Is the Pro really needed for computer science students? - eviltoast

Getting really tired of the small screen on my intel 13” 2020 mac and am hoping to upgrade for easier split screen productivity. I’m considering the 15” 16GB MacBook Air and the M3 14” MacBook Pro. Don’t do any heavy duty video or photo editing but I do like to code/program. Will the air suit my needs? Or is it too weak? I feel a little silly only getting one extra inch with the 14” pro, but the 16” is a bit out of my price range.