Apple currently sells two laptop lines: MacBook Pro (available in 13-inch M2, 14-inch M1 Pro/Max, and 16-inch M1 Pro/Max models) and MacBook Air (available in 13.3-inch M1 or 13.6-inch M2 models). The range includes a range of 13-inch Mac laptops with similar specifications, designed for home, student and office use.
In this article, we compare the 13-inch MacBook Pro to the MacBook Air to help you decide which one to buy.
MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro: Design
In some ways, the designs of the 2022 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are more similar than ever. The 2022 MacBook Air loses the tapered design that made it instantly recognizable as an Air (it's still available if you buy the M1 version of the MacBook Air). The current MacBook Air looks like a thinner version of the MacBook Pro. However, there are many differences between the two Macs.
Thanks to its redesign, the MacBook Air has many features that the 13-inch MacBook Pro lacks. On top of that, the 2022 MacBook Air has a larger 13.6-inch screen and slimmer bezels, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro has an older 13.3-inch display (the same as the M1 MacBook Air). There is one potential downside to this larger screen—it comes with a notch, like the one seen on the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, iPhones, and some iPads.
Another notable difference is that the 13-inch MacBook Pro is the only Mac laptop to feature an Apple Touch Bar. Apple removed the Touch Bar from the 2021 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, so if you want a Touch Bar, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is the only Mac laptop to offer it. All three MacBooks have the same Magic Keyboard with scissor switch keys.
The MacBook Air is lighter than the MacBook Pro, but only slightly. When it launched in 2008, the MacBook Air was the lightest laptop on the market, but the MacBook Pro has also dropped in weight over the years, so the difference is much smaller now:
- M2 MacBook Air: 2.7 lbs (1.24 kg)
- M2 MacBook Pro: 3 lbs (1.4 kg)
- M1 MacBook Air: 2.8 lbs (1.29 kg)
Following the redesign, the 2022 MacBook Air is actually slightly larger than the 13-inch MacBook Pro. This change allows Apple to accommodate a larger display. The M1 MacBook Air is the same size as the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
- M2 MacBook Air: 30.41 cm x 21.5 cm x 1.13 cm
- M2 MacBook Pro: 30.41 cm x 21.24 cm x 1.56 cm
- M1 MacBook Air： 30.41cm x 21.24cm x 1.61cm-0.41cm
Another difference between these MacBooks is the color options. The 2022 MacBook Air comes in some new colors: Midnight (dark blue), Starlight (gold), space gray, and silver.
The MacBook Pro is only available in silver and space gray options. The M1 MacBook Air comes in silver, space gray, and gold. The new Starlight shade is a light gold, while Midnight is closer to black with dark blue undertones.
MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro: Display
The 2022 MacBook Air has a new, larger and brighter display than the M2 MacBook Pro, a leap forward from the display on the previous generation MacBook Air.
The M2 MacBook Air comes with a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display instead of a regular old Retina display. Newer monitors have better contrast ratios and can support more colors (billions versus millions). However, neither is as good as the Liquid Retina XDR display found in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. Those more expensive MacBook Pro options bring up to 1,000 nits of brightness (500 nits for the M2 MacBook Air, 400 nits for the M1 MacBook Air), deeper blacks and more vivid colors, and ProMotion.
Partly due to the 2022 MacBook Air's slightly taller screen, measuring 13.6 inches diagonally instead of 13.3 inches, the MacBook Air display now offers slightly more pixels:
- M2 MacBook Pro: 2,560 x 1,600 pixels
- M2 MacBook Air: 2,560 x 1,664 pixels
- M1 MacBook Air: 2,560 x 1,600 pixels
MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro: Specs
Apple has now updated all of its Mac laptops to run on its own system-on-a-chip. First the M1 arrived in November 2020, followed by the M1 Pro and M1 Max in October 2021, and the M2 has arrived in July 2022 on the 2022 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro.
MacBook Air, M1 (2020, $999/£999)
- 8-core CPU, 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
- 7-core GPU
- 16 Core Neural Engine
- 8GB unified memory (up to 16GB)
- 256GB SSD
MacBook Air, M2 (2022, $1,199/£1,249)
- 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
- 8-core GPU
- 16 Core Neural Engine
- 8GB unified memory (up to 24GB)
- 256GB SSD
MacBook Air, M2 (2022, $1,499/£1,549)
- 8-core CPU, 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
- 10-core GPU
- 16 Core Neural Engine
- 8GB unified memory (up to 24GB)
- 512GB SSD
13-inch MacBook Pro, M2 (2022, $1,299/£1,349)
- 8-core CPU, 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
- 10-core GPU
- 16 Core Neural Engine
- 8GB unified memory (up to 24GB)
- 256GB SSD
13-inch MacBook Pro, M2 (2022, $1,499/£1,549
- 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
- 8-core GPU
- 16 Core Neural Engine
- 8GB unified memory (up to 24GB)
- 512GB SSD
MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro: Battery Life and Charging
In terms of battery life, nothing has changed since the M1 Macs, but these Macs are still ahead of older Intel MacBook models. According to Apple, the M1 and M2 MacBook Air models offer 18 hours, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro offers a staggering 20 hours.
However, the MacBook Air has better battery life. Apple will increase the charging speed if you use a good USB-C power adapter. A standard 35W dual-port adapter (included with all Air models except the entry-level model) can achieve a 10% charge in 10 minutes (30% charge in 30 minutes). Apple's 61W USB-C power adapter boosts charge to 72% in 30 minutes.
MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro: Ports and expansions
With the arrival of the 2022 MacBook Air, Apple has added MagSafe charging ports, which means both USB ports remain free while you charge. This puts the 13-inch MacBook Pro and older MacBook Air at a disadvantage, as they both only offer two USB 4 ports and two USB/Thunderbolt ports, so one of them will also be used for charging.
If you really need more ports, the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro have plenty available, including three Thunderbolt 4 (USB‑C) ports, an HDMI port, and an SDXC card slot. (If you're wondering what the difference is between USB-C and USB 4, USB 4 should be able to deliver 40Gb/s, which is what Thunderbolt 3 already offers. USB-C offers 10 to 20Gb/s.)
All Mac laptops offer a 3.5mm headphone jack.
MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro: Price
The decision to buy a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro may just come down to price, and when buying it is recommended to get the best machine you can afford.
Pricing for the different models below:
MacBook Air price
MacBook Air comes in two default configurations:
- M1 chip with 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: $999/£999.
- M2 chip with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: $1,199/£1,249.
- M2 chip with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD: $1,499/£1,549.
13-inch MacBook Pro price
Apple sells MacBook Pro in two 13-inch configurations:
- M2 chip with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD: $1,299/£1,349
- M2 chip with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD: $1,499/£1,549
MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro: Buying Tips
Both the MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro are great MacBooks, and the decision has to be based on your budget. If it’s a choice between the M2 MacBook Air and the M2 MacBook Pro, the M2 MacBook Air does come out a little ahead with its new design and better screen. The M2 MacBook Pro has little to offer other than the Touch Bar, and it has better cooling than the MacBook Air, so if you need to use your Mac for intensive work, the Pro may be better for you.