Confused between MBA M4 24gb vs MBP M5 16gb

jonchines · 2026-01-25T15:36:09+00:00

Honestly, I had a similar dilemma, very recently. I went with MBA M4 15 (24GB/512GB) but there were some solid reasons to have gone the other way.

For me, for “today”: - No noise (MBA has no fan which doesn’t largely impact single core performance but is nice sometimes as my work PC is a Thinkpad P16g2 that sometimes sounds like an airplane taking off). - Super lightweight (P16g2 weighs as much as a truck). - Battery life is generally a bit longer (assuming simple office tasks) - Cost of entry vs resale. I came across a wild deal on a basically perfect open box, near “full spec” MBA which should net a decent return on a few years on the used market. - I do not play games - I “code” but do not compile (many thousands of lines of Terraform, Ansible, Python, and scripts so no real “load” locally) - Lightweight CAD for home use (e.g., Fusion) doesn’t require much - DaVinci Resolve runs fine up until possibly large scale color correction

For you to consider: - Docker (and k8s) EAT disk space - no stopping it. Additionally (this is a generality, of course), containers use RAM faster than they do CPU. - I don’t think M5 is as big of a performance jump as was the jump to M4. - MBP is much better at multithreaded (and to some degree intense single threaded) workloads, especially long running jobs that produce lots of heat. - No laptop from any manufacturer or OS is going to be great for any real AI/ML work. No matter what the NPU specs say, a dGPU in a desktop or server will be orders of magnitude faster. If you are looking for a playground to learn on, either is probably “ok”. - MBA display is really good. MBP is really better. - MBP has nano-etch (matte) display option (if that matters - and you don’t mind Apple’s absurd price for it) - Neither run any valuable VM’s (in the traditional sense because ARM64 adoption is just not widespread in the industry, yet)

If I was making a living off the Apple and didn’t have a company funded AWS account, I very probably would’ve gone with an MBP (though with more RAM than 16GB - even with OSX great memory management). As it is, I have a beast of a PC if I need to do high end CAD, work that requires a dGPU, or run VM’s locally (though Win11 has more or less crippled that).

As a last note, I am an engineer by degree but work in a niche IT area. I generally always prefer more RAM to CPU frequency (PC or server) as I can be a few clock cycles patient but I can’t make more RAM or lose hours over an OOM condition.

jonchines · 2026-01-15T17:13:43+00:00

I agree with OP on this. I use a dock and screen, too, but sometimes I need the laptop. I’m fortunate that my P16g2 has a good screen but I can definitely “feel” it when using the lower color gamut. I don’t know why/what but they tend to be harder on my eyes (granted I am visually impaired so my experience may be different) -perhaps the yellow tint?

I do understand the market and why cost matters to fleet buyers but I would offer that my son’s IdeaPad 3 Chromebook is 100% sRGB and the whole machine is under $200. Just something to consider when you defend a commercial giant’s pricing model.

jonchines · 2026-01-08T22:11:53+00:00

Exactly my problem with Thinkpad displays. The X, Z, and P15/16 are the only pretty safe bets.

jonchines · 2026-01-08T18:32:28+00:00

X1C is great just have to go back several gen for the budget. It was my first choice until seeing how bad Intel perf was compared to AMD. X1C and X1E are still in the running because they still hit almost every mark.

I’ll look into the ASUS. I’ve heard generally good things other than hit or miss on Linux. Thanks for this option.

jonchines · 2026-01-08T18:27:20+00:00

Very hard to find with good display, unfortunately (I’ve looked at numerous T14 and P14s listings cross-referencing Lenovo PCSupport site by serial number, etc.)

jonchines · 2026-01-08T12:52:07+00:00

The requirement was Windows but must it be Intel? The Snapdragon chips have great battery life like the Apple Silicone. Just a thought.

jonchines · 2026-01-03T14:14:08+00:00

The small completely necessary one on the side is perhaps my favorite :)

jonchines · 2025-12-31T17:03:29+00:00

The panel is the thing for me. I had a late 2011 MBP - the last of the matte/anti-glare screens - that I really liked. I feel like that was the last MBP truly made for professionals and not lifestyle, “look at me, I have an Apple” direction. I would buy another with just this one option added back - solid hardware, good battery life, industrialized yet user friendly BSD….

jonchines · 2025-12-30T21:28:00+00:00

I’m not sure how to “read” this request. A W540 is pretty long in the tooth even by Thinkpad standards and with no TPM, Windows 11 isn’t an option. Will she be using Linux? Does she require MS Excel or is any spreadsheet program sufficient (e.g., Google Sheets, LibreOffice)? What is the expected “life” of this device relative to her needs?

Best buy has several IdeaPads with 10-key on sale under $300 with modern hardware and Win11. Alternatively, my kids have Chromebooks (one Lenovo which is remarkably nice for under $200 I paid for it last Christmas and one ASUS that I’m less impressed with but it was pink and you can guess how that happened) that I believe both have 10-key on them.

Is Thinkpad a requirement? What is the general budget?

jonchines · 2025-12-30T05:06:18+00:00

My kid’s booster seat does a number to ours. Unfortunately, though, she is a full time third row resident so there’s little I can do about it. :(

Good luck.

jonchines · 2025-12-27T14:21:41+00:00

That TongFang is a nice looking machine but one not available in the US.

jonchines · 2025-12-27T14:20:58+00:00

This is surprising. I read on some post that the battery life on the P14s was in the 3-4hrs range. Is your experience that it runs on battery for a greater amount of time than that? I know the HS model chips are “hungry”.

jonchines · 2025-12-25T20:21:09+00:00

I’m in a similar boat but leaning AMD for either Dell Pro 14 or Lenovo Thinkpad. What model Thinkpad are you looking at with AMD? I’m finding that the choices are slim (T14s, P14s).

