My 2018 MBP is coming to the end of its supported life and I’ve recently purchased a new 11" iPad Air M3 which I think is great.
I’m considering trading in my old MBP to purchase either a new MacBook Air and or new Mac Mini. What are peoples thoughts, I’m not sure I need both but fancy having them to play with.
I’m wanting to bump up my personal productivity using only Apple software for home and keep work devices to Windows…although I might buy a new gaming rig…
Anyway what are peoples thoughts on the new MacBook Air and Mac Mini’s?
I think it really comes down to your usage. A MacBook Air can be both a notebook and a desktop, but taking a Mac mini with you to the coffee shop is… less than ideal
Do you have a keyboard case for the iPad to bridge the gap? My idealistic world is an iPad and a Mac mini. A Mac mini for true productivity, the iPad for portable use, and a Remote Desktop app to bridge them if needed.
Both are more than capable machines. It comes down to your use case and preference. Both machines can do whatever you want to do. I chose a laptop which can function as a portable machine and as a desktop connected to a display. If you want a more desk-centric, non-movable solution, then a Mac mini is good. Make that decision; then, based on your productivity requirements provide your processor, memory, and hard drive requirements. Since you are starting out, the base model perhaps with a memory bump is adequate. My recommendation, budget accommodating, is to not skimp on hard drive space. Estimate your needs presently and then go up one step.
Always a tough choice. Perhaps reflect on how often you need a larger screen/monitor and also dual monitors. And of course how much power you need.
I think a MacBook Pro M4 14” (without a Pro chip unless needed) may hit the spot. To me it gives you a portable built in screen but you can extend to dual monitors when required. The M4 Air can too of course but it has trade offs.
I have an M2 Air which is a beautiful and great device (1 external monitor only) which I connect when needed to one of two dell monitors provided by my work. They don’t play nicely and I have needed a HDMI to mirror to my monitor.
I am sure it’s an easy fix but beyond my patience levels and tech interest, but when working at other venues ie office, clients, library etc for work I (now) appreciate the ability to have a HDMI connection from laptop to monitor.
So I now also have t the MacBook Pro 14” for portability and because it has a HDMI port in an effort to avoid dongle hell (will hand on the
Air to my daughter)… Also non Apple monitors mean cable spaghetti and I now better understand Steve Jobs drive to go wifi/bluetooth and remove cables. I also run an 11” IPad Pro for entertainment/admin/lighter work
That said, I needed/wanted 2TB storage and the price difference difference between the new M4 Air and Pro was $400 (still a lot) but it has a better screen, speakers, pro motion etc. The weight difference is a mere 250g roughly.
However, the slim, portable aesthetic of the MBA makes the slim MacBook Pro look a tad “ chunky”. So for me it was a tough call.
Finally, the MacMini doesn’t appeal to me. I appreciate its power/price benefit but I still like an all in one device such as my previous iMac. Of course such “fussiness” means paying more for storage ie the Apple tax but I like simplicity and will suffer the cost up to a point.
Anyway, good luck with your choice. I apologise for pouring more fuel on you decision making fire…
I would agree with @KGF and vote for Mac mini. You could use the iPad for fun and the Mac mini for more serious endeavours. If need be, a remote access app could make the power of macOS available on the move.
Personally, I have an iPhone and a Mac mini. I enjoy having a fixed place for my private work/admin. From Daniel Levitin‘s „The Organized Mind“ I learned that having separate devices and places often helps to focus on the task at hand. In addition, I enjoy having a stationary Mac doing my backups and other home server routines I think about but never implement . But as mentioned in other replies it depends on your use case.
Since you currently use portable devices and appear to be happy, I don’t see why you would choose a Mac mini (plus buying a keyboard, mouse/trackpad, monitor) over a MacBook Air. A M4 Air, especially the 15", will be a delight in virtually every respect over your old MBP.
I agree with @ismh86 , if you can afford only one system it should be the laptop. You can take it with you wherever you go, and connect it to a big monitor when you are at home.
I use a Mac Mini at home for server type tasks and an iPad Pro 11” for everything else. It’s worth me stating that I don’t use either for work (I have a Windows Laptop for that) but the iPad, Mac Mini combo covers everything else.
Before the Apple Silicon laptops, I had a MacBook Pro and an iPad. With the M-series laptops, I simply have a MacBook Air. I dock it when in my home office, but the ability to pick it up and go work elsewhere, serious productivity as someone above noted, is sublime.
And I have an M1 MBA, so not even as powerful as the newer machines!
. But as mentioned in other replies it depends on your use case.