M2 MacBook Air vs M1

[racer1441]

I really think the M2 MacBook Air is the best computer I have ever owned. Works great, can stress the little guy out with lots of stuff running off of it and it won’t blink, etc.

The only thing I miss is the design of the M1 Air. I know it’s not rational, but boy, I really liked that tapered design.

Anyone else feel the same way?

 

[1BadManVan]

I really think the M2 MacBook Air is the best computer I have ever owned. Works great, can stress the little guy out with lots of stuff running off of it and it won’t blink, etc.

The only thing I miss is the design of the M1 Air. I know it’s not rational, but boy, I really liked that tapered design.

Anyone else feel the same way?

Opposite for me. The m2 air was finally the design that tempted me to take the plunge. M1 air wasn’t quite there for me when I tested it in store. Great little laptop overall, but I wouldn’t trade my m2 air for any other type of mac

 

[Piscestg]

Opposite for me. The m2 air was finally the design that tempted me to take the plunge. M1 air wasn’t quite there for me when I tested it in store. Great little laptop overall, but I wouldn’t trade my m2 air for any other type of mac

Exactly! Me too.

 

[jmoore5196]

I was an early skeptic and detractor, but now I wouldn't give up my M2. I still have my M1, and use it almost daily. In real-life comparisons, both machines are still wonderful performers, but the M2 has something of an edge. I bought an 'ultimate' M2 with 24GB RAM and a 2TB SSD, and haven't regretted it at all.

 

[Cuesca]

Opposite for me. The m2 air was finally the design that tempted me to take the plunge. M1 air wasn’t quite there for me when I tested it in store. Great little laptop overall, but I wouldn’t trade my m2 air for any other type of mac

Same for me as well, I'm just not a fan of the wedge shape. My only concern is this machine is technically an upgrade for my 2012 rMBP while at the same time I am simply buying the base model so it has half the RAM/Storage. However a part of me felt that even on my 2012 MBP I didn't really needed the 16GB in the first place.

For simple tasks like emails/youtube/etc. as well as some Pixelmator, this should be fine with just 8GB of RAM right? I'll probably keep the 2012 MBP around for Bootcamp since I don't think the VPN I needed for work will work with an ARM chip. I tried running it on a Surface Pro X but it simply won't launch since it required 64-bit emulation.

 

[JustAnExpat]

Same for me as well, I'm just not a fan of the wedge shape. My only concern is this machine is technically an upgrade for my 2012 rMBP while at the same time I am simply buying the base model so it has half the RAM/Storage. However a part of me felt that even on my 2012 MBP I didn't really needed the 16GB in the first place.

For simple tasks like emails/youtube/etc. as well as some Pixelmator, this should be fine with just 8GB of RAM right? I'll probably keep the 2012 MBP around for Bootcamp since I don't think the VPN I needed for work will work with an ARM chip. I tried running it on a Surface Pro X but it simply won't launch since it required 64-bit emulation.

You'll be fine with 8GB of RAM. You won't be pushing it to capacity at all.

 

[MrKennedy]

I have both the M2 (work) and M1 (personal) Airs, both base models. Outside of the brighter and slightly bigger screen of the newer model, I much prefer the feel of the M1.

I'll add here that the performance of both models feels identical to me. Can't go wrong with either!

 

[Technerd108]

Opinions are subjective and everyone has one. I don't claim my opinion matters over anyone else's.

That being said I have hated the wedge shape for many years. I also have always had a Windows laptop and they started incorporating slim bezels way before Apple so the M1 13" MBA and Pro felt like dinosaurs to me even when they switched to m series chips.

I am so happy with the new design language as it seems much more Apple to me. Apple has always excelled at industrial design and simple design and I felt the tapered design looked like a fashion designer made the laptops not an industrial design at least to me.

I am all in on the new design but I can't fault anyone for liking the previous design. The old design was well loved by many!

 

[Gudi]

Both MacBook Airs are deeply disappointing. This is how it should look:

 

[MBAir2010]

The only thing I miss is the design of the M1 Air. I know it’s not rational, but boy, I really liked that tapered design.

Anyone else feel the same way?

Yes, so I purchased the MacBook Air M1 for the design
and I feared Ventura so I knew I could Monterey until 2025-7
then I upgrade to Ventura and very happy with the OS

meanwhile I am installing a new ssd on a Mac mini sit-in gin my drawer with MtLion-Mojave.
which was confusing trying to get a page to work in Safari 6 then trying to download Mojave
then I realized I hav eMOjave on a drive..and now installing that.

I just hope I can upgrade to "Salton Sea" or what ever Cali os  releases in 2023 and still be happy!

 

[AndreaMazzurana]

I have both the M2 (work) and M1 (personal) Airs, both base models. Outside of the brighter and slightly bigger screen of the newer model, I much prefer the feel of the M1.

I'll add here that the performance of both models feels identical to me. Can't go wrong with either!

Hi, i am not an Expert in computer, i would Need a computer to Mix and Master professionally songs, with Protools/Ableton/Others, would u reccomend the M2 against the M1, do any of yall feel like it may have some kind of impact?

 

[LeeW]

The only thing I miss is the design of the M1 Air. I know it’s not rational, but boy, I really liked that tapered design.

I thought that until I got my M2 MBA and changed my mind, love the new design. When I pick up my wife's M1 MBA it feels more dated now.

