Which MacBook Air should you choose? What to choose: MacBook Air or MacBook Pro

What have we come to in 10 years?

2016 has arrived, and a whole 10 years have passed since the release of the first professional laptops from Apple! Let's remember together how it all began and where we have come to today.

It’s better not to remember how they became more expensive in terms of rubles. Especially when you can buy any in installments without additional payment. There's no better way to update your working Mac. Moreover, they have always been considered the ultimate laptop for busy people.

How it all started

On June 6, 2005, at the Worldwide Developer Conference, Steve Jobs announced the imminent arrival of a new era in the Apple world - the transition from PowerPC processors to Intel.

Steve Jobs announced two main disadvantages of the PowerPC: the processor heats up too much during operation and the banal failure to fulfill promises. Heating was a very serious disadvantage for laptops, the cooling of which requires additional energy, and the processors themselves were not at all economical (performance per 1 Watt was too low). At the same time, the company was in no hurry to provide new processor models for Apple, and the long-awaited release of the PowerBook G5 was postponed indefinitely.

It is impossible to say unambiguously whether the transition to Intel occurred only for these two reasons or whether there are other aspects. Perhaps Apple has decided to cooperate with what it considers a more promising company in the future. Or maybe the company wanted users to be able to install... Windows on its products?

But it was precisely this moment that became the starting point for Apple’s creation of new MacBook Pro laptops.

First generation MacBook Pro

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Release date: 2006
Main characteristics:

• Intel Core Duo processor 1.83 GHz to 2.16 GHz
• Hard drive from 80 to 120 GB
• LCD display from 15” (1440 x 900) to 17” (1680 x 1050)
• ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics card
• Two memory slots up to 2 GB RAM

The very first MacBook Pro was presented as a laptop for professional users by Steve Jobs at the Macworld Conference & Expo in January 2006.

The renaming of the laptop name from PowerBook to MacBook Pro occurred, as you might guess, for two reasons: firstly, Apple decided to abandon all associations with the PowerPC processor, and secondly, to add the word Mac to the name.

The MacBook Pro turned out to be similar, but not at all identical to the PowerBook G4. Externally, it became a little larger (by a centimeter in length and 3 mm in width) and a little thinner (by three millimeters). It also has a lot of new features:

• The graphics and display brightness were significantly improved due to the ATI Mobility Radeon X1600, which had 128 or 256 MB of video memory and ran on GDDR3 SDRAM.
• A built-in iSight camera has appeared, located above the display.
• An infrared sensor appeared to work with the Front Row multimedia player via the remote control that came with the kit.
• The MagSafe power connector has been replaced. The company paid special attention to it, demonstrating that if someone accidentally touches the power cable, it will be safely disconnected from the laptop, and will not drag it along with it in an unknown direction. This is achieved thanks to a special magnet and a very shallow connector.
• The adapter has become more powerful (85 W instead of the previous 65), and the battery is more energy-intensive (60 W/hour instead of 50).
• According to tests from Apple, the performance of the MacBook Pro compared to the PowerBook G4 has increased by 4 times.
• The backlit keyboard, large trackpad and almost silent operation of the computer received special praise from future users.

Despite this, several disadvantages were noted in the new product: the FireWire 800 port and the PCMCIA slot were completely removed (a smaller ExpressCard/34 appeared instead), and the SuperDrive turned out to be significantly weaker than the one installed in the PowerBook G4.

In October 2006, in addition to the new Intel Core 2 Duo processors, the entire MacBook Pro line received double the amount of RAM. Hard drive capacity has also been increased.

In June 2007, models appeared equipped with a backlit LED display, an Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT video card and support for 802.11n Wi-Fi networks.

And between mid-2007 and early 2008, models appeared with an improved Core 2 Duo processor with a frequency of up to 2.5 GHz, an FSB bus with a frequency of 667 MHz to 800 MHz (which increased the speed of communication between memory and the central processor), and an even larger amount of hard disk space. disk and RAM up to 8 GB.

