I was eagerly awaiting Apple's Silicon Mac, which would be announced at last week's "One more thing," event. And Apple has thrown us a curve. While many (myself included) expected the focus to be on higher efficiency and longer battery life, Apple zigged and zagged when we expected it to zag. [With the Apple M1 chip, the new MacBook Air and new MacBook Pro proclaimed they could dominate not only their Intel-based predecessors, but also most Windows laptops. These seem certain to be top contenders for our best laptops list.

And the beekbenchmark leaks of the MacBook Air show that the new MacBook Air is outperforming the competition, with Intel CPUs and even that mighty 16-inch MacBook Pro shrugging off the competition.

But even though the MacBook Air appears to have MacBook Pro-level speed, I'd still pay more for the Pro. Here's why.

"Wait, why would I buy a new MacBook Pro when the Air has the same processor? But even though they both have the same M1 processor, they will not have the exact same use of that processor.

Specifically, the M1 in the MacBook Pro will likely be faster. This is because the M1 will have an internal fan to cool it, allowing it to sustain better performance for longer periods of time. Instead of a fan, the new MacBook Air's M1 processor has an "aluminum heat spreader," which is a less active cooling solution, so the M1 processor will probably not be pushed as hard.

Besides, the M1 MacBook Pro's battery life has been extended by two hours, to 17 hours of web browsing versus the MacBook Air's 15 hours... Of all the Mac upgrades (RAM, storage, etc.), battery life is the one I would definitely buy high on. This is where I would buy high.

The M1 MacBook Pro also features a brighter screen (500 nits vs. 400 nits on the Air), which is another area where I really appreciate the difference. To me, 400 nits is the entry-level minimum for a premium laptop. But beyond that, you get strong image quality that maintains color at a wider range of angles, making it a good laptop for Netflix and YouTube.

Finally, the MacBook Pro speakers support high dynamic rage, but the MacBook Air speakers do not. My next laptop may be connected to the same speakers that I connect to my record player, but only when I am at my desk. When I take my laptop elsewhere in the house (and once this pandemic is over, elsewhere on the planet), I will want to listen to music and movies in the best possible sound.

The biggest reason to get the Air is my budget and my back.

The entry-level MacBook Pro costs $300 more than the MacBook Air, which is not a huge amount of money, but I want to buy a laptop for the next 8+ years.

My current MacBook Pro has lasted that long, and I have a very strong "invest in the future" mentality when it comes to laptops. The extended battery life mentioned above is important not only for today, but also for the inevitable long-term durability degradation.

Calculated over 8 years, that's about $3 per month. Even if I have to upgrade after four years (which translates to $6 per month), I'm willing to spend more for a more enjoyable laptop.

And the MacBook Air is lighter than the MacBook Pro, at 2.8 pounds versus the Pro's 3.0 pound casing. But - I repeat - I don't notice it. Why? I'm updating from a MacBook Pro (the original Retina display model) released in mid-2012, which weighs a whopping 4.5 pounds.

So I've always felt that the 3.0 lb 2020 MacBook Pro is more than light enough for my next laptop. In my telecommuting office, I am surrounded by thin and light laptops, each around 3 pounds lighter, but I never notice these small differences.

I need a new MacBook, and I need to buy one soon. My 2012 MacBook Pro is getting older by the month and does not support macOS Big Sur. And I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, as I've seen the writing on the wall for months now.

And when I see the M1 MacBook on the market, I can see why the MacBook Air is probably the best MacBook for most people.

But when it comes to getting a laptop that will last 10 years, all the way to the PS6 and Xbox Series Z, the MacBook Pro practically wins for me. If the tests for our review turn out to match Apple's claims, the M1-based MacBook Pro is the 13-inch MacBook of the future, thanks to longer battery life, a brighter screen, and more detailed sound.

And this is why we review laptops (and why I don't pre-order such expensive ones) and why I don't take manufacturers at their word. Stay tuned for reviews of the new MacBook Air and the new MacBook Pro.