Why is replacing 2 128 modules with 1 256 module cheating out? It’s called streamlining supply chain and every smart business will do so
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First Benchmark Result Surfaces for MacBook Air With M2 Chip
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I'd like to see a system with quality hardware that could max out the M2.
You should be looking forward to the display test. Apple is using a previously suspended manufacturer for it so odds are good the bid was insanely low so they could get back in Apple’s good grace.
Students and low income video/audio workers would disagree with that statement
They probably realized the better SSD was overkill on the entry level. It may have been what was included because of availability, or excluded now because of the same. This hand wringing is likely why Apple does not focus on those specs at all.
Stop making sense. You're giving up a ton of forum cred by not making a public display of having a case of the shakes over SSD speeds.
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I think most of us are waiting to see the difference between M2 w/ a fan and M2 w/out a fan.
This machine would be an excellent replacement for my Intel 16” MBP minus the infrequent times where I would need sustained performance. Looking forward to the verdict after in depth tests are run.
This machine would be an excellent replacement for my Intel 16” MBP minus the infrequent times where I would need sustained performance. Looking forward to the verdict after in depth tests are run.
the person said "cheaping out", not cheating out. And you seem to agree that using 1 module instead of 2 is done to streamine (make less expensive) the manufacturing process.
The problem is, "cheaping out" with one module cuts performance of a brand that is known for performance. Apple is well aware 1 chip is slower than 2. So to make a choice to save money at the cost of performance is "cheaping out".
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SSD performance affects user experience since my M1 256GB is already slow to launch apps while watching the app icon bounce several times. Can't imagine Apple is making it worse with M2.
I imagine the difference is the same as the M1 Air vs the M1 MBP13. No fan vs fan. How would M2 be any different?
Not on paper no. The new MBA supports up to 1 billion colours, the previous MBA was ‘millions’.
App icon "bounces" is not necessarily a product of SSD speed. Affinity apps, for instance, have a flaw that causes their apps to bounce over 20 times before launching. It's a software issue due to checks that Apple makes, not SSD speeds.
some suggest the improved performance may lead to more thermal, and therefore more throttling on the fanless M2 MBA. plus the thinner chassis hasn't been put to test. Will be interesting. Regardless, no one is buying the 13 MBP with M2 surely...
THANK YOU! I’m a student (computer science) who needed to upgrade from my older Intel MacBook Pro (too hot, becoming slow at basic tasks), and I’m just not in the financial position right now to upgrade the storage, especially with what Apple charges. Even with the smaller base SSD (I had to upgrade the RAM though), this will be such an improvement over my 2019 MBP. Still, I need the SSD to be reasonably performant for development tasks.
nowhere did I say anything about manufacturing process - if I do not have to source 128GB modules across my lineup and just get 256 - that is streamlining supply chain.
Of course here at MR we look at benchmarks and every single bit and everything gets taken apart. 90+ % of Apple users can care less. For a MBA entry level config, the average user will not notice whether a file loads 1 sec faster or not, overall performance impact is not going to be noticeable for the average user. Those average users are not upgrading from M1 to M2, they are upgrading from older laptops or they are new to Apple.
For that money, you should have just gotten the 14 Macbook Pro. But I hope you enjoy your new laptop!
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
As I stare at that completely unused area on the top of my M1 MBA, I think a notch would do just fine...
Definitely. I had the 13” 2010 MacBook Pro, and the performance of the new machines just cannot be compared with old machines like that. I honestly think you’re going to be blown away with that machine!!! And it will last you another decade.
Most people won't be able to link SSD speed specs to user experience but their use case can be affected profoundly by it and that is regardless of whether they are watching YouTube or doing 3D work.
There are people that just game which may not be important to you but they will quite often require far higher specs than one of these video/audio guys that you speak of.
Who cares if they are the target, peoples use case can vary in quite a granular fashion and so can the hardware they need.
Why is SSD speed not good for everybody? More information means better informed people, more specification menas better choices can be made.
Maybe you should watch the Apple "dog-and-pony" shows where Tim and Co. literally stand on stage grandstanding how their new generation hardware is faster than anything before and all the great things you can do in less time! But you're saying people don't care or won't notice the increase in performance? Who's right then? You or Tim and Co?
The point is, there are empty solder pads on the system board for another NAND chip. If 128 chips were in short supply (pure speculation and no one knows) then Apple could have made the base model 512GB and used two NAND chips to keep disk performance at expected levels. Apple's cost of another NAND chip, compared to the cost of the MBA is nothing (and yet Apple charges an extra $200 for that $10 or less chip). But then, they'd take a massive hit in profits from people who upgrade to 512GB (which is significant).
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Because they are a different category and have different users/audience. Having said that the configuration of the air I want is so expensive I might go for the 14 for the better screen/speakers.
There’s a comparison between the m2 pro and m1 pro 14 which wgichnyou could watch since the m2 air performs similar to m2 pro
On the SSD issue, the "most people will not notice it" people miss the point. The point is whether customers are getting what they pay for or know what they are getting.
"Most people" will think they are paying for a better and faster machine. It is a reasonable assumption. Since it's newer they'd expect everything to be the same or better.
Since it's called M2 vs M1, they'd expect the chip to be faster without having other components drag it back down.
"Most people" will not know they are not getting what they pay for. "Most people will not notice it" actually makes it worse. It makes this seem like a form of fraud.
Hard to stop comparing it when it’s what Apple is offering for sale today on their store.