 

[AndreaMazzurana]

I thought that until I got my M2 MBA and changed my mind, love the new design. When I pick up my wife's M1 MBA it feels more dated now.

Hey☺️, im a newbie, i wish i dont disturb you, i wanted to ask you if you would think for Mixing in Protools/Ableton/Logic and Others It would be reccomended to buy and Air M2 instead of the M1? Im wondering if Is there any actual differences or if i should buy the M1 and wait for a M3 with way more GPU to invest in It.

 

[Apple_Tiger]

I really think the M2 MacBook Air is the best computer I have ever owned. Works great, can stress the little guy out with lots of stuff running off of it and it won’t blink, etc.

The only thing I miss is the design of the M1 Air. I know it’s not rational, but boy, I really liked that tapered design.

Anyone else feel the same way?

Not for me. I didn't like those wedge/tapered design when apple first introduced it. I'm glad Apple had gone away with it and brought in the MacBook Pro 14 and 16 like design to the air. I very much like the current design that Apple has for the MacBook Air M2.

 

[fisherking]

Hey☺️, im a newbie, i wish i dont disturb you, i wanted to ask you if you would think for Mixing in Protools/Ableton/Logic and Others It would be reccomended to buy and Air M2 instead of the M1? Im wondering if Is there any actual differences or if i should buy the M1 and wait for a M3 with way more GPU to invest in It.

you might want to start your own thread for this.

i'd go with the M2 over the M1; more power, and more ports. get 16gb ram, and you should be ok.

the air isn't the pro, but if you're not mixing full orchestras you should be fine. lots of ppl using airs to do this work. also... you use all 3 DAWs? otherwise, i'd suggest picking ONE for a start.

 

[AndreaMazzurana]

you might want to start your own thread for this.

i'd go with the M2 over the M1; more power, and more ports. get 16gb ram, and you should be ok.

the air isn't the pro, but if you're not mixing full orchestras you should be fine. lots of ppl using airs to do this work. also... you use all 3 DAWs? otherwise, i'd suggest picking ONE for a start.

Thanks, i Will understeand how thread works because im new to forums, i already have much confidence in Ableton but i understood for certain works ill need Protools. I might use unity too, partitioning the MAC.

 

[fisherking]

Thanks, i Will understeand how thread works because im new to forums, i already have much confidence in Ableton but i understood for certain works ill need Protools. I might use unity too, partitioning the MAC.

most people pick one DAW and do everything with that. so, depending on your goals, ableton is probably fine. but NO NEED to partition your mac! (almost) no one does that anymore...

 

[AndreaMazzurana]

most people pick one DAW and do everything with that. so, depending on your goals, ableton is probably fine. but NO NEED to partition your mac! (almost) no one does that anymore...

I got my informations by some serious professionists, but thanks for the answers.

 

[TSE]

I really think the M2 MacBook Air is the best computer I have ever owned. Works great, can stress the little guy out with lots of stuff running off of it and it won’t blink, etc.

The only thing I miss is the design of the M1 Air. I know it’s not rational, but boy, I really liked that tapered design.

Anyone else feel the same way?

But, but, but.... If you spend $500 you can get a bulkier laptop in the 14" MacBook Pro that has less battery life....

I gave my wife the M1 Air and don't paticularly miss it. I do think a more modern, less angular version of the wedge shape would have been preferred for me, but when I go back to the M1 for any usage, it feels so old. The screen bezels and keyboard especially. But I do agree with you. The M2 MacBook Air is gorgeous, fast, functional, and does everything I need it to.

 

[brandoman]

Big fan of the M2 Air. The M1 was/is great. Just holding that wedge vs. the updated Air... there's almost no comparison. It's a major update that feels more solid.

 

[fisherking]

I got my informations by some serious professionists, but thanks for the answers.

i make my living in music (producing, mixing, engineering). i have gold & platinum albums, millions of streams (spotify, apple). & i engineer for an 'infamous rock legend'. & no one i know partitions their drives...

EDIT: yikes, so off-topic. anyway, do what you want, of course, but please do more research first...

 

[AndreaMazzurana]

i make my living in music (producing, mixing, engineering). i have gold & platinum albums, millions of streams (spotify, apple). & i engineer for an 'infamous rock legend'. & no one i know partitions their drives...

It's ok that is still a plus i can decide if i want or not, my Master too makes his living as a Platinum Engineer and he has a partition for music and one for all the other stuff. I dont know if its cause he's been doin It for so long it has become a habit more than an actual value (and i dont know precisely the technical reasons of its value or non-value), but ill take your opinion in account too, thanks.

 

[fisherking]

It's ok that is still a plus i can decide if i want or not, my Master too makes his living as a Platinum Engineer and he has a partition for music and one for all the other stuff. I dont know if its cause he's been doin It for so long it has become a habit more than an actual value (and i dont know precisely the technical reasons of its value or non-value), but ill take your opinion in account too, thanks.

ok, make sure you're clear as to why it would benefit you (because i can list the reasons it won't) 😉...

 

[VaruLV]

If not for horrible, gigantic bezels on M1 Air, it would still be great looking(and functioning) machine.

 

[AndreaMazzurana]

ok, make sure you're clear as to why it would benefit you (because i can list the reasons it won't) 😉...

I know a bit of informatics and on a basic logic level telling to the computer to only run certain programs instead of running em all together would make it work faster, since none of his RAM and CPU would be used by softwares other than musical ones. If you got any informations and would like to share em i would appreciate, thanks☺️