M1 Air people, getting an M2 Air?

[tweaknmod]

I just don’t understand why the new iMacs get all these fun colors while the new MBA doesn’t. Seems like an absolute no-brainer to boost sales and appeal.

Despite the sentiment in this thread, and in similar threads full of nerds like us, I think these will sell like hotcakes - if for no reason other than it's the newest thing.

Apple didn't give us the new colours because the new body, new chip, and magsafe are enough to sell units... for now. They will later offer an upgraded model with an improved screen (OLED? miniLED?), and fancy colours - making many want that new version.

Apple is infamous for giving users almost everything we ask for, but holding back some things to keep people interested in the newest version that's always just on the horizon (I know this is not always the case, not by a long shot, but I hope you get my drift).

This strategy was usually relegated to iPhones, but it looks to me like they may be adopting this for their Macs also...

 

[EastHillWill]

Despite the sentiment in this thread, and in similar threads full of nerds like us, I think these will sell like hotcakes - if for no reason other than it's the newest thing.

Apple didn't give us the new colours because the new body, new chip, and magsafe are enough to sell units... for now. They will later offer an upgraded model with an improved screen (OLED? miniLED?), and fancy colours - making many want that new version.

Apple is infamous for giving users almost everything we ask for, but holding back some things to keep people interested in the newest version that's always just on the horizon (I know this is not always the case, not by a long shot, but I hope you get my drift).

This strategy was usually relegated to iPhones, but it looks to me like they may be adopting this for their Macs also...

That's a good point, and could very well be the reason. And as we now know there are a lot of SKUs with this new MBA, and if you add in colors you're looking at *lots* of combinations in a supply-constrained environment.

 

[jdb8167]

Check Decluttr. They are quoting $635 plus $30 welcome bonus for base M1 Air

They aren’t giving higher prices for 16 GB or a larger SSD. Nope.

 

[hans1972]

During the intel transition, the first gen with core Duo chips were only supported through Snow Leopard, only two OSes from Tiger. Apple have done something like that before.

Those Core Duo chips were on Macs released in 2006. Snow Leopard's last update was in July 2011 with the release of 10.6.8 v1.1 giving those machines 5 years of software support.

The reason for the short support was the 32-bit nature of Core Duo and Apple dropped support for that with the release of OS X Lion.

 

[unrigestered]

nope, M1 is plenty fast
won't get me another laptop until the battery goes really bad, which i'm hoping will take at least 5+ years.
And i just got mine this March with no regrets whatsoever.
also, the difference between the M1 and M2 base models are >550 € here in germany

 

[MacRazySwe]

Objectively, it's a good upgrade. 20 % performance boost, MagSafe, better speakers, better display.

However... I personally much prefer the design of the old Air. I prefer the wedge shape, the smaller function keys (and the Touch ID) as well as the speaker grills and printed model name.

I'm not sold on the new model if I'm honest. It looks like a MacBook Pro.

 

[unrigestered]

i like both looks... the old one looks kinda oldschool... in a great way
i would be ok with the price difference for the US, but here in germany, i think only fashion victims or people with too much money at hand should opt for the M2 MBA instead of the M1
i understand though that the M1 probably was priced pretty low to get more people fast on board of the Apple Silicon train

 

[trife]

My M1 is perfectly fine, but there are features on the M2 that really appeal to me, so I'll take the plunge. I don’t really need it, but hey, sometimes we go to such lengths to justify stuff. Truth is I want it so I’m buying it lol, even if it doesn’t make much sense.

Scratch that. Grabbed the 14” MBP on sale. With how I planned to spec out the M2 Air, going this route made too much sense. Hopefully I’ll get used to the chunkiness of it though—years of using an Air have spoiled me when it comes to perceived portability.

 

[flyfly]

With the specs i'm looking for (16GB RAM, 1TB)...
M2 Air 2048€
M1 Air 1725€
Difference 323€

What would you do? I miss the wedge shape though... i need to see it in person first, before ordering it.

 

[dizmonk]

Objectively, it's a good upgrade. 20 % performance boost, MagSafe, better speakers, better display.

However... I personally much prefer the design of the old Air. I prefer the wedge shape, the smaller function keys (and the Touch ID) as well as the speaker grills and printed model name.

