MacBook Pro vs Air Battery Life Comparison

ORIGINAL POST

Hello

I am choosing between the 2020 Macbook Pro and the 2020 Macbook Air (both i5, 8gb ram) and the most important aspect for me is battery life since I am always out and about and I cannot charge during the day until I get home, Ideally i would want around 8hrs but I don't want a slow processor since I will be doing some multitasking usually.

My usage is not very intensive, I don't do zoom calls or use high intensity apps but rather my usage is just browsing multiple tabs on safari while using some Microsoft Office apps open such as word docos or excel spreadsheets at the same time. Also my use is not more than 2hrs at a time, so I wouldn't constantly use my laptop for 8hrs a day nonstop, i would turn my laptop on/off at least 4 times a day during breaks.

Which Macbook is better for my needs in terms of battery life for my light multitasking?

If you have any real life battery life figures from similar usage in either devices can you please also say them.

I also will be using my Mac to have sidecar open with my iPad sometimes, does using sidecar reduce battery life noticeably?

Sorry for the multiple questions

Thanks

1 replies

starchaserro · 5 years ago

Hey,

Maybe this comparison will help you make a decision: Apple MacBook Pro 13 vs Apple MacBook Air.

You'll get a better battery life from the Air, the Pro has a much more powerful processor and it will eat up battery life faster. I don't think you'll need to worry about the processor but, if you're going to have a lot of applications open at the same time, I'd recommend opting for the 16 GB RAM one - will make all the difference.

Hope I helped!

1 upvotes on reddit

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r/macbook • [2]

Summarize

Battery? Air vs Pro.

Posted by aNiceFox · in r/macbook · 3 years ago

Here is the thing: I’m buying a MacBook very soon but I still don’t know which one of these two computers I’m buying:

MacBook Air, 16 Go RAM, 512 Go SSD
MacBook Pro 14 (2021 M1 Pro), base model

Speaking of the battery, obviously the Pro will run out faster if using some heavy programs since it’s more powerful than the Air. But what if I’m doing some productivity things? Like using Notion, navigating on the web, watching videos, movies… Does the Air have a better battery than the Pro? Is it that noticeable?

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4 replies

ApatheticWithoutTheA · 3 years ago

The Air battery is almost always going to be a bit better than the pro.

You aren’t going to notice enough of a difference that I’d let it make my decision. Battery life on both is amazing.

1 upvotes on reddit

kr731 · 3 years ago

The 13 inch and 16 inch MBP both beat out the air iirc but the 14 inch is pretty close. Stats are all listed on Apple’s site if OP wants to double check

1 upvotes on reddit

aNiceFox · OP · 3 years ago

Yup but tests are getting better results than on the website

1 upvotes on reddit

aNiceFox · OP · 3 years ago

Good news!

1 upvotes on reddit

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r/macbook • [3]

Summarize

To M4 users, how does the M4 base model’s battery life compare to the MacBook Air 15” M3?

Posted by Fong_168 · in r/macbook · 7 months ago

Hi everyone, I’m planning to buy either the MacBook Pro 14” M4 base or the MacBook Air 15” M3, but I’m concerned about battery life. I’ve heard that the 15-inch Air has amazing battery life, but aside from the display size, the 14” M4 seems better in most aspects.

My old MacBook Air M1 lasted at least 8–10 hours depending on my usage. It’s a tough decision!

2 upvotes on reddit

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https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-MacBook-Air-15-M3-review-Apple-s-large-everyday-MacBook-gets-a-power-up.811701.0.html

2 replies

milorambaldi47 · 7 months ago

I bought both to test them out. Unscientifically, they both had similar battery life. The M3 had better battery life when watching videos. Not sure if it had to do with ProMotion and the speakers. Web browsing and light gaming was equal for both. I thought the M4 would be better with the advertised 24 hours battery life but it was negligible. I never fully run down the battery but I was able to get at least 7 hours at 50% battery usage on low power mode.

I came from the M1 Air (RIP the wedge) which remains the best computer I’ve ever used. The Pro felt like a step backwards in terms of thickness but the speakers and the screen are phenomenal. The 15” Air speakers are no slouch and I kept it for the battery life, ergonomics and screen size.

1 upvotes on reddit

rainy_diary · 7 months ago

Both have similiar battery life.

Could read these reviews.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-MacBook-Pro-14-M4-review-The-M4-base-model-with-important-improvements.923443.0.html

1 upvotes on reddit

See 2 replies

r/macbook • [4]

Summarize

Battery Comparison: MacBook Air 15in (M3) and MacBook Pro 14in (M4)

Posted by The_Krakene · in r/macbook · 9 months ago

I'm deciding between a MB air m3 15 inch, and a MB pro m4 14in. I've done alot of consideration and the deciding factor for me has boiled down to battery life.

