16/256 or 8/512 M2 MacBook Air

[trueGrand]

I’m on budget and can only afford one. I’m upgrading from an Intel MacBook Pro with 16gb of ram and 256gb of storage. Should I choose toe RAM or the Storage. Usually I would choose neither and just take the base model. But the SSD speed issue is really bothering. I need a MacBook soon as my MacBook Pro died.

 

[FattKingHugeman]

I will always upgrade the RAM first before the storage.

 

[CalMin]

It really depends on what kind of computing you do. The right answer is RAM, but for me personally, when I buy the machine that suits my needs today, then usually running out of SSD space forces my hand way before I feel like i am low on RAM. By the time I feel like my RAM is slowing me down it’s usually because the computer is old and the CPU is slow etc.

it sucks that neither are upgradable later. I miss when I could buy a Mac and then add RAM and a bigger hard drive a couple of years later. Sigh…

 

[trueGrand]

Well which would better cover the SSD Speed situation and also giving a better machine?

 

[Cryates]

I’m on budget and can only afford one. I’m upgrading from an Intel MacBook Pro with 16gb of ram and 256gb of storage. Should I choose toe RAM or the Storage. Usually I would choose neither and just take the base model. But the SSD speed issue is really bothering. I need a MacBook soon as my MacBook Pro died.

In your case, I would choose the additional storage. Although I think the SSD “issue” is grossly overblown, it would be of zero concern for you ever as that topic is unique to only the 256 SSD model.

Plenty of reviewers and benchmarks suggest that 8GB unified RAM on the M-series chips is equal in, and maybe even better than, performance of 16GB RAM with an Intel chip. You’ll benefit from having the higher capacity/speed SSD and letting the system utilize swap memory.

 

[Shirasaki]

If you are struggling to decide the trade-off between SSD speed and RAM capacity, I'd say go for RAM. Those 256GB single chip SSD speed is about as fast as an NVME PCI-E gen 3.0 external SSD in sequential, but those external SSD are cheaper than Apple's upgrade, plus external storage is theoretically infinitely expandable.

However, suppose your usage involves travelling around quite a bit and/or have no plan to do anything heavy (more than 10 tabs, has more than 5 programs opening in the background 24*7, rarely does any CPU/GPU intensive tasks) on a daily basis. In that case, 8GB RAM can give you enough edge in 2-3 years, then you can go for 512GB.

 

[Apple_Robert]

For anything other than sustained CPU usage, 8GM of RAM is fine. I would upgrade the storage.

 

[planteater]

It comes down to the type of applications you run and overall usage of the machine. No one can tell you which is best based on your posts in this thread. Personally, I'd never buy a machine with only 256 SSD.

 

[ADGrant]

I’m on budget and can only afford one. I’m upgrading from an Intel MacBook Pro with 16gb of ram and 256gb of storage. Should I choose toe RAM or the Storage. Usually I would choose neither and just take the base model. But the SSD speed issue is really bothering. I need a MacBook soon as my MacBook Pro died.

If you are on a budget you could buy the M1 MBA with 16gb of ram and 256gb of storage. No SSD speed issue there.

 

[steve217]

I’d vote for the storage over the RAM.

Using external storage devices on a laptop is a nuisance.

 

[trueGrand]

In your case, I would choose the additional storage. Although I think the SSD “issue” is grossly overblown, it would be of zero concern for you ever as that topic is unique to only the 256 SSD model.

Plenty of reviewers and benchmarks suggest that 8GB unified RAM on the M-series chips is equal in, and maybe even better than, performance of 16GB RAM with an Intel chip. You’ll benefit from having the higher capacity/speed SSD and letting the system utilize swap memory.

In that case is it ideal to not upgrade at all. I use my mac for watching online lessons and taking notes on notion. Though I have a far amount of background running menubar apps and am trying to learn coding.

 

[trueGrand]

And also, will 16gb of RAM mitigate the issue will also giving more ram? Because 512 only mitigates the issue without giving more incentives.

