MBA M1 and MBA M2

[Nosferatu2212]

I want to buy the MBA M2 base model, but I dont see the point in the big price difference from MBA M1 base model and MBA M2 base model.

When will apple discontinue the current MBA M1 and only have MBA M2 for purchase?

Do you think this would drop the extremly overpriced MBA M2 price?

Do you think that this might happen during October "event" or press-release?

 

[AJB1971]

Typically Apple reduces the prices of new designs over time, but inflation and exchange rates are big factors at the moment.

It wouldn’t surprise me if they retained the old form factor when the M3 SoC is introduced in the new Air, possibly bumping it up to the M2 chip.

The entry-level model is almost certainly Apple’s biggest-selling MacBook and pricing is key, especially now. Retaining the old model would allow Apple to hit the lowest possible price point. We’re already seeing decent discounts on the M2 Airs which could suggest that sales are slowing now that the initial demand has been satisfied.

 

[TSE]

You have a very valid point that a lot of people agree with - while the M2 MacBook Air has a lot of quality of life improvements such as Magsafe, a slightly better and bigger display, full size function keys, slightly less and better balanced weight, the essentials like size, performance, and battery life from the M1 is basically the same.

If you don't value those quality of life improvements at a ~$400 premium for an equivalent specced M2, save the money and get the M1 MacBook Air. You won't be disappointed and it will be a great laptop for years to come.

 

[Mainsail]

I would like to see Apple keep the 2020 classic wedge MBA design and maybe rebrand it as an "SE" model. When the M2 MBA moves to an M3 processor, they could bump the classic MBA from M1 to M2.

 

[Technerd108]

I want to buy the MBA M2 base model, but I dont see the point in the big price difference from MBA M1 base model and MBA M2 base model.

When will apple discontinue the current MBA M1 and only have MBA M2 for purchase?

Do you think this would drop the extremly overpriced MBA M2 price?

Do you think that this might happen during October "event" or press-release?

There are several points one could value as a reason for the difference in price. First off if you buy an M 1 MBA you are getting a much different design.

Some people love the wedge design and don't care about the bezels. Personally I like the newer design and different colors. Magsafe is a pretty big deal on a device with only two thunderbolt ports.

The screen design gives more actual usable screen and is brighter and more color accurate.

The M2 processor is a decent upgrade with a general performance lift, better gpu and better efficiency cores. This gives you more performance and better battery life.

Better speakers and no grills.

Then there is the complete redesign of the chassis.

So there are a lot of reasons to get the M2 MBA.

However even though the M1 MBA is essentially the same as previous generations with Intel the M1 chip was such a dramatic uplift in performance and battery life that it is still a great laptop. It has an iconic design and excellent build quality.

So really Apple is offering as others have said a least costly way to own a new Mac laptop while still delivering an excellent device.

Really the choice comes down to personal preferences and cost. If the things I mentioned about the M2 MBA are not important and you prioritize cost then the M1 MBA is a really great choice but if you do like the advantages of the M2 MBA it is the best MBA Apple has ever made.

Of course inflation and supply chain issues along with the fact that TSMC can raise prices with little competition have probably hit Apple harder then at any other time so they had no choice but to increase the base cost. There are also a lot of R&D costs associated with a redesign that have to be factored in as well.

It hasn't hit the entire industry yet and it is more appreciable at the higher end tech segment but inflation and supply chain issues have hit every OEM and slowly they are going to pass those costs to consumers.

 

[1BadManVan]

The massive bezels of the m1 air alone was enough to turn me off from getting it, as tempted as I was when it first came out, but as the poster above me stated, there are several improvements in different areas to justify the price increase. Heck inflation is enough for them to justify it

 

[Queen6]

I want to buy the MBA M2 base model, but I dont see the point in the big price difference from MBA M1 base model and MBA M2 base model.

Think you have answered your own question. Apple likely won't reduce the pricing of the M2 for some time to come. M2 has some niceties over the M1 although in real life doubt, you'd see much if any difference if you just need a notebook to get the job done.

Q-6

 

[Zest28]

The massive bezels of the m1 air alone was enough to turn me off from getting it, as tempted as I was when it first came out, but as the poster above me stated, there are several improvements in different areas to justify the price increase. Heck inflation is enough for them to justify it

What inflation? GPU's are dropping in price. SSD's are cheap too. Intel CPU's has also been quite stable during this "inflation".

