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The MacBook line offers three distinct choices: the 13-inch Air, 13-inch Pro and 16-inch Pro. Students who need a remote learning tool are going to naturally gravitate towards one of them. All copies of QuickBooks for Mac must be the same version-year. Internet access required. Contacts is included in macOS from Apple, Inc. Calendar is included in macOS from Apple, Inc. Outlook integration requires Microsoft® Outlook 2016 for Mac or newer, including Mac Office 365. Deposit slips sold separately. Forms sold separately.
With both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro having been refreshed in 2020, it's a tempting time to buy – but which is the best balance for your needs?
We'll help you work out which is the better buy for an Apple laptop: the cheaper, lighter option or the more expensive, powerhouse option? We'll explain everything you need to know.
• Read our full Apple MacBook Air 2020 review
Of course what's right for one laptop buyer isn't necessarily right for another, and so we'll break down the differences between these two ranges so you know exactly what you're looking at. You'll also need to decide how you're going to be using your new computer, so you can make the best decision based on the information we'll give you.
- Best Apple MacBook Air deals – find the cheapest price
- Best Apple MacBook Pro deals – the latest offers
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MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Design & usability
The MacBook Air is the smaller and lighter laptop of the two.. hence the name. When closed, at its thinnest point it's 0.41 cm thick, compared with 1.49cm (0.59 inches) for the 13-inch MacBook Pro and 1.62 cm (0.64 inches) for the 16-inch MacBook Pro. However, it's worth noting that the MacBook Air is actually 1.61cm (0.63 inches) at its thickest point, so it's actually slight thicker than the 13-inch MacBook Pro. But its tapered design leaves it feeling slimmer and more handle-able overall.
The MacBook Air weighs in at 1.29kg (2.8 pounds), compared with 1.37 g (3.02 pounds) for the 13-inch Pro and 2kg (4.3 pounds) for the 16-inch Pro. Again, note that the difference between the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro isn't huge.
All three models use Apple's latest generation of keyboard, which is a crucial improvement over previous models. You may have heard of reliability concerns around Apple's keyboards over the last few years, but now 100% of its laptops use a new design for the mechanics of the keys, and it's both more comfortable and (based on use so far) less likely to break than previous models.
The keys have a fairly short travel, but you can feel the movement, and there's great feedback, so accuracy is no problem.
All the models have excellent trackpads, too – this is one area Apple nailed a long time ago, and never missteps on.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro finds room for noticeably bigger and more impressive speakers than you get on either the MacBook Air or the 13-inch MacBook Pro… or almost any laptop we've tried, really. They're genuinely impressive, and not in a mealy-mouthed 'well, they're good for laptop speakers' way. They use an advanced design with two opposing drivers in each side, one facing up, one facing down, so that the vibrations from each will cancel each other out, so you get big noise levels without feeling any shake in the frame. Some high-end speakers use this setup, including the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance.
The MacBook Air and smaller MacBook Pro also have good speakers, but now we're back into for laptops territory. The stereo separation is impressive, though, and you certainly won't feel like you're missing out when it comes to sounds.
The MacBook Pro models also have new microphone arrays that Apple's calls 'studio quality', though we'd still probably suggest a real microphone for your hit podcast. However, in our new world of video-conferencing all the time, they're a big improvement over most built-in mics.
There are also some differences in terms of the ports you've got available, which will get on to shortly. Finally, while all these laptops come in either silver or space grey, only the MacBook Air offers a gold option – and it's a really nice colour.
MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: display
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The comparison is really close when it comes to the display. Both the MacBook Air and the smaller MacBook Pro have a 13.3-inch screen running at a 2560x1600 resolution – though the Pro does use a wider P3 colour gamut, and is slightly brighter (500 nits versus 400 nits).
The difference doesn't matter much if you're just doing document work (though the extra brightness makes the Pro easier to see in bright light conditions, such as sunlight), but the broader colours and boosted brightness matter for creative work.
The larger MacBook Pro sports a 16-inch screen running at a 3072x1920 resolution (with the wider colour gamut and extra brightness), which gives a lot more room to work.
