Cheapest M2 MacBook Air for Editing - Bad Idea?

This is why you may want to consider the new Cheapest M2 MacBook Air Base model over the pricey M2 MacBook Pro. I'll discuss the pros and cons, and also test its performance and see if it's a suitable replacement for a 2017 i7 MacBook Pro. From price and SSD space to battery life and wireless browsing, I'll help you make an informed decision. Plus, see the MacBook Air M2 in action as I edit videos and photos, and compare its performance to the Pro. Whether you're a professional editor or just looking for a powerful and portable laptop, the M2 MacBook Air is worth considering!
Featured Products:
M2 MacBook Air - amzn.to/3DjVDJH
M1 MacBook Air - amzn.to/3HCxEYH
M1 MacBook Pro - amzn.to/406Mtdf
M2 MacBook Pro - amzn.to/3HfA6Ts
My Setup:
Editing Monitor - amzn.to/3WOD1br
Portable Laptop Stand - amzn.to/3wDuC0a
Wireless Keyboard - amzn.to/3WEhAd7
External SSD - amzn.to/3wyZ1wj
CardReader Dongle - amzn.to/3Hg93aQ
Headphones - amzn.to/40bok5a
Voice Recorder - amzn.to/3HzAnSK
Music for Videos - share.epidemicsound.com/sVsHf
Watch next: iPhone 14 Pro - NOW this is a MUST HAVE! (Sherpa System) • iPhone 14 Pro - NOW th...
Timecodes:
00:00 Can it replace my current Intel MacBook?
01:10 M2 MacBook Air Specs - Price (base model)
01:20 Memory and SSD
01:38 Perfect Laptop for Remote Office
02:00 M2 MacBook Air Overheating
02:28 M2 MacBook Air Battery Life
03:00 Wireless Browsing. Perfect Home Laptop
03:22 M2 MacBook Air for Editing. My Setup
04:05 M2 MacBook Air 2 ports is not enough
04:50 M2 is GOOD
05:27 Editing and Watching KZbin
06:07 M2 Rendering
06:29 CONS
07:37 PROS

[@stevendivish]

Update to the part about rendering and exporting! The M2 MacBook Air rendered and exported this video waaaay longer than I expected. I even was able to cook a dinner while it was rendering haha

[@Leahkeys9]

I'm considering getting the 15inch m2 with 16 gb. Do you think it would have the same issue?

[@guana2683]

@@Leahkeys9it probably would since other reviewers said the performance was the same even with the bigger body.

[@captain9678]

@@guana2683 yeah but getting more ram will make everything smoother when editing videos I think

[@superstringsbro]

How long did it take?

[@chriscasillas]

I got the base model M2 Air on launch day. My workload isn’t as heavy as yours, but it handles everything I throw at it without a sweat. Loving the new laptop so far!

[@stevendivish]

Absolutely! I think M2 mb Air an awesome future proof laptop, for sure it will work well even in 5 years for office tasks and much more!

[@AngelGarcia-qz4kr]

does it heat up too much?

[@chriscasillas]

@@AngelGarcia-qz4kr I’ve never had an issue with overheating at all. But I’ve heard that mainly happens with gaming or more intense video editing. Neither of which I do.

[@didedes]

It also getting slower

[@sebas.rozmary]

I got a MBP m2, returned it after a week. Apple Mac screens are plastic and get scratched from literally anything. Even a breadcrumb can crack the screen…

[@juergen_de]

I also decided to go with the basic model. After I sold my Surface Pro 6 from 2019, I treated myself to the MacBook Air M2 and I'm super satisfied. I use it primarily for music production with Ableton Live, small graphics work, social media and media consumption

[@govoracha]

Are 13 inches enough for music production?

[@kadenotebook]

Apart from the information I learned from this video, I am mind blown by the footages you got there man. Every single frame, angle and the cuts and lightning really felt like I was watching a high quality tv commercial 😄. Great video bro and keep up the good work 👍.

[@bunz5911]

Actually, render time isn't important to me at all. For me, it's much more important that the files are gently scrubbed at the moment I edit the timeline, and that I don't get stressed out in the process of editing. Render time will be out smoking at that time anyway, so I won't care if it takes a long time or not... The m2 air is so light. It's light, but the video editing process is also smooth. Thanx for reviewing

[@shashankvats753]

Hey, can you tell me about your experience? How is the editing on base model? If the scrubbing and editing is smooth then i too don't care about the rendering time. Base model will save me a lot of money.

