macbook pro

MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro : Which One Should You Buy?

Should I buy the refurbished MacBook Pro or the refurbished MacBook Air? Do I want style or substance? Are they both necessarily exclusive? Questions, questions! But you've come to the right place to figure out which one's for you, the MacBook Pro or the MacBook Air!

Breaking it down: MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

You can choose between the lightweight MacBook Air, and the heavy-duty refurbished MacBook Pro which comes in 13 inch and 16 inch versions, both customizable based on RAM, storage, processors.. you get the drift. (There's more details here on Apple's official page).

In this article though, we'll focus more on the refurbished MacBook Air and the 13 inch refurbished MacBook Pro - it's usually these guys that get folks all confused and muddled. Moreover, the 16 inch MacBook Pro is in a league of its own, not quite comparable to the MacBook Air!

The similarities first between the MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro!

We want to make things easy for you so let's get started with what these two have in common.

  • They both come with the bouncy and intuitive, scissor switch Magic Keyboards (the problematic Butterfly keyboards have been phased out).

  • Both models come with the fingerprint Touch ID sensor located on the right side of the keyboard. No more need to remember your first pet's name, or other touchy security questions should you forget your password!

  • Both the refurbished MacBook Air and the 13 inch refurbished MacBook Pro measure 13.3 inches, and have 720p FaceTime HD webcams.

Weight, Built, and Design

At 3.1 pounds, the refurbished MacBook Pro is a mere 0.3 pounds heavier than the MacBook Air at 2.8 pounds so don't let weight be the deciding factor here. They'll both fit comfortably into your rucksack. What about external looks? When closed, both models look almost identical, except for the wedge shaped design on the refurbished MacBook Air. It allows for hours of typing with no pressure on the wrist. The clunky design of the MacBook Pro models could cause some discomfort, and aren't as ergonomic.

Touch Bar

The refurbished MacBook Pro (but unfortunately not the MacBook Air) comes with a snappy digital Touch Bar located right above the keyboard - it basically replaces all the F keys. The bar's icons change with the apps, and the usual suspects you'll see are brightness, volume, mute, and Siri icons). Here's a cool link from Apple Support for more details.

Display and Brightness

Hmm, this is where things get interesting. The MacBook Air has a brightness of 350 nits (not the eggs but these nits) whereas the MacBook Pro stands at 500. This simply means that you'll be better off with the Pro in brightly lit environments, broad daylight, or at the beach. Also, the refurbished MacBook Air doesn't support P3 wide colors while the Pro does, and effectively displays 25% more raw colors. Video editors and photographers will know right off the bat which model suits their needs. Other than that, both enjoy Retina Displays with True Tone Technology, and atmospheric LED-backlit display screens.

RAM, Processor, and Battery Life

The refurbished MacBook Air impresses with its 10th generation Intel processors. But if you're willing to pay more, you can amp up your 13 inch refurbished MacBook Pro with 10th gen chips too. The MacBook Air can be upgraded to a Core i7 if speedy performance matters.

Both the MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro come with up to 16 GB memory, 2 TB storage, and roughly 10-11 hours of battery life with the MacBook Air supposedly faring a tad better. Base models in both come with 8GB RAM that can be upgraded to 16GB.

Fans and Heat (an Oxymoron of sorts)

Stress out the refurbished MacBook Air with several open tabs, Zoom calls, and background apps running, and you'll have to deal with the noisy fans and overheating. This is where the refurbished MacBook Pro wins hands down - this power horse can easily take on lengthy multi-tasking sessions, video and photo editing, and the occasional game.

The MacBook Pro inbuilt speaker is richer and deeper than that of the MacBook Air. Deep house, shoe gaze, or tribal music...the MacBook Pro will transport you to another realm).

Ports and Connectivity

The MacBook Pro has two versions to choose from. There's the lower end model that comes with two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a higher end one with four Thunderbolt 3 ports which lets you plug in four different USBs at once. It isn't a big deal though considering the adapters and dongles available in the market.

Final Verdict

Between the refurbished MacBook Air and the refurbished MacBook Pro, there's a whole gamut of possibilities if you decide to 'spec' up the RAM, storage and processors. However the MacBook Pro is the best option for those who value performance, speed, a better display, and sound quality. But if battery life, portability, price, and pretty looks matter to you, go with the refurbished MacBook Air.

Finally, why buy from Back Market?

Us, because we are hitting back at Big Tech! We care about the planet and the looming e-waste crisis that has no end in sight thanks to today's use-and-throw culture. What we do instead, is refurbish used mobiles, laptops, game consoles, tablets, etc, and ensure they're factory reset and usable before you purchase them. So whether you buy the refurbished MacBook Pro, or the refurbished MacBook Air, you'll be using them for years to come.

We trust our carefully-selected affiliate refurbishers enough to allow our customers a 30-day money back guarantee. Our customer reviews are available for all to see. And should something go wrong, you still have a one year minimum warranty. Unlike other e-platforms that sell refurbished products to make a quick buck, with us, you'll know the exact condition of the gadget you choose as actual pictures are posted.

Money matters, and that's another reason why buying off Back Market makes sense - you'll enjoy products that are 30-70% cheaper. Didn't Mama tell you that a penny saved is a penny earned? Back Market makes sense in more ways than one. Check out our video, and you'll see why!

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Written by Brian,  Marketing Manager Back Market UK & Ireland

When not talking about the latest eco-friendly tech and reducing our carbon footprint, Brian enjoys the odd game of football, a classic horror (book or film) or just to kick back with a beer or a proper Scottish whisky. Slàinte Mhath!

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