The single most important thing (in our opinion) is that all three models support True Tone, which changes the colour balance of the screen to match the lighting of the room you're in, so you don't get that off-putting thing of a screen appearing blue when the light around you is yellow. This is kinder on the eyes in the evening – we wouldn't want to live without it.
MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: specs and options
Apple gives you a plethora of options when it comes to kitting out the latest MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros. The MacBook Air first: you start off with a 1.1GHz dual-core 10th-gen Intel Core i3 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz), 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. That's for the base version, which costs £999/$999/AUS$1,599.
There is a model that's a step up, though, giving you a quad-core 1.1GHz 10th-gen Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost to 3.5GHz), 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. That costs £1,299/$1,299/AUS$1,599 and we think it's a good option if you want a bit more head-room for your tasks. The base version is good for web browsing, document work and basic photo and video editing, for example, but if you wanted to get fancier with Photoshop, 4K video or programming then we'd suggest the quad-core version. Getting the extra power plus double the storage for that upgrade fee seems like a good deal to us.
You can configure your MacBook Air further – you can go up to 16GB of RAM and a maximum of 2TB of storage. Graphics are provided by integrated Intel Plus chips on all 2020 MacBook Air models, which is a significant step up over previous versions of the Air.
• Browse all MacBook Air options at the Apple Store UK
• Browse all MacBook Air options at the Apple Store US
• Browse all MacBook Air options at the Apple Store Australia
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is the next step up in power. At its cheapest, you get a 1.4GHz quad-core 8th-gen Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz), 8GB of RAM, 256GB or 512GB of storage, and integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645, all from £1,299/£1,299/AUS$1,999. These lower-end versions of the MacBook Pro 13-inch haven't had a spec upgrade this year – only the keyboard was improved.
However, at the higher end, the MacBook Pro 13-inch has had a very nice upgrade in 2020. Starting from £1,799/$1,799/AUS$2,999, you get a 2.0GHz Intel 10th-gen Core i5 quad-core processor, the latest Intel Iris Plus graphics, 16GB of faster RAM, and 512GB or 1TB of storage.
• Browse all 13-inch MacBook Pro models at the Apple Store UK
• Browse all 13-inch MacBook Pro models at the Apple Store US
• Browse all 13-inch MacBook Pro models at the Apple Store Australia
The top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro configurations start out at a 2.6GHz 6-core 9th-gen Intel Core i7 processor (Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz), 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and Radeon Pro 5300M 4GB graphics. That'll cost you £2,399/$2,399/AUS$3,799.
The next model up gets you a 2.3GHz 8-core 9th-gen Intel Core i9 (Turbo Boost up to 4.8GHz), 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD and Radeon Pro 5500M 4GB graphics. This version costs £2,799/$2,799/AUS$4,399.
If you really want to trick the laptop out, you can go all the way up to a 2.4GHz 8-core 9th-gen Intel Core i9 processor (Turbo Boost up to 5.0GHz), 64GB of RAM, a massive 8TB of storage, and Radeon Pro 5600M 8GB graphics.
• Browse all 16-inch MacBook Pro models at the Apple Store UK
• Browse all 16-inch MacBook Pro models at the Apple Store US
• Browse all 16-inch MacBook Pro models at the Apple Store Australia
We should note that 16-inch MacBook Pro hasn't received a full upgrade in 2020, and is rumoured to get one in towards the end of the year.
That top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro is an absolute beast, but overkill unless you're rendering video or doing something equally demanding – for most casual computing use, the lower specs on the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro will do you just fine.
- Here's our definitive list of the best laptops of the moment
MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: features and ports
All these MacBooks are going to come running the latest versions of macOS, Catalina. They'll also get all free updates for the foreseeable future, including the new OS, Big Sur, that we expect to land in October 2020 most likely. From a software point of view, they all have the same features and capabilities, and access to the same applications.
The less powerful components of the MacBook Air equal longer battery life: Apple quotes 12 hours of wireless web use and 13 hours of iTunes video watching. That beats out the quoted 10 hours of wireless web use and 10 hours of iTunes video watching for the MacBook Pro models.