[@SalimCall]

You are doing a really good job, Steven. Istanbul wallpaper is also beautiful. Stay safe!

[@swayamsubhrajitsahoo9960]

well im using the base m2 MBA since a month now. I use it for studies like attending lectures online and giving tests and some basic video n photo editing....And some cloud gaming as well and apart from a squishy return key (which was an easy fix) im loving this laptop more and more everyday

[@arvid15]

The editing process + youtube video just blows my mind. Totally buying the base model

[@KevinSilva01]

Great video man! I really enjoy your lighting as a film maker.

[@stevendivish]

Thanks a ton! Btw I just posted a fresh vid on how to film cinematic videos with the s23Ultra, there’s a ton of footage from the phone with some lighting you maybe could like as well, have a look :)

[@millionsandmotivations]

This helped me in so many ways Thanks man

[@jossecarstens]

Very nice video, and very well produced! Thanks for the information :)

[@OaklynMediaLLC]

3:39 I use the same exact monitor! Love the USB ports on the side that can be tethered to my PC!

[@stevendivish]

Yep and the image quality is soo nice! How long have you been using it?

[@mr_red13]

Is it expensive? I’m looking to get a monitor to pair with a Mac mini m2 pro

[@OaklynMediaLLC]

Maybe 3 years @@stevendivish

[@JVilja]

Thank you so much! Great video! It’s been so stressful deciding between base and upgrade options! 😅 Was curious, have you ever maxed out on your 8G memory? As a designer, I’m wondering if I should take by base model back for one that has 16 gig ram. Thanks for your time!

[@stevendivish]

Thank you! Hope it was at least a bit helpful in making this decision 😄 For heavy work I think it’s worth getting something more powerful than this MacBook Air, I recently I ended up getting M2 Max MacBook Pro 14’', so if you have an option for 16, I'd say go for it

[@GarrettMusic1]

Thanks for doing this mate, thinking about picking one up today

[@Jadasic]

crazy man, 5K at the time, now 50k and you got new Sub out of me

[@mystermun]

Such great vid editing 😁 keep it up 👌

[@stevendivish]

Thank you sir!

[@Cartiers4FunAllSocials]

Just got my m2 and this video & yall comments got me feeling good. How’s drone footage?

[@constitutionalcarrot3720]

I’m replacing my OG MacBook Air 2011 with the M2 Air base model. Sure I have an iMac and an iPad but something just feels right about having a laptop again, especially as I get failed back to the office.

[@KendallSmithFPV]

Did you use proxy media? I think that people don’t know to do this with less powerful computers. I’m primarily editing GoPro 11 5.3K/30fps high bitrate (~100Mbits) but I’m using a high-spec desktop looking for portable video editing with a little cutting and some basic graphics/transitions.

[@hilaryduffy8133]

This is the kind of review I needed thank you. Reviews from people who upgrade every year and always buy the top end is what i always see and I don’t find them useful at all. Thank you

[@lemonreviewer9440]

Wow this laptop is my dream ❤

[@realJonSpringer]

Thanks man!

[@bigpunchline]

Helpful video, thank you

[@stevendivish]

Thanks a lot!

[@anims5609]

Love ur videos and channel

[@stevendivish]

Thank you so much!

[@thinkrat5733]

I think the key to crash m2 is the ram usage on your timeline. try adding several clips. will it be any issue?

[@SlowGrindT]

Just ordered a base model on Best Buy for $800. Will this work for editing iPhone 13p 1080p 60 videos ?

[@AnisTarek]

Thanks man

[@sulogno]

What’s that portable laptop stand called ?

[@Elevated805]

I am concidering getting the 15” M2 Air (512gb) for $1249.00 & mainly going to use it for DJ’ing & editing 4K GoPro videos. Not editing that crazy, basic editing. I also don’t care about the rendering time. Do you think the it’s sufficient enough to do that?? I like the bigger screen…especially for DJing because I’m a little further away from Laptop. But I also don’t want to miss out on the M3 chip. I plan on keeping this laptop for 3-5 years and don’t want to be to far behind in technology. I don’t know which one I should get.

[@luciaceba4640]

if it has problems with basic titles and layers, it is not worth the 1200 bucks, clearly you can get a second hand macbook pro half that price and would handle way more, thus the computer you already have

[@dushyantbhatt9345]

How good it works with Raw footage ??

