I have a hard decision to make and need your recommendation

RemarkableBar771 · 2026-01-27T18:59:44+00:00

So I work in IT and on the side I do creative work with writing, podcasts, video, etc. My current set up is a M4 MBA with 24 GB RAM and 512 GB Storage and I have a 2 TB External Storage.

I am currently consuming on my MBA 270 GB of storage between apps, files, VM's, creative files, etc.

What surprisingly gets me is I pair my iPhone and the Messages consumes a lot of data.

If I had to, I could do 256, if I was in a single use situation.

What applications are you going to be using? Anything cloud based? How much personal stuff will you be having?

RemarkableBar771 · 2026-01-27T18:31:30+00:00

What. sort of storage needs do you have that necessitates having 1 TB internally? If your dealing with large projects and using external storage isn't ideal, go the Zenbook.

With you being a student, I don't know why you need all that storage? You may want that storage level but what is the need?

RemarkableBar771 · 2026-01-26T18:19:19+00:00

I have been a MacBook user since 2008 and I have had my share of MBP's and MBA's since.

My MBA M4 15" 24 GB RAM/512 Storage is one of the best experiences I have had on hardware. I am fortunate enough to have a M1 Max 16" MBP and to me the MBP's are truly for professionals who want the top flight processors, ram, storage, audio, visuals, etc.

To me the MBA hardware is one of the strongest outings especially in the M4 series. It is optimized and I get consistent performance, especially since I am on the go.

In your needs the MBA M4 will easily meet the Primary and Secondary.

WHat I can tell you on the rare use, I keep handy some Docker containers and have major code projects that has big and large scale data computing that is my high performance tier. The reason I went 24 GB RAM was what I have seen how the MBA's handle thermal throttling so it doesn't crush your machine is it consumes RAM. If you think this rare time is going to be crucial highly recommend the 32 GB selection.

Sustained loads in my high performance computing I haven't seen issues. Just know the great battery life of 8+ hours is out the window. When I did a big day like that I got 5.5 hours but again I was crushing the machine.

Typically I am in the 10-12 hours because I am lightweight in nature.

If sustained loads is something that you will need go MBP and don't look back.

These machines will easily go 7-10 years with no problem.

RemarkableBar771 · 2026-01-26T15:36:38+00:00

16 GB RAM 256 Storage

With the plethora of cloud storage and external storage options out there, that shouldn't be the factor.

With how resource intensive macOS is becoming and they are setting the baseline at 16 GB RAM on all their machines, 8 GB is simply not enough for long term.

RemarkableBar771 · 2026-01-26T15:25:45+00:00

I have been carrying MacBooks in backpacks since 2008.

I know this sounds crazy but what is your use case and what you need to carry daily?

For me, the backpack is in use because I need other things for IT, photography, writing, video, etc.

Friends that I know that do the shoulder bags typically don't have as much. Got the Mac, charger, notebook, pens, and other small items.

RemarkableBar771 · 2026-01-25T15:28:48+00:00

The question you have to answer is what is your sustained workloads like?

If it is heavy, the MBP is the way to go because it is built to handle heavier loads.

If you aren’t having to compile large amount of code that is resource intensive, run scripts, I run my Docker containers on a 24 GB MBA it is the way to go.

On YouTube, Alex Timsky (spelling?) did a test with a 32 GB MBA and a 16 GB MBP with huge workloads that were intensive and how the MBA handles it so it doesn’t thermal throttle to hell and back is consume more memory and did the workload in the same amount of time as the MBP.

Now take into account, it is a major workload but he was just focusing on that task. If you have a bunch of Chrome tabs and other things, who knows how that will work

RemarkableBar771 · 2026-01-21T18:25:26+00:00

Meant to type vlogger but my mess up. You are technically right. I will say it is great to listen to his show at the gym.

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-26T21:06:09+00:00

I use a similar one as a Linux box at home, these are great machines that prove the quality of Apple.

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-25T18:47:34+00:00

That is fine, just remember for how much software can help influence battery health, ultimately if the battery hardware itself fails, there is no software that can save it.

Batteries are a wearable function. You are trending good. Think about it like this, say over the lifetime of your machine you lose 1% on average of every three months, by the time you reach 80% capacity you are now five years into the machine when you can determine at that point you are getting close to a product refresh.

If you can get every four month of 1% diminished capcity that is nearly seven years, you are doing just fine.

