I appreciate the succinct answer! That’s my gut, just wanting to make sure I’m not crazy… the M2 is beautiful, but the folks saying 8GB isn’t sufficient even for casual use are persuasive.
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First Benchmark Result Surfaces for MacBook Air With M2 Chip
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I think you would be happy with either machine. It is just a matter of how much you are willing to spend.
Many on here make way too much about 8 RAM. 8GB of RAM would be fine for you provided you exercised some control with the tabs. lol Way too many preach 16 GB RAM as mandatory when it really isn't for most people.
I *could* spend the money on storage, but as a student I’d rather not, since I have other expenses. I don’t need the space, I’d just rather have the best performance for the price. I chose M2 over M1 because if I’m spending so much money already, I might as well have the current generation. (Likely longer OS support, less tired design, etc.) Also, I didn’t want a display downgrade from my MBP to the M1 Air in terms of brightness. Plus, I got money for my trade, and the educational discount and promo made it attainable for me.
I got the M2 with 16 GB RAM when pre-orders went live. I already have that amount, so I absolutely see the importance of it! I don’t really need the storage space especially when I can offload files and projects to iCloud or a git repo.
I have a notch on my phone and I don't really notice it until I use another phone that doesn't and I wish that my iPhone didn't.
Well, just the people who read MacRumors. We should stress this is an Apple enthusiast issue--normal people don't even know what "SSD" means
For casual usage, I think 8GB is okay. I have 8GB on my olllld MBP and I never have any issues, even when I have a lot open. And that’s an Intel machine. The bottleneck there is the 12 year old CPU. 😛
BUT (!), if I were buying my next 5-year+ machine, I would go with 16GB in a heartbeat. No questions asked. Those OS updates slowly turn that previously unused RAM into less and less.
Check the refurb store for the M1’s. You can save a few bucks.
Edit - What kind of storage were you looking for? This 16GB / 1TB machine is $1400.
Refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Air Apple M1 Chip with 8âCore CPU and 8âCore GPU - Space Gray
Originally released November 2020|13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch|16GB unified memory|1TB SSD1|Touch ID sensor|720p FaceTime HD Camera
www.apple.com
Edit #2 - Just read your original post again. If you don’t need 1TB storage then don’t waste your money on the MacBook I linked.
Apple Support wouldn't know this level of detail, only engineering, plus, its not even released, so they wouldn't answer such type questions ... show proof
Thank you, and thank you for the edits! Not worried about storage, I’ve got some external hard drives (that I do need to push to the cloud via my next laptop, if that’s a consideration?). I’ll take your suggestion and lurk the 16GB MBA refurb page for awhile until I get too impatientFor casual usage, I think 8GB is okay. I have 8GB on my olllld MBP and I never have any issues, even when I have a lot open. And that’s an Intel machine. The bottleneck there is the 12 year old CPU. 😛
BUT (!), if I were buying my next 5-year+ machine, I would go with 16GB in a heartbeat. No questions asked. Those OS updates slowly turn that previously unused RAM into less and less.
Check the refurb store for the M1’s. You can save a few bucks.
Edit - What kind of storage were you looking for? This 16GB / 1TB machine is $1400.
Refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Air Apple M1 Chip with 8âCore CPU and 8âCore GPU - Space Gray
Originally released November 2020|13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch|16GB unified memory|1TB SSD1|Touch ID sensor|720p FaceTime HD Camerawww.apple.com
Edit #2 - Just read your original post again. If you don’t need 1TB storage then don’t waste your money on the MacBook I linked.
EDIT - Can I still get AppleCare on a refurb machine bought from Apple?
I hope you find the one you’re looking for soon, and at a killer price! Good luck.Thank you, and thank you for the edits! Not worried about storage, I’ve got some external hard drives (that I do need to push to the cloud via my next laptop, if that’s a consideration?). I’ll take your suggestion and lurk the 16GB MBA refurb page for awhile until I get too impatient
EDIT - Can I still get AppleCare on a refurb machine bought from Apple?
I’ve seen some 16GB variants with lower storage show up on the refurb store — I know because I’ve been lurking it too. So keep checking back!And the answer to your question is yes! Standard one year warranty, and Apple Care can be purchased.