In practice, it's common for people to see lower battery life than that from the MacBook Pros, but not because of any deception with Apple's figures – it's just that those are the machines people use for more demanding software, and the more hardcore an app is, the more quickly it drains your power.
The MacBook Air features two Thunderbolt 3 (USB‑C) ports, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack. Monopoly full version. That matches the cheaper versions of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, but if you buy the more powerful versions of the 13-inch MacBook Pro (with the 10th-gen processors) you instead get four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports and a headphone jack.
With the 16-inch MacBook Pro, all models come with four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, plus a headphone jack. You might need a dongle or a hub (or two) whichever model you opt for.
It's worth noting that all of the MacBook Pros include the Touch Bar, and the MacBook Air doesn't. The Touch Bar is a touchscreen that runs across the top of the keyboard in place of the function keys, and it can display custom controls depending on the app you're in – or it can display a set of standard controls of your choosing.
These can be quite handy when they're shortcuts or give you access to fine-grained sliders or other options that would normally be buried a couple of clicks deep. But we wouldn't call the Touch Bar essential by any means – a lot of people just don't use it.
Both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models include Touch ID fingerprint security. That makes life much easier for logging in, and for verifying your identity for online security.
MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: pricing and verdict
Both the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro will give you a top Apple laptop experience – it's just a question of how much power you're going to need (and how light you want your laptop to be while you're lugging it around).
At the top end, the 16-inch MacBook Pro can be kitted out with ludicrous amounts of power, memory and storage, and it gives you that extra screen real estate to work with as well.
The 13-inch model offers an impressive level of performance from its upper-tier models too, though you don't get the discrete graphics options that you do with the bigger laptop. The cheaper 13-inch models are certainly capable, but it's a shame that internals haven't been upgraded to newer options.
On the other hand, the MacBook Air is lightweight and a little bit cheaper too (check out the widgets on this page for the latest prices). If you're more of a casual computer user then you can save yourself some money with a cheaper option – remember the macOS software is the same on all these models.
Difference Format
The scale of price and performance is clear to see as you move up from the MacBook Air to the MacBook Pro, despite there being some potential crossover where the higher-tier MacBook Air has a quad-core processor that appears not far off the power of the base level 13-inch MacBook Pro's processor.
But the more constrained chassis of the new Air means that processor will hit its heat limits fairly quickly when taxed hard, while the MacBook Pro has more room to manoeuvre. And if you step up the higher-tier 13-inch MacBook Pro, you get a major boost in speed even while staying at quad-core.
But the good news is that there are plenty of configuration options along the way, so you should be able to find an Apple laptop that meets your needs.
You can find the lowest prices on any given model of MacBook Pro or MacBook Air using our price finders below – you can use the Filters to specify the specs you want.
Microsoft’s Windows PCs and Macs have been going at it ever since their inception. In the early 2020s, the competition is getting more heated than ever. Apple is now chucking faster, durable, more powerful, and more affordable Macs to compete with PCs.
In 2019 however, PCs had the upper hand, selling 71.8 million units during the fourth quarter, while Mac only shipped 4.7 million units. Understandably, plenty of companies manufacture PCs, unlike Macs, which solely come from Apple Inc.
Unless you’re a tech avid, then the differences you know between PC and Mac are their names, looks, and operating systems. However, there's much more that differentiates these two types of computers.
Similarly, there’s a lot of similarities between PC and Mac, that’s why it’s so hard for some people to settle on one. However, with so many people switching to the other camp, it gets you thinking what makes Macs and PCs different and are they any similar?
In this post, we’ll be looking at the similarities and differences between these two types of computer giants.
In This Post:
- What Are the Differences Between PCs and Macs
Similarities Between PC and Mac
Right off the bat, both the Mac and PC have the same build, but not down to their core. Both of them have screens and keyboards; they are, after all, computers.
One might argue that PCs and Macs have more in common than they have differences, but you’ll be the judge once you’re done reading this. Here are a few similarities between PC and Mac computers.
- Hardware components– Mac computers and PCs use the same hardware components generally. Both have RAM, graphic cards, hard drives, and ports. Though these components are the same, they vary greatly in terms of speed, functionality, and their drivers.
