Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Reactions to new MBA?!

I was considering MBA M2 with 16GB RAM and perhaps 512GB SSD but then realizing that here in EU that would bring the price close to Pro 14 base model that already has 16GB/512GB! Then considering that Pro already has much better and slightly larger display, much faster CPU, 2x faster RAM and SSD! Seems that MBA M2 price is pretty steep considering all that, but probably it being the latest model reflects better to actual inflation in the world.

But realistically Pro 14 is way too "good" machine for my use where is rarely even use the whole laptop and when using it is mostly Safari and other light everyday tasks, no video editing or such. My current Air M1 base model does all what I need as fast as I need but I cannot help myself wanting the latest design... :)
Touch choice, because for MBA M2 I think lighter and slightly slimmer machine would be preferable for me.
Anyway for getting MBA M2 I think for the price it is hard to justify getting anything else but the basic configuration, otherwise it is terribly low value compared to Pro 14.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Saturn007
skaertus said:
I would not describe it as "insanely great". You may even think it is great, but not in an insanely way. It is pretty much a redesign, with nothing too exciting about it. And a higher price tag. Nothing insane about it.
Click to expand...
I’m sorry you could not get my sarcasm.
 
exoticSpice said:
these magnetic adaptors are not that great. Plus you lose a port for charging on M1 Air.
Click to expand...
I picked one at random and it worked well as an MagSafe alternative. The Air has long enough battery life to where you can just charge it in the evening if you need both ports for data all day long.

Don't get me wrong, I love MagSafe on my M1BP, and am glad to see it on the M2BA, but its not as necessary on the M1Air.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Saturn007
I'm excited about it and will be speccing a 10 GPU / 24GB / 1TB model.

Honestly my brain says go for a Pro 14" but my heart is telling me to get the Starlight Air. I have very fond memories of my old black MacBook and although the new colour isn't completely black, it's probably as close as we're every getting. Plus the general benefits of it's form factor - lighter slimmer etc, really attract me.

Can't wait to pre-order!
 
  • Love
Reactions: Cape Dave
darngooddesign said:
I picked one at random and it worked well as an MagSafe alternative. The Air has long enough battery life to where you can just charge it in the evening if you need both ports for data all day long.

Don't get me wrong, I love MagSafe on my M1BP, and am glad to see it on the M2BA, but its not as necessary on the M1Air.
Click to expand...
when you are doing basic stuff but when you are doing some heavy load the battery last 4-5 hours (for some in heavy tasked that use the cpu at its full maybe less) so ,if the M2 controllers let us to have magsafe for free without loosing any of the ports from the first M1 Mba...why not then ?! M2 Mba is in every aspect better than the M1
 
I can't help but feel this is for those that absolutely need the slim profile and better portability.

We had been waiting on the M2 Air to upgrade my wife's 2018 Air as she needs more internal SSD space (it only has 256Gb). However after seeing the prices of the new Air she has gone for an M1 Pro MBP 14" base model with 2TB SSD.

Here in the UK the M2 Air with 2Tb SSD and 16Gb RAM is £2400 vs base 14" M1 Pro MBP with same specs is £2500.

For £100 more you get the bigger and better XDR display plus a more powerful charger, along with better thermals and less risk of performance throttling.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Jamie's_Tech
Evil Dan said:
I can't help but feel this is for those that absolutely need the slim profile and better portability.

We had been waiting on the M2 Air to upgrade my wife's 2018 Air as she need more internal SSD space (it only has 256Gb). However after seeing the prices of the new Air she has gone for an M1 Pro MBP 14" base model with 2TB SSD.

Here in the UK the M2 Air with 2Tb SSD and 16Gb RAM is £2400 vs base 14" M1 Pro MBP with same specs is £2500.

For £100 more you get the bigger and better XDR display plus a more powerful charger, along with better thermals and less risk of performance throttling.
Click to expand...
I remember when the MBA originally came out and I recall it being around £1700 in the UK for a very basic, paltry system.

The £100 difference is absolutely phenomenal and at a £2.4k or 2.5k price point, that- for me at least - is pro territory where the device is a money generator and not a money spender!

