Hi I’m a really big fan of the YouTube channel and having watched the latest video on which MacBook to buy, I’m still slightly confused.
I mostly need a laptop to type word document, open multiple PDF files and browse the web. So I wouldn’t say I am an advanced user at all. However, I desire to have a larger screen to allow me to be more productive at my desk, to allow me to see multiple files more easily. And I would like to have a nice picture display to be able to watch movies in bed. l’m happy to get a 24-27 inch external monitor, keyboard and mouse for my desk, which will allow me to get a smaller sized MacBook and not overspend on a 16 inch MacBook Pro which costs £2500.
This then leaves me with the below options:
MacBook Pro 14 inch
MacBook Air 15 inch
Both are the same price £1600 since I need 512 GB minimum
Or should I bite the bullet and pay extra for the 16 inch MacBook Pro = £2500. Note I will still need to buy an external monitor for my desk. But it will resolve the watching movies in bed issue.
Since both the MacBook Air and Pro are the same price , but the pro is a better machine with better speakers and a more clearer display but the air has a larger screen (one inch more), is the 1 inch a substantial difference when watching a movie OR is the smaller but better screen quality in the Macbook Pro the more better option for watching movies ?
I understand that the pro is a better machine , thus will require sacrificing that 1 inch of screen size but I’m not sure because I do like the thought of having a larger screen when watching a film. Can somebody guide me on this?
I’d get the Air 15 inch, but honestly, for your use case you could buy an M3 Air as well. You’d probably save some money. The Pro is heavier, has a smaller screen, and has ports you probably don’t need since you can get an HDMI-USB C cable for whatever monitor you choose to buy. The reason I say M3 is that in a year Apple will have touchscreen laptops and maybe the iPads get to a place where you really don’t need the Mac at all. But if you want one, I’d go Air 15 M4 or M3. For 2500 you seem willing to spend, you could get an older gen (even M2 or M1) Air for quite cheap and then just buy a whole new computer in 1-2 years. Personally, I think you’ll notice 15 vs. 14 inch all out, but isn’t the 15 inch actually 15.3? And the 14 like 14.6? Apple always has bespoke screen sizes to be slightly bigger than most laptops in its category and to create the illusion you got the best of the smaller and lighter laptop with a screen that is “less than an inch” smaller than a larger laptop.
I’d also get the Air 15. The only downside I see for your use case is that the keyboard doesn’t feel quite as comfortable as the Pro’s. But many people are fine with it. If you can go to an Apple store to try both, do that!
I agree with what Josh and the other replier said; if you don’t need something the Pros have, the MacBook Air 15 is probably your best bet. Unfortuntely, stock of the M3 models seem to be gone, and I wouldn’t recommend older than M3 right now. (And make sure you get at least 16 GB of RAM, because it isn’t upgradable and it will make a difference even for basic tasks.)
Thank you that was really helpful. Do you think there are any downsides to buying a refurbished M4 chip MacBook Pro 16 inch. Are they as good as new ~ only came out October 2024?
And do you have any Windows recommendations for my usage ( non advanced) and preference for a high quality screen (preferably OLED 15-16 inch)? I did look into LG gram pro but from just Josh’s video I noted some of its pitfalls. So I’m not sure if windows can match the quality that MacBooks offer, as I want something reliable.
Thank you. Does anyone have any idea when the new M5 chip MacBooks are coming out as online it’s saying around October which is soon. So would it be worth waiting for that to allow me the option of getting M5 chip or M4 chip at discounted price? I’ve also seen that M5 chip may have WiFi 7 I’m not sure though.