- Similar interface– Though the user-interfaces are different, in essence, they are the same. That’s because both allow you to use a mouse to browse folders and files. You also use apps on both systems to accomplish specific tasks.
- Both are compatible with Microsoft Office– Microsoft Office suite and other popular programs can work on both Mac and PC. So you can still work on your projects on Word and Database if you switch from PC to Mac.
- Compatible with most browsers– Browsers such as Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari work on both platforms. However, Microsoft’s Edge is exclusively for Windows PCs.
- Virtual Assistants– Though not the same virtual assistant, both PC and Mac have a virtual assistant. For Macs, the virtual assistant is Siri, while for PC, it’s Cortana.
- Compatibility with Cloud Services– Cloud services are all the rage these days. Luckily both Mac and PC are compatible with cloud services like Google Drive and DropBox. You can also use iCloud on Windows, but you first need an Apple ID.
- CDs and DVDs– Macs can read most DVDs and CDS that are in Windows Format.
- Compatibility with peripheral devices– Most peripheral devices, be they printers, speakers, keyboards, and mouse, work on both PC and Mac.
As you can see PCs and Mac computers are very similar; there’s not too much that sets the two apart. Maybe a look into their inception will shed light on their essential difference.
What Does PC Stand for?
PC abbreviates personal computers, and it was the first computer that could actually fit on a desk. Before PCs and microprocessors, computers were large bulky systems that only large corporations, universities, and government agencies could own.
The first desktop computer was the Programma 101 that was invented in 1964 that sold for about $3200 at the time of release. The first formal PC, however, was the KENBAK-1 invented in 1971.
Manufacturers adopted the term personal computer, because as the computers got smaller, they became more for individual use.
The PCs we have today can rest on our laps, and are a huge leap from the first PCs. Today, PCs are much faster, smaller, easier-to-use and affordable.
The Mac Computer
The Mac was the first computer to have a GUI and a mouse. Before the first Mac computer, the only way you’d get a computer to accomplish specific tasks is through lines of code. You can imagine how difficult it was; the computer was a device for computer experts only.
What Are the Differences Between PCs and Macs
From a distance, you can’t tell a laptop and a MacBook apart. So how does a PC compare to a Mac? Here we put together key differences between the two computers.
Design
PCs have the CPU, the part with the processors, and other hardware components, separate from the computer screen. However, with MACs, the CPU is integrated with the screen. So with a Mac, you get a single unit, while a PC has both the screen and a tower CPU, which you can lay flat.
Operating Systems
Mac Computers use macOS, while PCs use Microsoft’s Windows. Windows operating systems receive more updates than macOS. That doesn’t, however, mean that Windows operating systems are much better than macOS.
In fact, both operating systems have their fair shares of issues and capabilities. Both also have stellar performance, but the computer’s performance also depends on its technical specifications.
Technical specifications
Technical specifications are stuff like the RAM capacity, GPUs, hard drives and other hardware components. These components generally vary from PC to PC and Mac to Mac.
Macs have high-quality components that are faster and have more capacity. As such, Macs will outperform low-end PCs, that’s why gaming on Mac is such a breeze. However, most high-end PCs give Macs a run for their money and can easily perform better than Macs.
However, note that you have to pay top dollar for these quality components on the Mac. That’s why many gamers and designers prefer PCs to Macs because they’re more cost-effective.
Price
Difference Machine Learning And Ai
If you want to get yourself a Mac, make sure you have more than $1000. That’s because few Macs sell for less than a thousand dollars, and those that do aren’t so great. PCs generally cost less than Macs and also have a broader price range.
One can argue that the Macs’ hefty price tags are justified. That’s because Apple uses only top-notch components for their Macs. Plus, if you couple these components with the macOS, the mac becomes one heck of a machine.
Choose a Computer that Suits Your Needs
All in all, there’s no better one between PC and Mac. So your choice of computer depends on your preference and your tasks. If you’re a gamer, then you might want a PC since it’s compatible with most games.
The Mac is great for business owners, and professionals in various schools. Educational institutions also find Macs more fitting for academic apps and teaching methods.
For more insightful reads, be sure to check out other articles on the site.