M1 MacBook Air vs. 2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3) - Specs Comparison

Here is a comparison between the specifications of the M1 MacBook Air and 2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3), including differences in the chip, memory, storage, display, battery, ports, and more.

M1 MacBook Air vs. 2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3)

The 2020 M1 MacBook Air features the 10W Apple M-Series ARM 64-bit 8-core Apple M1 (8C, 7G) up to 8-core Apple M1 (8C, 8G) with a clock speed of 3.20 GHz. While the 2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3) features the 15W 7th Generation Intel Kaby Lake dual-core Intel Core i5-7360U up to dual-core Intel Core i7-7660U with the boost speed up to 4.00 GHz.

If you are in the market looking for a laptop and don't know what's the difference between the 13.3″ M1 MacBook Air (2020) and the 13.3″ 2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3) , we have a detailed tech specs comparison between both devices for you to check out here.

M1 MacBook Air vs. 2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3): Specs Comparison

M1 MacBook Air image

M1 MacBook Air

2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3) image

2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3)

Key Features
What's new
  • Better Performance. With the new Apple M1 Chip, it is now 3x times faster in exporting a project in iMovie, 5x times faster applying 3D effects in Final Cut Pro, editing multiple streams 4K ProRes video in Final Cut Pro with no frame drop, 2x times faster in exporting photos in Lightroom, and more.
  • Better battery life of up to 18 hours. The new M1 MacBook Air has the most extended battery life ever, with up to 18 hours of watching movies and 15 hours of web browsing.
  • Better FaceTime HD camera. With the latest Apple Image Single Processor (ISP) in the M1 chip, image quality is better in noise reduction, has a better dynamic range, and has an improved auto white balance.
  • Better display. It now supports a P3 wide color with 400 nits of display brightness.
  • Improvements
    • It supports the latest USB 4 and Wi-Fi 6.
    • It has better security with the new Secure Enclave in the M1 chip.
  • 7th-gen Intel Kaby Lake processor
  • New Price for entry model starting at $1,299
What's missing
  • Natively supports only one external display. The new M1 chip supports only one extended 6K@60Hz display, while the older Intel version supports up to two 4K@60Hz.
AvailabilityM1 MacBook Air2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3)
Released20202017
Release InfoAnnounced on November 10th, 2020Announced on June 5th, 2017
Pricing
  • $999
    Apple M1 Chip (7 cores GPU) | 8GB RAM | 256GB SSD
  • $1,249
    Apple M1 Chip (8 cores GPU) | 8GB RAM | 512GB SSD
  • $1,299
    Intel Core i5 7360U | 8GB RAM | 128GB SSD
  • $1,499
    Intel Core i5 7360U | 8GB RAM | 256GB SSD
DisplayM1 MacBook Air2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3)
Size13.3 Inches13.3 Inches
InfoRetina display
  • 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
  • Supported scaled resolutions:
    • 1680 by 1050
    • 1440 by 900
    • 1024 by 640
  • 16:10 aspect ratio
  • 400 nits brightness
  • Supports wide color (P3)
  • True Tone technology
Retina display
  • 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
  • Supported scaled resolutions:
    • 1680 by 1050
    • 1440 by 900
    • 1024 by 640
  • 500 nits brightness
  • Wide color (P3)
ExteriorM1 MacBook Air2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3)
Size Comparison
Dimensions
  • Width: 11.97 inches (30.41 cm)
  • Depth: 8.36 inches (21.24 cm)
  • Height: 0.16–0.63 inch (0.41–1.61 cm)
11.97” x 8.36” x 0.59” (304.1 mm x 212.4 mm x 14.9 mm)
WeightStarting at 2.8 pounds (1.29 kg)Starting at 3.02 lb (1.37 kg)
Colors
GoldSpace GraySilver
Space GraySilver
Keyboard and TrackpadBacklit Magic Keyboard with:
  • 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys in an inverted-T arrangement
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures
Backlit Magic Keyboard with:
  • 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures
PortsTwo Thunderbolt / USB 4 (USB‑C) ports with support for:
  • Charging
  • DisplayPort
  • Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40Gb/s)
  • USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)
2 x Thunderbolt 3
Supports charging, DisplayPort,Thunderbolt (40Gb/s), and USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gb/s).
Internal SpecsM1 MacBook Air2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3)
Processor
  • Apple M1 (7 GPU Cores)
    8 cores, 8 threads, 3.20 GHz, 10W
  • Apple M1
    8 cores, 8 threads, 3.20 GHz, 10W
  • 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-7360U
