M2 Air Disappointing Thermal Design

[EnigmaticZee]

Why not go to the 14 MBP if you run the machine that hard that you even need to think about thermals?

Really, these reviews are pointless. It should be made clear that MBA is for casual users...web browsing, entertainment and maybe document editing but that's all. The primary function of this device is NOT rendering, editing videos and photos. Is it capable...sure but MBA is not build for that. Get pro for your pro usage...simple as that.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Its hard to draw a parallel because that generation of MBPs had heat issues including flexgate on the display cable, but if your normal MBA use causes it to run hot you probably choose the M2 13" Pro which is the same price. Since your use is almost exclusively clamshell, the new Air design shouldn't be a primary deciding factor. Or if you were going to get 16/512Gb or better consider the 14" Pro which is now discounted close to the M2Air's price.

I currently have a 8/16/256 MBA M2 ordered. My hope is that my basic use case scenarios (web browsing, watching YouTube, sending emails, etc.) won’t be an issue with having the laptop primarily closed. Sometimes I like to keep the news on in the background while I work so I hope that won’t be an issue either - streaming live TV for hours.

 

[0906742]

Those who use MBA M2 or MBA M1 in clamshell mode, is there any issue with Bluetooth or WiFi range or does it work as well in lid closed as open?

 

[jdb8167]

That sounds promising. I guess MBA M2 would not be worse in this then. I think I saw some review already mentioning MBA M2 could actually run cooler than MBA M1 in certain type tasks.

By the way, did you ever inspect your MBA screen very carefully if there was even any hint of heat damage or any even small flaws in the picture? Did you notice keyboard or display lid gasket became any different during this time?

Since May, I've been using the M1 MacBook Air almost exclusively with the screen open and only using the internal display. If there was an issue, I'm sure I would have noticed it. As far as I can tell, the screen is the same as the day I first got it.

 

[jdb8167]

Those who use MBA M2 or MBA M1 in clamshell mode, is there any issue with Bluetooth or WiFi range or does it work as well in lid closed as open?

When the lid is open, I mostly haven't been using any peripherals at all—occasionally a USB-C ethernet port. When in clamshell, I've had no issues with an external Apple Touch ID keyboard and Magic Trackpad. For audio I mostly use AirPods Pro but I have an older pair of plain AirPods that work fine too. Bluetooth problems have mostly been related to the M1 Mac mini as far as I know.

 

[jdb8167]

Really, these reviews are pointless. It should be made clear that MBA is for casual users...web browsing, entertainment and maybe document editing but that's all. The primary function of this device is NOT rendering, editing videos and photos. Is it capable...sure but MBA is not build for that. Get pro for your pro usage...simple as that.

Nah. The M1 MacBook Air has handled anything I've thrown at it without any problems. I use it for software development every day. If you are doing heavy duty rendering or 8K video exports you know who you are. Everyone else can use a MacBook Air for pretty much anything they need. This fear that the MBA isn't powerful enough is irrational.

 

[0906742]

When in clamshell, I've had no issues with an external Apple Touch ID keyboard and Magic Trackpad. For audio I mostly use AirPods Pro but I have an older pair of plain AirPods that work fine too.

OK, sounds like it should work fine then and AirPods would be what I mostly likely would use, and maybe WiFi but I consider getting USB-C to LAN adapter anyway.

Bluetooth problems have mostly been related to the M1 Mac mini as far as I know.

Really, I've had M1 Mini for over a year with zero problems with Bluetooth (at least with AirPods which is for what I have ever used it for, I use Unifying receiver for KB/mouse).

 

[darngooddesign]

I currently have a 8/16/256 MBA M2 ordered. My hope is that my basic use case scenarios (web browsing, watching YouTube, sending emails, etc.) won’t be an issue with having the laptop primarily closed. Sometimes I like to keep the news on in the background while I work so I hope that won’t be an issue either - streaming live TV for hours.

I predict that you will really like your new computer.

Your an always use an app like TG Pro to monitor your temperature initially until you understand how warm the computer gets during your use. Once you have an understanding then you don't need to worry about it. That's what I did with my MBP. Now that I know what my computer is doing during the different tasks I regularly do, I seldom if ever look at its temps.

 

[yitwail]

Nah. The M1 MacBook Air has handled anything I've thrown at it without any problems. I use it for software development every day. If you are doing heavy duty rendering or 8K video exports you know who you are. Everyone else can use a MacBook Air for pretty much anything they need. This fear that the MBA isn't powerful enough is irrational.

I'm the same way, using it for web development, BUT, I did update it to 16GB/1TB, and I imagine you're not using a base M1 MBA, correct? Especially with the slower SSD that comes with the base M2 MBA, at a minimum anyone contemplating development use should upgrade SSD to 512GB. If I were ordering one, I'd shell out the bucks for 24GB RAM, because that's a sweet spot IMO.

 

[EnigmaticZee]

Nah. The M1 MacBook Air has handled anything I've thrown at it without any problems. I use it for software development every day. If you are doing heavy duty rendering or 8K video exports you know who you are. Everyone else can use a MacBook Air for pretty much anything they need. This fear that the MBA isn't powerful enough is irrational.

