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MacBook Pro 2018 vs MacBook Air 2020: which should you buy

MacBook Pro 2018 vs MacBook Air 2020: which should you buy

Posted By Volodymyr Chubei | 23 Dec 2024

Table of Contents


In this review we compare two Apple products: 2018 MacBook Pro vs 2020 MacBook Air, see the differences, key model specifications and will try to make it clear which model will be better for you.

The choice depends mainly on the key technical characteristics and an end-user's demands.

Those end users that require fast speed performance, storage options, camera specs, high class design will also have an opportunity to make the right choice when comparing 2018 MacBook Pro vs 2020 MacBook Air.

MacBook Pro 2018 vs Air 2020: specs

Below are the technical characteristics of 2018 MacBook Pro Model A1989 vs 2020 MacBook Air Model A2179 as examples.

They will definitely make it easier for you to choose the gadget that will meet your requirements.

Quick comparison:

Name

Apple MacBook Air 2020 A2179

Apple MacBook Pro 2018 A1989

RAM

8 GB

8 GB

Display

13.3 in

13.3 in

Processor

Intel Core i3 10th Gen

Intel Core i5 8th Gen

Graphics Card

Intel Iris Plus

Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655

MacBook Pro 2018 specs

MacBook Pro 2018 detailed specification:

Display

Type

LED

Touch

No

Size

13.3 inches

Resolution

1600 x 2560 pixels

PPI

~ 227

Anti Glare Screen

No

Connectivity

Ethernet

No

WiFi

Yes

Bluetooth

Yes

USB Ports

4 x USB 3.0

Thunderbolt

Yes

VGA

Yes

Headphone Jack

Yes

Input

Camera

Yes

Keyboard Backlit

Yes

Touchpad

No

Inbuilt Microphone

Yes

Speakers

Stereo speakers

Optical Drive

No

Processor

Processor

1.4GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor

Speed

4 x (Turbo Speed up to 4.5 GHz) Cores

Cores

Quad Core

Brand

Intel

Graphics

GPU

Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655

Brand

Intel

Memory

RAM

8 GB DDR3

RAM Bus Speed

2133 MHz

Maximum RAM Supported

Upto 16 GB

Solid State Drive

512 GB

In case you need to upgrade your MacBook Pro, refer to TechToro.io. to find the best original parts at the most favorable prices. We offer a wide range of parts for any upgrade you may need.

MacBook Air 2020 specs

MacBook Air 2020 detailed specification:

Series

MacBook Air Model A2179

Model

MacBook Air

Utility

Business, Performance

Device Type

Ultrabook

OS

Mac OS Ventura

Dimensions

8.36*11.97*0.63 inches

Weight

2.84 lbs

Warranty

No Warranty

Display

Touch

No

Size

13.3 inches

Resolution

2560 x 1600 pixels

PPI

~ 227

Anti Glare Screen

No

Features

Retina display

Connectivity

Ethernet

No

WiFi

802.11ac

Bluetooth

v5

USB Ports

2 x USB Type-C

Thunderbolt

Yes

Microphone In

Yes

Headphone Jack

Yes

Input

Camera

Yes

Keyboard

Magic Keyboard

Keyboard Backlit

Yes

Touchpad

Force Touch trackpad

Inbuilt Microphone

Three-mic Array with Directional Beamforming

Speakers

Stereo speakers

Sound

Wide stereo sound

Optical Drive

No

Processor

Processor

10th Gen Intel Core i3

Speed

4 x 1.1 GHz (Turbo Speed up to 3.2 GHz) Cores

Cores

Quad Core, 8 Threads

Cache

4 MB

Brand

Intel

Series

Core i3

Generation

10th Gen

Graphics

GPU

Intel Iris Plus

Brand

Intel

Memory

RAM

8 GB LPDDR4X

RAM Bus Speed

3733 MHz

Hard Disk Interface

PCIe-based SSD

Battery

Adapter Type

30W USB-C Power Adapter

Battery Backup

Up to 11 hours

In case you need to upgrade your MacBook Air, refer to TechToro.io to find the best original parts at the most favorable prices. We offer a wide range of parts for any upgrade you may need.

The choice depends on the specific demands of end-users. No matter for what purpose you use your MacBook, make sure that you upgrade your device using the original parts. Refer to TechToro.io to find the best option for your upgrade.

Step 1 - MacBook Pro 2018 vs MacBook Air 2020: which should you buy

Genuine Logic Board 1.1GHz i5 16GB 1TB (661-14758) for MacBook Air A2179 2020 from Techtoro

MacBook Pro 2018 Model A1989 vs Air 2020 Model A2179: which best

Let's have a closer look at the detailed pros of both models so that you can make the right decision at the stage of purchase.

