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Screen Differences Between 14" MBP and M2 Air

 1 year ago
source link: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/screen-differences-between-14-mbp-and-m2-air.2350468/
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Screen Differences Between 14" MBP and M2 Air

briuhn

macrumors newbie

Original poster

Jun 4, 2007
I just ordered a midnight 16/512 M2 Air. I currently (like many here) use the 14" MBP. I am not a power user by any means, and am really looking forward to the portability, my only fear is losing the "pro" display. Other than the loss of pro-motion, can someone describe how much of a step down the M2 Air screen is, vs the 14" MBP? Thanks in advance to all here!

Pugly

macrumors 6502
Jun 7, 2016
The 14" and 16" lights the screen with individual points of light, instead of overall. So black is pure black, and contrast is better. The screen is probably the biggest difference... but to me portability is more important... and the Air won't have a bad screen.
Reactions: garethjs and briuhn

russell_314

macrumors 68040
Feb 10, 2019 3,363 4,422 USA
I just ordered a midnight 16/512 M2 Air. I currently (like many here) use the 14" MBP. I am not a power user by any means, and am really looking forward to the portability, my only fear is losing the "pro" display. Other than the loss of pro-motion, can someone describe how much of a step down the M2 Air screen is, vs the 14" MBP? Thanks in advance to all here!
No one other than Apple to my knowledge has one had one in their hands so we can guess for you. It’s going to be no promotion as in only 60 Hz refresh and no HDR.

I really don’t see how much more portable this could be compared to the 14” Pro. I’m sure it will be a little bit but it would seem to be more of a companion to a 16” MacBook Pro
Reactions: kitKAC
I just ordered a midnight 16/512 M2 Air. I currently (like many here) use the 14" MBP. I am not a power user by any means, and am really looking forward to the portability, my only fear is losing the "pro" display. Other than the loss of pro-motion, can someone describe how much of a step down the M2 Air screen is, vs the 14" MBP? Thanks in advance to all here!
If you aren't a power user, I don't really see how you would miss the Pro Motion feature as a whole. Your biggest gain would be the Air being a little lighter. Unless your 14" is still in the return window, I don't think it wise to buy the Air when you already have the 14", unless you are going to sell it for a loss to get the Air.
Reactions: boemtje

UltimateSyn

macrumors 601
Mar 3, 2008 4,122 6,616 Massachusetts
If you aren't a power user, I don't really see how you would miss the Pro Motion feature as a whole.
It doesn't require a power user to value fluidity in scrolling, switching between apps, moving windows around, etc.
It doesn't require a power user to value fluidity in scrolling, switching between apps, moving windows around, etc.
That is true. My point was that unit recently, we all got along just fine without it. And now that the 14" is live, many people here have convinced themselves that it is a new must have and maybe it is for a select few (for various reasons). If the screen was that important for the OP, he wouldn't have made the Air purchase today. Seems to me the OP is looking for assurance he didn't make a needles purchase.

Dealmans

macrumors 6502a
Mar 12, 2022
Plenty bought the 12.9 M1 iPad Pro for the screen, pro means nothing just better

Macalway

macrumors 68040
Aug 7, 2013 3,251 1,712
Easy. The Air M2 screen will look almost exactly like a pre-Mini LED MacBook Pro 13". Those where 500 nits, and very good screens, compared to the previous Air, for instance (or maybe this new 13" Pro is using the new Air screen?. That would make it easier).

Now, the new Mini-LED screens are the best Apple has, but it's not going to be a huge difference, except maybe to the most picky among us. It's a nice line-up, IMO. I don't predict extreme moaning. People know what to expect mostly.

I'm wondering about the future. What will be the next type.
Last edited: Friday at 2:53 PM
Reactions: briuhn

briuhn

macrumors newbie

Original poster

Jun 4, 2007
Thanks all for the feedback. I guess the easy solution is to keep both. 😂

happyslayer

macrumors 6502a
Feb 3, 2008 Glendale, AZ
This is my main worry. I ordered the base M2 Air this morning for the portability aspect of it mostly since I carry my laptop with me just about everyday, everywhere I go. But I will keep my base 14 Pro for a couple weeks to do some real-world, side-by-side comparisons. As long as the screen is decent, (I don't expect to be as good, for sure) I'll probably keep the Air and sell the Pro. If not... the Air shall be returned.
Reactions: briuhn

CrazyForCashews

macrumors 6502a
Apr 1, 2018 2,538
I hope the new Air screen can match at least the base MacBook Pro screen, especially with black levels.
Reactions: briuhn

erckrns

macrumors regular
Sep 18, 2019
Size, backlight technology, resolution, peak brightness, color gamut
Reactions: briuhn

itunexify

macrumors newbie
Apr 1, 2020 Italy
With miniLED displays the notch is completely invisible with full screen app, something I think won’t be possible with the classic LED screen of the MBA

dms_91

macrumors regular
Sep 23, 2016
I honestly don't get anyone's complaint about the notch, especially on the MacBook Pro 14"...I hardly notice it with this miniLED display. Phenomenal laptop.

Alex Cai

macrumors member
Jun 21, 2021 Somewhere in Shanghai
It’s similar with the iPad Air and the iPad Pro
The only difference is promotion, slimmer bezels, miniled. Both are Liquid Retina
Reactions: briuhn

Pug72

macrumors 65816
Mar 18, 2012 1,328 England
That's a good point in dark use conditions. Never thought about that. not a deal breaker though.
Reactions: briuhn

PatriotInvasion

macrumors 68000
Jul 18, 2010 1,606 Boston, MA
It also seems clear based on the resolution of 2560x1664px that the M2 MacBook Air will continue to use a non-2X scaled resolution by default out of the box.