I've seen lots of different reviews and concerning posts about this topic, and i know the advertised battery life is grossly misrepresented, so can someone provide some personal experience/input?

How many hours does each device last under moderate workload (browsing, video playback, light graphic design, word documents, etc) on regular brightness?

1 upvotes on reddit

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https://youtu.be/8_SF-_9ZSQY?si=_nO9NG_KslmCsC5y

3 replies

narc0leptik · 9 months ago

If you really want the absolute best battery life then wait for the M4 Air to come out in 3 months. How can you afford such an expensive laptop as a teenager? Is your family rich or something?

1 upvotes on reddit

The_Krakene · OP · 9 months ago

I've always saved my allowance because I never saw a use for it until now. So I have quite a bit saved.

1 upvotes on reddit

narc0leptik · 9 months ago

Well in that case go for the M4 Base Model; it's the more efficient chip. Best bang for your buck performance wise; the M4 base model laptop has a higher single-core performance score than the M3 Pro chip. $1399 on Amazon right now https://www.amazon.com/Apple-2024-MacBook-Laptop-10%E2%80%91core/dp/B0DLHBYRPS It will have better thermals than the Macbook Air because of the thickness of the chassis and having a fan. It will have the best resale value, the best display.

If you wanna save some cash you could buy a used 2021 16" M1 Pro off of Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace/Offerup from a private party. Apple 2021 16" M1 Pro sells for upwards of $1000 on eBay, so $800 would be a fair price for a 2021 16" M1 Pro which is what they would get after eBay fees if they sold on eBay.

Really with Apple Silicon the battery life is good enough with anything it really don't matter what you pick as long as it's M1/M2/M3/M4.

1 upvotes on reddit

See 3 replies

r/macbook • [5]

Summarize

MacBook Air M4 15 inch vs MacBook Pro M4 14 inch

Posted by Diligent_Essay3831 · in r/macbook · 1 month ago

Images are from this video from YouTube very interesting

reddit.com

116 upvotes on reddit

12 replies

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12 replies

imjappo · 1 month ago

I had a 15” MacBook Air M2 and now I’m on the M4 Pro MacBook Pro.

The difference is night and day.

Sure, the Air has a slightly bigger screen, but the quality isn’t even close. The Pro is immersive, smooth, flawless.

I’d trade that extra inch for this quality every single time, no hesitation.

3 upvotes on reddit

Diligent_Essay3831 · OP · 1 month ago

Yeah I’ve been to Best Buy today to see them in person and it feels like the pro was way more smooth when I was scrolling news app a lot less blurry. Also sound better.

2 upvotes on reddit

Critical-Personality · 1 month ago

Now I can see that "Size does matter"! It's so visible. Unless I need the CPU power for more than 10 minutes straight, I think Air is fine. That extra size is always a pleasure 😁

5 upvotes on reddit

shuttleEspresso · 1 month ago

Furthermore, the air only has a 60 Hz screen at 500 nits brightness. No comparison with the pro.

7 upvotes on reddit

Lazy_Fuck_ · 1 month ago

For general use and light work loads the air is solid for me and I have the M2 15 inch. Not everyone needs an overkill laptop as the Pro since it serves its purpose for those that need that extra juice. Both options are great and just get what fits best for you if possible.

2 upvotes on reddit

Diligent_Essay3831 · OP · 1 month ago

I’m really curious about how the Air would perform with using parallels if somehow I need windows program in the future. Because the screen size is perfect with the 15 inch. Or maybe should I get the MacBook Pro M2 pro 16 inches for the same price. Idk

12 upvotes on reddit

urru4 · 1 month ago

16in M2 Pro will have a nicer (and bigger) screen, more ports, better speakers, probably better graphics and maybe better CPU (I’m not sure how the chips differ exactly). Unless you really need the extra lightness of the air or want to get a slightly newer device for future proofing, the M2 Pro is the better choice if at the same price imo.

3 upvotes on reddit

Diligent_Essay3831 · OP · 1 month ago

Yeah I just saw that it’s slightly lower on single core . But better in multiple core so I should be fine because screen is a big issue for me. 13 inches 14 inches seems small to me, the bigger the better but too pricey new m4

1 upvotes on reddit

shuttleEspresso · 1 month ago

You couldn’t talk me into a MacBook Air 15 inch when compared to the 14 inch MBP. Too many people get fixated on the screen size, but the MacBook Pro kicks the crap out of that air. More reports, longer battery, life, fans to keep the cool for sustained workflows, and the HDR screen and 1000 nits brightness sustained. Plus the mini LED screen for deeper blacks. And far better speakers.

21 upvotes on reddit

Plus_Beach_2033 · 1 month ago

the Air is bad performing because of no fans?

