The above video is my speed and benchmark test video for the new 2012 Retina MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models. During the video, both MacBooks are thoroughly compared by means of reboot, standard boot, benchmark and flash storage speed tests.
While the Retina display MacBook Pro out performs the MacBook Air in practically every respect, with it’s impressive Ivy Bridge i7 quad-core processor, flash storage and dedicated graphics card – the test results speak for themselves:
Reboot time:
Macbook Pro: 32.5 seconds
MacBook Air 43.6 seconds
Boot time:
MacBook Pro: 15.2 seconds
MacBook Air: 12.4 seconds
BlackMagic Disk Speed Test read/write speeds:
MacBook Pro: 399.5 MB/s and 441.8 MB/s
MacBook Air: 374.2 MB/s and 443.2 MB/s
NovaBench scores:
MacBook Pro:
- RAM: 224; CPU: 813; Graphics: 150 with 452 3D frames per second: Hardware: 65
MacBook Air:
- RAM: 132; CPU: 393; Graphics: 45 with 105 3D frames per second: Hardware: 54
In conclusion, the Retina MacBook Pro is a “powerhouse” compared to the new MacBook Air and is the ideal choice for intensive tasks such as video editing. However, that being said, the MacBook Air is also a viable option for those who are in need of a smaller, more portable solution. Essentially, when choosing between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro, it comes down to which type of laptop computer you’re looking for: intensive computing or basic web-oriented needs.
Stay tuned for additional coverage on Apple and their products.