Obviously this can be adjusted to true 2X (at the expense of screen real estate), but that differs from the 14" Pro which increased pixel density to 254ppi using a native resolution of 3024x1964px. This displays as 1512x982 at 2x out of the box.

There is no question that the 14" MBP has a nicer display, but whether those subtle differences are worth the added cost, weight, lack of color options, and thickness is up to you as the consumer.

AppleFan735

macrumors member
Oct 9, 2021
To me the fan-less design, weight and thickness are more important, so I went with the Air. Though I’m looking forward to the day that Apple ships a more premium Air that has a ProMotion XDR display. I don’t need the power of PRO/MAX/ULTRA chips.. but I definitely want the better screen for more fluid UX.
Reactions: Kaylor and briuhn

jav6454

macrumors Core
Nov 14, 2007 20,973 4,897 1 Geostationary Tower Plaza
I just ordered a midnight 16/512 M2 Air. I currently (like many here) use the 14" MBP. I am not a power user by any means, and am really looking forward to the portability, my only fear is losing the "pro" display. Other than the loss of pro-motion, can someone describe how much of a step down the M2 Air screen is, vs the 14" MBP? Thanks in advance to all here!
Stick to the 14", long term, the display is of greater value overall.
Reactions: briuhn

karen999

macrumors newbie
Sep 12, 2012
It also seems clear based on the resolution of 2560x1664px that the M2 MacBook Air will continue to use a non-2X scaled resolution by default out of the box.

Obviously this can be adjusted to true 2X (at the expense of screen real estate), but that differs from the 14" Pro which increased pixel density to 254ppi using a native resolution of 3024x1964px. This displays as 1512x982 at 2x out of the box.

There is no question that the 14" MBP has a nicer display, but whether those subtle differences are worth the added cost, weight, lack of color options, and thickness is up to you as the consumer.
So with my 14" MBP I found the true 2X default resolution making everything too small so I actually set it to be one step lower. While text is still perfect in this way but I'm wondering if that would add additional burden on the GPU.

jdb8167

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2008 3,340 2,719
So with my 14" MBP I found the true 2X default resolution making everything too small so I actually set it to be one step lower. While text is still perfect in this way but I'm wondering if that would add additional burden on the GPU.
It does add GPU overhead but it’s tiny. Nothing to even think about given how powerful the ASi GPUs are.

jdb8167

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2008 3,340 2,719
I really don’t see how much more portable this could be compared to the 14” Pro. I’m sure it will be a little bit but it would seem to be more of a companion to a 16” MacBook Pro
I keep seeing people posting this and I find it puzzling. The M2 MacBook Air is 23% lighter and 28% thinner than the 14” MacBook Pro. Those seem like sizable differences to me.

awintersdaybyth

macrumors member
Feb 22, 2013
With miniLED displays the notch is completely invisible with full screen app, something I think won’t be possible with the classic LED screen of the MBA
If you look carefully at some of the images on the apple website it appears that full screen apps do hide the notch on the new air, although I guess this will be confirmed in the reviews next week

russell_314

macrumors 68040
Feb 10, 2019 3,363 4,422 USA
I keep seeing people posting this and I find it puzzling. The M2 MacBook Air is 23% lighter and 28% thinner than the 14” MacBook Pro. Those seem like sizable differences to me.
A Bic mechanical pencil weighs 600% more than a standard wooden number 2 pencil. If I replaced the two wooden pencils with Bic mechanical pencils could I even lift my backpack? I mean that’s 600%!

Do you see how worthless that statistic was? It’s manipulating the numbers to make something seem more than it actually is. This is very common when people mention numbers if they’re trying to make a point.

So you’re 28% thinner is 4.2 mm. You’re 23% lighter is 360 g or about 3/4 lb. I’m not saying that’s nothing but unless you someone who works hard to pack ultralight it’s relative to everything else you’re carrying. If it’s being carried in a backpack instead of a very slim laptop bag there’s a good chance the other contents in the bag will weigh significantly more then either laptop.

jdb8167

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2008 3,340 2,719
A Bic mechanical pencil weighs 600% more than a standard wooden number 2 pencil. If I replaced the two wooden pencils with Bic mechanical pencils could I even lift my backpack? I mean that’s 600%!

Do you see how worthless that statistic was? It’s manipulating the numbers to make something seem more than it actually is. This is very common when people mention numbers if they’re trying to make a point.

So you’re 28% thinner is 4.2 mm. You’re 23% lighter is 360 g or about 3/4 lb. I’m not saying that’s nothing but unless you someone who works hard to pack ultralight it’s relative to everything else you’re carrying. If it’s being carried in a backpack instead of a very slim laptop bag there’s a good chance the other contents in the bag will weigh significantly more then either laptop.
Good example of reductio ad absurdum argument. Of course if I chose something large enough I could show that even a 5% change is huge as a counter argument.

To claim that 0.8 pounds compared to 2.7 pounds isn’t significant is very strange to me. I carry my MacBook Air around in a messenger bag. The weight is noticeable. Nearly any amount of reduction in weight is appreciated. YMMV.

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