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M2 MacBook Air Now Available for Same-Day Pickup at Apple Stores
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I’ll gladly give up some performance to have the thinnest and lightest machine possible, but paying $300 more for an extra 256GB in 2022 is highway robbery (yes you get 2 extra GPU cores too but they also could just include this and not make it so confusing). It’s the base or nothing for me, but 256GB is so anemic. I really don’t want the weight/thickness of the 14”, not to mention ports I will likely hardly ever use.
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Apple biggest mistakes is raising the price of the base model $200 over the M1, then having the balls to charge another $200 for a measly 8GB of RAM (worth about $15) and another $200 for an extra 256GB SSD (again, probably a $15 chip). Anyone who wonders why Apple's profits are so high only need to look at what they charge for upgrades from a (mostly unexciting) base model.
I suppose you mean 256GB of SSD storage (not RAM) and I agree 100%. I have not touched an M2 Air, but I have a MBP 14, and it's pretty thin and light already. I can't understand spending more, getting less, just for thin.
It is kind of absurd isn't it. The 14" is vastly more powerful in some scenarios and... ports, Mini LED, fans, etc for $200 more for a similar spec storage wise. However some people just want a small laptop. Like a really small one, that's the point of the air
Especially now the the MBA M1 versions are seeing discounts as well and still being made. Retailers have to figure out how sell current MBA M1 stock so a new discounted $850 M1 vs $1200 M2…and the wedge design actually feels thinner to people from a psychological standpoint.
Such a weird move from Apple to keep both MBA in the lineup especially if MBA owners truly value price before above all else.
This is wrong. For some reason, this train of reasoning is progressing in this thread. Everyone knows it's just justification of your choice, which is fine, but obvious
Then again, discussion is good.
You know you can’t just say something is wrong and everyone agrees right? If you’re buying your first MB or are a college kid money matters to you. If you’re just looking for a laptop to browse the web I’m sure money matters as well. If you value a thin design the two are debatable.This is wrong. For some reason, this train of reasoning is progressing in this thread. Everyone knows it's just justification of your choice, which is fine, but obvious
Then again, discussion is good.
The MBA at its core is about portability and price so which one does those two better than the other? Answer, MBA M1.
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There are definitely many folks who will choose the MBA for the form factor, regardless of the price compared to a MBP. But buyers who wouldn’t mind the added bulk should probably take a look at their options.
I hear you on the memory. 256 storage doesn’t bother me as the minimum/default on a machine like the Air. But I don’t think it’s acceptable to have 8GB of RAM in an all-new laptop, at these prices, in 2022. And of course the upgrade prices are ridiculous.
IMO Apple’s entire memory strategy is user-hostile. The margins on these products are high enough, there’s no need to underspec and overcharge here.
Well, it's just the same ol value argument.
Sometimes less is more. You may ask: "How can Apple charge more for an item with less parts, etc.?" It's the more for less value argument. Which oddly is also the less for more value argument (you following me? I'm not lol)
It may look like an 'Emperor's clothes' scenario, and it is, maybe. Like resterraunts charging more for skimpy portions.
Or anything stripped down.
You may want to change your order now.
And I can't understand spending more on power, screen and speakers that I don't need and extra weight that I don't want, all the while getting less storage, which is something that I really do need.
I bought the 8/16/1TB Air for $1,509, when you factor in education pricing and the current $150 education gift card promotion.
The cheapest 14" Pro with 16GB/1TB is $1,879, also with education pricing and factoring in the $150 education gift card promotion.
I'll enjoy my lighter, amply powered machine and take the $370 all the way to the bank, or the wine cellar, or on vacation, or...
Ordered a 16/512 last week the moment the pre-orders opened.
Wouldn’t deliver until around August 9.
Open the app at 11 AM this morning just to check availability and what do you know it?
16/1TB available for pickup.
Or, hear me out… maybe Apple knows that some customers don’t want to compromise on a computer that’s 30% or so thicker and around a pound heavier.
Also once the deals for the new MacBook Air kick in like they have for the 14 inch, I don’t think that price is going to be as compelling.
Sure, right now on launch day when there are no deals and you have to pay Apple‘s full pricing, The MacBook Air is only $200 cheaper. It doesn’t look like a good deal.
But keep in mind that MacBook pro. You’re looking at is already discounted by $200, because it’s been on the market for 8+ months.