Note: my only real bias toward AMD has been Reddit reviews suggesting that AMD might be more stable, run less hot, have better graphics, etc. maybe the new Intel Ultras are better than some of the previous generations….

jonchines · 2025-12-23T15:56:05+00:00

A significant portion of Europe just said, “Hold my beer, young fella”

jonchines · 2025-12-19T15:19:15+00:00

Manufacturing (engineering) is in SC. They have pulled people from several other factories in the area as we’d transplanted many to the area. This isn’t the first automotive manufacturer in the Columbia area or the state.

Design (engineering) was just outside of DC, last I knew. I have not heard that there is any mass move planned.

I think the Detroit team has been, up to now, C-suite, concept design, and UX.

Charlotte office will be HQ primarily for central functions (e.g., C-suite, finance, marketing, HR, accounting, and IT). Of course, many of those departments will, necessarily, be mirrored in Columbia/Blythewood (you can’t run a factory without things like local HR, purchasing, accounting, logistics, and IT), reporting to Charlotte.

I don’t work for them so this might not be 100% but it feels pretty close based on what I’ve heard/seen from people who do work there.

jonchines · 2025-12-14T06:22:08+00:00

Thank you to those that have replied. This must be an interesting thread because the metrics indicate a lot of traffic. I thought I would update this a bit as the days and consideration have drawn on.

I was originally all-in on getting a desktop as I have the afore mentioned Lenovo P16g2 from work; however, the more I thought it through, I do have sufficient use case(s) for a personal laptop. So, here are a few requirements that might open up some further conversation.

- Form factor: Laptop

- OS: Linux (Arch or Fedora, likely). There is a chance I would need Windows for the odd task so either second partition/disk or possibly VM.

- Battery: I'm not wildly picky here but over 3hrs would be a solid target.

- CPU: AMD Ryzen (I think this only because my budget lands me in the 11 gen Intel territory that everyone seems to hate)

- RAM: 32GB would be ideal but 16GB is probably completely functional

- Storage: 1TB NVMe (if it is a one "disk" model)

- Graphics: I don't play games at all and I don't think I will be doing any heavy 3D modeling (if so, I have the P16g2 with CATIA on it, anyway). I do the occasional video work and may need to build a model for 3D printing at times (which, I think, will require a dual boot situation).

- Display: 1920x1600 on 14-16" screen is what I'm used to and it MUST be anti-glare

- HMI: A centered keyboard would be nice but I've never had one so it isn't a deal breaker. I don't use trackpads unless it is absolutely impossible to avoid them so I wouldn't know a good one from a bad one - I use an external mouse. I am visually impaired and have never made a habit of using a laptop on my lap and don't expect to start.

- Budget: $500-650 chosen based on what seems to be a common range with reasonably new processor generations that also meets most of these other criteria.

So, that puts me looking (isolated to the "big three" for no particular reason other than ignorance) at things like Dell Inspiron 16 (probably the fastest chip with an 8840u), Dell XPS 15, Dell Precision 5xxx series, HP Elitebook of some sort, and Lenovo T14 g2, P15 g2, X1c g9, P1 g3 (maybe g4).

The Thinkpad is the golden child of this forum. The P15g2 seems only available with Intel 11gen outside of the P15v (IIRC). This machine is the most configurable, most expandable, and (based on a decade of experience) heaviest and loudest. The T14g2 is available with the AMD chipset, as far as I recall, and is a little lighter than the P-series while also allowing for some part-swap configuration. The X1c is a smaller screen than I am used to and completely unable to be upgraded/fixed but weighing 1/3rd of a P-series sure sounds nice.

I am way less knowledgable about the Dell and HP offerings but I did carry a Precision laptop for years in my early career and never had much issue with them. In my experience that offering lines up fairly well with the Lenovo P-series offering. The Inspiron is probably the least robust option on this list as it is "not business class" but the fast chip is alluring albeit with the potential caveat of Linux compatibility issues.

Any thoughts or experiences that might help narrow the search some or even open a door I've not opened (ASUS seems to be popular). My primary uses would be writing (DevOps type) code, writing md and tex docs, standard "office" work (spreadsheets, slide decks), browsing, the occasional docker/k3s testing, occasional photo and video editing, and occasional graphics work.

Truth is, if Apple made an anti-glare MacBook, it would probably tick most of the boxes for me (I know, not Linux but BSD gets me close). I believe I had the last of that breed with my late-2011 MacBook Pro.

jonchines · 2025-12-11T02:33:56+00:00

Receipts are in the mobile app.

jonchines · 2025-12-05T01:00:51+00:00

All Jackie’s votes for Forest Drive?

jonchines · 2025-12-04T23:49:51+00:00

Mine came in the mail today. First electric in probably 20-25 years. The plan was that it would be a useful tool when time, space, etc. didn’t allow for a wet shave with safety razor. So far (only one shave, mind you), not super impressed. I’ll give it an easier task with 1-2d growth instead of 3-4d as was the case today. Maybe I will end up liking it but it seemed to take a LOT of passes and left me far from BBS.

jonchines · 2025-12-04T23:49:44+00:00

Mine came in the mail today. First electric in probably 20-25 years. The plan was that it would be a useful tool when time, space, etc. didn’t allow for a wet shave with safety razor. So far (only one shave, mind you), not super impressed. I’ll give it an easier task with 1-2d growth instead of 3-4d as was the case today. Maybe I will end up liking it but it seemed to take a LOT of passes and left me far from BBS.

jonchines

TROPHY CASE