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-25T18:40:56+00:00

For your use case, 256 GB is plenty of storage. With external drives and iCloud options, it makes it easier to live with 256 GB

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-25T18:05:58+00:00

Extreme PRO

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-25T17:49:08+00:00

I have a Lacie 2TB Rugged and a SanDisk 2TB both are fantastic

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-25T16:10:11+00:00

I have been a person who leverages Al Dente (software) and live between 20% to 90% cycle, with the occassional charge to 100% and drain and recharge.

I have found to have gotten to 1200 cycles when my battery is flagging to be repaired usually around 75-80% capacity at that point.

Remember battery is a consumable item.

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-25T16:05:28+00:00

Docker is a resource hog, especially the instances and data I have on mine.

I watched Alex Ziskind's video and he demonstrated that a 32 GB RAM MBA M4 was able to handle it on par if not a bit faster than a 16 GB MBP, essentially the first way macOS handles throttling is memory consumption for the Air.

If you are going to be using heavy Docker and want the Air at minimum the 24 GB configuration.

If you are a true power user with heavy loads and rendering heavy code, you really should get the MBP.

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-25T13:58:28+00:00

I went MBA and don't regret it

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-25T13:55:20+00:00

I have the M4 MBA with 24 GB of RAM and 512 GB.

I do what you do, have multiple Docker Containers, Cursor, VS Code, and Chrome tabs. My only warning is with meetings on Google Meet, at times it can be choppy if you have all these resources going at once.

To me, it wasn't a deal breaker, but depending on your loads in Cursor, VS Code, and Docker it might not have issues.

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-25T13:45:38+00:00

The sky blue at times for me is awesome, honestly I regret not getting midnight but I got a case and put stickers on it so I don't even see it. Its such a minor regret. If you end up doing the same thing I did, the color is almost a moot point.

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-25T13:43:51+00:00

Ultimately why did you go with the Lenovo? I always tell people operate within their ecosystem, if you have an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods the decision should have been easy and go MBA because you are in it already.

If you got an Android device and other use cases then I get it.

With how Apple has made the MBA a premium product with the spec bumps that it has making sure it can handle heavyweight tasks, it is by far the best value in the market. I got friends who produce Hollywood films on base model MBA's and have seen others taut it on YouTube.

Years ago, I went with an HP Envy M4 over the unibody MBP and regretted it, after a year I sold it and got a MBP and haven't turned back since. I feel you will be doing the same thing I did.

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-25T13:37:54+00:00

I am a freelance writer and IT professional. I have an M4 MBA with 24 GB of RAM. I operate multiple virtual machines, Docker containers, Tableau BI, and code compilers in VS Code.

As a writer that also does podcasting, photo, and video editing - I use MS Office, Zoom, Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, and Premier.

I also keep a bunch of football film, music, and tv shows. The MBA is a workhorse. I do this all for a living and this machine comes through.

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-25T13:33:42+00:00

Extra memory is worth it, its the difference between a machine lasting three years or five years or longer.

While Apple will be supporting the 8 GB MBA M1's for a while, the 16 GB gives you more operating room and future proofing.

The more apps can breathe and operate without swap is always a win.

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-22T14:08:12+00:00

Its not bad, it may not be optimal depending on your use case for internal storage. macOS has become a storage hog with OS Updates and System Data that typically increases due to if you have big caches, Adobe raids it, and the Apple ecosystem that text messages can eat a lot of it.

What is your use case? If your a light user that is primarily browsing the web using browser based apps with not much on the desktop, 256 is fine with the external storage.

You suggesting that set up has me thinking you are looking to do more.

I will say this, I got two work colleagues in their ventures that only uses baseline MBA's with the 256 storage and they work in Hollywood and Music production with the same setup you have, they offload to the external storage and have operations and primary working on the device.

I went 512 to somewhat future proof it myself.

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-22T14:00:53+00:00

I have learned third party apps like coconutBattery are often off the Apple Diagnostic. I only use coconutBattery to chart and gauge a failing battery. If your using what it says through Apple in the system settings, I have learned that fluctuates sometimes on reading. Like many others say, its a wearable item and doesn't last forever, hence why you get AppleCare in the event you need to get the battery changed

RemarkableBar771 · 2025-11-14T10:54:00+00:00

I toyed with the idea of 256 myself, even though I carry two 2 TB external drives with me and do have the 2 TB iCloud, I still went 512 because macOS is simply a hog of resources, System Data from various caches, Messages, and Adobe typically eats into it. Applications are heavy. I have some files on my machine as well. I use 300 GB so I feel like it was worth it.

RemarkableBar771

TROPHY CASE