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M2 MacBook Air is too heavy
- Thread starter Zest28
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I think a lot of you are being harsh on the OP. While I don't find my m1 air to be "heavy" it is noticeably heavier then my wife's work computer (x1 carbon gen 10). I prefer my mac for various reasons, but I do admire the weight of some of the competition.
The main issue would be how apple could create something lighter given the materials they utilize in their laptops, and there really doesn't seem to be a way to do so without sacrificing important elements that would create more annoyances then most of us would be willing to accept. I'm happy with the compromise, but feel like the "air" designation doesn't really ring true in the current market. Not the end of the world for me since it's a name.
The main issue would be how apple could create something lighter given the materials they utilize in their laptops, and there really doesn't seem to be a way to do so without sacrificing important elements that would create more annoyances then most of us would be willing to accept. I'm happy with the compromise, but feel like the "air" designation doesn't really ring true in the current market. Not the end of the world for me since it's a name.
Why would the price skyrocket? Just priced a X1 Nano 16GB/512GB with carbon fiber top and magnesium alloy bottom for $1733.79 so not much different than M2 MBA 16GB/512GB. However, weight difference is 1.99 lbs starting vs 2.7 lbs.
Also, 2 lbs magnesium Pixelbook Go 16GB/256GB is $1399.
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I did. M1 MBA but it's a brick. How about getting educated on where it's made and materials are sourced?
That's already way more than Macbook Airs cost. At that price you can get a Macbook Pro, so for the specs on offer for a carbon fibre Macbook Air that is way too much. The Air is supposed to be an affordable consumer laptop, not cost as much as a Macbook Pro.
The Pixelbook Go is a Chromebook with jack for specs, of course it's gonna be light since there's hardly anything in it compared to an M1/M2 Macbook Air.
I would love it that light but I don't think it would be possible. Currently the 12" MacBook is 2.02 lbs.....I think getting it below 2 lbs would be enough to claim it as the lightest laptop ever.
A new 12" MacBook? I'm warmly for it. I still have my 2017 as my emergency machine, and it's slow but capable.
However, if the leaks are to be believed, MBA screen size is going to increase rather than decrease. I'm just not sure whether an updated 12" MacBook would fit into Apple's lineup. I've always thought a laptop should be small and lightweight, so the 15" MBA wouldn't have any real interest for me, but my views aren't those of the total market.
A 12" MacBook with an M1 or M2 chip would be a must-purchase for me, although I doubt I'd max it out as I did my M2 MBA. I think the current MBA is going to be as 'small' as we see for some years to come. I hope I'm wrong!
However, if the leaks are to be believed, MBA screen size is going to increase rather than decrease. I'm just not sure whether an updated 12" MacBook would fit into Apple's lineup. I've always thought a laptop should be small and lightweight, so the 15" MBA wouldn't have any real interest for me, but my views aren't those of the total market.
A 12" MacBook with an M1 or M2 chip would be a must-purchase for me, although I doubt I'd max it out as I did my M2 MBA. I think the current MBA is going to be as 'small' as we see for some years to come. I hope I'm wrong!
M2 MBA 16GB/512GB is $1699 vs $1734 is a lot?
You must be thinking of something else since Pixelbook Go is a x64 laptop that can run ChromeOS/Windows/Linux x64. M2 Macbook Air which came after even borrows its exterior rounded design so how is it different?
https://store.google.com/us/product/pixelbook_go?hl=en-US
Display
13.3" LCD touchscreen display
Audio
Dual front-firing speakers for better surround sound
Processors
8th Gen Intel® Core™ Processor¹
Memory & Storage²
8 GB or 16 GB RAM • 64 GB, 128 GB, or 256 GB Solid State Drive
Dimensions & Weight
12.2 in x 8.1 in x 0.5 in
Materials & Color
Finely painted magnesium
Battery
Use time of up to 12 hours³
Wireless
Wi-Fi • Bluetooth
Keyboard & Trackpad
Backlit keyboard • Extra large trackpad
Camera
1080p @ 60fps
Security
Titan™ C security chip
Sensors
Ambient Light Sensor
Ports
USB-C™⁵ • 3.5 mm headphone jack
Suffice it to say, if a new MacBook with the footprint of the old 12-inch MB weighed 920 grams, it would have a 12.5-inch display due to the shrunken bezels and an incredibly useful form factor.
