A Comprehensive Comparison of the M2 Air and M2 Pro MacBook Models
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Understanding the M2 Air vs. M2 Pro
How do Apple’s 2022 MacBook Air and 2023 MacBook Pro measure up against one another?
One of the biggest anxieties in my life is the fear of making a regrettable purchase. Seriously, this feeling can be overwhelming and keeps me awake at night. Even though most places offer consumer protection, which allows for returns, that process can be a hassle. You might face restocking fees or, if you traded in your previous device, you may not even have that option. Plus, if your old machine was wiped, setting up again could be a nightmare—assuming you even have a backup. That leads me to my humorous thought about sponsorships, but I digress!
Throughout my various reviews of MacBooks in recent years, I have deliberately steered clear of synthetic benchmarks. I personally find them less valuable, although I understand many people base their buying decisions on those figures. Let’s clarify: I don’t want to dismiss them entirely. My hesitation towards numbers that lack context is simply due to my practical nature. With that in mind, I devised a different approach to "test" and "compare" the 14" M2 Pro with the M2 Air. My aim is to mitigate your risk of experiencing buyer's remorse.
Of course, I recognize that your usage might differ from mine, and that’s perfectly fine. Reading on will still provide you insight into what to anticipate from the M2 Pro, particularly if you’re feeling uncertain—something I hope you are, as it shows you’re not just rushing to buy every new Apple release.
For context, my usage includes creating motion graphics, photo editing, writing, extensive research (often with 50-100 tabs open), and software development. I’ll delve deeper into software development in a future article, so stay tuned. This piece primarily targets "everyone else"—creatives, writers, professionals, students, and tech lovers.
Temperature Management
To assess the temperatures of both machines, I conducted a few tests. I ran Geekbench and also monitored idle temperatures from the CPU and GPU sensors. The Geekbench test allowed me to see stress bursts, while the idle readings provided baseline operating temperatures. The M2 Pro MacBook Pro revealed some fascinating results.
During the Geekbench test:
- Pro: CPU core temp 75°C
- Air: CPU core temp 90°C
Idle temperatures with multiple applications (Safari, Chrome, Mail, iMessage, Notes, Slack, Ulysses, Signal):
- Pro: 5-44°C CPU, 38°C GPU
- Air: 32-34°C CPU, 34°C GPU
Notably, some cores on the Pro dropped as low as 5°C when idle, which never occurs on the Air. I verified these readings with both TG Pro and iStatistica Pro.
The M2 Pro's heat sink is evidently more efficient. During the Geekbench tests, the fans did not activate, yet temperatures peaked at just 75°C, with the GPU never exceeding 52°C. TG Pro confirmed that the fans remained at 0 RPM throughout the tests, validating that my hearing is still intact. 😁👂
Web Browsing Performance
A decade ago, I would have dismissed web browsing speed tests as somewhat trivial, as they mainly reflect network performance. However, considering how much of our daily activities occur in browsers today, testing web app performance seems increasingly relevant.
I primarily tested Safari, as it’s the default browser on Mac, and I find it slightly faster than Chrome or Firefox. I ran multiple tests and, rather than showcasing the best results like many reviewers do, I presented the lowest scores to provide a more realistic average. My tool of choice was Speedometer, which you can test for yourself.
Speedometer results in Safari 16.3:
- Pro: 371 points
- Air: 359 points
While the difference isn’t monumental, users may notice smoother experiences in applications like Figma running in the browser. Interestingly, the Air demonstrated more consistent results, whereas the 14" M2 Pro fluctuated between scores of 340 and 460.
Processing Power
As I mentioned, my primary applications for these machines are for content creation: Pixelmator Pro, Ulysses, and Motion 5. The Ulysses test is particularly intriguing, as I haven’t seen others conduct a similar assessment. I disconnected from the internet and had the app perform a spell-check on a 100,000-word draft novel I aim to publish this year.
