Comparison of M2 Macbook Air and M1 iPad Pro [VIDEO]

After more than a week of using the M2 MacBook Air, I’m happy to share its comparison with the M1 iPad Pro. Here’s everything you need to know.

Even though the M1 iPad Pro is a powerful machine, I still found myself using a MacBook Air for the 5% of tasks that I can’t easily do on an iPad. However, I still use both devices for a wide variety of tasks, from creative work on YouTube and professional work in corporate suites like Microsoft to dedicated CRM software and more.

Because of this, I feel I’m well placed to go into detail on which “computer” is best to buy for you and your workflow to help you decide between the M1 iPad Pro and the all-new M2 MacBook Air.

For comparison, we’ll be talking about the iPad Pro M1 with 256GB of storage. A basic MacBook Air will set you back around $1,200. It is with latest M2 chip, 256GB memory and 8GB RAM. The 256GB iPad Pro has 8GB of RAM and also starts at $1,200 for the same configuration. To really compare the iPad Pro M1 and MacBook Air M2, we’ll also need the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard, which adds another $350 to the base price.

The addition of this $350 accessory brings the M1 iPad Pro to $1,550, with the optional Apple Pencil costing an additional $130. Luckily, there are third-party Bluetooth accessories that are much cheaper and compatible with the iPad. As with most Apple products, to get the best experience and functionality, you just need to purchase a magic keyboard.

See the table below for a full price comparison:

M2 MacBook Air M1 iPad Pro (Wi-Fi only) Price RAM storage Price RAM storage 1199 256GB 8GB $1099 128GB 8GB $1399 512GB 8GB $1199 256GB 8GB $1599 1TB 8GB 1399512GB 8GB $1999 2TB 8GB $1799 1TB 16GB $2399 2TB 24GB $2199 2TB 16GB

Comparing the M2 MacBook Air directly to the M1 iPad Pro is unfair given that the tablet needs a bit of extra hardware to be considered a “computer” in the same way – think Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.

The iPad Pro has a few hardware features that may justify the price increase depending on how you use the tablet. First, it’s a 12.9-inch miniLED display. The 120Hz ProMotion display has a base brightness level of 1000 nits and a maximum brightness level of 1600 nits. With this, you don’t have to worry about using your iPad Pro in bright or sunny conditions. What’s more, the miniLED screen on the iPad Pro is still the cheapest way to achieve Apple’s Pro Display XDR level of quality. This puts the display in a league of its own.

By comparison, on the MacBook Air M2 you get a 13.6-inch IPS Retina LED display. By itself, that’s great. In direct comparison to the iPad Pro’s display, you’ll easily notice a 60Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 500 nits.

M2 Macbook Air on the left, M1 iPad Pro on the right

When it comes to cameras, the iPad Pro easily wins. While you may not use the dual rear cameras, you still have access to photo and video sensors. Even if you’re not originally going to use the rear camera setup, it’s there as an option and more than capable if you need to use it.

Obviously the M2 MacBook Air doesn’t have rear sensors. The new MacBook Air has a brand new, redesigned 1080p webcam, and while it’s a great upgrade, the selfie camera on the iPad still revolves around the MacBook Air’s camera. On top of that, the iPad has a built-in Center Stage. For security purposes, the iPad uses FaceID, but the MacBook Air M2 includes Touch ID. Both options for biometric protection are very fast, but FaceID is passive and does not require the user to unlock the device.

Listen to the video below and you’ll hear that the iPad’s speakers are fuller, louder, and provide more base than the MacBook Air. They both technically have a four-speaker system, but the iPad is simply the best speaker system.

If you value ports and expandability, the MacBook Air M2 is the obvious choice. Apple has reintroduced MagSafe on the MacBook Air, freeing up an additional Thunderbolt port. This means you can connect two devices or accessories, while on an iPad you only have access to one port. This must be used in conjunction with power and data, but can be expanded with compatible USB-C hubs.

If you pick up the Magic Keyboard, it is worth noting the presence of a power port. However, it can only be used for power access and cannot be used as an additional access port or extension for the iPad Pro. Despite having two ports, the MacBook Air still only supports one external display at resolutions up to 6K. Same with the iPad Pro thanks to the addition of Stage Manager with iPad OS 16.

iPadOS 16: Scene Manager

Speaking of charging, battery life is the area where you’ll notice the biggest difference. The MacBook Air is the absolute champion in battery life. Apple’s website states that a laptop with an M2 processor can only last up to 18 hours. In our testing, we weren’t able to get a full 18 hours of battery life, but after a full day of heavy use of third-party apps like Google Chrome and Microsoft Suite apps, the MacBook Air didn’t have any issues. With this use case, we were still able to end the day with about 50% battery remaining. In our opinion, you can take it on a weekend of heavy use and you don’t need to take your charger with you.

Unfortunately, the iPad Pro can’t compete here in terms of longevity. With heavy use of the Magic Keyboard, we usually manage five to six hours before we have to look for a charger.

When it comes to battery life, the MacBook Air M2 is the clear winner. Additionally, the iPad Pro’s maximum charging speed is rated at 33W compared to the MacBook Air, which can charge up to 67W via MagSafe.

iPad Pro with optional Magic Keyboard makes iPad heavier and thicker than MacBook Air. Even though it’s heavier, it’s hard not to notice the iPad Pro, at least in terms of versatility and overall portability. Not only is this a tablet for entertainment purposes, but it is also starting to become a powerful work tool for many.

In many ways, the iPad is still the “must have” device on the market. Having owned an iPad since 2018, I personally made this decision based on aesthetics. It is incredibly light, thin and powerful. In many ways, it still seems too good to be true. Sure, the new design of the MacBook Air is amazing on its own, but something about the iPad paired with the Magic Keyboard — and its unique floating hinge — looks better.

So from a purely hardware standpoint – price aside – I feel like the iPad Pro has the edge. With a lot of versatility, better built-in cameras, and arguably the best display, it’s top-notch technology, and that’s why Apple dominates this market segment.

In conclusion, which device is right for you still depends solely on preference and price. In my opinion, I’d go with the iPad Pro for its portability, ease of use, and the fact that it’s generally more fun to use. You have millions of apps in the App Store to choose from, so you can always find something useful or interesting. It’s just more versatile – it’s a tablet, and a digital notepad, and a computer, and a game console – all in one.

It’s hard to argue with the fact that a lot of people just want a familiar laptop that does everything from work to productivity – fit for daily use and has long battery life. For this group, I generally recommend the MacBook Air purely for its value for money, performance, and familiarity.

If you can afford both, the iPad Pro M1 and MacBook Air M2 complement each other perfectly with features like a stroller, universal controls, and the Apple ecosystem.

While the M1 iPad Pro is a great choice for me, if I had to recommend a computer for exclusive use for the next five years, it would be hard not to look at the M2 MacBook Air. It offers powerful desktop-level performance in a portable package, with real desktop applications, a great keyboard, touchpad, and external display support without compromise.

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