I have a 2022 base MBA (8/256) running the latest version of MacOS. No problems. Smooth as butter. Best computer I'ver ever owned. I am a pretty typical user running everyday applications: mail, messages, photos, calendar, contacts, safari, notes, iWork, MSOffice......occasional iMovie, usually just slideshows for family events.
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[2025] Macbook Air M2 users, how is your experience so far ?
- Thread starter thohnb
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I am running a M1 MBP with 16GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. From a performance standpoint, I have had no issues. I run development/docker containers, I've done video editing with Davinci Resolve, and I haven't really had much concern on performance. Now, my machine has fans/active cooling, so I'm sure that's helping, but my fans don't run unless I'm doing more intensive tasks.
I would caution against the 256GB of storage though. I have been at < 20GB of free space for months on end and I keep an external SSD for video files and such. I would say to get 512GB at the minimum. I've been forced to be more mindful of what I'm installing/using and I wish I would have opted for a bigger hard drive when I got it.
I would caution against the 256GB of storage though. I have been at < 20GB of free space for months on end and I keep an external SSD for video files and such. I would say to get 512GB at the minimum. I've been forced to be more mindful of what I'm installing/using and I wish I would have opted for a bigger hard drive when I got it.
Best Mac experience I have ever had going into my 3rd year with my M2. Transitioned from a 5K iMac as result of changing needs, and it has been a joy. Eventually going to upgrade to the M6 MacBook Pro once the new design arrives, but my Air will remain with me as long as it runs. Apple knocked it out of the park with this computer IMHO.
Oh are you using silver version (like in profile account?) right? Looking good.? I don't see any fingerprint either
That is Midnight in my profile pic. The lighting at the time of the photo gives it that steely blue look. Lighting dramatically can change the looks. Fingerprint magnet for sure, but it just means it’s cleaner from a daily wipe-down. I love it because the screen is that much more immersive with a dark Mac.
As others have said if you really plan to keep your MacBook long term then I would recommend getting the M3 or even better M4 unless cost is your primary concern in which keeping for say 4-5 years is more reasonable and M2 would be fine.
I have had my M2 MBA for almost 3 years now and it runs as well as it did the day I bought it. In my opinion this is rather unusual in my years of using laptops and desktops. I can think of no other laptop I have ever owned that has kept up over time and didn't feel a little less snappy after a year or so.
I had an M1 Max 16" MBP and in a year the M1 was showing its age. No offense to any M1 owners who would probably disagree.
However, as another poster mentioned the pace of hardware development in the cpu space has dramatically changed and Apple is churning out new m series chips every year and the new m4 chip base not pro is as fast as the M1 Max in some ways. So if I were you I would definitely wait for the M4 MBA or get a 14" m4 MBP base model.
If you buy the latest m series chip it will give you that 7-8 years with no issues while an M2 might be supported as long since Apple is still selling M2 in 2025 and they obsolete after 7 years of last date of sell on Apple. The difference is that in the last 2 or 3 years it is going to run slower and probably be noticeable.
However, it all comes down to what kind of user you are, what expectations you have and your budget. If you don't really push your Mac's and are used to them slowing down with previous gens running Intel then M2 is going to be way faster than what you are used to, save you a bunch of money and still provide a decent experience for a decent amount of time to come.
M series chips are really a game changer. M2 is on 5nm. Intel on Meteor lake was still on 7nm. But Intel has a pretty aggressive roadmap and if they can actually deliver they will be rapidly advancing to 2nm and beyond soon.
Big changes in the architecture in cpu's have been happening and it can make cpu's much more efficient and powerful at the same time. In a couple years the latest processors will be vastly faster than just a couple years ago while getting much better battery life.
You just have to decide what is most important to you.
I have had my M2 MBA for almost 3 years now and it runs as well as it did the day I bought it. In my opinion this is rather unusual in my years of using laptops and desktops. I can think of no other laptop I have ever owned that has kept up over time and didn't feel a little less snappy after a year or so.
I had an M1 Max 16" MBP and in a year the M1 was showing its age. No offense to any M1 owners who would probably disagree.
However, as another poster mentioned the pace of hardware development in the cpu space has dramatically changed and Apple is churning out new m series chips every year and the new m4 chip base not pro is as fast as the M1 Max in some ways. So if I were you I would definitely wait for the M4 MBA or get a 14" m4 MBP base model.
If you buy the latest m series chip it will give you that 7-8 years with no issues while an M2 might be supported as long since Apple is still selling M2 in 2025 and they obsolete after 7 years of last date of sell on Apple. The difference is that in the last 2 or 3 years it is going to run slower and probably be noticeable.
However, it all comes down to what kind of user you are, what expectations you have and your budget. If you don't really push your Mac's and are used to them slowing down with previous gens running Intel then M2 is going to be way faster than what you are used to, save you a bunch of money and still provide a decent experience for a decent amount of time to come.
M series chips are really a game changer. M2 is on 5nm. Intel on Meteor lake was still on 7nm. But Intel has a pretty aggressive roadmap and if they can actually deliver they will be rapidly advancing to 2nm and beyond soon.
Big changes in the architecture in cpu's have been happening and it can make cpu's much more efficient and powerful at the same time. In a couple years the latest processors will be vastly faster than just a couple years ago while getting much better battery life.
You just have to decide what is most important to you.
M1 owner and looking to upgrade to M4. I somewhat disagree, though I did go with the 8/8 16GB version so I'm sure that's been a good contributor to the longevity. And my use case is likely different from yours if you had the Pro with the Max processor.
I get money from work that I can use towards a some tech stuff and it's "use it or lose it". If the Ultra 3 was out, I'd be buying that instead, but since it's not I'll likely replace my M1 Air with an M4 Air. If I wasn't given that money from work I'd wait for M5. Maybe even M6, but it depends how the Apple Intelligence tax pans out as they continue to add functionality. I know, I could disable it, but I like the features so far, as imperfect as they are.
Not suggesting that someone buy an M! today, but they're still ridiculously capable. I'm really surprised. Apple Silicon has been great.
I agree with you. M1 is still a very capable chip. It just isn't as high performance or revolutionary now as when it was first released. So buying anything with m1 right now in my opinion would not be a smart move UNLESS it is an iPad.
That being said M3 would still be very good and almost identical to M4 in a lot of ways.
I am keeping my M2 MBA probably until M5 and I will probably get a MBP unless they transition screens away from mini led. I prefer mini led to OLED and wish Apple would instead produce micro led screens which would probably be superior to OLED screens currently available but who knows.
All in all m series and moving to arm based OS have made a huge positive difference in my opinion and have been a better cpu base than power PC or Intel ever was.
I was using a 2020 MacBook Pro 13 inch intel 10th gen, going from that to the m2 with 16gb ram its honestly been mind bottling how much I forgot how much I enjoyed my laptop, I think even people with m1 are still very happy with their purchase