    2 cores, 4 threads, 2.30 → 3.60 GHz, 4MB Cache, 15W
  • 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7660U
    2 cores, 4 threads, 2.50 → 4.00 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 15W
Integrated Graphics
  • Apple M1 (7 GPU Cores)
    Apple M1 iGPU
    7 Graphics Cores, 1280 MHz
  • Apple M1
    Apple M1 iGPU
    8 Graphics Cores, 1280 MHz
  • 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-7360U
    Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 640
    48 Execution Units with 64 MB eDRAM, 300 → 1000 MHz
  • 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7660U
    Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 640
    48 Execution Units with 64 MB eDRAM side cache, 300 → 1100 MHz
Memory
  • 8GB
    unified memory
  • Configurable to 16GB
8GB
configurable to 16GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
Storage
  • 256GB512GB
    SSD
  • Configurable to 1TB or 2TB
128GB256GB
configurable to 512GB, 1TB or 2TB SSD
ConnectivityM1 MacBook Air2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3)
Wi-Fi
  • 802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6 wireless networking
  • IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compatible
  • 802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking
  • IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
BluetoothBluetooth 5.0 wireless technologyBluetooth 4.2 wireless technology
BatteryM1 MacBook Air2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3)
Size49.9 Wh lithium‑polymer battery54.5 Wh lithium‑polymer battery
Battery Life
  • Up to 15 hours wireless web
  • Up to 18 hours Apple TV app movie playback
  • Up to 10 hours wireless web
  • Up to 10 hours Apple TV app movie playback
  • Up to 30 days of standby time
Power Supply30W USB‑C Power Adapter61W USB‑C Power Adapter
SoftwareM1 MacBook Air2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3)
OSShipped with macOS Big SurShipped with macOS Sierra
Built-in Apps
PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSiriSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNewsStocksHomeVoice MemosNotesCalendarContactsRemindersPhoto BoothPreviewMusicPodcastsTVBooksApp StoreTime MachineFind MyQuickTime Player
PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSiriSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNewsStocksHomeVoice MemosNotesCalendarContactsRemindersPhoto BoothPreviewMusicPodcastsTVBooksApp StoreTime MachineFind MyQuickTime Player
Camera & AudioM1 MacBook Air2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3)
Camera720p FaceTime HD camera720p FaceTime HD camera
Audio
  • Stereo speakers
  • Wide stereo sound
  • Support for Dolby Atmos playback
  • Three-mic array with directional beamforming
  • 3.5 mm headphone jack
  • Stereo speakers with high dynamic range
  • Three microphones
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
MiscM1 MacBook Air2017 MacBook Pro 13 (2TB3)
Sensors
  • Touch ID sensor
  • Ambient light sensor
Security
  • Touch ID sensor
  • Apple T2 Security Chip
In the box
  • MacBook Air
  • 30W USB‑C Power Adapter
  • USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
  • 13‑inch MacBook Pro
  • 61W USB‑C Power Adapter
  • USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
WarrantyYour MacBook Air comes with 90 days of complimentary technical support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase AppleCare+ to extend your coverage to three years from your AppleCare+ purchase date and add up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other repairable damage, plus applicable tax.Your MacBook Pro comes with 90 days of complimentary technical support and a one‑year limited warranty. Purchase AppleCare+ for Mac to extend your coverage to three years from your AppleCare+ purchase date and add up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other repairable damage, plus applicable tax.
MoreVideo Support
  • Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and:
    • One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz
  • Thunderbolt 3 digital video output
    • Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C
    • VGA, HDMI, DVI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters (sold separately)
Video Support
Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and:
  • One display with 5120-by-2880 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors
  • Up to two displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz at millions of colors
  • Up to two displays with 3840-by-2160 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors
Thunderbolt 3 digital video output
  • Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C
  • VGA, HDMI, DVI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters (sold separately)

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