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Returning my M2 MBA for an M1

kp98077

kp98077

macrumors 601
Oct 26, 2010
4,315
2,765
Whistler, BC
erasr said:
I’m mulling the M2 Air over. Walked into the Store today and had a mess about with the 14 Pro M1 and Air M2.

The Pro is actually nicer. Much prefer that black keyboard. Feels quite reassuring that it’ll be able to take anything, even if I want to play a game in the future.

In two minds now. I do move around a lot at work and take it out sometimes, really miss my old Air for that reason (currently on a 2017 MBP).
Click to expand...
i agree the pro key board is much nicer... i have brought this up and others keeps "shaming me" LOL that its the same, its not....maybe spec wise, but not functionally.
 
S

Sheepish-Lord

macrumors 68030
Oct 13, 2021
2,535
5,149
kp98077 said:
i agree the pro key board is much nicer... i have brought this up and others keeps "shaming me" LOL that its the same, its not....maybe spec wise, but not functionally.
Click to expand...
It’s not the same I have a M2 MBA and current gen MBP 16”. Not vastly different but still different.
 
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Jumpthesnark

Jumpthesnark

macrumors 65816
Apr 24, 2022
1,242
5,146
California
discofuel said:
I had such high hopes for the new M2 MBA, but unfortunately I just don't love it like I loved my M1 MBA...

Now I'm trying to decide what to do!

Last year I purchased a 16" M1 MBP as my main computer which is the best Mac I've ever owned.

At the same time, I picked up a base model M1 MBA (for only $850 during an Amazon deal) for use around the house, on the couch etc, with the intension of upgrading to the M2 with a better spec (8gb RAM and 256gb SSD isn't enough for me) when it came out.

As soon as the M2 was available, I preordered a 16GB, 1TB model.

However, after having the M2 MBA for almost two weeks, I really didn't enjoy using and I just kept coming back to the M1.


Why I prefer my M1:
  • The wedge design looks so much more unique and fun, the M2 looks more like a work computer like a smaller version of my MBP and not really an "Air"
  • The wedge design makes it look much thinner, especially on my lap or on a cushion while watching a movie
  • The rose gold color is stunning, the M2 starlight equivalent looks grey
  • The speakers are louder and wider and sound better for music
  • For some reason, the casing feels more robust and solid than than the M2

Things I prefer about the M2:
  • The screen is a lot nicer - colors are much richer. The M1 looks more washed out in comparison. Brightness felt about the same
  • I like the thin bezels - the notch isn't an issue at all because apps like TopNotch make it invisible
  • Magsafe is much nicer
  • Fast charging is really nice
  • Speakers are more balanced and sound better for movies/TV shows

I'm returning the M2 and will most likely replace it with an M1 16GB 1TB but I do feel a little conflicted about buying old technology mainly for the design and getting worse screen etc.

Interested to know if anyone else had a similar experience or thoughts?
Click to expand...
The last thing you should be doing is outsourcing your purchasing decisions to us lot. 🤣 Buy the machine that is the better tool for what you do, based on your personal needs and wants.
 
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4

4743913

Cancelled
Aug 19, 2020
1,564
3,716
Sammy in SoCal said:
www.notebookcheck.net

Apple M2 SoC Analysis - Worse CPU efficiency compared to the M1

The Apple M2 is here and after our reviews of the MacBook Pro 13 and the MacBook Air M2, we want to have a closer look at the new M2 chip. What changed, which improvements can you expect, and how does the increased power consumption affect the efficiency, especially compared to the previous M1 chip?
www.notebookcheck.net www.notebookcheck.net


Also the M1 is just a more efficient chip
Click to expand...

<<laughs in M2 inefficiency>>
 
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J

jdb8167

macrumors 601
Nov 17, 2008
4,867
4,603
4743913 said:
<<laughing in M2 inefficiency>>
Click to expand...
Why does that matter? It also has a bigger battery than the M1 MacBook Air. I've been at work for 6+ hours and according to my estimate based on remaining battery life and current power draw, I'm good for another 9 hours or so with 67% battery remaining.

Trading off a bit of efficiency for higher clock speeds is fine with me within reason. I get a noticeably faster computer without losing any battery life.
 
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4743913

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Aug 19, 2020
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jdb8167 said:
Why does that matter? It also has a bigger battery than the M1 MacBook Air. I've been at work for 6+ hours and according to my estimate based on remaining battery life and current power draw, I'm good for another 9 hours or so with 67% battery remaining.

Trading off a bit of efficiency for higher clock speeds is fine with me within reason. I get a noticeably faster computer without losing any battery life.
Click to expand...

I can honestly say I have never cared about efficiency, wattage, or any of that stuff when I was choosing a notebook. I never got into this fad of not having a charger in my bag..
 
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fisherking

fisherking

macrumors G4
Jul 16, 2010
11,255
5,565
ny somewhere
4743913 said:
I can honestly say I have never cared about efficiency, wattage, or any of that stuff when I was choosing a notebook. I never got into this fad of not having a charger in my bag..
Click to expand...
haha... what? running on the battery is a fad? if i go out for a few hours (ie a coffeebar) i don't need my charger. nothing 'faddish' about that. and no harm if some people care about 'efficiency'.
 
