A Comprehensive Look at the 2022 MacBook Air M2
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Introduction to the MacBook Air M2
The MacBook Air M2 (2022) aims to be a worthy successor to the original Apple Silicon generation. As consumers, we often question whether the advancements in this new model justify its price, especially given the current economic climate where every dollar matters. Today, we will delve into the midnight MacBook Air M2.
I've opted for a more concise and engaging review style, allowing for a smoother reading experience. Let's jump into the design.
Design Overview
The new MacBook Air M2 revamps its design, resembling the MacBook Pro series. It features a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, which offers improved brightness that, while not hitting 1000 nits, still stands out with remarkable resolution.
What's appealing about this design is its balance of sturdiness and lightness. Weighing in at just 1.24 kg, it's even lighter than the M1 model, while maintaining a slim profile of 1.13 cm—by comparison, the iPhone 13 measures 0.76 cm in thickness. The edges have been reduced, and yes, there's now a notch at the top, which we are gradually getting accustomed to. The front-facing camera has been upgraded to 1080p, although it lacks Center Stage, which would have been a nice touch.
The display quality is impressive, especially with darker colors that enhance content visibility. When watching videos, the notch becomes less noticeable as the black bars effectively hide it. I've included images from the James Webb Space Telescope to showcase the display's clarity.
While the midnight color is striking, it also attracts fingerprints easily, requiring constant cleaning. Personally, I find the starlight color equally appealing, minus the fingerprint hassle.
Connectivity Features
The return of MagSafe is a welcome addition. Users can now charge the MacBook via MagSafe or any USB-C port. The model comes with a 35W USB-C dual-port power adapter, and interestingly, the stickers match the MacBook's color scheme.
Keyboard and Audio Performance
The keyboard remains unchanged from the M1 model, though it feels slightly different to me. The trackpad continues to perform accurately, with Touch ID conveniently located in the upper right corner for quick access.
The audio experience has been enhanced with a four-speaker system that supports Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio, making streaming content on platforms like Apple TV quite immersive.
Performance Insights
This MacBook Air aims to be the rightful successor to the original Apple Silicon. However, it's important to note that the M2 processor is not a direct replacement for the M1 Pro, M1 Max, or M1 Ultra models, as they serve different user needs.
Today, we are examining the base model equipped with an 8-core CPU (4 performance and 4 efficiency cores), a 10-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, and a 1TB SSD, with a starting price of $1499.
To gauge its performance, we turned to Geekbench, where the results closely mirrored those of the MacBook Pro M2, albeit with mixed feelings about its overall performance.
Next, I conducted a Blackmagic Design Disk Speed Test, yielding write speeds of 3057 MB/s and read speeds of 2608 MB/s, thanks to the 1TB SSD.
In terms of multitasking, I pushed the limits by opening various applications—Brave, Notion, Apple TV, Spotify, Discord, and even Final Cut Pro. Remarkably, the device handled it all seamlessly, showcasing its robust performance.
Battery Life and Conclusion
As for battery efficiency, I was impressed by the MacBook Air M2's longevity, lasting over 18 hours under heavy use, which equates to about three days of work without needing a charge.
In summary, this MacBook Air M2 is indeed commendable. Apple seems to be adopting a marketing strategy similar to that of the iPhone, where the previous model remains available as an option.
When asked if I'd choose the MacBook Air M1 or M2, I believe the $200 price difference is worth it for the enhancements offered by the M2. However, if you already own an M1, I wouldn't recommend upgrading. Conversely, for first-time buyers, this model is an excellent option.
Thank you for reading my review! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. Until next time,
The first video titled "M2 MacBook Air Review: More Than a Refresh!" offers insights into the new features and performance of the MacBook Air M2.
The second video, "2022 M2 MacBook Air Review," provides a thorough examination of the MacBook Air M2's capabilities and whether it's worth the investment.