[@mYChadyy]

Thank you for this content, keep up! I want to get the M2 MacBook Air for content creation, like video editing using fcpx and some little effects on AE (resolution no less than 1080 (40 seconds max per video) will it be good?

[@mattz7705]

If you get 16 gigs of ram, absolutely. I almost get by with 8 but would go for 16 to keep editing smooth

[@nrkhtm]

Using M3 to edit videos in adobe premier pro is it valid for you?

[@only.gurneel]

I have a MacBook Pro m1 , its not heavy at all or I just got used to the weight 😬

[@papinana2941]

i seldomly like videos. but your video is worth the like. very helpful. unlike other youtubers who are obviously hired by apple to advertise new models and make the previous versions look bad.

[@hungrybhaii]

great video i am also going to buy my first MacBook :)

[@didedes]

In Architectural rendering is was getting really HOT and also slow , send it back and i got a pro

[@paulmelnyk6897]

I do not see any other video with how it goes after some time with Mac book air. But it looks like I’m buying 15 “ screen model for me .and just with more ram

[@thinkrat5733]

wow. I didn't knew you can use laptop screen + external monitor simultaneously on Mac air m2.

[@rayaseem]

Can I go for Macbook air m1 8gb + 256gb - I mostly use laptop to edit photos in Lightroom classic Thanks in advance 🙂

[@andreit460]

Yup

[@emresahin9701]

Unfortunately, it freezes a lot if you are browser-intensive. Especially if google chrome is your main browser. I've been using it for 4 months. I've encountered a lot of freezing.

[@gilbertng945]

Yikes thx for your comment, looks like 16gb ram is the way to go… sigh bloody Apple, 8 gb base ram in this day and age is silly and greedy

[@TheSgyro]

Ya but once we start upgrading… it really gets close to entry level MacBook pro prices.. and then it gets really confusing 😂

[@factofrenzy]

sound is very low in this video

[@mr_red13]

Would this laptop be ideal for editing iPhone 4K footage for a KZbin series?

[@bObsy.]

questioning the same thing so is it do you have an answer to ur question already?

[@mr_red13]

@@bObsy. I’m gonna wait until I can afford a decent Mac for editing. If I have the money eventually I’d like to get a Mac mini pro but it would cost quite a bit more for me as I don’t have a monitor

[@MrPoliarinis]

You saw what you wanted to see. Its ok, but surely not for video editing or 3d modeling. I'd say it smart choice over ipad since price are similar, but air has more value. But for future proof and normal work still m1pro is the king

[@renahluca7001]

I am the company's IT manager, and I deal with a lot of management software, will this Macbook Air M2 serve me well?

[@MayhemJack]

An 8GB Apple Silicon Mac is fine. But if you're doing any creative work, I think the minimum storage you should get should be 512GB. Ideally, 1TB. Because even if you store all of your files in an external drive, all the programs and plug-ins build up, and you need cache memory to run those programs smoothly and properly. Add to that, regular Mac updates take up space as well, and build up over time. Not to mention assets like fonts, PS brushes, that need to be stored in the local drive, too. 256GB was good at first, but I'm at the point now where I'm having to store my plug-ins in an external drive, and I have to remap everything and locate the folders every time I start a new project or re-open an old one. Because the hard drive where you store all the files needs to permanently be connected, which is just unrealistic, especially if you have lots of drives. I have everything that doesn't need to be in my Mac in external drives now, and I still only have 20GB left on my 256. And the M1 (which I bought only 2 years ago) has started to lag noticeably; plus, I have to restart Adobe Premiere whenever the cache fills up, especially when I'm editing 4K. The same is true even if I set the cache location to the external drive. For my next upgrade, I'll aim for a 1TB hard drive, but won't settle for less than 512GB as a minimum. I'm honestly fine with 8GB of RAM, and I think anything above 16 is overkill (unless maybe you're doing high-level 3D rendering or something), considering how fast M Macs are. 2, 4, and 8TBs of storage is unnecessary, but 1TB should be the optimum, if you want to "future proof" your computer. And not have to upgrade every 2 years. Though, I've also been thinking of adding a maxed-out Ipad Pro to my setup, because those are more convenient for on-the-go work, and is more doable than a maxed-out MBP. I mean, think about it, a 2TB Ipad could also double as extra storage, then you can just easily airdop files in between sessions.

[@red2000films]

Great video. I've ordered the base M2 MBA with 16GB RAM. Do you think the reason why your Macbook Air M2 struggled with 2 layers of clips and titles was due to low RAM? How much RAM did you use in the laptop in this video?