 

[Technerd108]

What inflation? GPU's are dropping in price. SSD's are cheap too. Intel CPU's has also been quite stable during this "inflation".

Intel is producing in house and on an older 10nm process node and trying to be competitive with AMD and Apple Silicon. Not quite a good example.

Nvidia isn't dropping prices on new 4090 or 4060 gpus? They are extremely expensive?

Everything costs more. Have you bought gas recently? Did you hear that OPEC is cutting production yields? We are not drilling for oil in ANWAR and most domestic oil production is on hold. So cost of oil will only go up.

Supply chains are still disrupted.

Base costs of metals are going up.

The only saving grace is a strong dollar at the cost of high interest rates.

When the price of oil spikes it has an effect on everything including transportation.

As we sink into recession we will have lower prices because of lower demand but that does not mean production costs are lower.

Basic production costs of everything are up. Inflation rates on goods are 8.26% down from 9% in June. Vs last year of around 1.26%. Actual inflation rates are most likely higher.

On top of that it cost Apple 20% more for a16 this year in the iPhone 14 pro.

So the cost of materials, chips, components are all up around 10% or more.

This is called inflation. Just because some vendors have not passed that price increase on older tech doesn't mean there is no price increase. They are eating it for now.

Maybe you have so much disposable income that you don't see inflation but it is real and costing everyone.

 

[1BadManVan]

What inflation? GPU's are dropping in price. SSD's are cheap too. Intel CPU's has also been quite stable during this "inflation".

unless you've been living under a rock, inflation is definitely happening everywhere. I don't even know how to further respond to this comment if you actually believe that

 

[Zest28]

You guys need to check prices of PC components, they are dropping. Using “inflation” as an excuse to jack up the prices is not valid.

GPU’s for example are much cheaper now. Same for SSD’s.

You’d be crazy to pay twice as much for a GPU just because someone tells you it is more expensive due to “inflation”, while the general market price is dropping.

 

[Technerd108]

You guys need to check prices of PC components, they are dropping. Using “inflation” as an excuse to jack up the prices is not valid.

GPU’s for example are much cheaper now. Same for SSD’s.

You’d be crazy to pay twice as much for a GPU just because someone tells you it is more expensive due to “inflation”, while the general market price is dropping.

You are right that GPU prices are going down but on average are selling for list price to 1.5x list price on average from the way over list prices in 2021. I would hardly say that means from a production standpoint costs are lower at all and the Nvidia 4080 will drive prices back up over retail even higher.

I would consider something cheap when it is way lower than list price and only on the newest components. Old GPU cards are not what we are talking about here.

SSD prices,

RAM and SSD prices could increase as manufacturers cut production

If you've been eyeing up a RAM or SSD upgrade, you may want to act now.

www.pcgamer.com

Looks like they will be going up.

We are talking Macs not PC anyway?

Then we have all the other costs I mentioned so your analysis is cherry picked and flat out wrong.

 

[Zest28]

You are right that GPU prices are going down but on average are selling for list price to 1.5x list price on average from the way over list prices in 2021. I would hardly say that means from a production standpoint costs are lower at all and the Nvidia 4080 will drive prices back up over retail even higher.

I would consider something cheap when it is way lower than list price and only on the newest components. Old GPU cards are not what we are talking about here.

SSD prices,

RAM and SSD prices could increase as manufacturers cut production

If you've been eyeing up a RAM or SSD upgrade, you may want to act now.

www.pcgamer.com

Looks like they will be going up.

Then we have all the other costs I mentioned so your analysis is cherry picked and flat out wrong.

I just bought a 2TB Samsung SSD doing 7 TB/s for less money than last year. I don’t see the inflation with computers yet.

But you guys go ahead and pay more money when someone yells “inflation”.

 

[Technerd108]

I just bought a 2TB Samsung SSD doing 7 TB/s for less money than last year. I don’t see the inflation.

I am glad you only buy SSD’S and nothing else because if you did you would "see" inflation.

That is nice for you but that has nothing to do with the topic of inflation on production of a new redesigned MBA with a new chip.

