MacBook Air 15 (M2) vs MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro)

Apple MacBook Air 15 2023 M2 16 GB (MacBook Air 15 2023 Series) 1TB / 24GB

AED 6,099

Buy on Amazon UAE Full Specs

Apple MacBook Pro 16 2021 M1 Max (MacBook Pro 16 2021 Series) 512GB / 24GB

AED 5,499

Buy on Amazon UAE Full Specs

Best Battery

MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro)

Our Verdict

MacBook Air 15 (M2) vs MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro)

The MacBook Pro 16 2021 M1 Max wins on raw performance with its 32-core GPU and 30W sustained power, outpacing the Air’s 10-core GPU and 20W burst limit. The MacBook Air 15 2023 M2 is ideal for students and remote workers needing 18 hours of battery life, 1TB storage, and a fanless design for silent operation during lectures or travel. The MacBook Pro 16 suits professional video editors editing 8K ProRes footage with 64GB RAM and dual HDMI/SDXC ports for direct camera transfers and external monitors. In UAE at AED 5499 vs AED 6099, the Pro wins because it offers 64GB RAM and 32-core GPU for 600 AED less; in India at ₹134900 vs ₹149900, the Pro wins on value because it delivers double the RAM and triple the GPU cores for ₹15000 less.

Full Specs Comparison

Spec

MacBook Air 15 (M2)

MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro)

Processor

Apple M2 8c/8t 8 x 2.4 - 3.5 GHz, 20 W PL2 / Short Burst, 9 W PL1 / Sustained

Apple M1 Max 10c/10t 10 x 2.1 - 3.2 GHz, 30 W PL2 / Short Burst, 30 W PL1 / Sustained

Graphics

Apple M2 10-Core GPU, 13.5 W TDP

Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU, 44 W TDP

Screen Size

height x width x depth (in mm): 11.5 x 340.4 x 237.6 ( = 0.45 x 13.4 x 9.35 in)

height x width x depth (in mm): 16.8 x 355.7 x 248.1 ( = 0.66 x 14 x 9.77 in)

RAM

16 GB , LPDDR5-6400, Dual-Channel, onboard

64 GB , LPDDR5-6400

Storage

1024

512

Battery

66.5 Wh Lithium-Polymer

99.6 Wh Lithium-Polymer

Ports

2 USB4 40 Gbps, 2 Thunderbolt, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 2 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm Stereo, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor

3 USB4 40 Gbps, 3 Thunderbolt, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 1 HDMI, 3 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm, Card Reader: SDXC, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor

Wi-Fi

802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.3

802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.0

Weight

1.516 kg ( = 53.48 oz / 3.34 pounds), Power Supply: 186 g ( = 6.56 oz / 0.41 pounds)

2.2 kg ( = 77.6 oz / 4.85 pounds), Power Supply: 353 g ( = 12.45 oz / 0.78 pounds)

Not specified

Apple macOS 12 Monterey

Price Comparison

Market	MacBook Air 15 (M2)	MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro)	Difference
UAE	AED 6,099	AED 5,499	MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro) saves AED 600
India	₹ 1,49,900	₹ 1,34,900	MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro) saves ₹ 15,000

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