MBA 11" vs 13" Pros and Cons?

I am likely going to buy a refurbed MBA (latest version) but am undecided on which size to buy. I will use it some for work so am leaning towards the 13'. Specs show is is only about a inch wider and 1.5" taller. haveing the screen taller will be nice when looking at spreadsheets. However I will also use it on the plane and while traveling.

Views from users of both why you picked would be appreciated and if you would have changed your decision after the fact?

 

If you are not a girl and your regular bag can fit in 13 one go for it.
I would only get 11 for regular travelling, also if you dont travel like 100 days / year, 13 will do the job and you ll also enjoy better battery life.

Another thing to note: if its your only notebook definitely go for 13.
11 is like an ipad for me — really hard to do any kind of serious work on it.

 

Agree with Lieto, if this is going to be your primary machine, go for the 13".

I have a 13" MBA that is my main machine for school and it is great, anything smaller and it becomes a pain after awhile. While the 11" is super portable, that is all it is really meant to be.

 

The 11" is a very nice machine. It works great as a 2nd ultra mobile laptop, but I wouldn't use it as my main workstation due to the small size of the screen and the relatively weak hardware.

The 13" has a markedly better battery life (5h vs. 7h according to Apple's numbers).

Girls can't use 13" Airs? Huh wha-?

 

That is not what they are saying. Many women, young women, and girls carry around small bags and nothing else. If they happen to carry around a small bag, a 13" MBA may not fit while the 11" MBA might be a better fit in the bag. Since the OP has not specified their age, , or the type of bag they normally carry with them, Lieto was just making a statement. They didn't say that girls can't use a 13" MBA or anything like that.

To the OP: go with the 13" MBA. The added screen size (not just in height but in overall size, it is 1.7" larger diagonally) and resolution make it a much better primary machine. Not only that but it comes standard with 4GB of RAM, an SD card slot, and extra battery life. It also has a full sized trackpad whereas the 11" MBA's gets cut down a little.

The 11" MBA is a nice secondary machine if you already have a powerful notebook and just want something to mess around with on the internet. However, the extra display size and resolution (along with the other aspects I mentioned) make the 13" MBA a much better system to get work done on.

 

The 11" is a very capable machine if you get at least the 4GB 128GB model. I find it is particularly useful when traveling since it does not need to be removed from the bag to be inspected at the airport. Granted I used it mainly connected to a much larger monitor where ever I travelled but regardless it's no light weight in the performance area for most business tasks.

Cheers,

 

I picked the 11 because it's a secondary computer for me and I travel a lot. The 11 takes less space in my bag, is easier to use on a plane or train, and is easier to hold with one hand while lying down on the couch or in bed. I have the 4GB/128GB model and it has enough power & storage for me, but I sometimes wish for the extra 132 pixels of vertical resolution the MBA 13 model offers. I'm happy with my choice, but I agree with the others that the 13 would be a better choice for a primary computer.

 

I'd recommend the 13" over the 11" due to the bigger battery. There isn't too much of a size difference between the 11" and 13" models, but the battery life delta is significant.

Aside from that, the specs aren't all that different. The extra screen real estate is a plus on the 13".

(My data is based off of observations and playing with friends' MBAs and the MBAs at the Apple Store, FYI.)