Hands-On With the M2 MacBook Air: All Your Questions Answered

[MacRumors]

Happy MacBook Air launch day! Today is the official debut date of the new M2 MacBook Air, which features the first major redesign to the MacBook Air in a decade. We picked up one of the new M2 MacBook Air machines and decided to do a hands-on video where we answer questions from MacRumors readers.

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The M2 MacBook Air no longer has a tapered design, and it instead looks a lot more like the MacBook Pro. It's thinner and lighter than the prior model, and it comes in new colors that include Midnight and Starlight.

In the video, we answer questions about the M2 chip's performance for everyday tasks, the SSD storage you should choose and what you need to know about the SSD, whether you should upgrade the RAM, how the M2 chip compares to the M1 Pro chip, how the display measures up to the prior-generation MacBook Air, and tons more.

You'll want to watch our video for our full MacBook Air overview that includes details MacRumors readers wanted to know, but we also want to hear from you. Have a new M2 MacBook Air? Let us know what you think of it in the comments.

Article Link: Hands-On With the M2 MacBook Air: All Your Questions Answered

 

[ct2k7]

Good video, good for buyers to understand M1 vs M2

 

[gadgetgirl85]

But if you are going to get 512/16gb - why not already go to the MBP?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Not going to lie the color Midnight looks stunningly gorgeous! It's got that stealthier look.

 

[Bull 07]

Even the notch looks pretty.

 

[tweaknmod]

But if you are going to get 512/16gb - why not already go to the MBP?

Thinner, lighter, better battery life, less expensive, and (supposedly) better keyboard.

At least, that's why I'm getting a MBA rather than a MBP.

 

[adamw]

If you want to see a great Teardown of the new M2 MacBook Air, which confirms the single SSD chip slow speed issue on the Base Model of the new M2 MacBook Air, watch Max Tech's Teardown here:

 

[darngooddesign]

But if you are going to get 512/16gb - why not already go to the MBP?

Which weighs almost a pound more.

Price aside, the point of the Air is its size, weight, and battery life.

If you don't care about those things consider a discounted 14" MBP.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

I know there were even black laptops by Apple in the past, but personally, I can’t help but feel like the midnight version looks a little “generic windows laptop”. It’s not a bad looking piece of tech, of course. For me as a fairly recent Windows-to-Mac switcher it just feels too familiar, I guess.

That impression might be exacerbated by my hope that we’d get a properly colorful MBA like the old iBooks and my disappointment that we didn’t, though.

 

[masotime]

But if you are going to get 512/16gb - why not already go to the MBP?

To me it’s a question of portability. 3.5lb for the 14” MBP versus 2.7lb for the M2 MBA - 30% heavier, 0.61” for the 14” MBP versus 0.44” for the M2 MBA - 38% thicker.

If the key requirement is raw power, why not get the M1 Ultra?

 

[Iscariote]

I know there were even black laptops by Apple in the past, but personally, I can’t help but feel like the midnight version looks a little “generic windows laptop”. It’s not a bad looking piece of tech, of course. For me as a fairly recent Windows-to-Mac switcher it just feels too familiar, I guess.

That impression might be exacerbated by my hope that we’d get a properly colorful MBA like the old iBooks and my disappointment that we didn’t, though.

I'm typing this message on a Midnight M2 and I think it looks stunning. There definitely aren't cheap Windows laptops that look like this.

 

[nvmls]

Even the notch looks pretty.

Whoa... let's not get too courageous now son.

 

[CTHarrryH]

So far after using my new Air M2 it runs great, seems fast and has a great display

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

I'm typing this message on a Midnight M2 and I think it looks stunning. There definitely aren't cheap Windows laptops that look like this.

Oh, not the cheap ones. Probably should have clarified that as I have had my fair share of cheap windows laptops and boy, do they look cheap xD

 

[furtive]

But if you are going to get 512/16gb - why not already go to the MBP?

Because it’s thinner and lighter. Size matters to some people.

 

[kirk.vino]

Thinner, lighter, better battery life, less expensive, and (supposedly) better keyboard.

At least, that's why I'm getting a MBA rather than a MBP.

They have identical keyboards. The MBP 14” and 16” were designed alongside the new MBA.

 

[MDomino]

He's got 10 Safari tabs open and 4 or 5 apps running and everything is running fine. What a time to be alive!

 

[ZipZap]

Why wouldn't you clearly tell people to avoid the 256GB as Apple has crippled this configuration?

 

[thatpimp007]

To me it’s a question of portability. 3.5lb for the 14” MBP versus 2.7lb for the M2 MBA - 30% heavier, 0.61” for the 14” MBP versus 0.44” for the M2 MBA - 38% thicker.

If the key requirement is raw power, why not get the M1 Ultra?

^^ this. Also go to the store and hold the 14" MBP closed in one hand and the new M2 MBA closed in the other. You'll feel a noticeable difference carrying both with the M2 MBA feeling that much better/more comfortable.

 

[kerochan]

But if you are going to get 512/16gb - why not already go to the MBP?

Because the Macbook Air is silent! and this is the most important thing for many people

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

They have identical keyboards. The MBP 14” and 16” were designed alongside the new MBA.

I think that since the base is thinner than the other newly designed MB’s people that have both are saying the new MBA has a slightly tighter feel which makes sense given the dimensions. Still has the same key travel however so probably wouldn’t know unless you had them side by side. Nothing to make the claim that one is better than the other so lets stop that now ha.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Because the Macbook Air is silent! and this is the most important thing for many people

So are the MBP models unless you push them. Even running multiple Cinebench tests they are barely audible.

 

[tweaknmod]

They have identical keyboards. The MBP 14” and 16” were designed alongside the new MBA.

I said “supposedly”, cause one reviewer I saw had them both side by side and said the MBA was significantly better, and that the 14” one felt “hollow” in comparison.

Edit: Correction, it was someone on this forum who made a post yesterday evening, not a review.

 

[Christian 5G]

Had a chance to check one out today in Apple store and now cant wait to get this to replace my MBPro '17 which got me through college (undergrad and grad).This Air really does feel like the upgrade to me, fast, very nice screen, it is so light, feels so comfortable when closed in hands to carry, however the finger prints on midnight are very noticeable which is not a big deal to me but just wanted to point that out.

I will be going with 16/1TB. Haven't decided on the color yet. I did want the new Pro initially but glad that I waited.

 

[thadoggfather]

I know there were even black laptops by Apple in the past, but personally, I can’t help but feel like the midnight version looks a little “generic windows laptop”. It’s not a bad looking piece of tech, of course. For me as a fairly recent Windows-to-Mac switcher it just feels too familiar, I guess.

That impression might be exacerbated by my hope that we’d get a properly colorful MBA like the old iBooks and my disappointment that we didn’t, though.

The Starlight surprised me in person. Bet that one will be a bit of a sleeper hit. And wasn't fond of Starlight on iPhones or the watch.