Pavel Jelic A few days ago, we finally managed to get the latest MacBooks with M1 chips to the Jablíčkář editorial office. Specifically, we have available the MacBook Air M1 with 512 GB SSD and the absolutely basic 13″ MacBook Pro M1. Since these models are very similar this year, we decided to share all kinds of tests and comparison articles with you, in which you can probably find out whether they are the right Air model or 13″ Pro for you. In addition to tests, you can of course also look forward to full-fledged reviews. If you would like to know something specific about these models, don't be afraid to ask a question in the discussion under the articles - we will be happy to test everything that might interest you.
It could be interest you
Flying around the world with Apple In this first comparison article, we decided to put the Air M1 and the 13″ Pro M1 side by side in a battery life test. Specifically, when introducing the Air with the M1, Apple stated that the battery lasts 15 hours during standard use and up to 18 hours when watching movies. For the first time ever, the 13″ MacBook Pro with M1 boasted even better endurance during the presentation. With it, we are specifically talking about 17 hours of endurance during classic use and 20 hours when watching movies. But the truth is that these numbers are often artificially inflated - the measurement can take place, for example, with reduced screen brightness, at the same time also with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. turned off. – we are connected to the Internet practically all the time, and full brightness is an absolute necessity in a lighted office.
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We at the editorial office decided to subject MacBooks with M1 to the battery life test while watching a movie, but without artificial inflation. The conditions were exactly the same for both MacBooks. We streamed La Casa De Papel in full quality and full screen mode via Netflix, with both Apple computers connected to the same 5GHz Wi-Fi network and Bluetooth left on. At the same time, the brightness was set to the highest level, in the system preferences we deactivated the function that automatically slightly reduces the brightness after disconnecting the charger. We checked the battery status every half hour, the devices were placed in a room with classic room temperature the whole time. And how did the two revolutionary computers from Apple's workshop fare in the battery test?
As we mentioned above, for the first time in history, the 13″ MacBook Pro has a better endurance than the MacBook Air. If you are asking whether this information has been confirmed, then the answer is yes in this case. From the beginning of the measurement, it might have seemed that the MacBook Air with the M1 would be better in endurance. After three hours, both MacBooks were down to 70% battery, and then the tables turned in favor of the 13″ MacBook Pro with M1. Over time, the differences between the endurance of the two machines deepened. Specifically, the MacBook Air with M1 discharged after less than nine hours of operation, the 13″ MacBook Pro with M1 lasted an hour longer. Even though the Air lasted an hour less in the end, it is still an absolutely respectable performance that you would find in vain in the competition. So whatever you decide, believe that you will not have a problem with the durability of either the Air with the M1 or the durability of the 13″ Pro with the M1.
I would be interested in comparing the exact consumption. I had a loaner Air M1 512GB and was able to run it even with demanding processes, such as exporting video from FinalCut while charging from an external drive that supplies max 15W. I wonder how our Macbook for M1 is doing. How much does he take for the same activities. How much energy does e.g. the touchbar at the front take?
Solving the touchbar from the point of view of consumption is the "immortality of a cockroach" compared to the fact that you simply cannot put 32GB of RAM there for video editing
, do not connect more monitors. That's when you're in the "difficult" processes on Air...
I have both a 2020 MBP13" with 32GB and a 2012 iMac 21" with 16G - I do most of my work on the iMac (Fcp, Affinity, Compress, Motion...) - 8 years apart... So what exactly do we mean here by 'difficult operations'? I have a USB-c hub on the MBP, I also connect a monitor and a TB Lacie drive, and I somehow got used to the iMac and somehow I can't give it up. 1/2 year ago I sold an MBP15″ 2015 - instead of an iMac :) I admit that the consumption of the touchbar is small - but at the same time I add that the peripherals and the pursuit of performance are on the same level in my view...
"But the truth is that these numbers are often artificially inflated"
Of course, they are still less than the competition. When I remember my company Elitebook, the indicated endurance was "up to" 13 hours. I never really got past 5.
At that time, I still had a non-retina Macbook 13 and it managed to reach this value with a stated endurance of up to 7 hours (if I really drove in economy mode, i.e. reduced brightness, switched off Wi-Fi - typically listening to music on the train - that's how I got for more).
Now I have a new Elitebook (with Ryzen) and a 4-year-old Macbook 13 (touchbar). Elitebook states "up to" 16 hours of battery life, macbook "up to" 10 hours. And while I disconnect the Macbook from the charger at home and it works all day at work, with the Elitebook I simply cannot survive the day without a charger.
And I note that I am not a power user, typical work is Outlook, PDF and the web (+ youtube in the background), exceptionally I open word or excel. On the macbook, a minimized window with a large number of bookmarks (so that I don't have to close what I have read at home).
I honestly think this is why they resorted to the inflating. As long as they didn't do that, it looked like Macbooks wouldn't last for a flashlight (when the competition offered significantly more on paper). Which is a shame, because it is quite depressing in the eyes of users.
I totally agree 👍
Apple claims up to 18 hours watching Apple TV for the Macbook Air and 20 hours watching Apple TV for the Macbook Pro, I think it would be worth testing both once more, but watching Apple TV.
It is like when oda do tot=ž, but it is not the same. The need to write an article at any cost has passed.
As always, endurance figures are exaggerated. My MacBook Air can last about 10 hours with my work load (emails, Whats app, Numbers, Pages, Safari) and the plot of music previously downloaded via Mjusic. There is a huge difference between using applications that directly support the M1 chip (Affinity, Vectornator, etc.) and those that run through Rozetta (Corel CAD, SketchUp). The latter drain the MacBook quite quickly.
Anyway, I think buying a Macbook Air or Pro with M1 is currently one of the best PC purchases ever across all platforms. I haven't had the Air get stuck or slow down while using Autocad, editing photos, browsing the web, playing movies on Apple TV at the same time.