[@RumailSaddique]

His MacBook has 8gb RAM

[@USAwillFALL]

Does M2 chip work fine with Adobe PR and AE, in terms of speed and compatibility?

[@stevendivish]

I think this laptop isnt suitable for AE. It is decent for easy cuts, photo editing, however it was not designed for after effects. I think it is better to invest in the MB Pro 14' if your workflow requires heavy editing.

[@USAwillFALL]

@@stevendivish Thanks

[@SimpleAsBDCs]

Great video…

[@stevendivish]

Thank you for watching!

[@8illy222_]

what "app" do u use for editing ?

[@stevendivish]

FCP, but thinking to switch fully to Resolve

[@KamilleN16]

hahahah I still like this MBA so much... portability and power

[@mahiuddinibnul200]

Adobe officially announced that 8GB RAM is not enough for After Effects. Adobe's minimum requirement is 16GB of RAM. Now you editors decide if it is worthy or not.

[@OaklynMediaLLC]

Who thinks they're editing on the oldest pc/laptop? What specs and dates are we running guys?

[@aaronzewdu]

Future update??

[@BP-xe7dw]

Most people do not update their laptops every year. According to data 4-5 years on average. This is impressive for a 8gb ram. Thank you for posting this.

[@stevendivish]

yes I agree, I ended up upgrading my 2017 macbook pro to MB Pro 14' m2 max last year and its a beast that I feel will serve me for years to come!

[@mlr3188]

Is this video edited on mba m2?

[@stevendivish]

Yes

[@arshilkazi4557]

52k subs in just 9 months?

[@Theoctoberking]

Bro I need a help from you I need a laptop for youtube small youtuber j need 4K VIDEONEDITOR SO HELP ME I CAN GO FOR MACBOOK AIR M1 FOR LONG TERM USE

[@lukestratford]

Can you do an update a year later?

[@stevendivish]

will try!

[@TheJestersRealm1]

What monitor do you have?

[@yongkysiaw6597]

Improve airflow? Wait... What?

[@user-yo5kk4jn3i]

I buy mba its good and no problem

[@kelvinpoetra]

macbook can't touchscreen in panel screen.

[@johnroedbacting6620]

m2 Air is a beast :)

[@Jason_Barnes]

im going to be coming from a 2014 macbook air

[@brezzinn2249]

Do I see czech layout? :D

[@alrizo1115]

now use it with after effects having >20 layers in one composition

[@stevendivish]

Do you want me to set my house on fire or what? 😆

[@edward8459]

Which European accent is that? It sounds so familiar

[@kiiito]

Your audio on this video is very low, i need to put my volume high too listening you correctly. To remind for future vidz. Quite annoying.

[@racernumber39]

So you took your wife's computer just like that? What will she be using? :(

[@amygdalios]

1 min and 40 secs for a 1 min video render? Damn my $1200 windows desktop pc needed 2:30 to export a 1 minute hard edited video. Props to Apple for the m2 chip

[@stevendivish]

Just made a switch from my intel MB Pro 2017 to the M2 MB Pro and it’s insane…the playback and rendering, it’s amazing

[@amygdalios]

@@stevendivish I have thought of selling that pc for a MacBook because I’ve been travelling a lot lately, would you recommend it?

[@KAANIBOY]

@@stevendivish Hey Steven, so you use the MB Pro M2 instead of the MB Air M2? I have to buy one tomorrow and i cant decide! I only use imovie & 1080p for very simple real estate videos and i cut my IG Reels. Is the M2 Air enough for that? Would love to hear your opinion. ❤️

[@romancotton8536]

Nah your build must have been 1200$ 12 years ago ain’t no way . For 1200 you can get i7 13th gen 12 core 5ghz 24gb ddr5 ram with rtx 3060 gpu. I know because I just bought it for that price

[@tektako]

hard drives smaller than 512GB are a joke

[@stevendivish]

What do you mean? They work great

[@emptiness3390]

@@stevendivish hard drive smaller than 512 have lower read and write speeds than 512 + ones

[@stevendivish]

There’s nothing wrong with that. I talk about the write/read ssd speed in this video and show how it doesn’t affect my workflow at all. Running benchmarks tests and real world use are 2 different things

[@krypdezyr]

audio sucks

[@armansoltani8752]

Your voice is too low, I couldn't watch