The new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air were revealed during WWDC 2022. Given how rare hardware appears at WWDC, the new laptops have gotten a lot of attention — especially since they both feature Apple’s new M2 processor. We haven’t tested the slide ourselves, but recently leaked benchmarks suggest the M2 is really impressive.
Of the two laptops, the MacBook Air 2022 looks the most enticing. It features an updated design similar to the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops, a larger screen, MagSafe charging, and a sharper webcam. In contrast, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro has the same design as the MacBook Pro since 2016. This includes the old 720p webcam and Touch Bar. The MacBook Air also starts at $1,199 while the base MacBook Pro starts at $1,299.
As detailed in our five reasons why you should buy a MacBook Air 2022 instead of a new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air 2022 vs. a MacBook Pro 2022: Which new MacBook should you buy? From the articles, the updated Air appears to be the clear winner over the Pro. However, the latter has features that could make it the best option for some people.
Here’s why you should buy the 2022 MacBook Pro instead of the new MacBook Air.
Active Cooling
Active cooling is the new MacBook Pro’s biggest advantage over the redesigned MacBook Air. Since it does not have a fanless design, the Pro should achieve higher levels of performance.
Active cooling may not be important to users who generally use laptops for web browsing, streaming content, or word processing. However, video and music editors want a machine that can deliver sustainable performance. If you fall into this camp, the MacBook Pro may be more attractive than the Air.
Standard 10-core GPU
While each of Apple’s latest laptops has an M2 chip, the MacBook Pro has a 10-core GPU as standard. If you want it for Air, you need to pay extra $300.
More GPU cores mean faster rendering and processing. Besides active cooling, this is another aspect of the MacBook Pro that can make it more performing than the MacBook Air. But as with active cooling, additional GPU cores may offer a useful benefit only for professional users such as video and audio editors.
Longer battery life
The MacBook Pro 2022 has a 58.2Wh battery while the MacBook Air has a 52.6Whr battery. Apple says the Pro is rated for 20 hours of video playback and 17 hours of wireless web browsing.
On the other hand, the MacBook Air is rated for 18 hours of video and 15 hours of wireless web browsing. Both portable devices effectively deliver an all-day battery, but the Pro should last a little longer, according to Apple. This is another advantage it has on the air.
Reasons You Might Still Think About Your MacBook Air
Based on what we’ve covered, the MacBook Pro 2022 looks like a laptop geared toward professional editors who need a device that delivers sustainable performance.
However, the majority of potential buyers do not necessarily need to view videos or edit audio clips. They just want a powerful laptop for everyday use. For this and other reasons, the MacBook Air seems to be the ideal device for most people.
The MacBook Air has a new design that is more in line with the MacBook Pro released in 2021. In contrast, the MacBook Pro 2022 features the same design that the Pro line has had for nearly half a decade. The new Air also has a 1080p camera, a larger screen, and MagSafe charging.
You get all these modern features for $100 less than the Pro. If nothing else, the price alone might drive people to get the Air over the Pro.
prospects
Although I still insist that the new MacBook Air is a better overall deal compared to the 2022 MacBook Pro, the latter shouldn’t be written off completely.
The Pro on its own should be a more capable laptop for both casual and professional users. This is mostly due to its M2 processor. Sure, it might not be as powerful as the M1 Pro or M1 Max chips, but it looks like a marked improvement over the original M1.
We haven’t tested the M2 yet, but based on recent leaks, it should be a beast of the chip — enough to potentially put both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro on our best laptops list.
The Pro also has several advantages over the air, such as active cooling, more GPU cores as standard and longer battery life. While better and sustainable performance may not be necessary for casual users, professionals or those who want a larger platform will undoubtedly appreciate the extra power. To that end, the MacBook Pro 2022 is worth considering.
MacBook Pro and MacBook Air reviews are coming soon and will provide a clearer picture of what these devices are capable of—-and ultimately help you decide what’s right for you. Stay tuned!
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