How much do Macbooks weigh?
If ultra-portability is something you consider essential when you’re choosing a new Macbook. There are significant differences in the existing line-up of Macbook Air and Macbook Pro models.
7th December 2023
How much does a Macbook Air weigh?
The 13″ Macbook Air M1 weighs 1.29 kg (2.8 lbs). The M2 powered Macbook Air of the same size weights 1.24 kg (2.7 lbs).
The 15″ Macbook Air M2 is, understandably, the heaviest Macbook Air at 1.51 kg (3.3 lbs)
How much does a Macbook Pro weigh?
The 14″ Macbook Pro M3 weighs 1.55 kg (3.4 lbs). In M3 Pro guise, the same size Macbook Pro being 1.61 kg (3.5lbs). The 14″ version with the M3 Max chip weighs 1.62 kg (3.6 lbs).
The 16″ Macbook Pro (M3 Pro) weighs 2.14 kg (4.7 lbs). The 16″ M3 Max chip is the heaviest Macbook made by Apple, coming in at 2.16 kg (4.8 lbs)
Apple Macbook weight table by model
There are far more differences between the Macbook Air and Macbook Pro range of laptops than most people realise. The Macbook Air has become famous for it’s incredibly sleek design. The Pro is known for a superb blend of portability and power.
Take a look at this table that compares something most people don’t look at side-by-side. It shows the weight of Macbooks in the UK (accurate as of 7th December 2023).
| Macbook Model | Weight (Kg / lbs) |
| 13″ Macbook Air M1 | 1.29 kg / 2.8 lbs |
| 13″ Macbook Air M2 | 1.24 kg / 2.7 lbs |
| 15″ Macbook Air M2 | 1.51 kg / 3.3 lbs |
| 14″ Macbook Pro M3 | 1.55 kg / 3.4 lbs |
| 14″ Macbook Pro M3 Pro | 1.61 kg / 3.5 lbs |
| 14″ Macbook Pro M3 Max | 1.62 kg / 3.6 lbs |
| 16″ Macbook Pro M3 Pro | 2.14 kg / 4.7 lbs |
| 16″ Macbook Pro M3 Max | 2.16 kg / 4.8 lbs |
It might not surprise you to see there is a direct correlation between size and weight, but there is a small increase whenever the higher specification processor (CPU) is chosen.
The Macbook M1 is lighter than the new Macbook M2
The newer 13″ MacBook Air M2 stands out when comparing it to the outgoing M1 model of the same size. The new model is 0.1 lbs lighter. Not much in the scheme of things, but a sign of the attention to detail Apple pays when releasing new models even when giving the user more power – it still wants to deliver a weight saving if it can.
Should you buy a Macbook Air or Macbook Pro?
Where things get particularly interesting though is the new 15″ Macbook Air M2 versus the smaller 14″ Macbook Pro with its more powerful and latest M3 chip. Despite a full 1″ larger screen, the Air manages to come in 0.1 lbs lighter. In our experience, pursuit of processing power is often an overstated need, so you should think long and hard about whether you’d get more benefit from the 15″ screen than you would the 14″ on the Macbook Pro if you wouldn’t utilise the immense processing power of the M3 chip (especially when consider how rapid the M2 chip in the Air is anyway).
The portability of the 15″ Macbook Air M2 is interesting when compared to the huge screen estate of the 16″ Macbook Pro models too. Very few people are going to need the 16″ Macbook Pro M3 Max in our opinion, but even the 16″ Macbook Pro M3 Pro is a full 1.4 lbs heavier than the 15″ Macbook Air M2. Or, to put it another way, the Macbook Pro is 42% heavier than the Macbook Air for 1″ more screen size.
There are other factors to take into account, obviously, from RAM (memory) to display resolution, across all models. However, if you’re looking for the ultimate combination of screen size and portability, the 15″ Macbook Air M2 is a very interesting addition to the range.
The Macbook Air M2 15″ starts at £1,399 in the UK, and that’s a full £300 less than a 14″ Macbook Pro starting price!
For a full list of the current Macbook range, see the Apple UK website.
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