Denis, host of the 5th Element YouTube channel, learned whether the M2 has gotten much better compared to the M1 Pro and whether it makes sense to buy the MacBook Air M2 instead of the MacBook Pro M1 Pro.
In terms of appearance, the MacBook Pro (2021) is slightly thicker than the MacBook Air M2 (2022). It also has more connectors overall: HDMI, SD connector, etc. The version on the M2 only has two Type-C, 3.5mm Jacks.
The screen diagonal of the MacBook Pro with M1 Pro is 14 inches, and the MacBook Air M2 is 13.6 inches. At the same time, the Pro version has a maximum brightness of 1000 nits, while the Air version has a brightness of 500 nits. The screen refresh rate is also faster on the Mac Pro: 60 Hz versus 120 Hz on the MacBook Air M2.
There is no particular difference between the 2021 and 2022 MacBooks in terms of keyboard and touchpad. At the same time, the webcam on the laptop on the M1 Pro has a resolution of 2 MP, on the MacBook on the M2 – 2.1 MP. In reality, the new version has a bit more detail and overall the picture looks noticeably better too.
You can find the key specs of both laptops below.
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In general, in almost all scenarios except one, these two laptops are almost indistinguishable. And this is proven by the test results above. But if you’re going to work with 3D graphics, you’d better get a MacBook Pro. Also, if you’re working in programs like Premiere Pro, either model will do just fine.
Processor heating is also different for laptops. The M1 Pro version had a maximum temperature of 53 degrees, while the M2 version had a maximum temperature of 83 degrees.
If you’re considering both MacBook models for coding, there isn’t much difference between them either.
Another important point is autonomy and battery capacity. The MacBook Pro with M1 Pro has a 70 Wh battery, while the MacBook Air M2 has a 52.6 Wh battery. But, oddly enough, it’s the old model, not the new one, that drains faster.
In terms of sound, the Pro version also has an advantage.
Consider the following when choosing between MacBook Pro – M1 Pro and MacBook Air – M2. If you want a display with a 120Hz refresh rate, more powerful sound, faster processor and faster 3D graphics, buy the Pro version. But if good autonomy and compactness are important to you and you want to save a little, then take the MacBook Air with the M2.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