Ulysses spell-check:
- Pro: 8.15s
- Air: 10.60s
Pixelmator Pro background removal on an iPhone 13 Pro portrait selfie:
- Pro: 3.48s
- Air: 3.50s
Exporting a mid-complexity, 2:40 length Motion 5 project to H.264:
- Pro: 89.95s
- Air: 109.45s
The results for Ulysses and Motion 5 are not surprising; the 14" M2 Pro is indeed faster, though not enough to inspire excessive enthusiasm. The Pixelmator Pro test was unexpected, showing virtually no difference between the two machines. I suspect that AI-assisted background removal isn’t demanding enough to engage the performance cores, leading both devices to rely on efficiency cores, thus yielding similar performance metrics.
File Management
This section gets a bit complex. I opted for the 1 TB model, aware of potential issues with base model SSD speeds, as seen with the Air. Unfortunately, my concerns were validated: the 512 GB models are noticeably slower than the 1 TB variants.
Does this affect everyday use? Yes and no. For general storage, not significantly, but in terms of SWAP memory, faster speeds are advantageous. With a 16 GB RAM machine, having the quickest SSD possible means fewer beach balls and generally quicker export and compilation times.
SSD Speeds for the 1 TB drive:
- Pro: 6400 MB/s write, 4700 MB/s read
- Air: 2400 MB/s write, 2900 MB/s read
Luckily, since I chose the 1 TB model for the M2 Air, I could accurately compare the two. The 14" M2 Pro significantly outperforms the M2 Air in both write and read speeds. This performance factor alone could sway some users toward the 14" M2 Pro.
Overall User Experience
As generic as this heading might sound, there are key points to consider. In my initial review, I hadn't fully explored the capabilities of the 14" M2 Pro, but my experience reveals that there’s more than meets the eye in daily usage.
For instance, the typing experience. The M2 Pro's keyboard has a less hollow sound compared to the Air. While not a deal-breaker, some users prefer a more substantial feel when typing. To my ears, the Pro sounds a notch more refined than the Air.
When it comes to audio quality, the 14" M2 Pro's speakers far surpass the Air's capabilities. I never regarded the Air’s speakers as exceptional, but after experiencing the 14" M2 Pro, the Air’s audio seems lackluster in comparison. Listening to Helene Fischer's Rausch Live album was a thoroughly enjoyable experience—rich, clear sound with good bass, mids, and highs.
Unexpectedly, I also found a difference in webcam quality. The Air’s 1080p webcam performs adequately, but the 14" M2 Pro’s is noticeably superior—less grain, better color balance, and overall improved video clarity. The microphones are also enhanced, producing crisper sound quality during recordings.
However, the Air remains unbeatable in terms of weight. At 1.60 kg, the 14" M2 Pro can't quite match the Air's 1.24 kg. Still, the 14" M2 Pro is a solid choice for anyone seeking a portable MacBook Pro. You also gain an additional 0.6" of screen space, which, while minimal, could enhance your overall experience—though you might sacrifice the Air’s fanless design. While the Pro's fans rarely activate, their mere presence can affect peace of mind during audio recordings.
Still on the Fence?
That’s understandable. Let me simplify this for you: the 14" M2 Pro is, in almost every aspect, superior to the Air. I say this as someone who truly values the M2 Air; it was my primary device until the M2 Pro models launched. If I weren't required to conduct a 6- and 12-month review of the 14" M2 Pro, I would have happily continued using the M2 Air. It's an outstanding machine, and I contend that most users don’t require anything beyond the Air—unless they need to connect more than one external monitor, which the Air does not support, while the 14" M2 Pro can accommodate up to three.
However, you may not share my perspective, meaning the 14" M2 Pro could be a perfect fit for your needs—or perhaps you desire it so much that you're seeking validation that it’s a worthwhile investment. If that’s the case, yes, the 14" M2 Pro is an exceptional device, significantly outclassing the M2 Air, albeit at a higher price point. I can only confidently recommend the 1 TB or larger models, which makes this a notably pricier option—approximately 1000 euros more in Ireland.
Attila Vago — Software Engineer striving to improve the world one line of code at a time. A lifelong tech enthusiast, LEGO lover, vinyl record collector, and craft beer connoisseur. Read my story here! Subscribe for more insights on technology, coding, and accessibility!
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