Once BestBuy and Amazon put discounts on the MacBook Air by $200 or so Probably around the holiday season, Is it going to be that small of a jump?
What’s $1599 now might be $1399 come Christmas.
A $400 jump is a lot harder to stomach than a $200 jump
It took a few years for people to finally stop talking about the lack of headphone jack. It took a few years for people to finally stop talking about the lack of removable batteries or memory. It took a few years for people to finally stop talking about not being able to jailbreak their iPhones.
How come it took me only 3 minutes to stop noticing the notch (much less talking about it) but you're still talking about it 5 years after it was introduced?
Well to be fair, anyone can get education pricing, so the difference is already $370. I say $370 because if you go the education pricing route, you get the $150 gift card. $1479 M2 Air 16GB/512GB vs $1849 M1 14“ Pro 16GB/512GB
That too.
People are comparing the full, complete, Apple, launchday price of a mba vs the thirdparty, highly discounted price of a close to year old machine
I think you forgot to deduct the $150 gift card on the 14”. Which would make the 14” $1,699. Or am I missing something? (In education store)
Even the upgrade to 24GB and 2TB SSD still leaves the new M2 owner with a very thermal limited computer for about $2,500 plus local sales taxes or the base price of a 14" MBPro.
There is a reason there are fans in laptops designed for serious work that generates heat under load.
I acquired a M1 16GB 1TB MBAir in September 2021 to see the capabilities as compared to my 2019 16" Intel MBPro. with 64GB of ram, a 8TB SSD and upgraded video card. The 16 fan's spool up on startup as the temperature climbs rapidly. Fans are energized quite often doing simple operations.
Will keep the 16 a long time for "Intel" legacy reasons.
No fan so no noise on the M1.
The processor specs of the M1 MBAir were in many areas superior to the Intel. But the M1 was limited to 16GB of ram. Being a 1TB M1 model it had a faster SSD than on the models with smaller SSDs. It is a great light duty and portable device with just adequate screen specs.
Acquired a 2021 BTO 14" M1 Max with 64GB and 4TB SSD. One has to open lot of programs to get the temps to rise to the point the fans become audible.
There is a reason there are fans in laptops designed for serious work that generates heat under load.
I acquired a M1 16GB 1TB MBAir in September 2021 to see the capabilities as compared to my 2019 16" Intel MBPro. with 64GB of ram, a 8TB SSD and upgraded video card. The 16 fan's spool up on startup as the temperature climbs rapidly. Fans are energized quite often doing simple operations.
Will keep the 16 a long time for "Intel" legacy reasons.
No fan so no noise on the M1.
The processor specs of the M1 MBAir were in many areas superior to the Intel. But the M1 was limited to 16GB of ram. Being a 1TB M1 model it had a faster SSD than on the models with smaller SSDs. It is a great light duty and portable device with just adequate screen specs.
Acquired a 2021 BTO 14" M1 Max with 64GB and 4TB SSD. One has to open lot of programs to get the temps to rise to the point the fans become audible.
It'd be fairer, then, to use the sale prices of the M2s in such a comparison. For example, what were the Amazon Prime Day sale prices on each of these models?
If we use Apple's prices — and omit the odd-ball, in-betweener 13” Touch Bar MBP — we have this:
16/512 - Air M2 8CPU/8GPU - $1599
16/512 - 14 Pro M1 Pro 8CPU/14GPU - $1999
$400 is a large amount of money to many. Makes the pricing look far more sensible and the 14” not a no-brainer decision — for all sorts of reasons, not just its pricing.
One would want to include the M1 MBA in the comparison, too. Its 16/511 price is $200 less than that of the M2 MBA, and a whopping $600 less than that of the 14”! Add in sales tax, which could run 6-8% in some states, and we're talking about $640-650 less.
By the way, what are Apple's actual prices of these laptops as refurbished? Keep in mind, however, that while they are often like new, Apple does not automatically replace the case and install a new battery in its refurbished Macs. It only replaces parts on an “as needed” basis. See https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/about
I'd agree they are overpriced. However, Apple know they can charge that amount even if they are in MBP territory because people are willing to pay for the portability of the Air. I have a 16" MBP and an M1 MBA and I love them equally but the Air is just great for chucking it about, grab it and go, whether that be around the house or on the move. It's such a great device and I really wish they kept the prices in line for the M2 models as I really like the design.