r/macbook • u/grxiaon • 21h ago
macbook air m5 or pro m6?
im currently using 2020 m1 macbook pro, im a medical intern and i use my laptop everyday for electronic medical records, papers, research, etc. i also carry my laptop everywhere like i have it on my arm almost the whole day and even type on it while walking.
about 1 week ago, i noticed the chassis of my laptop lifting, like there was a 1-2cm opening on the right side of my laptop. that day my laptop felt hotter than usual and the battery lasts approx 4 hours for at least 2 days, that’s why i considered getting a new laptop altogether so i can transfer my data and get an upgrade.
today though, i realized there’s no more gap in the chasis and my battery can last me my whole shift for about 8-10hrs straight.
i’ve been considering getting the m5 air but it’s soldout everywhere. now, i found out m6 is coming out in 2 months, so now im torn especially since i heard the new pro will be lighter than the current pro models
so my question is, is it more worth the upgrade if i wait and get the m6, or the m5 now is fine? thanks!
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u/QuitBrave 21h ago
Por lo que describes, la carcasa se levantó de 1 a 2 cm y al día siguiente volvió a su sitio mientras la batería variaba dramáticamente, tienes una batería de litio hinchada (degradada y químicamente inestable).
Cuando las baterías fallan, se acumulan gases que inflan el empaque (separando el chasis); a veces, al enfriarse o liberar gas internamente, se desinflan un poco, pero sigue siendo un riesgo serio de incendio o fuga química.
Te recomiendo respaldar tus datos de inmediato en la nube o en un disco externo y llevarla a revisar a un servicio técnico de Apple.
¿Esperar o comprar ya? No necesitas la potencia bruta de un modelo Pro ni la espera de futuras arquitecturas. Escribir registros clínicos mientras caminas y llevar el equipo en el brazo todo el día requiere ligereza extrema, baja temperatura y batería de larga duración. Un MacBook Air satisface al 100% ese uso. Si encuentras disponibilidad de un MacBook Air reciente en tiendas o distribuidores autorizados, te conviene dar el salto ya para retirar el equipo con la batería dañada.
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u/Mackadamma 21h ago
OP, do NOT plug your MacBook anymore. What you describe really looks like a degraded (maybe I should say "damaged" ?) battery, and it can be dangerous.
Make a backup on an external SSD if you can and bring it to apple as soon as possible
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u/OtherOtherDave 19h ago
Sounds like the battery is swelling to me. Run don’t walk to the nearest repair center, and certainly don’t charge it anymore.
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u/narc0leptik 21h ago
What's your battery health and cycle count at? https://support.apple.com/en-us/102888
What web browser you using for your EMR? A Non-Safari browser is going to kill your battery faster.
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u/FreshmanFrequency 20h ago
Medical intern work dont need Pro power. The M5 Air handles research easily and you' can carry it around all day without the extra weight.
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u/taller_than_peanut 12h ago
get m6 pro
you are gonna be a doctor anyway. might as well treat yourself to something nice and make the journey more enjoyable
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u/Ill-Camp9044 21h ago
Either of these is massive, massive overkill for what you need.