"pretty much anything at all" is not true at all. The weakness has simply been exposed in many testing. It heats up, it thermal throttles and speed goes south under sustained load!

I too am a UX Designer + iOS Developer and seen issues with M1 Air under intense load. MBP 14" handles everything and is truly for the Pro. MBA as much as you won't like the fact is primarily for the casual users....I said primarily!!

 

[Dick Whitman]

This is exactly what I'm try to find out too! I know MBP 14" would be better solution due to active cooling but still for me it is last year model and I'd hate to buy it at full price knowing it will be "old" model sooner than later. However MBA M2 is just released, and also in lighter use it is nearly the same performance as MBP 14" base 8-core, could be even faster in some single core tasks (I have no need for fast GPU, as long as there is even one in it).

From what you described above, it sound like battery was swelling in your old unit causing that. But in older models I think heat was bigger issue and also battery charging management has improved in the past couple of years, so it may or may not be an issue with the M1 or M2 based units. However not so sure how it is in fanless MBA's in the longer time clamshell use, it is so new model it remains to be seen how it goes.
Did you see any other ill effects from long time use in clamshell mode? Was there bluish tint on the display panel (like bluish shadows on the white blackground) or any signs of keyboard and display lid gasket suffering from the heat?

No. Case wobble, which was likely a sign of case warping, and, in turn, battery swelling was the only issue that I ever noticed aside from the row of bad pixels at the bottom of the screen. Both of these issues really prevented me from selling the laptop so I just traded it into Apple and put what they gave me towards the new MBA M2. One thing I will definitely do this time though that I didn’t do with my 2016 MBP is purchase the extended Apple Care.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Really, these reviews are pointless. It should be made clear that MBA is for casual users...web browsing, entertainment and maybe document editing but that's all. The primary function of this device is NOT rendering, editing videos and photos. Is it capable...sure but MBA is not build for that. Get pro for your pro usage...simple as that.

Except that the M1 MBA was capable of FAR more than that. It can do it all. The worst throttling is 8% over the Pro. That is why people are disappointed. I can do anything needed, any workflow, with the MBA and not blink. It just might take longer. So, the M2 MBA should be able to do that but 18% faster? Instead it appears that trying to push the M1 that much further resulted in a thermal issue.

Edit: here is what I mean:

https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/qglp1u

https://towardsdatascience.com/apples-new-m1-chip-is-a-machine-learning-beast-70ca8bfa6203

MacBook Air M1 vs RTX 3090 Beast Rig For Editing Video

https://sundaysounds.com/blogs/news/gear-tutorial-2021-macbook-air-worship-keys-rig

There are soooo many more links. The M1 MBA was revolutionary. It's still amazing.

 

[yitwail]

"pretty much anything at all" is not true at all. The weakness has simply been exposed in many testing. It heats up, it thermal throttles and speed goes south under sustained load!

I too am a UX Designer + iOS Developer and seen issues with M1 Air under intense load. MBP 14" handles everything and is truly for the Pro. MBA as much as you won't like the fact is primarily for the casual users....I said primarily!!

So which causes sustained load, UX Design, iOS Development, or both? I can see that something like Xcode compilation of a large project would be a sustained load, but only part of Xcode I use is iOS simulator, and that fairly infrequently. Anyway, just because M1 Air isn't sufficient for your Pro use doesn't rule it out for other Pro users.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

So which causes sustained load, UX Design, iOS Development, or both? I can see that something like Xcode compilation of a large project would be a sustained load, but only part of Xcode I use is iOS simulator, and that fairly infrequently. Anyway, just because M1 Air isn't sufficient for your Pro use doesn't rule it out for other Pro users.

Exactly. Many, many developers get by just fine with an M1 MBA. Same with other professions.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Really, these reviews are pointless. It should be made clear that MBA is for casual users...web browsing, entertainment and maybe document editing but that's all. The primary function of this device is NOT rendering, editing videos and photos. Is it capable...sure but MBA is not build for that. Get pro for your pro usage...simple as that.

Can you tell Apple that?
Look at all the things they highlight in their advertising benchmarks on the MBA M2 page..

 

[eltoslightfoot]

"pretty much anything at all" is not true at all. The weakness has simply been exposed in many testing. It heats up, it thermal throttles and speed goes south under sustained load!

I too am a UX Designer + iOS Developer and seen issues with M1 Air under intense load. MBP 14" handles everything and is truly for the Pro. MBA as much as you won't like the fact is primarily for the casual users....I said primarily!!

This is a huge issue then as the M1 MBA doesn't have this issue at all.

 

[darngooddesign]

This is a huge issue then as the M1 MBA doesn't have this issue at all.

LOL that's simply not accurate. I could make the 16/1TB M1Air do all those things which is why I returned it for a MBP.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

LOL that's simply not accurate. I could make the 16/1TB M1Air do all those things which is why I returned it for a MBP.

If you say so, it sounds like you made the right decision. All those links I posted earlier show me other in addition to what I found which was NO to LITTLE throttling in the M1 MBA.