These were just the first MacBook Pro models, their display was surrounded by a wide plastic frame, which is now difficult to even imagine on Apple products. The next significant step was a complete redesign of the chassis, which brought us to the second generation of MacBook Pro laptops.

Second generation MacBook Pro (Unibody)

Release date: 2008
Main characteristics:

• Intel Core 2 Duo processor 2.26 GHz to 2.53 GHz
• Hard drive from 160 to 320 GB
• LCD display from 15” (1440 x 900) to 17” (1920 x 1200) with LED backlight
• Video card NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
• RAM 2 GB, expandable up to 4 GB

On October 14, 2008, during a press conference held at Apple head office, a new MacBook Pro model was presented, the key difference from previous versions was use of new Unibody cases.

The essence of this technology comes down to the gradual “turning out” of the laptop body from a single piece of aluminum, and not to the connection of pre-created parts. This allowed the new laptops to be made smaller and more durable.

In addition to the new body, the MacBook Pro has also changed in its technical equipment:

• The new line received a choice of two video cards: Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT with 256 or 512 MB of dedicated memory and GeForce 9400M with 256 MB of shared system memory.
• The FSB bus bandwidth has increased from 800 MHz to 1066 MHz.
• Increased hard drive capacity with solid-state drive option.
• The optical drive is no longer placed in front, but on the side of the case.
• The keyboard has completely changed, and is now black with bright backlighting.
• The trackpad has become larger, providing additional space for scrolling and using multi-touch gestures.
• Magnetic gaskets have appeared on the lid instead of mechanical latches, so that when closing there is a small gap that allows you to conveniently open the laptop.
• This is not to say that performance has increased slightly, be it the performance of the processor or video card.
• The battery became removable, and access to the hard drive also appeared.

The 17-inch Unibody version of the MacBook Pro was introduced in January 2009 at the MacWorld conference by Phil Schiller. This model differed from its 15-inch brother in a matte display version and a non-removable lithium-polymer battery.

In June 2009, it was announced that all models will be equipped with a non-removable lithium polymer battery that allows up to seven hours of battery life.

In April 2010, when the line received another update, the models received Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, a GeForce GT 330M video card with 256 or 512 MB of memory, and the amount of RAM increased to 8 GB. Inertial scrolling has also been added, making scrolling evocative of the iPhone and iPad user interface.

In February 2011, a new model range was released, featuring Intel Core i5 and i7 Sandy Bridge processors, the latest Intel Thunderbolt technology and a high-resolution FaceTime camera. Also in the new models it was possible to use discrete video cards from AMD: Radeon HD 6490M and Radeon HD 6750M.

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Third generation MacBook Pro (Retina display)

Release date: year 2012
Main characteristics:

• Intel Core i5 and i7 processor 2.4 GHz to 2.6 GHz
• Hard drive from 256 GB to 1 TB
• Retina display from 13” (2560 x 1600) to 15” (2880 x 1800)
• Video card built-in Intel HD Graphics 4000 and discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 1GB
• RAM 4, 8 and 16 GB

The generation of MacBook Pro laptops with Retina display was introduced on June 11, 2012 at WWDC. Apple positioned this laptop as a completely new line of MacBook Pro laptops.

It might seem that the most significant difference from the previous generation is the Retina display. Of course, this innovation was an important step, because the quality of the picture has increased significantly, the image has become more contrasty, and there is much less glare. However, these are not all the features of the new generation:

• The size and weight of laptops have changed - they have become thinner and lighter. In addition, a MacBook Pro model appeared with a 13-inch display.
• Increased productivity and speed.
• An important change was the joint operation of the integrated GPU processor Ivy Bridge (Intel HD Graphics 4000) and a discrete video card in the form of the GeForce GT 650M.
• The battery life has also increased.
• The new model features two Thunderbolt ports, a pair of USB 3.0 ports, an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port and a new MagSafe 2 connector.
• The built-in camera has been upgraded to 720p.
• The hard drive has been replaced with a full-fledged SSD drive.
• A big plus was the increase in RAM.
• The keyboard has changed a little, which has now become more protected from crumbs getting into it, which is why pressing the buttons has become more dense.

