MacBook Air M2 vs. MacBook Air M1: The $200 Question
Yes, Apple still sells a $1,000 laptop, but it misses out on the latest features.
Apple's MacBook Air is the company's lightest, thinnest and most affordable laptop. The Air is regularly our top recommendation for anyone in need of a solid, reliable everyday laptop. And when Apple released the 2020 MacBook Air with its first-gen M1 system-on-chip, the performance was as impressive as its design for the $999 price.
Now, the new MacBook Air is here with Apple's new M2 SoC. The M2-based Air looks better in every way, but you're going to pay more, too, with a starting price of $1,199.
MacBook Air (13-inch, M2) vs. MacBook Air (13-inch, M1)
The MacBook Air M2's design changes from the tapered wedge look of the 2020 and earlier models to more of a blocky slab, more like the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops from late 2021. The 2022 Air didn't receive all of the additional ports of the 2021 Pro models: There's no SD card slot, it doesn't get an HDMI output for an external display and it has just two USB-C Thunderbolt ports. However, the updated Air does have MagSafe charging.
Built around a larger 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, the MacBook Air M2 has a new fanless body available in four colors: silver, space gray, starlight and midnight. The laptop is just 11.3 millimeters thick and weighs only 2.7 pounds (1.2 kilograms) -- a touch lighter than the M1 version.
If video call quality is important to you, which is probably a "yes" for everyone at this point, going with the M2-based Air gets you a higher-resolution 1080p webcam along with three mics and a four-speaker sound system.
The MacBook Air M2 unsurprisingly delivers better performance. Apple said with the new M2 chip, Final Cut Pro performance is nearly 40% faster than on the M1 Air and Photoshop is up to 20% faster. Battery life is up to 18 hours of video playback and with an optional 67-watt power adapter it can charge up to 50% in 30 minutes. You can see some of our own performance test results below, with even more in the full MacBook Air M2 review.
With all of that said, though, many people don't need all those extras, especially at a $200 premium. The good news is that Apple is keeping the M1-powered MacBook Air in the lineup at its $1,000 starting price. Though the new model is great, the Air M1 should still provide excellent performance for everyday use for years -- particularly important if you're looking for a lower-cost option to get through high school or college.
2022-07-26 03:47:06
