Apple’s iPhone 14 series may still be on the way, but the M2 MacBook Air is finally here.
Since the original MacBook was discontinued over a decade ago, the MacBook Air has become Apple’s entry-level laptop.
Instead of giving it low-end features over the Pro models, the MacBook Air has received significant upgrades over the years.
Specifications
- Brand: Apple
- Memory: 256 GB
- 8 GB memory
- Operating system: macOS
- Battery: 18 hours
- Processor: M2
- Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches
- Display size and resolution: 13.6 inches, 2560 x 1664
- Price: $1,199
- Weight: 2.7 pounds
- Connections: 1 x MagSafe, 2 x ThunderBolt 4, 1 x 3.5mm jack
The Design
For 2022, Apple has decided to redesign the MacBook Air.
The laptop measures 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches with a 13-inch screen, making it slightly larger than the iPad Pro.
The Air’s thickness is measured at 0.44 inches, a slight jump from the iPhone 13 Pro. The Air also has an angular design with raised keyboards compared to older models.
Meanwhile, its notch is one of the most noticeable changes to the MacBook Air. Like recent iPhone models, the notch gives the Air more screen real estate.
Finally, the MacBook Air is one of the lightest devices on the market, weighing in at 2.7 pounds or 1.24 kg, making it one of the most portable laptops for those who want to work on the go.
Read also: iOS 16 Update to Introduce the Always-On Display
Colors
Apple recently added more color options to its devices. While the MacBook series has always maintained a silver colorway, this year, the MacBook Air adds more variants such as Starlight, Space Gray, Silver and Midnight.
Although Midnight is the first dark-colored Mac, many reviewers have found that the back collects more fingerprints than other models.
Screen resolution
The MacBook Air M2 has a Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2560 x 1664 and a refresh rate of 60 Hz, which means that the ProMotion at 120 Hz of the Pro models is lost.
Without the notch in the screen, it would measure 13.6 inches, larger than any previous MacBook Air.
Furthermore, the 2022 model is the brightest, with a brightness level of 500 nits.
Apple’s display technology allows Air to support one billion colors and P3 wide color. In addition, the True Tone function also optimizes the white balance on the screen.
Read also: iPhone 14 Set for a Major Front-Camera Upgrade
Camera and sound
While Apple’s iPhones have the best cameras, MacBooks have received mixed reviews.
For the Air, Apple gave it the 1080p webcam from last year’s MacBook Pros.
However, the image processing doesn’t deliver the same top-quality images as the Pro, as images often have a grainy look that only gets worse in low light.
Meanwhile, Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio support have significantly upgraded the speakers.
Although the effects don’t work, the Air has better speakers than previous models.
Ports
The MacBook Air has a MagSafe connector on the left side of the model that allows users to magnetically attach their cable to charge the device.
It also has two ThunderBolt 4 ports for accessories added by MagSafe, which opens one of the ThunderBolt cables while charging.
On the right is a 3.5mm headphone jack.
And while the left side has plenty of room for an SD card slot or an HDMI port, those two features are still exclusive to the Pro models.
Chipset
The most important feature of the MacBook Air M2 is its M2 chip.
The second-generation M2 chip is the first of 2022 and has an 18% increase in CPU performance and a 35% increase in GPU performance. Additionally, Apple estimates that the M2 chip is 1.4 times faster than the M1 Air and 15 times faster than the latest Intel Air.
Pros
- portability
- New design
- MagSafe functionality
- Improved screen display
- Faster M2 chip
- Battery life
- speaker
Cons
- Supports an external display
- Limited port
- The midnight color is a fingerprint magnet
- Faster heating thanks to the fanless function
Verdict
Considering the pros and cons, deciding whether the MacBook Air M2 is worth it is ultimately up to the buyer.
The new Air is perfect for working on the move with its lightness. The M2 also allows users to utilize it for day-to-day use, from multiple open tabs/apps to photo/video editing.
Although the new price may be intimidating, its design and performance justify the price.
References:
MacBook Air M2 review (2022): Apple’s near-perfect Mac
Marques Brownlee: M2 MacBook Air Review: More Than a Refresh!
