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Apple Announces MacBook Air With M2 Chip Available to Order Starting July 8, Launches July 15

Coreymac84 said:
Have you tried a $500 laptop? I have one from work...This isn't a comparison.
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Yes, I have a $400 Lenovo Yoga 6 that has better software compatibility, larger software ecosystem, has working trackpad palm rejection, working wake from sleep Touch ID, can play Cyberpunk 2077/God of War/Doom Eternal/etc., has touch and pen inputs, can multiboot Windows/Linux/BSD/MacOS, etc. that are lacking on my M1 MBA. M1 MBA has some pros but overall behind the other in usability.
 
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Realityck said:
Yes with that comparison you really need to consider a comparably equipped M2 MBA purchase from the close pricing perspective of the 14" MBP.

M2 MBA is 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg), and 14" MBP is 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg). The relative size/form factor is close.
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That’s a very noticeable difference in weight. That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing a 12” (probably 12.5”) at less than 2.5 lbs.
 
roncron said:
The embargo won’t be lifted until after preordering starts.

But you can cancel your preorder if the reviews make you change your mind. No harm no foul.
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Correct. Another suggestion for the original poster is to get the machine, test how it behaves with your workflow and then decide within 14 days if you want to keep it or not.
 
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mi7chy said:
Yes, I have a $400 Lenovo Yoga 6 that has better software compatibility, larger software ecosystem, has working trackpad palm rejection, working wake from sleep Touch ID, can play Cyberpunk 2077/God of War/Doom Eternal/etc., has touch and pen inputs, can multiboot Windows/Linux/BSD/MacOS, etc. that are lacking on my M1 MBA. M1 MBA has some pros but overall behind the other in usability.
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You're playing those games natively on there and not via some cloud service? What are you getting, 5 FPS?
 
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I don't know. I really wish I hadn't listened to the conventional wisdom that 8GB of ram is fine in the M1.

I should have known better, but now I'm stuck with an expensive proposition to upgrade because my memory pressure is constantly yellow/red. I'm the kind of guy who doesn't even really "need" a Mac. It's photos, Banktivity, iMessage, a few safari tabs. I feel like I am always having to close background apps to keep my memory pressure in the green. Apples support page says yellow/read means you need more memory. It's a shame, because the computer does run fairly well, I am just thinking that a long term purchase... it wasn't a good investment as Macs before. Not to mention, resale is in the toilet so trying to recoup...

All that to say, the MBA is a poor value when you get a decent amount of SSD and memory. M1 Pro 14" sales are regularly just a little bit more.
 
kjvmartin2 said:
I don't know. I really wish I hadn't listened to the conventional wisdom that 8GB of ram is fine in the M1.

I should have known better, but now I'm stuck with an expensive proposition to upgrade because my memory pressure is constantly yellow/red. I'm the kind of guy who doesn't even really "need" a Mac. It's photos, Banktivity, iMessage, a few safari tabs. I feel like I am always having to close background apps to keep my memory pressure in the green. Apples support page says yellow/read means you need more memory. It's a shame, because the computer does run fairly well, I am just thinking that a long term purchase... it wasn't a good investment as Macs before. Not to mention, resale is in the toilet so trying to recoup...

All that to say, the MBA is a poor value when you get a decent amount of SSD and memory. M1 Pro 14" sales are regularly just a little bit more.
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Not sure that ”yellow” means you need more RAM though a salesman would like that idea.

I’m not sure what is using so much RAM on your MBA. I would not expect those apps to use a lot of memory, but some browser tabs can really consume memory over time. If you check Activity Monitor that will give you some idea what is eating your RAM and maybe just doing a little more frequent housekeeping can keep you out of the red.
 
MacBird said:
Let's see if it comes with slow SSD like the new MBP.
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People who order just the 256GB model (on a "pro" labled machine) don't really need a laptop and therefore deserve the slower ssd. ;)

If you buy the 512GB or greater configuration, you will have 2 storage chips and so you will have the faster speed.
 
