Neural Engine)
• GPU core: 10-core 
• RAM: 8 GB unified memory
• Storage: 512 GB SSD storage
• Webcam: 720p FaceTime HD camera
• Connectivity: WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0
• Design: Available in Silver and Space Gray
• Display: 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone
• Input/output: Thunderbolt 3 digital video output, native DisplayPort output over USB‑C VGA, HDMI, DVI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters
• Size, weight, and finish: 3 lbs with an aluminum finish 
• Battery life and charging: 67W USB-C Power Adapter
• Pricing: Retails $1299
• Ports and expansion: Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
• Thermal management: New thermal system capable of moving 50% more air at lower fan speeds
• Additional features: Touch Bar and Touch ID, Backlit Magic Keyboard, and Force Touch trackpad

MacBook Pro M2 Pro/Max (14-inch and 16-inch models)

• CPU: Apple M2 Pro (10-core CPU or 12-core CPU + 16-core Neural Engine) / Apple M2 Max (12-core CPU + 16-core Neural Engine) 
• GPU cores: 16-core, 19-core, 30-core, or 38-core
• RAM: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, or 96GB
• Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB
• Webcam: 1080p FaceTime HD camera
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 
• Design: Available in Silver and Space Gray
• Displays: 14-inch and 16-inch models are brighter than the smaller models with resolutions up to 30245 x 1964 and 3456 x 2234 , 1 external display with up to 6K resolution at 60HZ (larger MacBook Pro models have the best visual displays), Mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display 
• Input/output: Supports an HDMI port 2.1 (previous 2021 models only supported HDM1 2.0 and a single 4K display) 
• Size, weight, and finish: 14-inch model starts at 3.5 lbs and 16-inch model starts at 4.7 lbs, all laptops offer an aluminum finish
• Battery life and charging: Longer battery life up to 20 hours (14-inch model) and up to 22 hours (16-inch model) of video playback on a charge 
• Pricing: 14-inch model starts at $1,999 and 16-inch model starts at $2,499
• Ports and expansion: 3 Thunderbolt/USB-C ports (40Gbps, power delivery, and up to 4 external displays), you can expand by using a USB-C hub to connect multiple devices 
• Thermal management: Both the 13-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro models (2021 & 2022) have active cooling with fans

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

Both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are fantastic laptops, which can make the buying decision difficult—and thanks to the addition of the latest Apple silicon, these devices are better than ever. 

Before making a purchase, ask yourself the following questions to help narrow down your choices:

1. What is the maximum amount of money you want to spend on a laptop? The more affordable option is the MacBook Air with M1. 
2. Do you prefer a smaller or larger display screen? If you primarily work from home and connect to an external monitor(s), then a small screen may suffice. In that case, the MacBook Air may be a good choice due to its portability. 
3. Will you be mobile often or traveling with your laptop? If so, then you may want to consider a smaller and/or lighter MacBook Air model. 
4. What ports do you need and how many? Will you be connecting your laptop to an external monitor, speakers, or other accessories? If you want access to plenty of ports, then the MacBook Pro will be your best bet. 
5. Will you be using your computer for gaming? If so, you’ll want to go with the MacBook Pro for the best overall performance. 

Ultimately, your buying decision should come down to how you plan to use the device and your personal needs. If you’re seeking an ultraportable laptop, then the MacBook Air is a great option. If you’re needing more horsepower above everything else, then the MacBook Pro might be the best choice for you. 

At the end of the day, there’s no bad decision, because there truly is an Apple MacBook for everyone!

If you’re wanting to upgrade your current Mac to a newer Macbook Pro or Macbook Air, check out SellYourMac’s 2023 Apple trade-in values to see what you could get for your used device!

• What is the difference between MacBook Air and Pro?
  The key differences lie within the technical and visual specifications. These include but are not limited to the amount of memory and storage, along with the design, displays, size and weight, battery life, ports, and pricing.
• Should I buy a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro?
  Both laptops are great choices, but when it comes to making a purchase, you’ll want to determine which features best meet your needs. If you’re seeking portability, the MacBook Air is the best choice, but for power users, the MacBook Pro is the way to go for ultimate performance.