Even less weight leads to instability afterwards and material that is too thin.
Or it could be priced at $1,499. Just depends on how "thin and light" you want it to be.
Unfortunately, 12" is too small for most people so it's a dead category. Close to 14" or bigger and light is where it's at.
I was going to suggest MacBook Hydrogen, since that would be even lighter, but that might be bad for marketing, seeing as hydrogen is highly flammable 😉
No need, just get a CF skin and trust in the power of human psychology to make you think it's lighter (even though it's now even heavier) 😂
personally i don't have any issues with the weight of my laptops even when i'm also having them with me in my backpack on my commuter bike with some uphill sections.
but i got a new 16" laptop. didn't weigh it nor do i know the specs, but from my gut feeling i'd say that it might be lighter than my MBA.
but on the flipside:
- the MBA feels sturdy, while the other laptop feels more like it was made of cardboard in comparison
- the other laptop's keyboard has problems with sticking keys sometimes while the keyboards Apple is now using are fine
i'd rather have a more solid laptop than saving a couple of grams you'll never notice.
not saying you can't make solid AND light laptops, but the actual difference in weight is not huge anyway
i'll probably save more grams if i'm having a good session on the *******, i mean loo, before i go on my commute.
or a bottle of water, or other heavier stuff you might be carrying with you anyway, unless you are on some pilgrimage of some sort
but i got a new 16" laptop. didn't weigh it nor do i know the specs, but from my gut feeling i'd say that it might be lighter than my MBA.
but on the flipside:
- the MBA feels sturdy, while the other laptop feels more like it was made of cardboard in comparison
- the other laptop's keyboard has problems with sticking keys sometimes while the keyboards Apple is now using are fine
i'd rather have a more solid laptop than saving a couple of grams you'll never notice.
not saying you can't make solid AND light laptops, but the actual difference in weight is not huge anyway
i'll probably save more grams if i'm having a good session on the *******, i mean loo, before i go on my commute.
or a bottle of water, or other heavier stuff you might be carrying with you anyway, unless you are on some pilgrimage of some sort
Counter point -
The MBP is too thin and light.
There's no need to have the Air as the Thin and Light laptop, and then have all the compromises customers have had to deal with since ~2012 with the MBP line. Especially when, as you point out, the differences in weight are negligible at best, but the compromises definitely are not.
Make the MBP a little thicker, a little heavier, more battery life, more ports, *easier repairability*...
Then, you'd be able to tell the difference, right?
Of course, Apple could have just kept the obnoxious laptop *FAP FAP FAP IT'S SO THIIIIINNNNN* BS tied exclusively to the Airs in the first damn place, then we'd have never have had to deal with the obnoxious compromises of the past 8-10 years...
apple.com/feedback
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I don’t think production cost is why Apple uses aluminum vs. carbon fiber. If they used the latter, they would likely need to add active cooling to the MacBook Air (or have it throttle more). One of the selling points is the lack of fan noise.
I criss-crossed the globe on Northwest with a PowerBook G3/300 that weighted ~7lbs..
Sigh..
Other travelers with other laptops would walk up in the waiting area and tell me they wished they could use a PowerBook, because it was lighter and had better battery life, then what their companies issued them.
Hell, my dad had a PB G3/333 and a company issued Dell. The Dell was heavier, and even with the "extended" battery barely got a full hour of use out of it. He had to travel with BOTH because the company IT staff refused to allow him to use the DOS SW he needed for his JOB on the company laptop. So, he ran it on SoftPC on his Mac.
God I hate getting old.
Also, git off my lawn!
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I would humbly suggest that you hit the gym and work on your guns instead of complaining about the MBA’s weight. You won’t get much sympathy around here. We’ll, none from me.
great point....I just looked at mine and 12.5" is totally possible; I don't think it would take much to lighten it up from 2.02 lbs to 1.99 lbs and thus be able to claim the under two pound laptop crown!
I'm suprised you're saying this especially in a forum where tons of people have said they would buy a ~12" MacBook again. I travel all the time so I only need this for web/email. The form factor around two pounds is awesome for travel; and yes, it's a huge difference than the 2.7 lbs MBA. There is no "most people". Not everybody needs a laptop for graphic design/film editing/photoshop. We are all different and have different needs. Executives love small laptops for email/web, so do regular people. Its a big world.
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