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Realityck said:
M2 MBA is 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg), and 14" MBP is 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg). The relative size/form factor is close.
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KPOM said:
That’s a very noticeable difference in weight. That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing a 12” (probably 12.5”) at less than 2.5 lbs.
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I agree with @KPOM here. The MBP is 30% heavier and that will be noticeable in the hand and on the shoulder even if the physical dimensions are similar.

Not saying the MBP isn't worth the trade-off, simply that minimizing the impact of the weight difference is, IMO, a mistake.
 
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chucker23n1 said:
The yoga is probably an appropriate model indeed for someone into mental gymnastics.
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😂 That's how I feel using MacOS with some weird design decisions like dragging and sliding an icon over when installing new software then ejecting. No other mainstream OS makes you do that. Or worse, the messy software uninstall where you have to use finder and/or terminal to manually delete leftover files from a bunch of directories. Imagine being worse than Windows uninstall. o_O

b2fef5a3744be43ac6525156ba24bd29.jpg
 
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dgdosen said:
What are the odds the base model with 256GB stays in stock because of NANDgate?
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If you're getting an Air, the performance of the 256 GB probably won't bother you much. And if it does, you can get more storage.

It's really only on the 13-inch Pro that it's a poor decision on Apple's part, IMHO. A "Pro" shouldn't have such low GiB/s in 2022. But then, also, you really shouldn't get the Pro with just 256 Gigs and 8 Gigs. You probably want 512/16, if not 512/24, and at that point, you should take a serious look at whether the 14-inch is a much better product.

Tagbert said:
Not sure that ”yellow” means you need more RAM though a salesman would like that idea.
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I would argue it does. If you're seeing yellow a lot, your Mac is underspecced (or something is going haywire). If you're seeing red, ever, same thing.
 
mi7chy said:
Yes, I have a $400 Lenovo Yoga 6 that has better software compatibility, larger software ecosystem, has working trackpad palm rejection, working wake from sleep Touch ID, can play Cyberpunk 2077/God of War/Doom Eternal/etc., has touch and pen inputs, can multiboot Windows/Linux/BSD/MacOS, etc. that are lacking on my M1 MBA. M1 MBA has some pros but overall behind the other in usability.
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1. better software compatibility
- well, it's an x86 machine, but times are changing and the x86 star is sinking

2. lager eco system?
- i haven't seen something like an "eco system" outside the Apple universe
- if you can't operate your tasks seamlessly between different devices, don't tell it eco system!

3. working "trackpad" an a lenovo?
- not even close to a real trackpad

4. working wake from sleep
- is not a hardware issue
- windows is just unable to made that ever happen
- with linux you have to pray for good device drivers

5. TouchID
- no you haven't
- the fingerprint recognition on Lenovo notebooks works, but it isn't nearly as secure as TouchID

6. AAA-Gaming on a Lenovo Yoga 6
- nice try, dude

7. touch and pen
- no one asks for this on a notebook, because it's unergonomic for working

8. mutiboot
- bootcamp is still there on M1/M2 machines, but it's hidden
- it comes back, if windows for arm is mature (maybe never)
- you can easily install almost every other system that works on ARM chips
- or just virtualize it (even x86 Windows, if you like)

9. MBA for pros
- MBP is for pros
- MBA is made for people who want a light, fast and durable notebook, but have no need for zillions of interfaces or the very last percent of power

// someone who develops software and plays diablo 3 in 4k/medium graphics settings/25-30fps on a M1 MBA
 
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MacBird said:
Let's see if it comes with slow SSD like the new MBP.
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This is a low-information statement. The 13" M2 MBP only has single-chip (thus slower) storage in the smallest 256GB size -- something nobody reading here is ever likely to buy. If there's a single-chip model here, it will also be "slow" for the exact same reason. If you care and are buying one of these M2 machines, then buy one with more $$#! storage. Even without the NAND shortage precipitating the single-chip configuration, 256GB in a modern laptop is a bad idea.

Please don't propagate the idea that all of these M2 systems have "slow SSD". That's just not correct. Complain about the single-chip storage machines if you feel justified, but make sure you limit your criticism to those machines.
 
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