Is It Better To Buy a Refurbished MacBook Pro or MacBook Air?

When it comes to buying a refurbished MacBook, there are numerous models and variations to choose from, which can make comparing these laptops tough. Each model has its own pros and cons, but what you’ll need your MacBook to do, and how it suits your lifestyle will play a huge part in what’s right for you.

The two most popular options are the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. They both have their own merits, but is it better to buy a refurbished MacBook Pro or MacBook Air?

Is It Better To Buy a Refurbished MacBook Pro or MacBook Air?

The MacBook Pro is generally the better pick for heavy-duty use, particularly in areas such as video or photo editing where more graphical performance is needed. The MacBook Air has less performance but makes up for it with its ergonomics and is much cheaper, making it a great pick for day-to-day use.

This article will cover the key differences between the two, and why each one is recommended for their area of use. This should help to inform you on what’s the best option for your needs.

Similarities Between The MacBook Pro & MacBook Air

Before comparing the differences between the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air, it’s important to understand what elements are similar between the two as well. Each MacBook has its own strengths, so you just need to choose the one that suits your lifestyle.

Firstly, they both have Apple’s attention to detail and high-level of build quality that they put into all of their devices. This is important because no matter what, you’ll always be receiving a quality product.

Secondly, while there is a difference in weight between the two models throughout every generation, it’s not as substantial as you might think. For example, the difference between the 13” models of both the MacBook Pro 2020 and the MacBook Air 2020 is just over 100g, with the Pro being the slightly heavier unit.

This difference changes depending on the generation, but overall the weight shouldn’t be a large deciding factor in your MacBook of choice.

Differences Between The MacBook Pro & MacBook Air

Performance

The most significant difference between the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air for a long time was performance. The Pros would have much more powerful components compared to the Airs and were the must-pick for creatives who would use intensive software such as video or photo editing apps.

However, the gap in performance is getting smaller as newer generations of MacBooks are released. For example, let’s compare the specs of the 2017 models of both the Air and the Pro, compared to that of the 2020 models.

As you can see, the difference between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro gets substantially smaller in the 2020 models. This in part is due to Apple designing their own CPU/GPU chip, the M1 chip, which boasts fantastic performance.

Is Getting a MacBook Pro 13” (2020) Worth it?

On first look, there isn’t much difference between the 2020 models of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, with a difference of 1 GPU core. However, the big difference is that the MacBook Air features a fanless design.

This keeps the device whisper-quiet but means intensive, prolonged use will generate a lot of heat. When this happens, performance is throttled in an attempt to reduce the built-up temperature.

The MacBook Pro utilises a fan-based cooling system, so when it gets hot the fan will spin faster and allow for prolonged use, albeit with a bit more noise.

Design

In terms of design, the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air have always looked very similar, and have only got closer over time as Apple’s technology gets more efficient. While the difference is smaller for newer models, the MacBook Air has always been a thinner unit compared to the Pro. The thin design the MacBook Air uses is typically slightly more comfortable on the wrists, so is a much better choice ergonomically.

Display

The difference between the MacBook Pro’s and the MacBook Air’s screens has always been obvious. Part of the extra cost for the Pro models goes into their enhanced displays. In older models, the Pro would not only boast a higher not count (how bright the screen is) but also use technology like P3 - which means the screen can display a wider range of colours.

Like with performance, the gap between the MacBook Pro and Air’s displays has got smaller in the newer models. In the 2020 models, both have the same resolution, pixels per inch and also both use the P3 technology. The difference is only apparent in brightness, as the MacBook Pro’s nit count is still 100 higher than the MacBook Air’s. This difference is apparent for those who work a lot with visual media like video or photos.

Battery Life

In the past, the trade-off for having the MacBook Pro’s enhanced performance, was a shorter battery life when compared to the MacBook Air. This makes older generations of the MacBook Air a great pick for more of a day-to-day use laptop. For example, the 2017 MacBook Air has 2 hours more battery life per charge than the same generation of MacBook Pro.

However, in more recent generations, this has flipped, with the 2020 MacBook Pro having a whopping 17-hour battery life when using wireless web functions, and the MacBook Air has a still respectable 15 hours. This difference is mainly due to the physical size of the Pro and Air models. The MacBook Air is so thin now, there is less space for the same-sized or larger battery.

Audio

Audio has always been a differentiating factor between every generation of MacBook Pro and Air. With its increased physical size, and with it being designed to work in professional environments, the MacBook Pro has always had better quality audio. This is still present in newer models of MacBook, with the Pro versions utilising audio technology with a higher dynamic range compared to the MacBook Air.

Should You Buy a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air?

When asking “Is it better to buy a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air?” it’s important to think about the capacity in which you want to use your MacBook.

MacBook Pro Recommendation

The MacBook Pro is recommended for those who need the extra performance power, over an extended period of time. In addition to this, its brighter display, higher-quality audio and cooling system are made for high-performance work. The MacBook Pro is a great pick for those who want to use it for video, photography or audio work, and because of its specs, even a bit of gaming from time to time.

We have a range of refurbished MacBook Pros, which start from £229. So, no matter what level of performance you need and no matter your budget, there will be a great option you’ll be happy with.

MacBook Air Recommendation

The MacBook Air is recommended as a more day-to-day device, where the absolute best performance, visuals and audio aren’t needed as much. Not only is it marginally lighter, but still boasts great performance and usability for its size, which will help you accomplish most tasks with ease. Its thinner and more ergonomic design makes it comfortable for extended use, which makes it great for work or study. On top of all that, the MacBook Air is a good deal cheaper than the Pro too, saving you money if you don’t need the Pro’s performance for intensive tasks like video/photo editing purposes.

Why Buy a Refurbished MacBook?

Opting to go for a refurbished MacBook is a great way to get the quality and performance that Apple devices deliver, but at a more affordable price.

Our refurbished MacBooks go through extensive testing and assessments, to make sure the devices are still performing at the level you’d expect from Apple products. Each device is then given a grade, signifying how the device looks cosmetically.

Our grading process not only ensures you know exactly what you’re getting, but for example, a Gold Graded MacBook is sometimes indistinguishable from a brand-new device.

Because we’re so confident in the quality of our refurbishing process, all of our refurbished MacBooks come with a minimum of a 6-month warranty.

Comparing the New M2 MacBook Models

Two new MacBooks were released by Apple last year. 13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. Both are powered by the new Apple Silicon M2 chip, improved graphics and overall performance, and a special ProRes video engine for editing.

The price of these two Apple laptops is not much different and neither are their specifications, which produced quite a bit of confusion all over the internet. Let's see what are the differences between these two, and which MacBook is better for you to buy.

M2 MacBook Air and M2 MacBook Pro Differences

M2 Processor

Let's start with their performance. We tend to think that performance is what makes the MacBook Pro professional. But what does all the hard work, if not the chip? Now, technically, the chip is the same in both laptops, which makes the MacBook Air in no way inferior here.

A few things to note though.

First off, you should note that the basic version of the 13-inch Macbook Pro M2 is equipped with a 10-core GPU by default. The low-end version of the Macbook Air M2 is £100 cheaper (£1249 according to the Apple website) but comes with an 8-core GPU. Which, if you want, can be configured to a 10-core version for an additional £100, making both laptops cost the same price.

But if you wish to save a bit and if graphics processing isn't that important for you, running at 80% of the M2 chip's potential won’t be a disadvantage at all. The performance of the MacBook Air M2 in its low-end configuration is not only sufficient for work and browsing the Internet. It’s well capable of enthusiast video editing, graphic design, 3D modelling, and sound recording. For the vast majority of buyers and even professionals, this is the way to go.

Although considering all the above, there’s still one point that goes to the MacBook Pro M2.

In terms of performance, the MacBook Pro runs a little better and lasts longer, especially in tasks that hit the CPU for longer periods. All thanks to the fans, which are not included in the MacBook Air. Previously, M1 generation MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs had more noticeable differences in that sense. Now Apple has worked well on the new gen MacBooks Airs, making them perform great even when they get pretty hot.

You can check out the processor of our refurbished MacBooks Pro.

Display and Chassis

The displays on both laptops are great. Both use top technologies, bright and crisp, vivid colours. However, the 13-inch MacBook Pro M2 does still use an older LED-backlit Retina display from the previous generation. MacBook Air has been given a slightly bigger and updated Liquid Retina screen. Technically, both are still IPS LED-backlit screens and shouldn’t be compared to the recent 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, which have Liquid Retina XDR displays. Those make a massive difference.