 

[happyslayer]

As Max Tech show; even simple thermal pads to the lower case make a large difference in sustained performance:

I've watched this and Luke Miani's video where he does a similar thing. My worry would be the added heat to their bottom of the case since it becomes the heat sink. I use the Air a lot on my lap (typing this now on my lap) and I really don't want it to feel hot on my lap. On the other hand, I don't really do much that would create sustained thermal loads other than the occasional OS update so thermal-throttling isn't really a potential issue for me.

 

[ponzicoinbro]

This is an underrated point.

Also this. The issue, I guess, is that the M1 MBA is just so dang capable. With the new design, it appears that the Pro line matters when it comes to heat.

I lived in India and Thailand. In those countries even your pocket calculator becomes too hot 😂 but nobody runs Cinebench on them.

You want to run 3D games and 3D animation apps at maximum capacity use a Pro system not a sub-notebook.

The Air won’t experience any throttling or slowness if the right target customer is using it.

 

[vadimyuryev]

A 10 degree reduction from the thermal pad is hardly worth it.

Keep in mind that it was a difference of 11 degrees Celsius.
Before the thermal pad, it reached the peak of 108 within 28 seconds of a 100% CPU load in Cinebench R23.
After the thermal pad, it only reached 97 after the same 28 seconds.
It took 1 minute and 20 seconds to reach 108 degrees.

So 108 to 97... Translated to Fahrenheit, that's a 19.8-degree difference.

I'd call that impressive for just a simple thermal pad mod.
And huge amounts of heat on the bottom of the laptop will only be the case when exporting for an extended period of time, after a minute or two. So in those cases, one option is to put it on a tabletop until it finishes and cools down.

It's not a perfect fix, but it's the best we got!

Common 4K editing will be fine because it relies on the media engines, so the M2 chip won't really heat up much at all.

 

[darngooddesign]

Keep in mind that it was a difference of 11 degrees Celsius.
Before the thermal pad, it reached the peak of 108 within 28 seconds of a 100% CPU load in Cinebench R23.
After the thermal pad, it only reached 97 after the same 28 seconds.
It took 1 minute and 20 seconds to reach 108 degrees.

So 108 to 97... Translated to Fahrenheit, that's a 19.8-degree difference.

I'd call that impressive for just a simple thermal pad mod.
And huge amounts of heat on the bottom of the laptop will only be the case when exporting for an extended period of time, after a minute or two. So in those cases, one option is to put it on a tabletop until it finishes and cools down.

It's not a perfect fix, but it's the best we got!

Common 4K editing will be fine because it relies on the media engines, so the M2 chip won't really heat up much at all.

I enjoy your videos and your enthusiasm for benchmarks. 😜

I have a video suggestion:

I think it is more realistic that someone with the base drive is going to be exporting/keeping their project files on a fast external drive, if for no other Eason that the drive is already going to be kind of full and they want space for swap/scratch, so it would be good to see how the SSD speed affects system and application performance if you are working from an external drive. That way people can see how things like swap memory are affected by the slower SSD.

 

[clevins]

Really, these reviews are pointless. It should be made clear that MBA is for casual users...web browsing, entertainment and maybe document editing but that's all. The primary function of this device is NOT rendering, editing videos and photos. Is it capable...sure but MBA is not build for that. Get pro for your pro usage...simple as that.

This isn't even true (see earlier comments from others on what they do). What IS TRUE is that if you stress the CPU and/or GPU for long stretches the Air will throttle to control temps. You can do a LOT more than the simple stuff you outline without doing that, though since most work is bursty in terms of CPU/GPU demands.

The idea that the Air is only good for web browsing is hilariously uninformed.

 

[GuruZac]

This isn't even true (see earlier comments from others on what they do). What IS TRUE is that if you stress the CPU and/or GPU for long stretches the Air will throttle to control temps. You can do a LOT more than the simple stuff you outline without doing that, though since most work is bursty in terms of CPU/GPU demands.

The idea that the Air is only good for web browsing is hilariously uninformed.

Agreed. I think there's still lingering beliefs that the MacBook Air is Apple's low level machine, except, when they put the M1 in it, it was blowing away the Intel powered 16" MacBook Pro in many heavy and demanding tasks. And it was doing that with no active cooling. Regardless of how good the M2 is, the M1 is still a beast of a processor and will enable a very wide variety of light to heavy usage, all while sipping power.

 

[vadimyuryev]

I enjoy your videos and your enthusiasm for benchmarks. 😜

I have a video suggestion:

I think it is more realistic that someone with the base drive is going to be exporting/keeping their project files on a fast external drive, if for no other Eason that the drive is already going to be kind of full and they want space for swap/scratch, so it would be good to see how the SSD speed affects system and application performance if you are working from an external drive. That way people can see how things like swap memory are affected by the slower SSD.

Even if you edit from an external drive, virtual swap memory will still use your internal SSD, leading to the same issues.

The only benefit of using an external drive is to keep your internal storage as empty as possible, which will actually improve transfer speeds and maybe even virtual memory swap performance as well.