Although there is a premium for the ultrabook/slim category, it's too close to the pro workstation class in the UK at least.
 
chrono1081 said:
If I bite I'll probably get the M2, 24 gigs ram (for $200 more I'd rather have too much than not enough), and a 1TB drive. It clocks in at $2099 and for something that should be fine for me for the next 4 years I'm good with that.
Click to expand...
Same here, but I think I will get the 8 core GPU because I expect it to generate less heat and use less battery, and for Xcode I think I prefer the extra bit of battery life and the saved $100 to the extra bit of GPU performance I would never use. Also I'm still debating 16 vs 24GB RAM.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chrono1081
Jamie's_Tech said:
I remember when the MBA originally came out and I recall it being around £1700 in the UK for a very basic, paltry system.

The £100 difference is absolutely phenomenal and at a £2.4k or 2.5k price point, that- for me at least - is pro territory where the device is a money generator and not a money spender!

Although there is a premium for the ultrabook/slim category, it's too close to the pro workstation class in the UK at least.
Click to expand...
Despite the Pro vs Air marketing, the M1, and now M2, has basically made the MacBook Air a pro workstation for a number of workflows. When the M1 was released it outperformed the top spec MacBook Pro from the previous generation (+ you get excellent battery life and have no fan noise to contend with).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Saturn007
neo_cs193p said:
Same here, but I think I will get the 8 core GPU because I expect it to generate less heat and use less battery, and for Xcode I think I prefer the extra bit of battery life and the saved $100 to the extra bit of GPU performance I would never use. Also I'm still debating 16 vs 24GB RAM.
Click to expand...
sorry to break it on you buddy but its 99.9% sure that the 8c will generate as much heat (and coincidentally consume as much energy) as the 10c

if it's binned that is .
 
0089294 said:
sorry to break it on you buddy but its 99.9% sure that the 8c will generate as much heat (and coincidentally consume as much energy) as the 10c

if it's binned that is .
Click to expand...
It is binned, but 2 cores are shut down. Check the reviews of the M1Pro 8/14 vs M1Pro 10/16. The binned version usually gets more battery life and lower fan speeds.
 
CE3 said:
Despite the Pro vs Air marketing, the M1, and now M2, has basically made the MacBook Air a pro workstation for a number of workflows. When the M1 was released it outperformed the top spec MacBook Pro from the previous generation (+ you get excellent battery life and have no fan noise to contend with).
Click to expand...

As a full stack web developer the new M2 Air is a far better choice than the 14inch Pro. Even with the price hike and a 16GB RAM upgrade I am still more than 500€ below the barebone 14inch Mac Pro.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CE3, Nick_P and Chateaunole-du-Pape
apocalyarts said:
As a full stack web developer the new M2 Air is a far better choice than the 14inch Pro. Even with the price hike and a 16GB RAM upgrade I am still more than 500€ below the barebone 14inch Mac Pro.
Click to expand...
But half that price difference in the 256Gb vs 512Gb SSD.
 
Evil Dan said:
But half that price difference in the 256Gb vs 512Gb SSD.
Click to expand...
Yes sure, but doesn't count for me as I don't need the extra storage. I just look at the number that I have on my bill in the end.

That being said I also could go for the M1 Air, but the M2, new design, larger/better display, keyboard and magsafe justify purchasing the new Air for me personally.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nick_P
apocalyarts said:
Yes sure, but doesn't count for me as I don't need the extra storage. I just look at the number that I have on my bill in the end.

That being said I also could go for the M1 Air, but the M2, new design, larger/better display, keyboard and magsafe justify purchasing the new Air for me personally.
Click to expand...
FYI the pixel density on the 14/16" Pro models are higher then the existing and new MBA, its true 2:1 scaling so text is noticeably sharper
 
  • Like
Reactions: Evil Dan and Love-hate 🍏 relationship
CE3 said:
Despite the Pro vs Air marketing, the M1, and now M2, has basically made the MacBook Air a pro workstation for a number of workflows. When the M1 was released it outperformed the top spec MacBook Pro from the previous generation (+ you get excellent battery life and have no fan noise to contend with).
Click to expand...
Yes absolutely, the 16" MBP was criminally thermothrottled! However, in most pro workflows speed = £/$. It'll be interesting to compare the base spec M1 Pro to the M2 to see what the performance per £/$ is. Time will tell!
 
  • Like
Reactions: CE3
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back