Among the shortcomings, we can note the lack of an optical drive, which now may not be so important for users, and an Ethernet connector. Also, holes for ventilation appeared in the case in the bottom panel, which upset those who like to use the laptop while holding it on their laps.

In 2013, the MacBook Pro underwent changes again - models with Intel Ivy Bridge 2.8 GHz (Turbo Boost 3.8 GHz) and Intel Haswell 2.6 GHz (Turbo Boost 3.8 GHz) processors appeared. In the fall of 2013, the graphics processor was also updated - now Intel Iris Pro Graphics and NVidia Geforce GT 750M 2GB were installed in fully equipped models.

Very often, many users who want to buy a laptop from Apple ask themselves the question: “Which MacBook should I choose?” And indeed, everything is not as simple as it might seem. There are a lot of different models of Apple devices, and they are all very similar in their characteristics, but they differ noticeably in price. In today's material we will take a detailed look at some of the most interesting and best laptops from Apple that you can definitely buy.

Apple MacBook Air 13 (MMGF2)

The first model that comes to mind when asked “which MacBook to choose” is, of course, the MacBook Air 13. This laptop can easily be called the most balanced and popular among all Apple devices in the company’s budget segment. Not only is it perfect for home use and work, but it will also be an excellent device for travel and travel.

Delivery set and appearance

The laptop is delivered in a relatively small branded white box, which contains images of the model itself. The packaging also indicates the main characteristics of the device and key features. The delivery package is as follows: laptop user manual, warranty card, network cable with power supply, and, in fact, that’s all.

It’s difficult to find fault with the exterior, because it looks very cool and beautiful. The body is made of metal and has a pleasant texture to the touch. On the top cover there is traditionally the company logo in the form of an apple, which glows when turned on.

On the left side there is a USB 3.0 port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a socket for the power cable. On the right side there is a card reader, another USB version 3 port and a Thunderbolt 2.0 connector.

As for the laptop screen, it has a diagonal of 13.3 inches and a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels. The matrix type is TN+film, and the pixel density is 127.7ppi. Apple is very famous for its well-calibrated and tuned screens, so the picture quality here is excellent. Color rendition is good, correct, there is a reserve of brightness and contrast, and everything is in order with saturation. The only negative that is worth noting is the glossy finish of the display. Fingerprints remain on it, and they are visible to the naked eye.

Well, in conclusion, a little about the keyboard and touchpad. In principle, everything here is also more than standard for the company. The keyboard is “stripped down”, without a number pad, but the key layout is spacious and incredibly comfortable. The buttons have a not too large, but very clear stroke, and each press is accompanied by a pleasant click. In terms of ergonomics - a solid five. Those who work a lot with text will clearly be pleased.

The touchpad is also very interesting and convenient. The finger glides over the surface easily, there is support for gestures. The buttons are also easy and pleasant to press. Another advantage of the touchpad is its size - it is larger than in any other laptop, which makes the process of using it even more comfortable.

Characteristics

The MacBook runs on an Intel Core i5 5250U processor. The processor is dual-core, with a frequency of 1.6 GHz. There is an automatic overclocking mode in which the frequency increases to 2.7 GHz, which is quite good. The CPU also has a 3 MB L3 cache.

The laptop has 8 GB of memory, and there is no way to expand this volume. The RAM operates at a frequency of 1600 MHz. A 128 GB solid state hard drive (SSD) is used for storage.

Unfortunately, the laptop has an integrated video card, Intel HD 6000. It does not have its own video memory, so it will take up some part of the RAM.

The operating system of the laptop is Mac OS X, and not Windows, as many might mistakenly think. The fact is that Windows is not installed on a MacBook, this is Apple's policy.

And finally, a little about autonomy. The laptop battery has a capacity of 4900 mAh. Once fully charged, the device can work for up to 12 hours, which is an excellent indicator.

