Where do you stand on the ‘non-pro’ MacBook Pro debate? [Poll]

The Debate Over the “Non-Pro” MacBook Pro: Is It Worth It?

There’s been an ongoing debate recently about what some refer to as “the non-pro MacBook Pro,” or what John Gruber calls “the no-adjective M-series chip.” The crux of the discussion is whether it makes sense to buy the base model MacBook Pro instead of the significantly cheaper but similarly-specced MacBook Air.

John Gruber clearly came down on the side of “no.” He argues that the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the no-adjective M-series chip has always been an oddity in the MacBook lineup.

A History of the “Pro”-But-Not-Pro MacBook

This “Pro”-but-not-pro positioning dates back to the Intel era, when Apple offered a 13-inch MacBook Pro without a Touch Bar. That model was even recommended in 2016 by Phil Schiller for users who were waiting for a MacBook Air with a Retina display—the first Retina MacBook Air didn’t arrive until late 2018.

In many ways, this base model feels more like a MacBook “Pro” rather than a true MacBook Pro. The genuinely pro-spec’d MacBook Pros now come equipped with M-series Pro and Max chips and are available in both 14- and 16-inch sizes.

According to Gruber, the base 14-inch MacBook Pro with the no-adjective M-series chip is aimed at people who probably would be better off with a MacBook Air but mistakenly believe they “need” a laptop with “Pro” in its name.

Another Perspective: Why Some Users Choose the Base MacBook Pro

Fintech investor Brian Stuckey disagrees with Gruber’s assessment. He writes:

“I’m a cognizant MacBook Pro no-adjective user because the CPU/GPU is more than enough for me. I buy over Air for: XDR display, battery life, much better speakers, SD/HDMI ports.”

Stuckey highlights that the base model MacBook Pro offers these advantages without the added cost of the more powerful chips, which he doesn’t need.

Breaking down some of these benefits:

XDR Display: Significantly higher maximum brightness, HDR support, and ProMotion technology.
Speakers and Microphones: Much better speakers coupled with significantly improved microphones.
Battery Life and Charging: Longer battery life accompanied by faster charging capabilities.
Ports: Inclusion of SD card and HDMI ports, which the MacBook Air lacks.
SSD Storage Options: While both the 13-inch MacBook Air and 14-inch MacBook Pro offer RAM options of 16GB, 24GB, or 32GB, the Air maxes out at a 2TB SSD, whereas the MacBook Pro can be configured with up to a 4TB SSD.
Display Option: The nano-texture matte display is available only on the MacBook Pro.

Gruber’s Response and Final Thoughts

Gruber responded by pointing out that he used the word “probably” in his original post and maintains his view that, for most buyers, the base MacBook Pro is the wrong choice.

What’s Your Take?

Are these benefits enough to justify the higher cost and heavier weight of the base MacBook Pro compared to the MacBook Air, even if you don’t need a more powerful chip?

Please take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Image credit: Apple

https://9to5mac.com/2025/10/20/where-do-you-stand-on-the-non-pro-macbook-pro-debate-poll/