I'm not sold on the new model if I'm honest. It looks like a MacBook Pro.

1000% this... I would be more torn about it if they made every change they did but kept the old wedge design. I completely agree that from a visual standpoint it's hard to tell this from the average MBP.

 

[thadoggfather]

This makes things a little sweeter:
$1099 with edu, $440 trade in for M1 Air (still ouch), $150 gift card that would go towards a future iPhone purchase...

Still ~$509 out of pocket (if treating the gift card as 'real money') + tax... that's a lot imo

 

[Saturn007]

I don't think this is an issue with M2 Air since the front edge is about the same height as in M1 Air, there is still the same edge in both models against your wrist.

Well, in fact, the M2 MBA's front edge is .44” vs. only .16” for the M1 MBA!

In other words, nearly 3 times as high!

Compared to the original MBA series, which is only .11” in front, it's enormous! 4x higher.

Both may have “edges”, but the lower height, and thin front edge, simply don't dig into many users' palms or wrists the way those of the MacBook Pros do — and the M2 MBA is much closer in height to the MBP than it is to the normal MBAs likely making it more of a problem.

But that front edge isn't the only factor. The depth of the laptop's palm-rest platform matters, as does the size of your hands, and how you position laptop and hands when typing. Many of us find the squared-off, higher edge uncomfortable to type on; yet many have no problems whatsoever with the MacBook Pro design and front height.

Elsewhere, however, I've noted a discovery — which is that I type with the MBA propped up at an angle in my laptop. It puts the front edge out of the way entirely, so, for me, and perhaps for others who disliked the MBP's design, the M2 MBA is now a viable prospect.

 

[southerndoc]

I'm keeping my M1 Air until the M3 comes out. Hopefully by then Apple gets rid of that horrifically ugly camera notch. I can't purchase a new one with that thing. I will go back to a Windows computer before I will get a laptop with that camera notch. I've tried using my wife's to get used to it, and I absolutely cannot. She hates it too and only uses it because she needs the power of an M1 Max for her Photoshop work (she uses her laptop as a desktop as well).

 

[Dealmans]

I'm keeping my M1 Air until the M3 comes out. Hopefully by then Apple gets rid of that horrifically ugly camera notch. I can't purchase a new one with that thing. I will go back to a Windows computer before I will get a laptop with that camera notch. I've tried using my wife's to get used to it, and I absolutely cannot. She hates it too and only uses it because she needs the power of an M1 Max for her Photoshop work (she uses her laptop as a desktop as well).

It is hideous when you see side by side in house, 13" air v 14" pro, would be even worse on a 13"

 

[Yuukon]

Definitely going for the M2 MBA. I currently have an M1 MBA, and I wasn't going to upgrade at first. However, my dad's 2014 Macbook Pro is starting to fail and he can't afford to go for a new one, so we've struck a decent deal. Definitely excited to get MagSafe again.

 

[0906742]

Well, in fact, the M2 MBA's front edge is .44” vs. only .16” for the M1 MBA!

In other words, nearly 3 times as high!

Compared to the original MBA series, which is only .11” in front, it's enormous! 4x higher.

Both may have “edges”, but the lower height, and thin front edge, simply don't dig into many users' palms or wrists the way those of the MacBook Pros do — and the M2 MBA is much closer in height to the MBP than it is to the normal MBAs likely making it more of a problem.

Wrong. Anyone who has MBA M1 knows that front edge is about 8mm (0.32") high from the table with lid open, and that's what matters. New MBA M2 is probably the same or less as that 0.44" is total height including lid!!
You easily get wrong impression reading just marketing material where that 0.16" is just thinnest part of the tapered edge that is hanging in the air.

 

[Yuukon]

Wrong. Anyone who has MBA M1 knows that front edge is about 8mm (0.32") high from the table with lid open, and that's what matters. New MBA M2 is probably the same or less as that 0.44" is total height including lid!!
You easily get wrong impression reading just marketing material where that 0.16" is just thinnest part of the tapered edge that is hanging in the air.

I honestly don't think the height of the front will be a huge difference, because as you said, the thinnest part is in the air. There's space below it. The M1 MBA's underbelly makes that the measurements are quite deceiving. Had the front edge lain on the desk, it would've been a whole different story.

