Video Comparison: M1 MacBook Air vs. M2 MacBook Air

[Apple_Robert]

I think Dan's review was good and I agree with what he said. Even if I hadn't agreed, I still think it was a solid review, even if it was subjective.

M2 pluses for me coming from the M1 MBA.
1) No speaker grills which means easier to keep clean
2) Bigger display with better camera. While I don't use the camera on the Mac very often, the times I do for family and work make the new 1080p camera upgrade worth it.
3) Bigger SSD. My M1 MBA was the base model and I got tired of doing a lot of offloading on a regular basis.
4) The keyboard on the M2 definitely has a different feel to it versus the M1. The tracking is a little more shallow and not as spongy as the M1. I also appreciate the full size function keys.
5) MagSafe did factor in. I do like the feature and it has rescued me in the past. If it helps save the M2 again from unforeseen trouble, then that is more personal reaffirmation.
6) There have been times I got the M1 to heat up with my normal use and it kept chugging along. The M2 will be no different. Much ado about nothing with what amounts to normal behavior.
7) I don't foresee being able to tell a noticeable difference between the two in speed and that is fine with me. I am still able to get my workflow done as smooth on the M2 as with the M1.

*Price didn't factor into the equation for me and I think too many here are ranting too much over $200 and the bulk of the complaining is coming from MBP folks. I am already spending X amount for what I want. If $200 more was going to blow the purchase, that tells me I shouldn't have been considering it in the first place.

 

[jomava]

A simple, concise and 'real world' review! In my specific case, I have a MacBook 14" M1 Pro with 16/512 that I use for intensive work. I decided to buy the basic M2 MacBook Air (hard to justify) for super portability. Normal tasks are done really well.

 

[seanmills1020]

Cannot believe Apple is charging an arm and leg for the new mba yet they skimped on installing a proper heat sink. unacceptable.

I don’t know why adding a fan to the MBA is seemingly taboo.

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

Does the M1 Air have the hardware media encoders like the M1 Pro and M1 Max?

Does the M2 Air?

The M2 has these built into the soc. Not the base M1.

 

[CausticSoda]

It was a very simple decision for me in the end. Both MBAs are more than powerful enough for my needs now and for the immediate future. I had more than sufficient funds available to buy either in any configuration, so cost was not a consideration. Therefore it simply came down to looks and feel. Wider bezels vs notch - much of a muchness for me. I will be in the minority, but I prefer the Space Grey to Midnight because I like at least some contrast between the keys and the aluminium casing, so there was no temptation to go M2 just for the new colour. Each to his own, but having checked out the M2 in-store, I cancelled my M2 pre-order and went M1 instead. The upgraded keyboard was a pleasant surprise compared with my older MBA and makes it feel like I have done more than merely switch the chips inside, but it is still the MBA design I love. The front part with which I interact each day is noticeably thinner, and it is neither here nor there that the back is a little thicker than the new design. For me, it was 100% the correct decision to go M1 and I have no regrets.

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

My gut feeling is that the M2 target market is more there for those who want the latest and greatest MBA and those still using pre M chip MBA. Like me.

 

[tongxinshe]

Comparing with the 20-30% price difference, all of the improvements in M2 MBA are way more than just being moot. When the M2 MBA is released, it should automatically get the previous $999 price tag, NO QUESTION EVER ASKED!

 

[CausticSoda]

Another bogus review. No review should be recommending the M2 over the M1 Air outside of very few use cases.

Especially when you factor in the big price difference, minimal performance gains, massive drop in performance for some basic real world tasks, M2 throttling issues, and most importantly, the audience they are targeting and the basic computing tasks they are likely to perform.

I wouldn't go quite as far as to call it bogus, but I did think it was a surprisingly biased "M2 or die" type of review. I had expected to see a more objective consideration of both machines.

 

[Toratek]

I noticed that the text on the boxes to the presenter’s right was much more clear on the M1 camera test, while the M2 audio was brighter and less compressed.

The M1 camera honestly seemed to capture more detail.

The big unknown is what the conversion to youtube does to the image quality. I watched it in 1080p.

 

[nfl46]

Comparing with the 20-30% price difference, all of the improvements in M2 MBA are way more than just being moot. When the M2 MBA is released, it should automatically get the previous $999 price tag, NO QUESTION EVER ASKED!

Hey. Hey. That 1080p webcam cost a lot. Lol.

 

[IsaacM]

€500 price difference for the base model in most EU countries is just insane. That's literally a 50% price hike!

 

[wbeasley]

I bought the M1 Air after they released the M2 Air. $100 cheaper plus I don't have to deal with a notch. At least with the iPhone the notch takes up the majority of the space, but with the Mac notch and phone hole-punches, they just look so out of place on an otherwise clean design out of place on an otherwise clean design

Glad you save $100 on your purchase but seriously, the notch is not the deal people are making it out to be.
I whacked a dark topped wallpaper on it and you cant see the notch AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, you effectively move the menus up freeing up the whole screen for content. That's a huge win.

 

[steve09090]

I noticed that the text on the boxes to the presenter’s right was much more clear on the M1 camera test, while the M2 audio was brighter and less compressed.

The M1 camera honestly seemed to capture more detail.