 

[Zest28]

I am glad you only buy SSD’S and nothing else because if you did you would "see" inflation.

That is nice for you but that has nothing to do with the topic of inflation on production of a new redesigned MBA with a new chip.

GPU = cheaper.
SSD = cheaper.
CPU = stable.

These are the most expensive components of a computer. I wouldn’t pay more for a computer at the moment still including the MacBook Air.

 

[Technerd108]

"The inflation shows up more in gas, oil, food, and so on …"

I just bought a 2TB Samsung SSD doing 7 TB/s for less money than last year. I don’t see the inflation with computers yet.

But you guys go ahead and pay more money when someone yells “inflation”.

Wow, so you do see inflation. What do you think gas, oil, and food costs have to do with?

Literally everything else. Lol

Keep living in fantasy land though.

 

[Technerd108]

GPU = cheaper.
SSD = cheaper.
CPU = stable.

These are the most expensive components of a computer. I wouldn’t pay more for a computer at the moment still including the MacBook Air.

Cheaper than what? You are taking all of your examples out of context and conflating your reasoning.

You are giving examples of CPU/GPU that have nothing to do with Apple.

Just wrong on so many levels.

 

[Technerd108]

GPU = cheaper.
SSD = cheaper.
CPU = stable.

These are the most expensive components of a computer. I wouldn’t pay more for a computer at the moment still including the MacBook Air.

Yes you should definitely wait a year to buy a Mac. I am sure they will be cheaper then. Lol

 

[Zest28]

Cheaper than what? You are taking all of your examples out of context and conflating your reasoning.

You are giving examples of CPU/GPU that have nothing to do with Apple.

Just wrong on so many levels.

Cheaper than 1 or even 2 years ago before the inflation. It’s not wrong, I‘m currently not paying more for computer components still.

Apple is in the same sector, so it is relevant.

 

[Zest28]

Yes you should definitely wait a year to buy a Mac. I am sure they will be cheaper then. Lol

I’m talking about now, and even a few months ago when the M2 MBA released. You cannot justify the price increase due to “inflation” when computers components didn’t increase in price.

 

[Technerd108]

Cheaper than 1 or even 2 years ago before the inflation. It’s not wrong, I‘m currently not paying more for computer components still.

Apple is in the same sector, so it is relevant.

Okay, what you buy for a PC is very relevant to unified architecture on the most expensive process node from TSMC.

Production costs on literally everything are going up and have been since January but because it hasn't hit you yet it means no one else is affected.

I don't even know how you can argue these points.

 

[Zest28]

Okay, what you buy for a PC is very relevant to unified architecture on the most expensive process node from TSMC.

Production costs on literally everything are going up and have been since January but because it hasn't hit you yet it means no one else is affected.

I don't even know how you can argue these points.

Non-sense. The iPhone 14 Pro price uses the same TSMC process and it is exactly the same price as last years iPhone 13 Pro.

 

[Technerd108]

I’m talking about now, and even a few months ago when the M2 MBA released. You cannot justify the price increase due to “inflation” when computers components didn’t increase in price.

June inflation rate was 9% when M2 MBA was released and inflation started January of this year and before that there were serious supply chain disruption which causes prices to increase.

 

[Technerd108]

Non-sense. The iPhone 14 Pro price uses the same TSMC process and it is exactly the same price as last years iPhone 13 Pro.

No the a16 cost more. The regular iPhone 14 is using last year's a15 to hedge against price increases.

A16 Bionic reportedly costs more than twice as much as A15 | AppleInsider

The A16 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 14 Pro models costs $110 to manufacture, which is 2.4 times more than the A15 found in the iPhone 13 series and in the iPhone 14.

www.google.com

TSMC reportedly priced Apple's A16 Bionic SoC 2.4 times higher than its predecessor

A report from Japan indicates that Apple paid $110 per chip for the A16 Bionic, 2.4 times the amount it paid for the A15 Bionic.

www.phonearena.com

 

[Zest28]

No the a16 cost more. The regular iPhone 14 is using last year's a15 to hedge against price increases.

The iPhone 14 Pro is again sold for $999, it is the same price as last year. There has been no price increase using the same TSMC process.