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I’ve had my 2019 Intel MacBook Pro since 2021, when I picked it up used. For years, this thing ran four monitors in my office, came with me to coffee shops, and got me through more deadlines than I can count. Now Apple’s got the new M5 MacBook Pros out, and I’ve been thinking about whether it’s time to move on. But after really looking at my work habits—especially how I use my iPad Pro as a second display when I’m out—I figured out I don’t actually need the most powerful MacBook. The 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 is the better fit.
My 2019 Intel MacBook Pro has been a reliable workhorse
Four years of dependable performance
Back in 2021, I bought this 16-inch MacBook Pro used to keep costs down. I got one with 1TB storage, 16GB RAM, a 2.3GHz i9 processor, and an AMD 5500M graphics card. I thought maybe I’d use it for 2–3 years, then upgrade.
That machine exceeded expectations. For a solid stretch, I ran it with four external monitors in my home office. The fans would spin up when things got heavy, but the performance never faltered. Whether I was juggling multiple browser windows with dozens of tabs, working in WordPress, or running virtual meetings while editing documents, it just worked.
The battery life’s still decent, not quite what it used to be three years back. I can work through most café sessions before needing to plug in, which beats several newer Windows laptops I’ve tried. One thing I didn’t expect: how warm the bottom gets after a few hours of heavy use, though that’s just Intel chips for you.
Buying used or going with a previous generation can be a smart play when the specs match your actual needs. Sometimes the best value isn’t the latest release.
My computing setup has changed more than I realized
Two Mac Minis mean less laptop time
My workflow has evolved in the past year. I’ve added Mac Minis to both my home office and my flex workspace. Most of the heavy lifting happens at those two desks now. The MacBook Pro went from being my everything machine to being my mobile companion.
It still excels when I’m away from home. Working from a café, setting up at my health club, or hunkering down in a hotel room all work great, especially paired with the iPad Pro as a second screen.
But I’m mostly writing in markdown editors, managing content in Google Workspace, working in WordPress and GoDaddy, and bouncing between various cloud-based tools. None of that needs a ton of horsepower.
The gap between what this machine can do and what I actually need it to do has gotten pretty wide. I’m carrying around more weight and less battery efficiency than necessary.
The M5 MacBook Pros are tempting, but they're overkill
More power isn't always the answer
When Apple announced the new M5 MacBook Pros, I felt that familiar itch. The performance numbers looked incredible. The efficiency improvements over Intel chips are wild.
I spent some time spec’ing one out, imagining how fast it would be. But then I hit the obvious question: fast at what, exactly? Opening Google Docs? My current machine already does that instantly. Processing video? I don’t do that. Running development environments? Not my workflow.
Most of my day happens in web browsers and applications that don’t eat up a ton of processing power and RAM. These apps run great on pretty much any modern computer.
The M5 Pro would be faster with better battery life, no question. But I’d drop a bunch of money on features I’d never touch. Kind of like getting a sports car for grocery runs—nice to have, but why?
The 15-Inch MacBook Air with M4 is the perfect upgrade
Right-sized power for my actual workflow
Credit: Farknot Architect / Shutterstock
The 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 makes way more sense for what I actually do. Stack it up against what I’ve got now, and it wins in basically every category that matters to me.
Here’s the breakdown: my 2019 MacBook Pro is 4.3 pounds with 16GB RAM, 1TB storage, and four Thunderbolt 3 ports. The new MacBook Air is about 3.3 pounds, and I can spec it up to 32GB RAM and 2TB storage. More power, more storage, and it weighs a full pound less.
The M4 chip will feel like a massive jump from my Intel i9. Better performance on less power means way better battery life. For someone who works mobile, that’s huge. Instead of getting nervous about the battery around hour three, I’ll have all-day power.
Shaving off a full pound might not sound like much, but when you’re carrying a laptop around regularly, you feel it.
Here’s the thing about ports: the Air only gives you two USB-C instead of four. This sounds like a downgrade until you realize I only ever use two anyway—display and power. The new Air has MagSafe charging, so that frees up both USB-C ports. It actually works out better than my current setup.
I can also bump this up to 32GB RAM and 2TB storage if I want, which gives me room to grow even though I don’t need it yet. The M4 Air will be faster where it counts—apps opening, battery lasting, and less heat. It costs less than the newest Pro, too.
Upgrading smart, not just upgrading
This Intel MacBook Pro gave me four solid years. I can’t complain about that. But what I need from a laptop has changed, and the tech’s gotten better in ways that actually help me. The Air’s lighter, runs longer, and handles everything in my workflow without breaking a sweat. If you’re doing mostly web stuff and productivity apps like me, the Air probably makes more sense than the Pro. I’m looking forward to something lighter that I can use all day without worrying about the battery. I still plan to keep my Intel MacBook Pro and will be installing Windows on it with the Boot Camp Assistant.