1 upvotes on reddit

shuttleEspresso · 1 month ago

Where did I say the air was bad performing because of no fans? I said sustained performance is what happens when you have fans. The air will throttle when it gets hot. The pro will not throttle because it has fans.

2 upvotes on reddit

Sad_Particular3 · 1 month ago

What if it was a 16 inch air instead of 14

0 upvotes on reddit

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r/macbook • [6]

Summarize

MacBook Air vs Pro

Posted by Bravoobsessed6 · in r/macbook · 4 months ago

Hi there, I currently have a MacBook Pro, but it’s over a decade old and I’m been having issues with it lately. I use it for email, checking websites, and occasionally stream shows on it. I’m looking for recommendations on whether I should get the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?

The most important thing to me is that the laptop lasts for as long as possible, as I can’t afford to buy a new one in a few years with medical bills I have so I want to make sure I make the right decision. Does one last longer than the other?

Thanks! (Sorry in advance if these questions r dumb)

3 upvotes on reddit

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7 replies

strangercheeze · 4 months ago

Build quality is good on the Pro and the Air. For your needs the Air will be more than adequate; the Pro does have a better screen with better refresh rates available, but for the things you’re doing you’re unlikely to notice, and the Air screen will still more than likely be better than your old Pro’s screen. Also as the Air is passively cooled it has zero moving parts (other than the lid hinges and the keys), so is marginally less prone to failure than the Pro which has a fan.

3 upvotes on reddit

TheDragonSlayingCat · 4 months ago

It’s not dumb. The main differences between the Air and Pro are:

The Pro has a fan, and the Air does not (which means the Air is quieter than the Pro, but it also throttles performance if it gets too hot)
The Pro has an HDMI 2.1 port built into it, and the Air does not
The Pro has a 120Hz/HDR/VRR screen, and the Air has a 60Hz/sRGB screen
The Pro has optional Pro and Max chips available BTO, which have more RAM and larger GPUs
The Air is lighter than the Pro
The Air is cheaper than the Pro
The Air and Pro come in slightly different sizes (13" and 15" for the Air, 14" and 16" for the Pro)

The Air isn’t good for PC gaming, editing feature films or TV series, or 3D content creation, but it’s perfectly fine for your use case (unless you cannot live without HDMI 2.1 or HDR on the internal screen), so I recommend the Air.

7 upvotes on reddit

SubstantialFix7341 · 4 months ago

The M4 Air is fine since you’re looking for longevity and don’t need the power of a pro.

12 upvotes on reddit

Veronica_Cooper · 4 months ago

The Air is also much cheaper than the Pro. I can get the base M4 MBA for £900. The Pro is almost double...i could get another Air in 5 years' time, and the Pro will have to last for almost 10 years for the same value. (excluding any inflation)

5 upvotes on reddit

jw307jw · 4 months ago

That’s a really good way of looking at it

1 upvotes on reddit

Veronica_Cooper · 4 months ago

I used to be the person who max out their Apple computer when speccing one out. Thinking that is best for value. But since the M series chips came out, I have flipped that on its head…especially when M4 comes with base 16G or ram. I have a M1 with 16g of ram at work and it’s still fine. I bought a M3 with 24g of ram, 512 SSD for less than a base M4 MBA with 16/256.

I’ll use that for 5 years and then get another one then, put the £1k saved in an account, in 5 years I’ll use that money to get another MBA…with the interest I might even get even more RAM.

This approach I think keeps me with the latest tech more, better value, and keep up with the support by the OS. My 2012 maxed out Intel iMac lost support for a lot of the apps and stuff near the end of its life and that wasn’t fun. Besides the CPU, other things like the ports speed was outdated. So it’s nice to get a newer machine with new ports too.

Going forward, base model (perhaps slight RAM bump if required), is my plan.

2 upvotes on reddit

Extra-Virus9958 · 4 months ago

You have no professional use.

The air is made for you

8 upvotes on reddit

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r/macbook • [7]

Summarize

What exactly makes a macbook pro better than air? Overall performance, speed, battery? Im just a regular mac user that does homework, go on youtube, code, etc, so i don’t know if i should get the 2020 air or 2020 pro.

Posted by soicey2 · in r/macbook · 3 years ago

1 upvotes on reddit

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4 replies

elvesandnutella · 3 years ago

Longer battery life, higher sustained performance due to fan, better track pad, better speaker, brighter screen, better camera and touchbar plus an extra GPU core.

The battery life difference is significant. I was averaging about 11-12 hours on my air and I get between 17 and 22 on my pro.

I'm referring to the m1 13 inch pro.

