So the 512GB M2 MBA is slower than the 512GB M1 MBA.
Both the 256GB and the 512GB M2 MBA are equally slow.
Both the 256GB and the 512GB M2 MBA are equally slow.
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512GB M2 MBA is slower than the 512GB M1 MBA
- Thread starter MacHiavelli
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Doesn’t bother me. It’ll still be faster than the 2012 MBA I’m upgrading from!
Not a big deal. A lot of things going on behind the scene on his Mac could be causing the slight difference, who knows. Even if that isn't the case, I think he is trying to start more needless YT drama. Benchmarking numbers by themselves (as a whole) mean nothing.
Hey! 👋🏼 I posted that video (awesome to find someone reposting it!) Thanks @MacHiavelli 😁
These tests were literally a brand new M2 MBA taken out of the box.
No apps installed, nothing that could slow it down.
If anything - the total opposite is the situation - with my M1 MBA which has a shed load of apps installed, all which could have been doing something. Google drive, Adobe CS Suite, Chrome, Fantastical, 1Password, ToDoist - any number of apps which have processes running in the background.
Doing a speed test right now on my M2 and it's giving me the same slow results. 1800MB/s Write & 2800MB/s Read.
I do agree with this to a certain point though!
Benchmarks are kinda useless - it's only the real world usage that counts. And right now, using this M2 feels snappy. Noticeably snappier than the M1 (though I do wonder if that's just because it's had a years worth of junk installed on it...)
Benchmarks do have a place though - since I'd expect the newer model to be better than the previous gen.
I'd heard about the 256GB SSD having issues due to being a single chip, but hadn't heard anything about the 512GB.
I'm waiting on my M2 / 512GB / 16GB to arrive in early August so I can see if the increased memory makes any difference.
But for now - 1) Yes, the disk is slower in my 512Gb M2 SSD than my 512Gb M1 SSD.
2) Does it impact the day to day use on the Mac? Not that I've noticed. If you do a tonne of intensive video editing (or do stupid tests with 8K footage to try and force it to overheat) then yeah, the M2 isn't for you. But for most people, the M2 is a great machine. Questionable as to whether it's worth the upgrade over the M1 depending on what your priorities are though. (Look & Style, Magsafe, Camera, Screen etc vs Budget)
Damn right it will! 🤣Doesn’t bother me. It’ll still be faster than the 2012 MBA I’m upgrading from!
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Unless you did several tests back to back, you should have gotten higher values; I did on my 16/1TB model.
I've done several tests at different times of the day, different days, for different lengths of time.
They always come out slower than the equivalent M1 spec that I have.
Will see what the 16GB / 512GB looks like when that arrives!
Do you have an M2 16GB / 1TB already? They all were a month's wait over here in the UK!
Yea, I picked it up at the Apple Store on release day. I got lucky.
I thought you were testing the 512 model. If it is the 256, then the speeds make sense. My bad.
No you're right there. I have the 512GB (I went with the higher of the 2 base specs with the 10 GPU Cores)
But it only has 8GB Memory.
Waiting to see if 512 & 8GB Combo is any better, since my M1 MBA has 16GB
This is still quite mediocre for a machine that costs nearly $2K... Definitely much better than the base model though.
yeah im interested to see what the m1 1tb speeds are compared . but either way I'm happy with this MacBook except the colour I have might return and get the silver. was interested in the base 14 pro but I keep seeing posts about issues regarding the speakers popping. idk
Even with the speaker popping issue (that Apple would fix if it bothered you enough) the Pro 14 is 100% the better machine in literally every way. If the 0.7lb weight difference is THAT much of a determining factor that person should probably go to the gym a couple times a week... The value proposition in the M2 Air just isn't there like it was/is for the M1 model, and I have a feeling Apple did that on purpose.
Price because I had no intention of upgrading the storage or RAM as I had no issues whatsoever with my base M1 Air. But I've had that Air for 2 years now, and it's out of warranty, so the logical step was base model M2 Air...
Narrator, "not literally".
- Worse battery life
- Less portable
- Cooling fan noise
- Much more expensive to get greater than 16 GB RAM
Spending $2100 on a MacBook Air... LOL. You do you, but that's highway robbery for what this machine is. And that's coming from somebody who already owns (and will be returning) one.
I value what I value. I currently use a 20 month old M1 MacBook Air for work every day. I expect the M2 to be an improved experience. Spending an additional $500 to get a better screen and more horsepower that I'll rarely use is not a good value for me not to mention the loss of battery life and less portable.
M2 MacBook Air 8/10/24/1 $2099
M1 Pro MacBook Pro 8/14/32/1 $2599
I expect that I can sell the M1 MacBook Air (8/8/16/1) for $800-$1000.
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I have a 14" M1 Pro and would jump at the chance to "downgrade" to an M2 Air 8/10/16/1.
I have a great TV so don't need the amazing HDR I've never once used. I don't scroll at 1000mph so don't notice ProMotion. I don't need the sustained performance either.
Not everybody needs the 14" M1 Pro, nor do they/we want the extra heft. I don't use my machine outside the house but also don't ever use it at a desk so having something a bit lighter/sleeker would be much more beneficial to me, even for the same price or more. Why some can't get that is beyond me.
I have a great TV so don't need the amazing HDR I've never once used. I don't scroll at 1000mph so don't notice ProMotion. I don't need the sustained performance either.
Not everybody needs the 14" M1 Pro, nor do they/we want the extra heft. I don't use my machine outside the house but also don't ever use it at a desk so having something a bit lighter/sleeker would be much more beneficial to me, even for the same price or more. Why some can't get that is beyond me.
would it not be more logical just to keep using your current m1 Air if you have no issues except its out of warranty. doesn't make any sense spending money replacing a device only because its out of warranty
I think it's pretty clear it has to do with the number of chips. 2 chips running in parallel (raid0 or similar) will of course be 2x faster* than a single chip. I don't think RAM has anything to do with it.
*also, the array is 2x likelier to fail.
I have not yet seen a picture of the 512GB board from an M2 MBA. Does it have 2x 256GB chips, or 1x 512GB chip? Your test seem to suggest the latter, which is a bummer. Have you opened the machine to look?
Wait, so you compared a 8GB/512GB M2 to a 16GB/512GB M1? Do I understand this correctly, or am I missing something?