 

[fivenotrump]

No: my M1 MBA is only 18 months old and is still running like a champ, unsurprisingly...

 

[dizmonk]

No: my M1 MBA is only 18 months old and is still running like a champ, unsurprisingly...

I'm repeating my earlier post... I just don't think I can justify upgrading... There's nothing wrong with my refurbed 16gb/1tb M1, although that Starlight color and 1080p does get me jealous...

 

[0906742]

No: my M1 MBA is only 18 months old and is still running like a champ, unsurprisingly...

After seeing on latest reviews of M2 Pro that base 256GB SSD is slooooooow (slower than in M1 MBA), I see no point for getting MBA M2 as the base model is the only considerable choice since adding larger (and faster) SSD and RAM it is practically the same price as 14" Pro M1 with sale price and that is much better machine in many ways. Pricewise IMHO only the base model MBA M2 makes any sense, if there was not what I just mentioned above...

 

[5105973]

I only have a 2011 MBP. I was originally planning to get a M2 Air 24 or 16 gb RAM and 1 TB drive. But after using a base model M1 Air I decided it was fine for my needs so I decided to try a refurbished M1 Air with 8 core gpu and 16gb RAM and 1 TB storage.

I’ve never tried an Apple refurbished product before. I hope I get a good one. It’s $200 less than a 7 core gpu new and $500 less than the M2 Air I was considering. And I can have it tomorrow which is nice.

I could afford the M2 Air but being realistic I’m a typical mom doing typical mom stuff and not going to be editing grand epic sagas in Final Cut Pro. I’m going to do modest photography projects and play Sims 4.

So anyway, that’s my choice in the M1 vs M2 decision, even though technically mine is not a decision to abstain from upgrading from a M1.

However, I do want my purchase to last me a long time, because I can’t use existing OLED displays. I’m hoping for 5 years. I’m hoping even a refurb can make it.

 

[Chateaunole-du-Pape]

After seeing on latest reviews of M2 Pro that base 256GB SSD is slooooooow (slower than in M1 MBA), I see no point for getting MBA M2 as the base model is the only considerable choice since adding larger (and faster) SSD and RAM it is practically the same price as 14" Pro M1 with sale price and that is much better machine in many ways. Pricewise IMHO only the base model MBA M2 makes any sense, if there was not what I just mentioned above...

Disagree. I'm going to get a 16 GB/1 TB M2 Air for less than I'd pay for a base 14" Pro (with half the storage) at the lowest sale price anyone as seen.

 

[MajorFubar]

I would imagine anyone who bought a 256GB M1 Air right before the M2 announcement is now thanking their chosen Supreme Being for helping them make the right decision, and following the revelations about the SSD speeds being halved on 256GB M2 machines compared to 256GB M1's, will be about as likely to upgrade to a 256GB M2 Air as Tom Cruise publicly coming out as gay.

 

[thadoggfather]

I'm keeping my M1 Air until the M3 comes out. Hopefully by then Apple gets rid of that horrifically ugly camera notch. I can't purchase a new one with that thing. I will go back to a Windows computer before I will get a laptop with that camera notch. I've tried using my wife's to get used to it, and I absolutely cannot. She hates it too and only uses it because she needs the power of an M1 Max for her Photoshop work (she uses her laptop as a desktop as well).

while not a deal breaker for me, I am really genuinely not a fan of the notch on a Mac.

Especially gonna be dumb when the notch gets phased out, and the hole punch design trickles down to the non-Pro iPhones maybe next year. Will feel antiquated even with hole punch on the 14 Pro's this year.. feels antiquated even while M2 MBP and M1 Air/Pro doesnt have it...

ugh. Some Apple design decisions are totally whack to me.

 

[5105973]

while not a deal breaker for me, I am really genuinely not a fan of the notch on a Mac.

Especially gonna be dumb when the notch gets phased out, and the hole punch design trickles down to the non-Pro iPhones maybe next year. Will feel antiquated even with hole punch on the 14 Pro's this year.. feels antiquated even while M2 MBP and M1 Air/Pro doesnt have it...

ugh. Some Apple design decisions are totally whack to me.

For me, it’s the wedge shape that still looks more current and the squared off edges that look older, but that’s because I am coming from a 2011 MBP and essentially missed all the years of tapered MB Airs.