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Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) vs Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1)
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) ($793) vs Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1) ($350) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right ultraportable laptop.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) | Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $793 | $350 |
| Weight | 1510g | 1400g |
| Chip | M3 | M1 |
| Display | 15.3" Liquid Retina | 13.3" Retina |
| Ports | MagSafe 3, 2x Thunderbolt, headphone | 2x Thunderbolt, headphone |
| Audio | Six-speaker with Spatial Audio | — |
| Cooling | Fanless | Active fan |
| Weight | 1510g (Apple published) | 1400g (Apple published) |
| Extras | — | Touch Bar, Touch ID |
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3)
- 15-inch screen at 1510g is remarkable
- Six speakers genuinely sound good
- Fanless and silent
- 270g heavier than the 13-inch
- Same chip as the 13, so no extra performance
- Large footprint in a small bag
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1)
- Sustains performance under long workloads
- Longest battery life of the M1 generation
- Touch ID
- 1400g for a 13.3-inch machine
- Only two ports, no MagSafe
- Touch Bar
- Old design with thick bezels
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1) is the better value at $350. Both are part of our curated ultraportable laptop index — tap through to check current pricing.
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