Hello Apple,
I am really torn between an Air and Pro. I am hoping you can look at my workload and make a recommendation. My main concern with the air is that it will throttle too much during use, but I really do not know if that is a problem.
The country I live in does not have returns, so it is a little stressful as I do not want to over spend, but I also do not want to get a computer that can’t handle my workload.
I know the pro has a new processor, I can wait until the Air gets a new processor before buying it, so I am not concerned about that.
I’m considering the $1299 air or the $1500 pro. (The prices are a bit different in my country, but these are the models I am considering.)
Main Task
I will have Excel, Powerpoint, PDFs, Word, and software like Zoom all running at the same time. I may be in Zoom meetings with cameras on for up to 10 hours straight. (This is where I am concerned about throttling) I will also have a few other open programs like discord, telegram, and a web browser (probably firefox).
Secondary Task
I will be doing some video editing on it and recording with OBS the recordings would be up to an hour at the most and probably in 1080p for both the recording and editing. I will be using final cut as I used it in the past an am familiar with it. I’ll do this about once a week.
Additional Irrelevant Info
This is mainly a work computer that will be used closed and connected to a monitor for most of the time working on it. I do need a laptop so I can work remotely often enough.
I will not be gaming on it or anything as I have a SteamDeck for that. I might run some AI stuff on it to play around, but if it works well enough I might run it for work. But, I can offload those tasks to the cloud so it is not a big deal to work on the Mac.
Anyway, thanks for your input. I am guessing the Air will be fine, I just don’t want to get stuck with the wrong computer.
Assuming you’re talking about a laptop…
Pro. 100% It has a fan to keep cool during your work sessions, and with that much going on you’ll need that fan.
I assume also that you need to be portable for some reason. If not check out the new Mac mini.
Thanks! I was thinking that I’d need the fan for some of my workloads. I was hoping I’d get a resounding “the air is fine” so I could spend a lot less.
One thing to note, is that if you use more than 1 external monitor, you need the Pro or need to install a third party program such as Display Link manager to use multiple DisplayLink compatible displays
The Macbook Air with an M3 can drive two external monitors with the lid closed.
Did something change with the Air? I had a 2018 model I think and used two monitors without display link.
I believe it’s an Apple Silicon limitation in their lower end chips.
Yup, the base M chips can only support two displays, including the built-in, so a base MacBook Air can only support one external monitor. This was not a limitation of the Intel versions from before 2020.
An Air will probably be enough for your main task, but you should probably go with the Pro because of your secondary task.
Thanks! I think you’re right.
M2 air can handle any work load I throw at it. Mine is mostly programming though. For rendering 4k video, you might benefit from a pro. Make sure you get at least 16GB of RAM no matter which one you choose
Thanks! I was actually waiting until Apple made the base ram 16gb before I would buy one. I’ve been waiting since the m2 came out 😂
My windows workload typically uses around 9-10gb so clearly 8gb was not enough.
Just so you know: on Mac you typically need less RAM than on windows. But I agree you, 8gb is not enough.
If it is going to be a primary computer or a work computer then I would get the Pro. The extra horsepower and cooling just simply make it more capable.
The Air is still a very good laptop and it is surprising what it can do, but if this is going to be a work tool for you then you should get the best that you can afford. An Air might be good 90% of the time but that 10% where it overheats will suck heaps.
Thanks! I that’s what my wife would say as well. Based on the comments here, it seems that the pro is what I’ll be getting.
I use an M2 air with 16GB RAM for a very similar workload all day every day. It is more than capable, and thermal throttling is not an issue for those tasks which are not CPU or GPU heavy at all. a Pro is absolutely not necessary unless you need to hook up to multiple monitors (air is limited to 1 external display) or you really need the various physical ports that the pro has.
I suspect anyone saying “just get a pro if it’s for work” or “you need a fan with that much going on” has not actually used an Air or know how powerful and efficient they are. It’s 100% wrong.
Have you done any obs recording on the air? I’m curious how extended recording will heat it up.
In this screenshot I had been streaming a 14mbps 4k video and doing a 1080p screen recording in OBS for about 30 minutes. You can see the CPU is still about 60% idle. The case is warm (expected because it acts as a heat sink), but it’s nowhere near the point where you’d need to worry about thermal throttling. It’s doing its job dissipating heat for this workload, and the system has remained perfectly responsive while doing other tasks.
Wow! Thanks for this. I think the air probably had enough power for my needs. Especially considering that I’ll wait for the m4
Fwiw, on my m3 + max ram, I also was recording 1080p 30-ish minute obs videos for a while running large Ableton Live project playback + a facecam, and (while I don’t remember specs specifics) I didn’t find it to be unstable. I don’t do heavy video editing, so I’m not sure about the requirements, but for obs in 1080, it felt fine for me. I think I also exported some edited 4k footage at one point though, and I seem to remember rendering that one took a solid amount of time, so if you think you might move to 4k, pro might be more appropriate.
But I remember having specs reservations when getting my air, and I have not regretted it at all. Especially when I see my friends lug around their monster of a laptop. Those pro machines are thicc
Thanks! I do like the portability of it and it’s so much cheaper. The video editing will be super basic and just 1080p.
I guess I’m mostly confused as I always hear about how the air throttles, but I never actually hear anyone say anything bad about the air or that they think it’s underperforming or can’t handle a task.
I’m going to steal my wife’s m1 MacBook Air for a couple days and put it through its paces.
If her 8gb m1 can handle it, then I have no doubts a 16gb m4 air will be able to handle it either.
yeah even the base models are very powerful machines for productivity, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
If you want a 16”, the m3 models are ~$500 off right now because the m4 series is out. If you don’t care about the big screen, the air or base model m4 pro is probably enough.
Yeah, I think for most of what OP is describing, an earlier generation Pro with RAM and storage upgrade is a better bargain than spending the same amount of money on the newest processor. Not sure if OP can access the refurbished Apple store, but that’s where I’d be looking.
Go Pro, and get the most amount of RAM possible. That guarantees longevity by minimizing obsolesence.