Reviews

Reviews of this laptop show that the MacBook Air is an excellent and balanced device in all its characteristics, with good speed and performance. Users especially note the high autonomy and excellent build quality of the model. The laptop has no shortcomings as such. Except that the screen is not Retina, and the price could be lower (75 thousand rubles).

Apple MacBook Pro 13 (MPXT2)

Continuing the topic “Which MacBook to choose,” we move on to the next model - Apple MacBook Pro 13. This laptop is already considered a higher class than the previous one. There is a Retina display, a more powerful processor, and higher performance; in general, it is better in all respects, but it is more expensive.

Equipment and appearance

The laptop is sold in a small white branded box. Inside the package there is the following delivery kit: warranty card, instructions, MacBook Pro 13 laptop and network cable with power supply and plug.

Externally, the laptop looks very cool, even better than the Air version. The body is still made of metal and painted silver. On the bottom of the laptop you can only find rubber feet, and the lid, according to tradition, is decorated with the company logo.

The only jacks on the right side are 3.5mm for headphones. On the left are 2 USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports. As you can see, there are no classic USB 3 ports here, so to connect the same flash drives you will have to use third-party USB hubs.

Now you can go to the display. Just a minus for the glossy finish, which will always leave fingerprints. Fortunately, this is the only drawback of the screen. The Retina display has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and a diagonal of 13.3. Pixel density - 227 ppi. Matrix type - IPS. There are no complaints at all regarding image quality. The picture is very clear, bright, rich, with rich colors, correct and natural color rendition. There is a reserve of brightness; there are no problems with contrast.

As for the keyboard, it is, as always, excellent. The layout is a little denser than the previous model, but there is still enough distance between the buttons to avoid pressing two keys at once. If we talk about the presses themselves, the buttons have a small, but very confident and clear stroke. The sound from touches is practically inaudible, which is certainly a plus.

The touchpad is much larger than the Air version, making it virtually a full mouse replacement. There is huge support for gestures and combinations of presses to perform certain functions. Also, this touchpad implements Force Touch technology, which, in essence, is a rejection of conventional buttons. Instead, there are special sensors that measure the force of pressing and perform appropriate actions. It is very convenient and to some extent even better than a classic mouse.

Laptop Specifications

It's time to move on to the specifications. The processor here is from Intel, model i5 7360U with two cores and four threads. The clock frequency is 2.3 GHz, and in automatic overclocking mode - 3.6 GHz. There is a level 3 cache, its size is 4 MB.

The laptop has 8 GB of RAM, not expandable. It operates at a frequency of 2133 MHz, which is an excellent indicator.

Integrated video card - Intel Iris Plus 640, without its own dedicated memory.

The hard drive of the MacBook is solid state, 256 GB. Unfortunately, the opportunity to install another one is not provided, so the only option is to replace the drive with a more capacious one.

The OS is the proprietary Mac OS Sierra, which has many useful and interesting features, as well as excellent optimization.

To summarize the technical part, it is worth noting this: the system works very quickly, without any delays or slowdowns. The laptop's performance level is good - it is suitable not only for home use, but also as a device for video editing, working with photographs and even 3D graphics. In conclusion, a few words about autonomy. The MacBook Pro 13 battery has a capacity of 6580 mAh, which allows the laptop to work for just over 10 hours on a full charge. Considering the characteristics and capabilities of the model, this indicator can be considered very good.

Reviews about the laptop

Reviews about the laptop show that the MacBook Pro 13 model turned out to be very successful, interesting and with excellent characteristics, but it is not without its drawbacks. Thus, users note the lack of regular USB ports, only 2 USB-C ports, a scratchy screen coating, strong heating during prolonged use (an additional cooling pad is needed), lack of an HDMI port, not very successful charging technology and a high price. Otherwise there are no complaints.

