Apple has released some stellar MacBooks since it transitioned to ARM-based Apple silicon processors. In 2022, the company launched the redesigned 13-inch M2 MacBook Air, and in 2023, it refreshed the high-end MacBook Pro line.
Consumers might not see all the visual and hardware differences between these two machines. So, to help you out, we'll compare the two so that you can decide which one is best for you.
Design
The high-end MacBook Pro adopted a new squared-off design in 2021. The MacBook Pro has become thicker and heavier to make way for better cooling. Apple's MacBook Pro models in the past sacrificed thermal performance and ports for a thin design, and creators were often frustrated with the decision. Despite the added weight and thickness, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is still surprisingly portable.
The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air remains relatively the same thickness and weight as the 13-inch M1 Air but remains pleasantly light and portable. It also adopted the MacBook Pro's squared-edge design with a notch. The M2 Air comes in a unique Midnight color in addition to Space Gray, Silver, and Starlight. Since Apple silicon chips are very power efficient, the MacBook Air is also a fanless laptop.
Display
The high-end MacBook Pro models feature some of the best displays ever in a laptop. These are Liquid Retina XDR displays that use mini-LED backlighting technology to deliver a one million to one contrast ratio. Most notably, the 14-inch MacBook Pro's display features ProMotion technology, allowing a refresh rate of 120Hz. Thanks to this new addition, animations while navigating macOS are super smooth.
The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air, on the other hand, packs a similar display to the M1 MacBook Air but does provide a few changes. The M2 version offers a Liquid Retina display, bumping the brightness to 500 nits while packing slim bezels and a notch to house the 1080p FaceTime camera. Note that the Liquid Retina display still uses a standard LCD panel, unlike the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
However, it does support the P3 wide color gamut and is still a relatively bright display. It may not be the best display in the lineup, but it does the job with minimal complaints.
Performance
Both laptops feature Apple silicon, but they are different for various cases. The 14-inch MacBook Pro models pack the beefed-up Pro and Max versions of the M2 chip. You can choose between the two on the 14-inch model. The M2 Pro has additional CPU and GPU cores compared to the M2 chip for demanding workflows such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and more.
It's a good idea to compare the M2 Pro to the M2 Max to see whether you'll need the extra GPU performance the M2 Max delivers. The M2 Max also allows for more unified memory, up to 96GB. That's plentiful for users who use multiple professional applications in their workflow. The 14-inch MacBook Pro offers serious power for professionals who need to take their demanding work on the go.
The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air packs the standard M2 chip, focusing mainly on graphics improvements from the previous M1 chip. It maxes out with an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. You can also get up to 24GB of unified memory. One important thing to note is that since the MacBook Air does not have a fan, you can experience thermal throttling if you push the system to its limits.
So, if you plan to use professional applications on your Mac or do some video editing, you should lean more toward the 14-inch MacBook Pro. If you don't use those kinds of applications, the MacBook Air's performance will be adequate for you. However, the step-up configuration of the MacBook Air is the better option for most people since there are valid reasons not to get the base M2 Air.
Battery Life
Apple silicon has improved every MacBook's battery life significantly. Even though the 14-inch MacBook Pro has an incredible display and stellar performance, which can impact battery life, Apple rates it for up to 18 hours of video playback and 12 hours of wireless web browsing.
However, don't expect similar battery life if you use demanding applications such as Final Cut Pro since they draw much more power from the Apple silicon chips.
The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air wins in the battery department despite being a thin and light laptop. The M2 Air is rated for up to 18 hours of video playback or 15 hours of wireless web browsing. Therefore, it's perfect for web browsing, email, and word processing. So, if you plan to just do some light work on your laptop, the MacBook Air might be the better option.
Port Selection
Both laptops have received additional ports that were missing from Apple's MacBooks for years. The MacBook Pro features MagSafe as its primary charging solution. However, if you're not a fan of MagSafe, you can still charge it via USB-C since the machine offers three Thunderbolt 4-enabled USB-C ports.
The MacBook Pro also welcomes back the HDMI port, allowing you to easily connect the computer to a monitor or TV without an adapter. The HDMI port also supports up to 8K resolution.
The SD card slot returns as well, removing the frustration photographers used to face whenever they wanted to import their photos to their computer. And lastly, the MacBook Pro's headphone jack was also updated to support high-impedance headphones. With this selection of ports, you have great versatility and won't have to carry any dongles to utilize your computer.
The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air remains relatively light on ports. However, this model also received MagSafe with its 2022 refresh. One benefit to the MacBook Air adopting MagSafe is that it frees up another USB-C port.
The M2 Air still offers two USB-C ports like the previous M1 model and a headphone jack that supports high-impedance headphones. The MacBook Air's port selection is solid for average users, but the 14-inch MacBook Pro is the clear winner in this department.
Price Comparison
Apple's 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,999 for the base model with the 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU M2 Pro chip, 16GB of unified memory, and 512GB of SSD storage. That is a pretty hefty price for a laptop; however, the price is worth it since the display is one of the best on the market, you get more ports and better overall performance than the Air.
The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air starts at a lower $1,099, which is one of the main reasons to buy the M2 Air since it's a relatively affordable computer. That model comes with an M2 chip equipped with 8 CPU cores and 8 GPU cores. You also get 8GB of unified memory and 256GB of SSD storage.
The higher-end model, which costs $1,399, is the one most people should consider if they want the 13-inch M2 Macbook Air, and the price difference between this model and the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro is $600. However, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is known to go on sale for a couple of hundred dollars less.
At this point, the argument for the M2 Air suddenly gets complicated because, for around $400 more, you get a cutting-edge display, faster CPU and GPU performance, more ports, and much better thermal performance. And if you need 16GB of RAM in the MacBook Air, the difference in price between the two laptops is only $200.
Don't Waste Your Money on the Wrong MacBook
The 14-inch MacBook Pro and the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air are great laptops, but they exist for different groups. The 14-inch MacBook Pro is great for people with demanding workflows who want something more portable than the 16-inch model. However, some people want the best hardware available, even if it's significantly more expensive.
The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air is perfect for users who want a laptop for simple tasks. But if you can find the 14-inch MacBook Pro on sale, it is hard to make the argument for the M2 MacBook Air, especially if you want more than 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.