Macbook Pro vs Macbook air?

Here's a suggestion. Since you described yourself as a "light user," if you plan on getting this new Mac directly from Apple, I suggest that you go with the MacBook Air. You will have basically 14 days to try it out. Should it not meet your expectations, you can simply return it for a full refund. You can then decide if you want to go with the MacBook Pro instead.

Even better, you can work with an Apple expert directly providing them with your computing requirements, and let them make some recommendations on what would best meet them.

Ref: Shop with a Specialist - Apple

Note that there are three levels in the current Mac notebook line. The selection of processor chip (M3, M3 Pro, M3 Max) affects not just the CPU/GPU, but things like RAM choices, how many USB-C/Thunderbolt ports you get, and how many external displays you can use.

13"/15" M3 MacBook Airs

• Two USB-C (Thunderbolt) ports
• No HDMI port or SDXC card slot
• Can only drive one external display with the lid open, two (with limitations) with the lid closed

14" MacBook Pros using the base M3 chip

• Two USB-C (Thunderbolt) ports, HDMI port, and SDXC card slot
• Higher-resolution, mini-LED backlit screen
• Can only drive one external display

14"/16" MacBook Pros based on the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips

• Three USB-C (Thunderbolt) ports, HDMI port, and SDXC card slot
• Higher-resolution, mini-LED backlit screen
• Can drive two (M3 Pro) or more (M3 Max) displays when the lid is open

Joesph-Lemon wrote:

their the same price which makes it a harder decision, like the screen is much better on the pro but is the weight much heavier?

According to the Apple site,

• 13" M3 MacBook Air weighs 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg)
• 15" M3 MacBook Air weighs 3.3 pounds (1.51 kg)
• 14" M2 Pro MacBook Pro weighs 3.5 pounds (1.60 kg)

Joesph-Lemon wrote:

Hi, Im going into this college this fall semester and upgrading my 2020 i3 Macbook Air. As i was looking I saw a $1400 m3 MacBook Air with 16 GB of RAM and a 512 ssd. Furthermore, I saw an Apple refurbished M2 Pro MacBook Pro with 16 GB of RAM and 512 SD and it would cost $1500. I use my laptop for web browsing, geforce now, YouTube, and Netflix. I like the weight of the air better but I also don't mind the better screen of the MacBook Pro. Does the 120hz, faster chip, and greater brightness outweigh the weight of the MacBook air?

Most of these applications do not require a whole lot of processing power – even a base M1 machine with enough RAM would have no trouble running them. So it may be other factors such as screens, ports, maximum number of displays, weight, and price that have more of a bearing on your decision.

For the work that you;re going to do with it, a pro is overkill. If you donm’t do heavy editing or programming, the air is an absolute monster that Will fulfill all of your needs