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S

srexy

macrumors 6502a
Nov 19, 2006
566
34
4743913 said:
I can honestly say I have never cared about efficiency, wattage, or any of that stuff when I was choosing a notebook. I never got into this fad of not having a charger in my bag..
Click to expand...
Respectfully - pfft! Having dealt with a 2015 MBP with ailing battery for several years I can tell you that the new Apple silicon Airs with their monster battery life are Nirvana.
 
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4743913

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Aug 19, 2020
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fisherking said:
haha... what? running on the battery is a fad? if i go out for a few hours (ie a coffeebar) i don't need my charger. nothing 'faddish' about that. and no harm if some people care about 'efficiency'.
Click to expand...

do you tote your computer in a bag or do you live in an apple commercial? :D
 
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4743913

Cancelled
Aug 19, 2020
1,564
3,716
fisherking said:
backpack.

am not getting your jokes... or why people who run their macbooks on a battery (that's a thing, now) can't enjoy that. 🤔
Click to expand...

you aren't getting my statements either. I didn't say I never used the battery, I said I didnt worry about it because I alwauys have a charger in my bag.
 
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fisherking

fisherking

macrumors G4
Jul 16, 2010
11,255
5,565
ny somewhere
4743913 said:
I can honestly say I have never cared about efficiency, wattage, or any of that stuff when I was choosing a notebook. I never got into this fad of not having a charger in my bag..
Click to expand...
this 🙄

anyway, i'll let it go, or we will get our posts removed; not worth it.
 
DD88

DD88

Suspended
Jun 6, 2022
343
706
Ideally you want something with the aesthetics of an M1 but the capabilities of the M2, since this option doesn’t exist and you are happier with the M1, it’s the right choice :)
 
C

calstanford

Suspended
Nov 25, 2014
1,419
4,306
Hong Kong
Too much money, too little sense.

For 'on the couch' does it even have to be a Macbook? And if so does it really need to be so well equipped?

Kinda weird to do this when a 16" MBP 'my best ever computer' is literally in the same house. And that's a portable machine, not a desktop!
 
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Yebubbleman

Yebubbleman

macrumors 603
May 20, 2010
6,025
2,617
Los Angeles, CA
discofuel said:
I had such high hopes for the new M2 MBA, but unfortunately I just don't love it like I loved my M1 MBA...

Now I'm trying to decide what to do!

Last year I purchased a 16" M1 MBP as my main computer which is the best Mac I've ever owned.

At the same time, I picked up a base model M1 MBA (for only $850 during an Amazon deal) for use around the house, on the couch etc, with the intension of upgrading to the M2 with a better spec (8gb RAM and 256gb SSD isn't enough for me) when it came out.

As soon as the M2 was available, I preordered a 16GB, 1TB model.

However, after having the M2 MBA for almost two weeks, I really didn't enjoy using and I just kept coming back to the M1.


Why I prefer my M1:
  • The wedge design looks so much more unique and fun, the M2 looks more like a work computer like a smaller version of my MBP and not really an "Air"
  • The wedge design makes it look much thinner, especially on my lap or on a cushion while watching a movie
  • The rose gold color is stunning, the M2 starlight equivalent looks grey
  • The speakers are louder and wider and sound better for music
  • For some reason, the casing feels more robust and solid than than the M2

Things I prefer about the M2:
  • The screen is a lot nicer - colors are much richer. The M1 looks more washed out in comparison. Brightness felt about the same
  • I like the thin bezels - the notch isn't an issue at all because apps like TopNotch make it invisible
  • Magsafe is much nicer
  • Fast charging is really nice
  • Speakers are more balanced and sound better for movies/TV shows

I'm returning the M2 and will most likely replace it with an M1 16GB 1TB but I do feel a little conflicted about buying old technology mainly for the design and getting worse screen etc.

Interested to know if anyone else had a similar experience or thoughts?
Click to expand...
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the notch and I don't think the additional pixels at the top really do anything since they're primarily for the enlarged menu bar. That all said, if you have an Apple Silicon 16" MacBook Pro, then I'm not sure what the point of going for the latest when it came to the more portable machine is anyway. That said, if you're going for pure longevity of support, the M2 is probably the better bet. The lukewarm response to the M2 Macs compared to their M1 predecessors gives me a bit of pause. But otherwise, I don't think that sort of thing is going to matter when that's not your primary/flagship Mac.
 
Student of Life

Student of Life

macrumors 6502a
Oct 13, 2020
793
938
Alex Cai said:
M2 and M1PRO have similar performance when you add a MagSafe cooler to the M2
Click to expand...
Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose? If one gets the air its for the size difference, bringing around more external items would just kill that line of thinking?
 
mrmister

mrmister

Suspended
Dec 19, 2008
655
774
"Person who buys every single laptop Apple comes out with discovers they may not need every single laptop all the time."
 
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