Upgrading from Intel MacBook Air (Windows + Cybersecurity + Vibecoding workflow) - i7 vs i9 vs Windows laptop?

Currently using a 2015/2017 Intel MacBook Air (dual-core Intel i5) running Windows daily through Boot Camp and honestly it still handles most of my workflow surprisingly well.

My workflow is a mix of:

- vibecoding with AI tools / Antigravity

- VS Code

- cybersecurity learning / ethical hacking

- VMware + Kali Linux VMs

- Burp Suite

- Docker sometimes

- LOTS of Chrome tabs

- Discord + Spotify + background apps always open

90% of the time the laptop actually feels fine. The main issue is when I open tons of apps/VMs together - then it starts slowing down badly. So I’m guessing RAM is my biggest bottleneck.

Now I’m considering upgrading and I’m stuck between:

- 2019 16” MacBook Pro Intel i9

- 2019 16” MacBook Pro Intel i7

- or just getting a Windows laptop instead

Thing is:

I REALLY like the MacBook experience (Build Quality). Every Windows laptop I try just feels worse in daily use even if specs are better.

I’ll probably still mainly use Windows through Boot Camp though.

Questions:

1. Is the i9 actually worth it over the i7 in 2026?

2. Does the i9 throttle so much that the i7 is actually smarter?

3. Is 32GB RAM more important than i7 vs i9 for my workflow?

4. Are there any Windows laptops that genuinely feel close to MacBooks while still being better long-term for VMware/cybersecurity?

5. Would you still buy an Intel MacBook Pro today for this type of workflow?

Would love advice from people actually daily-driving these machines

And just to be clear, I'm not considering M-series Macs here because I need Windows as my main system for cybersecurity tools, VMs, and labs. That compatibility matters more to me