The MacBook Air with the M2 chip was released over a year and a half ago. The new device features a complete redesign as well as several important under-the-hood improvements that could make it a major upgrade for many users.
The MacBook Air is often chosen by those who need a portable, more affordable Apple laptop, with the device offering a lightweight design at a price well below the high end MacBook Pro models. The previous M1 model is still on sale for the same price as it was when it was first introduced in November 2020, but the new M2 MacBook Air is at a lower price point.
Our buyer's guide can help you decide whether to upgrade from the M1 MacBook Air to the M2 MacBook Air or not.
There are many similarities between the two MacBook Air models.
There are important differences between the M1 MacBook Air and the M2 MacBook Air.
M1 Macbook Air.
M2 is a Macbook Air.
Two MacBook Air models have the same design. The M1 MacBook Air has a "wedge" design similar to previous models, but the M2 model has a flat top and uniform thickness.
The tapered design of the M1 MacBook AirThe design of the M1 MacBook Air is the same as the one Apple has been using since 2010 and it is a matter of personal preference. The M2 MacBook Air looks a lot like a modern device.
The uniform thickness of the M2 MacBook AirThe M2 MacBook Air has a full-height function key row, rather than the half-height row of the M1 model. The keyboards are the same. The full-height function row is not likely to have an effect on purchasing decisions.
The thickness of the previous model of the M2 MacBook Air was 4.8%. The M2 model is slightly longer than the other one. The new MacBook Air has a 25 percent volume reduction over the previous generation and should feel more slight in the hand.
The M2 MacBook Air is 0.1 pounds lighter than its predecessor.
M1 Macbook Air.
M2 is a Macbook Air.
Users who often need to carry their device around are likely to be pleased with the M2 MacBook Air's reduced weight and volume. The M1 MacBook Air is small and light, but the M2 MacBook Air is more likely to fit into tight bag compartments and be less cumbersome. The new design may be more striking and visually appealing, but it's not a good idea to buy the latest model just for the sake of being portable.
Both models are available in Space Gray. The M2 MacBook Air is available in two different colors.
You may want to get the M2 model of the Apple Watch if you have other Apple devices in the area. The M2 model has no reason to be preferred over the Silver and Space Gray models simply on the basis of color.
Both models feature a high-resolution Retina display with P3 wide color and True Tone, but Apple claims that the M2 MacBook Air has its latest "liquid retina display." The edges of the display curve around the top corners of the lid to make it look more modern.
The M2 MacBook Air's display provides an additional 0.3 inches of diagonal space, making it slightly more space for on-screen content, and the display can get 25 percent brighter than the M1 model, making it better for use outdoors.
The M2 MacBook Air has a "notch" to hold the FaceTime HD camera. Since macOS's menu bar takes advantage of the extra vertical space on the M2 model, it shouldn't be an issue for most buyers.
Most customers will find the M1 MacBook Air to be more than adequate. The larger borders of the M1 model's smaller display make it look more dated than the newer model, which may sway some customers towards the newer model.
The current and previous- generation MacBook Airs have different Apple chips. The A14 chip is used in the M1 chip. The A15 chip from the iPhone 13 is used in the M2
The M2's cores offer moderate performance and efficiency improvements, while the eight-core chip features four performance and four efficiency cores. Final Cut Pro is nearly 40 percent faster with the M2 chip, according to Apple. The amount of time it takes to apply filters and effects is up to 20 percent.
The M2 has the same media engine as the M1 Pro. The M1 chip has a dedicated media engine that can only speed up H.264 and HEVC videos. The new MacBook Air allows users to play back up more 4K and 8K streams of video and convert video projects to ProRes more quickly than before.
The M2 chip is not likely to make much difference over the M1 chip in day-to-day tasks, with improvements being more noticeable in professional workflows. There are differences between the M1 and M2 chips.
The M1 and M2 can be configured with either 16 or 8 gigabytes of unified memory. The higher memory option makes it easier to work with large assets and multi-tasking.
The latest MacBook Air can access more memory faster because the M2 has a 100gigabyte/s memory bandwidth.
According to Apple, the M2 MacBook Air has a new HD camera with twice the resolution and low-light performance. The 720p camera of the M1 model is not as good as this one.
Apple says the M2 MacBook Air has a four-speaker sound system that makes it sound better. The M1 MacBook Air has a good stereo speaker setup. Both devices can play wide stereo sound.
The M2 MacBook Air supports high-impedance headphones like the high-end 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, which could be an important upgrade for some audio professionals.
The MagSafe port on the M2 MacBook Air allows users to connect and release the charging cable from their MacBook Air more easily, especially if the charging cable is accidentally pulled.
There is no difference when it comes to connecting accessories, but the MagSafe port on the M2 model effectively frees up a Thunderbolt port for accessories that would otherwise need to be charged.
Both the MacBook Air and the M2 MacBook Air have the same battery life. Fast charging is supported by the M2 MacBook Air when it is plugged in.
The M2 MacBook Air models with the 10-core option come with a 35W dual-usb-c port compact power accessory instead of the one-port 30 watt power accessory that comes with the M1 model and base M2 MacBook Air model.
The M2 MacBook Air has the same Magic Keyboard and Force Touch trackpad as its predecessor but with a passive cooling system and 18-hour battery life. The devices have a similar footprint, have a 13 inch display with up to 2 terabytes of storage, and come with a 30 watt charge as standard.
There is no question that the M2 MacBook Air has a major redesign. The uniform thickness, reduced volume and weight, larger display, and full-height function row make for a more modern appearance. The MagSafe port, fast charging, brighter display, and four-speaker sound system are practical improvements that improve the user experience.
If you're going to buy the M1 MacBook Air or the M2 MacBook Air, you should spend the extra $200 on the M2 model's new design, better performance, and improvements. The M1 MacBook Air is a very capable machine with a lot of similarities to the latest model.
It has only been 18 months since Apple launched the M1 MacBook Air and the M1 chip is still offered in the iPad Air, iPad Pro, Mac mini, and iMac. MacBook Air customers might want to wait longer for even bigger changes.
When considering an upgrade from the M1 MacBook Air to the M2 model, users should think about how much they will use the improvements. The M2 chip isn't likely to replace the M1 for everyday users, but it could be used for some purposes. The M2 may be a much more powerful device for professionals due to its ProRes engine, 100GB/s memory bandwidth, and 24GB memory options.
M1 MacBook Air users who need more than 16GB of memory, make a lot of video calls, or are prone to accidentally tugging on their charging cable should considerUpgrading. The M2 chip, four-speaker system, larger display, and faster charging make the M1 MacBook Air for the M2 model a more worthwhile upgrade.
If you're a first-time MacBook Air buyer or upgrade from an older machine, the M2 MacBook Air might be the best choice. The M2 MacBook Air is an upgrade that is worth considering for almost everyone.
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