 

[Cryates]

In that case is it ideal to not upgrade at all. I use my mac for watching online lessons and taking notes on notion. Though I have a far amount of background running menubar apps and am trying to learn coding.

That becomes your decision, but I would tell you that the M2 is likely going to vastly outperform whatever Intel chip is in your current MacBook.

And also, will 16gb of RAM mitigate the issue will also giving more ram? Because 512 only mitigates the issue without giving more incentives.

16GB RAM will not do anything to change the 256GB SSD speed; It would only decrease the need for memory swap to the SSD.

 

[Jarrodbcall]

And also, will 16gb of RAM mitigate the issue will also giving more ram? Because 512 only mitigates the issue without giving more incentives.

This is my question as well. Hoping that others who got the base storage can chime in. I imagine the slower SSD speeds are primary an issue when using swap, but I don't think I will do that much with 16GB. My current 8GB using swap pretty often.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I will always upgrade the RAM first before the storage.

Agreed. You can always add an external SSD, but you can't add any addition RAM after purchase.

 

[Asiatic Black Hebrew]

I’m on budget and can only afford one. I’m upgrading from an Intel MacBook Pro with 16gb of ram and 256gb of storage. Should I choose toe RAM or the Storage. Usually I would choose neither and just take the base model. But the SSD speed issue is really bothering. I need a MacBook soon as my MacBook Pro died.

Another casualty of the YouTube content creator scare tactics/arm twisting. You will not notice any difference in speed at all if you're simply watching online lessons and taking notes on notion. That speed difference you're referencing will only be a slight factor if you're regularly storing large files/rendering video. Please don't fall victim to the foolishness. The 256GB sounds perfectly fine for your needs. You could honestly go either way with the upgrade & still be fine.

 

[trueGrand]

should I upgrade the ram then?? Since I want to use it for the next few years.

 

[FattKingHugeman]

Another casualty of the YouTube content creator scare tactics/arm twisting. You will not notice any difference in speed at all if you're simply watching online lessons and taking notes on notion. That speed difference you're referencing will only be a slight factor if you're regularly storing large files/rendering video. Please don't fall victim to the foolishness. The 256GB sounds perfectly fine for your needs. You could honestly go either way with the upgrade & still be fine.

yes this exactly. For normal users who are only doing above, you will be pretty much fine with the based model. in fact they will serve you well.

 

[snipr125]

Personally I’d go with 16GB RAM upgrade on the M2 MBA. Like others have said here you can add external SSD storage whenever you need it, but you can’t upgrade the RAM. The slower base 256 SSD speed is not ideal, but not the end of the world as it is still very fast and won’t be noticeable for the majority of casual/moderate tasks.

 

[trueGrand]

Should I then get the M1 or will the M1 lose software support 2years faster than the M2??

 

[wpalomine]

If in the US, for the same price, one can get a refurb m1 8/8 1tb with 16gb. I would get that, or save $$ and drop the storage to 512.

 

[trueGrand]

Well should I save the money and not upgrade the ram??

 

[Cryates]

Well should I save the money and not upgrade the ram??

I think you've been given plenty of advice in this thread, and all of this is going to be subjective anyhow, but based on your stated uses and the options you have stated that you are considering, I personally would say in order of preference:

1. Buy the M2MBA with a 8/512 config
2. Buy the M2MBA with a 16/256 config
3. Buy the M1MBA with a 8/256 config
4. Keep your current 15" Intel

 

[BeatCrazy]

Should I then get the M1 or will the M1 lose software support 2years faster than the M2??

The M1 will likely get support just as long (if not identical) to the M2. The latest member of the M1 family (Ultra) was only introduced 4 months ago!!

 

[MacHiavelli]

The slower base 256 SSD speed is not ideal, but not the end of the world as it is still very fast and won’t be noticeable for the majority of casual/moderate tasks.

The 512 SSD is also slow...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/512gb-m2-mba-is-slower-than-the-512gb-m1-mba.2351396/