Apple MacBook Pro 15 (MPTU2)

Well, the last one for today is the MacBook Pro 15 laptop. Another representative of the Pro line that deserves attention. There's a bigger screen, even better performance and features, an incredibly high-quality screen, and more. More details below.

Laptop delivery set and appearance

There is no particular point in writing about the packaging, since it is the same as above, so you can go straight to the packaging. Inside the package, in addition to the MacBook Pro 15 itself, there is a network cable with a power supply, a plug, an instruction manual and a warranty card.

You also don’t have to dwell too much on the appearance and design, since this is almost the same laptop as the previous one, only slightly larger. The body is also metal, everything is assembled perfectly, the only thing is that the color is different - it is lighter.

As for the elements and their location, almost everything is unchanged. On the right side there are 2 USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) and a 3.5mm headphone input. On the left side there are 2 more USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) and that's it. There is no disk drive, card reader or anything else additional here, as before.

The Retina screen has a diagonal of 15.4 inches with a resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels and a pixel density of 220 ppi. Matrix type IPS. There are no complaints about the quality of the display. The matrix is ​​configured and calibrated very precisely. Colors are reproduced correctly, contrast, saturation and brightness are at a very high level. The display will definitely appeal to those who work with photographs or vector graphics. Unfortunately, the screen has a downside - a glossy finish. Apple will probably never give it up. Anyway.

There is no point in talking too much about the keyboard and touchpad, since they are essentially the same as the previous model. The layout and layout are identical; the buttons have a short but clear stroke, which is accompanied by a click. The keyboard is comfortable to use and those who type a lot will definitely appreciate it.

As for the touchpad, it is still slightly larger than in the Pro 13 laptop, but it is made using the same Force Touch technology, with all its features, comfort and convenience.

The only other thing this model has is a touchbar, a strip above the top row of keyboard buttons. This touchbar is a small touch panel on which, depending on the situation, various controls appear. For example, when watching movies on the touchbar, a time bar is displayed, with which you can rewind. Useful thing.

MacBook Pro 15 Specifications

The device is powered by a quad-core Intel Core i7 7700HQ processor. In addition to 4 cores, there are also 8 threads, which will be a huge plus in applications for 3D graphics or video editing. The CPU clock frequency is 2.8 GHz, and in automatic overclocking mode it is 3.8 GHz. The size of the second level cache has been increased to 1 MB, and the third level cache has a capacity of 6 MB.

The MacBook Pro 15 has as much as 16 GB of RAM. As always, there is no room for expansion. The RAM operates at a frequency of 2133 MHz.

Finally, the video card is discrete - AMD Radeon Pro 555 with 2 GB of memory on board. However, there is also a discrete video card here - this is an Intel HD 630, without its own memory.

The drive is traditionally installed as a solid-state one, but only 256 GB, and without the ability to add another drive. Expectations from a laptop of a higher class are somewhat different. I would, of course, like the SSD to be at least 500 GB, but alas, it is what it is.

The operating system of the model is the same as above - Mac OS Sierra. Everything works quickly, smoothly, without brakes or freezes.

In general, when it comes to overall performance, the laptop is simply excellent. It can be safely used to work in heavy applications, especially where multitasking is required.

If we talk about battery life, then everything is not bad here either. The battery has a capacity of 6320 mAh, which allows it to work for 5-6 hours on a full charge.

The question of choosing a MacBook if you are making such a purchase for the first time is always difficult. It seems that everything is simple - here’s Air, and here’s Pro in two diagonals, 13 and 15 inches. And if you firmly decide that you need a firmware, then deciding on the diagonal will still be easier than choosing between the “air” Air and a model from the Pro line, with a 13-inch diagonal.

Despite some similarities in terms of technical characteristics of the basic models, you need to understand that these are two completely different product lines. If the MacBook Air is intended for those who put mobility at the forefront of everything, and are not ready to overpay, agreeing to some compromises, then the MacBook Pro 13 is for those who care about performance. Even if you have to gain weight and pay an extra few hundred dollars.

