I notice zero difference in my everyday use from the m1 and the base m2. In fact the m2 seems a little bit snappier opening apps and etc. What has your experience been so far?
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In your opinion is the slower SSD controversy in the base M2 Air overblown?
- Thread starter Jacoblee23
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The SSD in M2 256 GB is much slower than... one in Air from 2018! That's a scandal in my opinion, given the price of M2.
You don't feel the difference, because you don't work with big files. But a lot of people do. And that feeling of "snappier M2" comes either from the system being new (less apps) or just placebo.
You don't feel the difference, because you don't work with big files. But a lot of people do. And that feeling of "snappier M2" comes either from the system being new (less apps) or just placebo.
this is your experience? or an opinion based on what 'a lot of people' are experiencing?
i come from a 2016 macbook (i also work on a 2019 intel imac). the M2 base air, is, in my own experience, snappy as could be. would a slightly-faster SSD matter? not to me, am fine with my air, and am using it, instead of running benchmarks and/or comparing it to a identically-configures 512GB SSD air.
when you say 'big files', what specifically are you referring to? (just curious)...
Any MacBook will be "snappy" in a way you understand it. I know it feels nice to excuse the downsides after the purchase, but you need to deal with it - Apple screwed its customers by giving them slower storage than one from 4 years ago, from a mich cheaper product. I experienced this frustration before when I found out how bad camera was in my MacBook Air 2018.
or... apple rewarded it's users who upgrade their SSDs
... either way, am more interested in what i experience than what i see someone saying on a youtube video.
again, can you tell us about your own experience with this? and explain what 'large files' you're referring to?
Yes over blown. A 2017 QX60 Infiniti has 3.5-liter direct-injected V-6 that makes 295 hp. New 2022 model. Outside redesign...still has 3.5-liter, direct-injected V-6 that makes 295 hp.
People whine about this non issue that we've been seeing in the auto industry for years.
People whine about this non issue that we've been seeing in the auto industry for years.
Even though it is much slower than the previous M1 Base configuration, it is still a really fast SSD. That said if it was due to supply issues they can't get the 128 modules anymore, Apple should have taken the opportunity to upgrade the standard config to 512GB which is overdue anyway and would have cost Apple about $20. It may have made the $200 increase a bit more tolerable. They could have made the "step up" stock configuration 16/512 then.
It’s not just speed, it’s write endurance. You now have all writes confined to one chip. This can be a problem for those with 8GB as they’ll be using a lot of swap.
"Overblown controversy" might as well be the tagline for this forum.
Remember when the 2nd-gen Macbook Airs came out and people were going crazy comparing the speeds of the different SSD vendors, and the quality of the different LCD suppliers? https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...our-ssd-model-and-display-model-here.1192807/
Remember when the 2nd-gen Macbook Airs came out and people were going crazy comparing the speeds of the different SSD vendors, and the quality of the different LCD suppliers? https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...our-ssd-model-and-display-model-here.1192807/
I believe it is overblown but since I don't have an M2 MacBook Air with 8 GB and 256 GB SSD, I marked the question as "Haven't tested it yet." I won't claim to know something that I can't test myself.
IF it becomes a real-world issue, i'll let applecare sort it out, and will post 'you were right' on this thread. until then, am enjoying my air immensely and will continue to do so.
that distinguishes you from a majority of ppl on this forum 👍👍👍👍
What if Apple put in an SSD with better reliability than the M1 MacBook Air? Or do you know the TBW on the new SSDs?
Yes. My 2010 Mac Pro still does a lot of work. It’s not only SATA SSDs, but SATA 2 speed. So I’m only getting 220 MB/s max. It’s just fine because where SSDs shine is access times. I don’t really see much speed difference between that and my Mac Studio just booting up and launching programs.
People also make a big deal out of write endurance. I still have an old Samsung 256 in my 2010 Mac Pro that’s still going. Everyone’s use is different. Obviously if you are writing 1TB a day on your 256 drive, you need a larger drive. Or better yet, move to an external for processing.
People also make a big deal out of write endurance. I still have an old Samsung 256 in my 2010 Mac Pro that’s still going. Everyone’s use is different. Obviously if you are writing 1TB a day on your 256 drive, you need a larger drive. Or better yet, move to an external for processing.
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Seems unlikely given the 256GB chip has the exact same part number as before.