  • MacBook Pro 2018: DISPLAY. Astonishing bright and colorful display that allows you to comfortably watch high definition movies. Though the display and colors meet the normal requirements of a human eye and will not cause any discomfort. Screen brightness: 500 nits.
  • Thin display design that really looks amazing. Thinner bezels and 3% higher screen-to-body ratio. Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655.
  • MacBook Air 2020 Laptop: DISPLAY. Retina Display. The new MacBook Air features Apple’s sharp Retina Display 13.3 inch. Intel Iris Graphics. Specifically, it has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 for over 4 million pixels, LED-backlit technology. 500 nits brightness, wide color P3, True Tone Technology.
  • MacBook Pro 2018: PROCESSOR. Drastically increased productivity due to faster and smoother Intel processor. According to Geekbench's website comparisons, the MacBook Pro is almost 1,000 points faster than a 2013-era Mac Pro with a six-core Xeon processor. This model shows huge improvement especially when it comes to multi-core benchmarks
  • MacBook Air 2020 Laptop: PROCESSOR. The new MacBook Air features Intel’s 10th generation Core processors up to 1.2GHz quad-core with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.8GHz. It delivers double the performance compared to the previous generation. The 2018 13-inch MacBook Pros with Touch Bar have quad-core processors, the CPU has more lanes and thus supports more bandwidth.Around 24% better multi-core CPU performance in the Cinebench R23 test. Can run popular games at about 321-438% higher FPS. The newer Air Model may require more time for update.
  • MacBook Pro 2018: AUDIO: Excellent speakers
  • MacBook Air 2020 Laptop: AUDIO. Solid Audio: The Apple MacBook Air has stereo speakers that deliver twice the bass and 25% more volume than the previous MacBook Air.
  • MacBook Pro 2018: BATTERY. Better battery life. Features a much bigger (~66%) battery – 83 against 49.9 watt-hours.
  • MacBook Air 2020 Laptop: BATTERY. Up to 11 hours
  • MacBook Pro 2018: KEYBOARD. MacBook Pro Model A1989 features a new enhanced third generation butterfly keyboard. There is a thin silicone barrier behind the keys that prevents the dust from getting in the keys. Touch bar has an inbuilt touch ID sensor, Force Touch Trackpad designed for precise cursor movement control and touch recognition, also recognizes the force of pressure, determines a user’s actions speed, allows drawing taking into account the pressure and multi-touch gestures
  • MacBook Air 2020 Laptop: KEYBOARD. New Magic Keyboard has a redesigned scissor mechanism that delivers 1mm of key travel. Larger trackpad than in previous models. The Force Touch trackpad is 20% larger than the previous MacBook Air. And with Force Touch, you can interact with your Mac in a variety of ways based on subtle differences in pressure.
  • MacBook Pro 2018 BLUETOOTH. Bluetooth 5 can now go over super long distances with less bandwidth or do twice the data in a shorter range.
  • MacBook Air 2020 Laptop BLUETOOTH. Features Bluetooth v5
  • MacBook Pro 2018. COLORS. Silver or Space Grey.
  • MacBook Air 2020 Laptop: COLORS. This laptop has Three color options for you to choose from: Gold, Silver, and Space Gray. Having different color options is always a plus.
  • MacBook Pro 2020 Laptop: PORTS. 4x USB 3.1
  • MacBook Air 2020 Laptop: PORTS. 2x USB 3.1

Thus you can choose the best option according to your specific needs.

Whatever you choose, any MacBook can be upgraded according to your requirements, you are sure to find the original parts at TechToro.io and update your device as you need.

Above we had a closer look at two models of Apple MacBook.

Both Macbooks have their own distinct pros and cons. Both models are excellent, MacBook Air 2020 is no doubt a better fit for your needs, unless you're searching for a far more powerful laptop for professional use, like the MacBook Pro 2018. If you do plan to use your MacBook for work, especially if you're a content creator, you'll want to more strongly consider the MacBook Pro.

If you need a fancier or more powerful laptop for work, and if you want both portability and value, the Air is the way to go.

Step 2 - MacBook Pro 2018 vs MacBook Air 2020: which should you buy

Genuine Logic Board, i7, 2.7GHz, 16GB, 256GB (661-09759) for MacBook Pro A1989 2018 from Techtoro

FAQ

1. Is a new MacBook Air better than an old MacBook Pro

You can compare the main points that may be crucial when choosing between MacBook Pro 2018 and MacBook Air 2020. The summary is shown below:

Memory comparison: Both Laptops have 8 GB RAM. And both have the same HDD.

Processor comparison: first Laptop 2018 MacBook Pro has 1.4GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor whereas 2020 MacBook Air laptop has Intel Core i3. Both Laptops have a CPU Cache of 4 MB.

2. What is the difference between 2018 MacBook Pro and 2020 MacBook Air

Macbook models differ in portability and weigh 2.84 lbs of MacBook Air vs 4.04 lbs of MacBoof Pro, screen type , processor type.

The 2020 Apple MacBook Air has an amazing design, absolutely great keyboard, a best-in-class trackpad, excellent performance rates and affordable price

Surely there's very little to dislike about the 13 inch MacBook Pro and this is an absolutely lovely-looking machine and quite professional-grade. Tests showed that it covers 99% of the DCI P3 color spectrum.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Volodymyr Chubei
Computer Repair Specialist at TechToro.io


Volodymyr was born in Ukraine and has found his passion for electronics from his childhood. At the age of 13, he was capable of soldering some basic elements of a logic board and today he is one of the co-founders of TechToro.io

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