Let's take a closer look at in what cases it is worth choosing one or another model, and at the end of the article, we will provide an additional comparison of them based on technical characteristics.

Who needs a MacBook Air?

This is Apple's most affordable full-size laptop, unless you count the 11-inch model, which is too small for work. It weighs little, is quite fast in operation, and can run on battery power for an impressive amount of time - up to 10-12 hours on a single charge!

So, you should choose MacBook Air if:

• you have a limited budget, but you, by all means, want to become the owner of an Apple laptop;
• practically all of your work consists of tasks of a more office nature; you do not work with resource-intensive tasks such as video or photo processing;
• You spend a lot of time traveling, so not only portability is important to you, but also high autonomy.

This is an excellent choice for a student, a journalist, or just a person who needs a laptop for surfing the Internet, office tasks, and using low-resource applications.

When to choose a MacBook Pro

We can say that the MacBook Pro 13 is even better in some ways than its 15-inch brother. After all, with smaller dimensions and weight, you still get the same magnificent retina screen, high performance and a full-size keyboard. And if the screen diagonal is not a critical point for you, you will get real pleasure from using it, at a fairly moderate price for a device of this class.

You should buy a MacBook Pro if:

• In addition to stylish design, the issue of performance is no less important for you;
• your work involves photo processing, in which case a retina screen will be an excellent solution;
• you will have to solve more resource-intensive tasks that require performance comparable to a desktop PC;
• the greater number of available ports does not limit the connection of peripherals;
• A $200 difference is not a serious argument for you.

When you upgrade to a laptop with a high-definition screen, you will no longer be able to look at regular monitors without crying. For many, choosing between the 13-inch Air and Pro comes down to a question of screen quality. And, believe me, even if we ignore all other factors, the retina screen is worth the difference in price that they ask for it.

Let's also compare the technical characteristics of the MacBook Air 13 with the basic Pro model of a similar diagonal:

So what should you choose?

With the introduction of the 2012 MacBook Pro, Apple took a giant technological leap compared to other laptop manufacturers. And if then it seemed like a laptop from the future, now it is a current reality, which embodies an impressive balance of functionality, quality materials and design. It's noticeably superior to the Air in most features, and the price difference is only $200.

At the same time, the MacBook Air has changed little since 2010 and is equipped with the same outdated TN+Film matrix. After the release of the 12-inch MacBook in 2015, the future of this line remains unclear. And the only argument in favor of choosing this particular model is that the low price makes it the most affordable option for those who want to become the owner of one of the Apple computers for the first time.

After the presentation of the new MacBook Air, we sat in the studio and wondered how to choose an Apple laptop now? After all, there are now three almost identical models on sale: “just” MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13″.

Until recently, the choice was, I must say, simpler. If the budget was minimal, but an Apple laptop was required, the person ordered a MacBook Air. The old generation model is mercilessly criticized on the Internet, but meanwhile it sells well. Simply because it is the cheapest Apple laptop. Okay, no questions.

The next level is the Apple MacBook. A laptop with a 12-inch screen and thin frames created a lot of noise, a favorite of glossy publications and fashionistas. It is not only beautiful, but also compact: a very convenient option for business trips.

Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2016): my impressions after 2 weeks with the laptop

Alexander Pobyvanets

Now the new MacBook Air is going on sale, and the question immediately arises: “How is it better than the MacBook Pro?”

I will talk exclusively about those versions that are presented on the Russian Apple website. We have fewer options on sale than on the American market: there are no custom assemblies, only ready-made versions. Therefore, if you need something “like that,” then look at the American site.

I want the lightest one!

Of course, this is a MacBook - the thinnest and lightest of all Apple laptops. It was last updated in the summer of 2017, since then there have been no significant changes, except that now the Rose Gold color will not be on sale. The model in this colorway was removed after the recent fall presentation, so it is now a rarity.

The 12-inch MacBook weighs just 920 grams, while the 13.3-inch Air and Pro weigh 1.25 and 1.37 kg, respectively.