It’s definitely overblown, the fact you’re noticing it’s faster, goes to show it doesn’t affect 90% of users use case. It’s still crappy that they did it but the fact is, most people who only need a base model, aren’t going to notice the slower ssd
Huh? Before it was two 128 GB parts. How can it be the exact same part number as before? Or are you guessing that the 256 GB part has the same reliability as one 128 GB part? That is unlikely.
Edit: According to that bastion of reliable reporting, iFixit, it isn't even from the same manufacturer.
It has the same part number as previous 512GB machines, which uses a pair of 256GB. There were a bunch of teardown videos posted on Weibo during launch week.
And those 256 GB SSD chips are almost certainly more reliable than the 128 GB chips used in the base M1 MacBook Air. Are they twice as reliable? I have no idea but I suspect neither do you.
I think it is not overblown, companies should not be allowed to get away with such behaviour where they generally upgrade the device, yet downgrade its performance in one of very important aspects and yet charge considerably more for it than previous model with better performance of said component(ie, SSD).
If Apple cares so much about its customers and its brand name, they should have done something to keep all the performance on paper on par, less or more, with previous generation model instead of considerably lowering it and charging premium, even if that drop in SSD performance wont be felt by majority of users.
Then again, lots of people dabble with different software where, not knowing what they are missing, they might face slower execution of certain tasks and have no idea that, to some extentd, they have been "cheated" by Apple.
If Apple cares so much about its customers and its brand name, they should have done something to keep all the performance on paper on par, less or more, with previous generation model instead of considerably lowering it and charging premium, even if that drop in SSD performance wont be felt by majority of users.
Then again, lots of people dabble with different software where, not knowing what they are missing, they might face slower execution of certain tasks and have no idea that, to some extentd, they have been "cheated" by Apple.
It wouldn't have been a big deal if Apple had A., made it clear and obvious what's up with the 256GB SSDs when you order an M2 Air on apple.com, and B., had set pricing for 256/8 M2 Air at the same $999 that we saw for the og M1 Air.
But in the end, I think it all comes down to pricing: The added performance boost from the M2 chip and the overall upgrades to the M2 on all fronts simply aren't enough to recommend it when comparing it to the M1 Air or the 14" M1 MacBook Pro.
-$1199 is way overpriced considering the downsides of the 256GB M2 SSD and total value compared to the base model M1 Air. But if you then upgrade to a full-speed 512GB, then pricing is too close to the 14" M1 MacBook Pro.
So the big "controversy" for me is really just how low value in relation to price all the M2 configurations are compared to the options above and below it, the M1 Air and the 14" MacBook Pro.
I wouldn't recommend anyone buy it.
But in the end, I think it all comes down to pricing: The added performance boost from the M2 chip and the overall upgrades to the M2 on all fronts simply aren't enough to recommend it when comparing it to the M1 Air or the 14" M1 MacBook Pro.
-$1199 is way overpriced considering the downsides of the 256GB M2 SSD and total value compared to the base model M1 Air. But if you then upgrade to a full-speed 512GB, then pricing is too close to the 14" M1 MacBook Pro.
So the big "controversy" for me is really just how low value in relation to price all the M2 configurations are compared to the options above and below it, the M1 Air and the 14" MacBook Pro.
I wouldn't recommend anyone buy it.
'such behavior'..? it's amazing how people can complain about something when they know nothing about what went on behind the scenes, how and why apple got to this drive, in this model.
if apple has 'cheated' people... prove it. otherwise, it's just ranting, and accomplishes nothing.
i'm going to make all my buying choices starting right now based on your recommendations 🙄
meanwhile, right now 30 people think the issue is overblown, 8 don't. hmmm (altho, lol, 38 people is what percentage of macusers worldwide...?) 🤔
I don't think its overblown, it just amazes me what customers will accept. a $1200 system with a 256gb ssd that not even getting close to maxing out pcie 3.0 speeds of 3500 reads & 3300 writes. Like others are saying it should of been a $1000 system and base should be 512gb.
'others'... how many others? 2? 3?
this is such a ridiculous thread (altho, lol, here i am, posting).
we don't know what went on at apple during the design and implementation of the M2 air. apple set a price, the 256gb drive is what it is, and you can buy it... or not.
i'm happy with mine, no complaints. but then, i'm just enjoying working on it, am not benchmarking, bending, or otherwise testing & torturing it.
if anyone thinks it's a serious issue, they do not have to buy it! problem solved 👍
How would having two chips help? The capacity is still the same, isn’t it?