Which is better for the mage character?

I am trying to decide and I just wanted to know yalls opinions.

*I left restoration and alteration out for obvious reasons*

Depends on what mage you're using. Battlemage, spellsword, sorcerer, nightblade...

Hmm, for my mage char, I usually go with enchanted light armor

I use rings and amulets to lower the cost of w/e school I'm using.

Good for running, good defense and lots of clothing options (There are a few robes but most look to same-ish to me)

I was going fo the pure mage (both hands spells)

Haha everytime someone says char I think of GW2

Pure mages wear robes, not armour.

I mean weapon wise. OMG IM DONE

None of the above. Use Amulet of Talos/Blessing of Talos/Become Ethereal instead.

Yes indeed, a very good strategy there.

Right now I am rolling a PURE Cryomancer mage who wears heavy stahlmum armor. She uses frost magic, conjuration and alteration. Some may call her other than a mage, but make no mistake , she is ALL mage who just so happens to wear armor for protection.

When I go pure mage, ie spells in both hands... I don't want to waste the perks on smithing or Heavy/light armor, I would rather put them into mage oriented skill trees, so I used mage armor spells on my pure mage character. Was very fun and very rewarding. Used destruction/conjuration/enchanting/alchemy for my main trees, and then whatever else I felt like doing. No armor, just robes/shoes/gloves/circlets/rings/necklaces all enchanted.

If we're saying "all perks aside," then probably heavy? Are you saying you don't plan on getting armor perks or mage armor perks?

On an RP basis, you could argue that clothing is the only armor mages wear because that's what warlocks generally use, but armor doesn't affect spellcasting and past games have featured classes that use armor and spells. I think it's lore-consistent to use armor or to avoid armor, so it's a personal choice. Robes are probably the most classic option for a pure mage though, as mages theoretically aren't spending time learning how to use armor because they're so busy with magic training.

I use light armor for magic-based characters (and magic-based gear sets on a jack of all trades character). However, with no perks at all you'll miss out on some of the better features of light armor and will have a hard time reaching the armor cap. If being powerful by the game mechanics is your goal, heavy will offer the most protection with no perk investment.

Mage armor all the way.

Light is better / more practical than heavy. Heavy for me seems a bit daft on a mage.