Where is the best screen?

At first glance, the Air and Pro 13″ screens are the same, but the specifications on the Apple website indicate that the Pro has a brightness of 500 nits, and the Air only 300. The resolution and diagonals are identical: 2560 × 1600 pixels and 13 .3 inches respectively. The MacBook has a 12-inch diagonal, a resolution of 2304 × 1440 and a brightness of 300 nits.

Therefore, the Air should be the same as the Pro in terms of image quality. But Pro has a more impressive brightness margin - in certain situations this is important: for example, when you have to urgently finish documents in the summer outside in the sun.

What about the connectors?

The worst situation is with the MacBook 12, which has the only USB Type-C. We connected the charger - that's all, the connectors ran out.

In this regard, MacBook 13 and MacBook Air look more interesting: both have a pair of Thunderbolt 3 and support for USB Type-C. Two connectors are better than one, although life without adapters will seem harsh and difficult.

Who works longer?

I took the data from the Apple website, where it says that charging the MacBook lasts for 10 hours, just like the MacBook Pro. The MacBook Air works the longest - they promise up to 12 hours.

Who needs a new Apple MacBook Air?

Alexander Pobyvanets

Which is the most powerful?

Judging by the experience of using different Apple laptops, they all cope well with routine tasks: dozens of open tabs in the browser, working with mail, documents, presentations and signs. The MacBook 12 can handle this just fine. If desired, you can even mount videos on it, although this is beyond its capabilities - a small laptop was not created for such purposes.

The basic version of the MacBook received a dual-core 7th generation Intel Core m3 processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz. If you need more power, look at the older version: it already has an Intel Core i5 with a frequency of 1.3 GHz.

The new MacBook Air features the latest dual-core Intel Core i5-8210Y with a frequency of 1.6 GHz, made using a 14 nm process technology. In terms of performance, it is comparable to the basic Apple MacBook Pro 13″, which costs only 5 thousand rubles more, and there is an Intel Core i5-7360U with a frequency of 2.3 GHz. But the processor is not the latest eighth generation, but the seventh generation.

I took the performance data from the Geekbench test.

Single-Core Performance

• 1.6 GHz 2018 MacBook Air – 4248
• 2017 MacBook Air - 3335
• 1.4 GHz 2017 MacBook – 3925
• 1.3 GHz 2017 MacBook - 3630
• 1.2 GHz 2017 MacBook – 3527
• 2.3 GHz 2018 MacBook Pro – 4504
• 2.3 GHz 2017 MacBook Pro – 4314

Multi-Core Performance

• 1.6 GHz 2018 MacBook Air – 7828
• 2017 MacBook Air - 6119
• 1.4 GHz 2017 MacBook – 7567
• 1.3 GHz 2017 MacBook – 6974
• 1.2 GHz 2017 MacBook – 6654
• 2.3 GHz 2018 MacBook Pro – 16464
• 2.3 GHz 2017 MacBook Pro – 9071

As you can see, the difference is in favor of the Pro, but even the MacBook looks decent compared to the Air.

Where is more memory?

By default, all three laptops receive 8 GB of RAM, there are no other options. Even for an extra charge.

In terms of built-in memory, the MacBook is in the lead: we immediately get 256 GB for data storage. Whereas Air and Pro have only 128 GB.

Want to increase memory to 256 GB? Please, the issue price is 16,000 rubles. Need even more? The volume of Air for the Russian market is limited to the 256 GB version, although in America you can get at least 1.5 TB. So the choice is small: Russians are offered only a 13″ MacBook Pro and “just” a 512 GB MacBook.

Why buy Air if you have Pro?

The new MacBook Air is a good laptop, but there is one problem. Why is it needed when a MacBook Pro 13″ is sold nearby?

Let's say the MacBook Air is cheaper. But the difference in price is not very big: only 5 thousand rubles in his favor, compared to one hundred thousand for a laptop, the amount is not that big. What other advantages does Air have? Weighs a little less? The difference is also not particularly colossal.