4 upvotes on reddit

soicey2 · OP · 3 years ago

Yes, im into the battery life. 11-12 hours is great but 17-22 is just on another level. You have a 2020?

2 upvotes on reddit

AdowTatep · 3 years ago

For your use case i'd get an air.

The pro has more performance due to better thermals etc etc. And currently if speaking about M1s. The pro has m1 pro/max which are also better, more performant versions. BUT if you only do browsing etc etc, the air is more than enough.

But then it depends on what you "code". If you code on unity, godot, mobile dev, or biiig heavy projects, pro is the one to go. But if you ONLY do python, javascript, some c/c++/c#, the air is enough.(Not saying that there's no difference between each other, just that air is already enough and pretty good)

3 upvotes on reddit

kbd_fan · 3 years ago

Get the air

2 upvotes on reddit

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r/macbookair • [8]

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Macbook Air 15” vs Macbook Pro 14” M4 chip

Posted by dominosyikes · in r/macbookair · 1 month ago

2 upvotes on reddit

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https://www.reddit.com/r/macbook/s/daMHUKQPHA

1 replies

Candid_Newspaper_451 · 1 month ago

The first thing that comes to mind is the fan in pro. Great if you are doing some demanding tasks

1 upvotes on reddit

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r/macbookpro • [9]

Summarize

MBP 14” w/ M4 Pro Chip (24gb Ram) or MB Air 13” w/ M4 Chip 16gb ram?

Posted by Imaginary_Scheme_865 · in r/macbookpro · 7 months ago

14” is $1700 13” is $1000

How much better would a MB pro last me compared to air?

Here is my original post with my usage:

2 upvotes on reddit

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1 replies

[deleted] · 7 months ago

Save some money and get the air with apple care. It’ll last your whole program. For perspective my partner has an 2020 air pre M chip and still runs like a champ.

2 upvotes on reddit

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r/macbook • [10]

Summarize

AIR VS PRO

Posted by [deleted] · in r/macbook · 6 years ago

I’m about to purchase a new MacBook but I can’t decide which one I should get. I don’t do anything crazy intensive on a regular basis, just internet, videos, movies, music, etc. Occasionally I’ll use some video editing or music production but not a lot.

I want good battery life and a light, portable machine. I can get the pro or the air at the base model. I don’t care about the Touch Bar.

I like the air for the simplicity, it’s light, good battery and decent speed and screen. The pro is obviously more future proof with regards to speed but I loose the extra lightness and battery life.

I’m so stuck between them. I can’t imagine the pro will make a huge difference in my daily activity with regards to speed, it’s not like the air is awful and slow.. it’s just less powerful. But I can imagine the air will be better for me.

Thoughts?

19 upvotes on reddit

8 replies

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8 replies

[deleted] · 6 years ago

I had the same choice man and I took the pro. The fact is that I was gonna go for the MacBook Air until I got convinced that Pro was worth the money. The price difference and battery life difference is not that high, but the power difference is. Considering I’ll keep my laptop for a long time (I kept my last MBA for more than 8 years) and that I could use it for a ton of projects (even if my usage is light for the moment, I don’t want to be limited). Maybe I did a bad choice, but for the moment it’s great. Hope you’ll find the right one for you and you’ll be happy with your choice

2 upvotes on reddit

pseudojapanese · 6 years ago

I think you have answered your question already. Both processors of Pro and Air work in energy efficient mode 99% of active time and being boosted only when they really overwhelm. If you do not need to montage videos or create massive programs/sites/3D models Pro will be just a heavy brick of useless power yet consuming the battery fast as fuck.

6 upvotes on reddit

rudalsxv · 6 years ago

I had the same choice and went with 2018 Air, does everything I need (office documents, email, browsing, youtube) and still hundreds of dollars less.

After eBay discount and tax write off I paid AUD$1200 for 8/256GB.

Performs exactly how I’d imagined, which is flawless. Tried the Touch Bar at the store, it’s gimmicky and not having ESC key got pretty annoying working on Excel.

4 upvotes on reddit

sarahs-World · 6 years ago

I have the same dilema, i bought the MBA and it is arriving this wednesday. I am still debating to return it but the battery life/less heat production/lightness/colour makes it a hard choice.

I got the maxed out version, 16GB/1TB.

I sold my MBP 15” 2018 for this one for the above reasons.

6 upvotes on reddit

xASAPxHoTrOdx · 6 years ago

How much did you end up paying after essentially trading up? I have a ‘14 I want to upgrade

0 upvotes on reddit

sarahs-World · 6 years ago

1800 euros

1 upvotes on reddit

babybigtoes · 5 years ago

Do you mind providing an update on how you like it so far?

1 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 6 years ago

Just get the cheapest one dude. You're overthinking this. You said yourself you don't so much on it.

3 upvotes on reddit

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