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

Posted By Volodymyr Chubei | 23 Dec 2024

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	8.3611.970.63 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.

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.

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