Does Air last longer? Yes, on paper the dry characteristics look a little more interesting, it should last 2 hours more, but it’s not a fact that this will be noticeable in practice.

The Air has Touch ID, which the base MacBook Pro 13″ doesn't have. But if you pay extra, you get a MacBook Pro 13″ with Touch Bar and a fingerprint scanner. And the Touch ID function itself is not so significant that you should worry about its absence in the laptop.

It turns out that the MacBook Air is comparable to the MacBook Pro; it was not possible to notice a significant difference between them when studying the characteristics. At least for me. And if you ask me why buy Air instead of Pro now, I can’t find any arguments in its favor.

We've been waiting for an update to the MacBook Pro line for five long years. Finally, Apple matured and introduced three new laptops at once: one without the Touch Bar and two with it. 13 inches and 15 inches, price: from 119,990 rubles to 349,590 rubles.

At the same time, the company stopped selling MacBook Air with a screen diagonal of 11 inches. A logical question arose - which Apple laptop should I pay attention to now?

Here you will find many comparison tables with prices and options for choosing a specific model. All of these models are available for order in the official Apple online store. Which one to choose, I believe, you will be able to understand after comparing each model.

In Apple's assortment today:

• 7 models
• 97 modifications

Note: if you tap on each table, it will open in higher resolution and there you can see all the characteristics “under a magnifying glass”.

MacBook 2016

Verdict: Last year's updated model is perfect for typing and simple photo processing. This model is clearly not for games and intense workloads.

MacBook Air 2015 13''

Verdict: A frankly weak screen and a thickness that is now inferior to the entire line with the exception of last year's MacBook Pro. Buying a MacBook Air in 2016 is simply illogical. The only plus is the lowest price among all models, but it would be more logical to purchase a MacBook.

MacBook Pro 2015 13''

Verdict: The 15-inch model is gone and Apple exclusively offers the 13-inch version without discrete graphics. When choosing the Pro model, I recommend choosing the version with 16 GB of RAM. The price tag here starts from 123,790 rubles for a model with a 128 GB drive.

MacBook Pro 2015 15"

Verdict: An excellent productive laptop that has all the necessary ports, a gorgeous Retina screen and a powerful processor, the clock speed of which in the top configuration exceeds even the characteristics of new products. Curiously, models with a discrete video card have been withdrawn from sale.

MacBook Pro 2016 13'' (without Touch Bar)

Verdict: The youngest model of the updated MacBook Pro, which is positioned as a more productive alternative to the MacBook Air. And it wins in everything: from the screen to the processor and memory. Please note that the RAM is somewhat slower than models with a Touch Bar, but if you don’t need a touch panel, then you can save 30,000 rubles or more on the basic version.

MacBook Pro 2016 13'' (with Touch Bar)

Verdict: Junior model with OLED Touch Bar. Built-in video card, Intel Iris Graphics 550: suitable for games, but don’t expect a miracle. An option with an average drive and 16 GB of RAM will save you from the agony of choosing a laptop for several years.

MacBook Pro 2016 15''(with Touch Bar)

Verdict: The flagship model is a laptop option either for the obsessive designer or for the person who won't notice that he spent 349,000 rubles. The lion's share of the cost is taken by the SSD drive: in the top configuration its cost exceeds 100,000 rubles, but the feasibility of such an investment is still questionable. The average model varies in price from 231 to 282 thousand rubles and depends on the size of the drive and processor power. All 2016 15-inch MacBook Pro models come with 16GB of RAM.

Bottom line

Without many words…

Author's humble opinion

I have a 2014 15-inch MacBook Pro with integrated Intel Iris Pro graphics and 16 GB of RAM. I don’t see any point in buying a new Pro and I won’t do it. If the question of purchase was open now, I would rather give preference to the 15-inch MacBook Pro 2015 in the top configuration with discrete graphics.

Why? Firstly, we already understood the marketing ploy about a 130% increase in productivity in the new MacBook Pro: