My mid-2013 MBA, which I have used for close to 8 years, is near the end of its life. It had served me well as a student in the mathematical sciences -- (rudimentary) numerical simulation, programming, scientific document preparation, basic graphics and video editing. The battery now requires constant charging, one of its USB ports is busted, and there are frequent driver issues with different external devices. I am planning on getting a replacement, with the M1 models being my pick.

The 16GB MBA costs almost the same as the entry level 8GB MBP. The former will have only 7 cores of GPU, and the latter 8. Both have the same storage, but the latter will have a fan.

How does a fanless 16GB MBA compare with an 8GB MBP? Going forwards I might need to use it for more extensive research work (and some 3D graphics simulation), and I don't think I'd be able to replace it in the near future. This purchase will definitely cost me a lot of money, which explains why I'm deliberating so much.