The big unknown is what the conversion to youtube does to the image quality. I watched it in 1080p.

I think you mentioned exactly what this MacBook Air is ideal for. YouTube.

People have been whinging about who this entry level MacBook is for, saying that it’s a niche market. It’s exactly the opposite.

It's perfect for consuming media. Great screen, Speaker, Lightness, Battery.
It's perfect for making short length media (up to 10-15 minute) with its new media engine. Most reviews that focus on the lack of heat sink, also talk about sustained benchmarking required to notice it (which would never happen for anyone other than a pro content producer).
Its perfect for students and most home users.

This entry level super portable laptop is ideal for probably 90% of users.

I don’t know why adding a fan to the MBA is seemingly taboo.

It’s not that it’s taboo. It takes space that would bulk it out and it’s simply not necessary. Anyone can max out a laptop using simulated benchmarks. Try doing that in the real life. If people did, then those 2-3% of people shouldnt buy the entry level Laptop.

 

[wbeasley]

I honestly miss the old tapered edge MacBook Air design. The new M2 MacBook Air is not just that appealing to me. Heck, it doesn’t even come with a 15” size.

The only thing I do like is the Mid-Night color.

But the wedge version doesnt come ni 15" either. Just saying... and there's talk of a possible 15" new style MBA...

 

[wbeasley]

Which basic tasks would those be?

Exactly... love to know which ones.
I havent noticed anything crawling. In fact, most tasks are darn right snappy.

The video benchmark test showed simulated web page work and M2 easily trounced the M1.

This the BASE laptop (for new design).
Sure we would all have loved it to be the old price.
But that's never been Apple's way.
Occasionally they surprise us (remember experts were predicting $1000 price on initial iPad which came out at $499? but few experts could see a reason for such a silly named device either ...)

 

[darngooddesign]

Cannot believe Apple is charging an arm and leg for the new mba yet they skimped on installing a proper heat sink. unacceptable.

Looks like you should use something else for your 30 minute benchmarks.

 

[a.phoenicis]

Its perfect for students and most home users.

And professionals ("pros" 😮) whose profession involves immense amounts of writing, research, light stats, and other things which involve zero seconds of 4K video editing 🙄

Sorry if I seem snippy, but people on MR are seriously messed up if they think the world consists of only programmers, You-tubers, students, and grandmas who only email and surf the web 🤦

(and sorry, @steve09090 I'm not picking on you in particular—I know you didn't mean to propagate this trope, I'm just exhausted by it)

 

[racoop]

And professionals ("pros" 😮) whose profession involves immense amounts of writing, research, light stats, and other things which involve zero minutes of 4K video editing 🙄

Sorry if I seem snippy, but people on MR are seriously messed up if they think the world consists of only programmers, You-tubers, students, and grandmas who only email and surf the web 🤦

(and sorry, @steve09090 I'm not picking on you in particular—I know you didn't mean to propagate this trope, I'm just exhausted by it)

This is exactly me. A research scientist and academic, whose never done any video editing. My go-to travel computer, a 2015 MBA 11 inch, still handles all these tasks you described with ease. But looking forward to the bigger screen on a new one.

 

[redrumredrum]

"Dated design"? I have a 2007 MBP that has this same boxy design. The wedgy MBA is so much nicer to me. This reviewer seems to equate new with better. I _HATE_ the notch (and the rounded display corners) which doesn't play nice with actual full screen contents. The M2 _processor_ is only slightly faster in the apps I care about, and a disappointing small improvement over M1.

I'll pass on this generation and hope Apple gives me a reason to upgrade in future.

 

[eifelbube]

I bought the M1 Air after they released the M2 Air. $100 cheaper plus I don't have to deal with a notch. At least with the iPhone the notch takes up the majority of the space, but with the Mac notch and phone hole-punches, they just look so out of place on an otherwise clean design.

Congratulations on the purchase, good choice. Agree on the design observation. Do not believe we need a new M_ Air each year

 

[flowderf]

The keyboard on the M2 Air is really really really excellent, better than the 14" MBP. It may be the best keyboard I've had.

 

[Artemis70]

Magsafe alone is worth it.

For some and not for others.

I have the MacBook Pro 14" and the MagSafe cable is in a drawer as it isn't long enough to charge my laptop while sitting on my couch. I'm not willing to use an extension cord and put the power brick on my couch. Instead, I have bought a longer USB-C cable that allows me the flexibility that I need. While traveling, the USB-C cable is also more convenient, as I can hook up any USB-C device to the same cable when it needs to be charged.

 

[riptidewahoo]

A simple, concise and 'real world' review! In my specific case, I have a MacBook 14" M1 Pro with 16/512 that I use for intensive work. I decided to buy the basic M2 MacBook Air (hard to justify) for super portability. Normal tasks are done really well.

Interesting. I just got an M2 Air to compare to my 14" M1 Pro today and it feels like too many compromises to shave 3/4 of a lb.

I could never justify owning both personally.

 

[Wackery]

watching this review was like watching apple directed propaganda, Macrumors just making sure they get invited to the next apple event

 

[Grubster]

I'm not planning on buying one, I have a 2019 MBA Air and 2017 13 Pro that do just fine. But Costco has the MBA M1 for $849. That might sway many with the extra baked in warranty with Costco CC.