I love my M1 13” MBP. Got the base 8GB/512GB a couple of weeks after it was launched. Really tempted to buy a silver 16GB/1TB and give this one to my wife. Her 2017 12.9” iPad runs fine, but iPadOS let’s her down the same way it does me, just not as frequently.
I would say given your use case I’d go with the M1 as you’re not going to notice a difference day to day. The 16GB just provides headroom but honestly you’d probably be delighted for your usage on 8. If your holding onto it for the long haul go 16, stop thinking about it and just enjoy the machine.
Yes you absolutely can, I buy from the Apple refurb store whenever I can for work and slap the AppleCare in for “free” because of the price difference.Thank you, and thank you for the edits! Not worried about storage, I’ve got some external hard drives (that I do need to push to the cloud via my next laptop, if that’s a consideration?). I’ll take your suggestion and lurk the 16GB MBA refurb page for awhile until I get too impatient
EDIT - Can I still get AppleCare on a refurb machine bought from Apple?
“Significantly slower speeds…”.
This is some cringe hyperbole. In real world usage probably noticed by no one.
This is some cringe hyperbole. In real world usage probably noticed by no one.
OMG CAN’T DECIDE! I’m a student majoring in underwater basket weaving and need HELP! I’m trying to decide between the M2 MBA and MBP 14”, they both have liquid displays so I’m assuming they’ll be waterproof for use during our lab sessions. However, does anyone know if 500 nits is enough since light dissipates the further you submerge or will HDR help? Lastly, I currently have a M1 MBA but it’s P3 is too blue at certain times so does anyone know if the M2 MBA P3 is more color accurate than the current M1 MBA?
Truth be told I’ve done zero research so if someone could just do all that for me and tell me what I should buy with my strict $600 budget I would appreciate it.
Truth be told I’ve done zero research so if someone could just do all that for me and tell me what I should buy with my strict $600 budget I would appreciate it.
What? You’re not in constant need of moving TB’s of data for workstation-level workflows *on your MacBook Air*?
You’d think everyone here were data scientists the way they expect *the lowest end mac laptop* to be comparable to the highest end boutique PC laptops.
I got the step up offering (10 GPU core SOC and 512 GB). I am confident that secondary storage is going to be a bigger issue than primary storage for me. I only need to do dev work in a pinch but I have to carry around a number of IDEs and repos due to the nature of my work. The dev work would only be in emergency since I have a M1 Max MBP for primary development work.
The intention of this machine was to replace an iPad Pro as a personal browsing machine but regain the utility of a desktop OS whenever I’m on roadtrips.
The intention of this machine was to replace an iPad Pro as a personal browsing machine but regain the utility of a desktop OS whenever I’m on roadtrips.
Some of you are trying to have a concrete conversation with someone who shifts like the sands of the Sahara. Keep your sanity and disengage…you are never going to get anywhere. Just some friendly advice.
M2 produces more heat. 10 GPU cores. Larger chip. More transistors. Still 5nm. The difference between M2 with and without a fan will most likely be larger than M1 difference.
However, with the brand new design, Apple may have a whole new thermal system in place that dissipates heat better.
We won’t know until we get out hands on it, but the new Air is both a new design and a different chip, so we can’t infer from the difference of the precious Air and Pro. New design could change everything.
Microsoft Office for Mac apps have some excessive icon bouncing... Wish they'd optimize Office a bit better for macOS.
Entry level PCs don’t cost $1200. Almost every windows laptop at $800 and up price points have at least 512GB SSD, with some even have 16GB of RAM. Apple is a cheapskate.
I don't know. I do not see the value of these machines. if you want a base model because you're on a budget, then the M1 MacBook Air is the machine to get. More capable and less expensive. If you want more storage, power and memory than the base 14" M1 MacBook Pro is a far better, more powerful option and a better value.
I hope consumers can see through this and let Apple know this is not acceptable.
The good news is there will soon be high end ARM chips on the Windows side that will give Apple notice not to go the Intel route and become complacent.
I hope consumers can see through this and let Apple know this is not acceptable.
The good news is there will soon be high end ARM chips on the Windows side that will give Apple notice not to go the Intel route and become complacent.