What is different between them is that the display on the MacBook Air is 0.3 inches larger (13.6-inch vs 13.3-inch diagonal on MacBook Pro), and it has rounded corners and a black notch at the top of the screen for the webcam and sensors. Basically, the same design as of the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.

Speaking of the chassis, the MacBook Air is thinner than the MacBook Pro. It's 0.44 inches thick, while the MacBook Pro’s thickness is 0.61 inches, which is pretty average for a laptop. MacBook Air weighs less than MacBook Pro as well.  

If you're looking for a laptop that's comfortable and easy to carry around, the MacBook Air wins without a doubt.

Battery and Chargers

The MacBook Pro is 5 ounces heavier and 4mm thicker than the MacBook Air. This allowed Apple to install a larger battery and a cooling system in it.

The MacBook Pro's 58.2-watt-hour battery lasts 2 hours longer than the 52.6-watt-hour battery of the MacBook Air. What does this mean in numbers? Apple says the MacBook Pro can provide approximately 17 hours of web browsing and 20 hours of watching Apple TV. MacBook Air will last 15 hours and 18 hours respectively.

But if we're talking about adapters, it should be mentioned that the MacBook Air comes with a MagSafe 3 power adapter. It frees up one of your USB-C ports for other accessories. The MacBook Pro only gives you 2 USB-C ports which comes down to just 1 available if your charger is connected.

Webcam

The advantage of the MacBook Air, which no one expected, is the webcam. The MacBook Pro still uses the same webcam as the 2020 M1 MacBook Pro — 720p FaceTime HD camera.

The camera on the MacBook Pro hasn't changed since 2016. The MacBook Air suddenly surprised everyone by introducing a 1080p camera, Apple's best yet.

It is not clear why Apple does not upgrade the camera on the 13-inch MacBook Pro, because now video calls are more relevant than ever, and the difference between these cameras is visible to the naked eye.

Speakers

The 13-inch Macbook Air also has better speakers. Apple added 4 speakers to the MacBook Air, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro only has two. Well, that's interesting.

Sound recording, however, is better and more professional on the MacBook Pro. Apple calls this technology a studio-quality, three-mic array. It is unlikely that a real recording studio will use this particular system, but in any case, the sound quality of the MacBook Pro outperforms the MacBook Air.

Keyboard

Only the 13-inch MacBook Pro still has a touch bar. Some love this feature, others hate it. It has the convenience though — the touch bar adjusts and shows you only the right number of keys for the app in which you are currently working.

However, there are also disadvantages. Not all apps support the touch bar. And it is impossible to build muscle memory with it, which reduces the speed of work at the computer. Gradually, Apple abandoned the use of the touch bar, and now only the 13-inch MacBook Pro still has it, as a greeting from the past.

The features of the MacBook Air M2 keyboard are great though, and would give you everything you might need. Media and playback controls, brightness and volume levels, spotlight, launchpad, dictation, and others.

Conclusion

Despite how controversial it is, we think we have a winner here — the new 13-inch MacBook Air M2. If we compare these two laptops side by side, at about the same price the MacBook Air wins in almost every aspect. It has a bigger screen with smaller bezels, better speakers, a better webcam, an extra charging port, and more colour options.

The MacBook Air has its minor drawbacks, but it will still suit and make most buyers happy.

You can find some refurbished MacBooks Air on our website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a MacBook Air Better Than a MacBook Pro?

In terms of performance, the MacBook Air is typically not as powerful as a MacBook Pro. However, later models of both the Pro and Air feature Apple’s M1 and M2chip technology. Which bridges the gap between the two. One thing to look out for is the newer MacBook Air models feature a fanless design, which means performance can be throttled in order to reduce heat build-up. The Pro, on the other hand, has a fan, so can be used for more intensive tasks for longer.

Is The MacBook Air a Good Option?

MacBook Air models are great options for more day-to-day use, such as web browsing, using documents or spreadsheets and maybe some lighter video or photo editing. In particular, with the introduction of the M1/M2 chips, the newer MacBook Airs are much more capable machines. The fanless design also means you can work without a noisy fan spinning up.