Which Is Better: The New MacBook Air or the Basic 13-inch MacBook Pro?

Apple has refreshed the MacBook Air with a stunning new notebook that’s definitely catapulted the lineup into the modern era. But with its upgraded set of features and $1,199 starting price, the new device has also made the entire MacBook lineup more confusing.

While it may edge out the 12-inch MacBook in terms of power and pricing, comparing the new MacBook Air to the 13-inch MacBook Pro (without Touch Bar) is a tougher affair. Both devices are now strikingly alike, aside from a $100 price difference. But they aren’t the same — here are some similarities and differences you should know. Continue reading to learn which is better: the new MacBook Air or the basic 13-inch MacBook Pro?

6 Design & Display

Both models feature Apple’s signature aluminum unibody design — and the similarities don’t end there. While the MacBook Air used to be the vanguard of portability, the gap has narrowed. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is about the same size and only a bit heavier.

They also have a strikingly similar 13.3-inch Retina display, but the MacBook Pro is slightly brighter and supports P3 color space (which is a wide-gamut color space, unlike the MacBook Air’s sRGB). Both devices sport two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack, so the playing field is even there. It's worth noting that the more expensive MacBook Pro with OLED Touch Bar features four Thunderbolt 3 ports rather than two on the basic model.

5 Processor & Performance

Here’s where it gets tricky. The 13-inch MacBook Air sports an 8th generation Intel 1.6GHz dual-core processor. It’s actually a newer CPU than the 2.3GHz dual-core Core i5 processor installed in the entry-level MacBook Pro without Touch Bar. But that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Despite having an older processor, the MacBook Pro is still going to outperform the MacBook Air. That’s largely because of the thermal architecture of the MacBook Pro lineup. The 13-inch MacBook Pro features a larger cache and faster graphics. If you work with graphics or videos, you may want to opt for the MacBook Pro.

4 Power & Storage

When it comes to configurable specifications, both the 2018 MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro are fairly evenly matched. The MacBook Pro does offer the option to upgrade to a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor, however.

Both notebooks can be configured with up to 16GB of RAM. They also come in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB variants. But, importantly, the top-tier of MacBook Air actually has a 1.5TB SSD — that’s around 500GB more than the MacBook Pro’s maxed-out 1TB drive.

3 Touch ID & Keyboard

The 13-inch entry-level MacBook Pro does not have a Touch Bar. The new MacBook Air doesn’t have one either, but it actually does have Touch ID integrated into its top row of keys unlike the basic MacBook Pro shown above. That may not be a deal breaker for many, but Touch ID does mean better security and convenience.

There is also the question of the keyboard, which could be a deal breaker. The 13-inch MacBook Pro without Touch Bar sports a second-generation Butterfly keyboard, which has had notable problems with dust or particles in the past. The MacBook Air has Apple’s third-gen keyboard with silicone dust protectors.

2 Battery Life & Power

Battery life is a bit confusing among both devices, but the MacBook Air wins out here. While the 13-inch MacBook Pro has a larger battery than the Air, the latter laptop actually boasts up to 12 hours of battery life while wireless web browsing. That’s two hours more than the MacBook Pro (though your own mileage may vary, of course).

The 13-inch MacBook Pro also comes with a 61W USB-C Power adapter, which is noticeably more powerful than the MacBook Air’s 30W adapter. So expect better-charging speeds on the MacBook Pro, although you can always upgrade to a faster charger later on.

1 Conclusion

While many were expecting a sub-$1,000 MacBook Air refresh from Apple, the company didn’t deliver. It did, however, release a worthy MacBook Air successor that is extremely aggressive and competitive for its price point.

It’s technically Apple’s cheapest new laptop, but with its design and performance gains, it comes a lot closer to Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Pro than the 12-inch MacBook. So how do you choose between the two?

If you’re a pro user who works with a lot of video and photo, or other CPU-intensive apps, you may want to opt for the MacBook Pro.

Everyone else will get by just fine with the MacBook Air — and they’ll also gain Touch ID, better battery life, and a better keyboard. In any case, you can't go wrong with either device.