M2 MacBook Air One Month Later! Stuck in the Middle?

[@Piketom1]

My main problem with the M2 Air is that it sits between the M1 air and the 14" MacBook pro. Those are two of the best laptops ever made. If you can find the M1 Air on sale, then it is still an outstanding value. If you are paying to upgrade the SSD and RAM, then the M2 Air is so close in price to the 14" MacBook pro that if you can spend the little bit extra, you will not regret doing so.

[@TheEverydayDad]

Yeah I totally agree, its hard to be the middle option when two fantastic choices are right next to it.

[@muntakim.data.scientist]

M1 air ram 16gb and storage 512gb is priced the same as m2 air 8gb ram and 256gb ssd. Should I go with m1 or the m2?

[@gigihanmandarin]

Wait for M2 MBA to be on sale then.

[@roguewavecreative]

you literally just talked in a vacuum;). Many product lines have this issue. The thing with Apple silicon is that once people saw how good the first rendition was they had crazy and frankly unrealistic expectations for the next level or whatever you call it. Unless you really need a true portable the m1 pro base in the 14” or 16” is an amazing deal for what it can do. Also, if I hear one more person say the 16” or even 14” is so much heavier you need to spend less money on coffee and get a decent backpack / bag. Travel alot and went from m1 mba which I love to 16” mbp m1 pro base and yes it’s heavier but it’s not a brick. The difference in screen real estate and speed is worth it. The m2 mba is fine but basically its a 14” mbp on a diet. Again, unless you have to have the latest and greatest the cost can not be justified seeing you can get a m1 mba for 800 refurbed. Also, in closing this is not unusual for a product line to have the weird kid in the middle. It would be super i teresting to see sales of the m2 mba in the first 6-12 months. No way they are that good but never underestimate a true Apple fan and their Apple card;).

[@Piketom1]

@@roguewavecreative I did not intend to imply that it is odd for a middle child to have a hard time being clearly defined by critics. I am sure Apple will sell a ton of these because there absolutely is a market for a computer that is less expensive than the 14" pro but has a newer design than the M1 Air of the M2 MBP.

[@Kaloyythegreat]

Been using my M2 MBA for 2 weeks now, the best decision I ever made. Totally loving the starlight. It's fast, very light and the battery is definitely powerful; I only gotta charge it after 2 days of heavy usage at work.

[@cshantyllepedoche9935]

same here

[@Kaloyythegreat]

@@cshantyllepedoche9935 Awesome 👌

[@danielabisi9292]

256 GB?

[@Kaloyythegreat]

@@danielabisi9292 Yeah, 256gb. :)

[@cshantyllepedoche9935]

@@danielabisi9292 yeppp it works fine and very fast compared to my old lenovo laptop

[@GentHoChan]

got myself the 512GB and 16GB RAM option and also velcro-ed a Samsung external SSD drive to it. edited short videos for work, edited photos way quicker than my desktop, worked with it more than 10 hours a day with up to 15 tabs at any one time... zero warmth issues??? ??? ??? I've zero complaints. this is quite literally my favourite computer of all time so far.

[@Mad.Maxx.77]

Another superb video, mate! I finally made the move to get an M2 Air when I found that my old student ID got me a pretty good little discount. I bought a 16GB/256GB Space Gray version for $1270. The extra RAM was more important to me than more storage. If I had only 1 computer, it'd be a well-equipped M1/M2 Pro MBP 14". Since my main work/gaming machine still is a beefy PC, the light, powerful M2 Air made the most sense. I love this thing! It's so much better built than any Dell XPS 13 I've ever owned.

[@acendinganthony6737]

I just went for the base model M2 air. In Australia that was already $1929 if you opt for a better charger with it. I was looking at upgrading the ram and SSD but to do that it would of been $300 for each upgrade so to do the 512/16 option it would of been just under $2600 way to expensive. So far been happy with it I honestly barely use it anyway so wasn't going to pay for upgrades when ai hardly use it and when I do it's only for basics like web email docs and streaming Netflix ect. Hopefully I don't regret not upgrading the ram down the track.

[@kulsss24]

Exact same situation hopefully 8gb lasts a while

[@zaki_1337]

@@kulsss24 +1

[@garuda909]

I have the 16G 1TB M2. It's awesome. i'd have preferred 24G 512G for the same price, or even 16G 512Mb, but weren't available in the timeframe that I was looking at. Been using it for about 3 weeks. Yes, M1 Pro is just at the edges, but I was looking for a thin, sleek, no fan machine and the M2 Air that I have has been perfect for my use case.

[@13gta]

Dude you should have gone for the m1 on the used market on ebay. M1 8cpu/8gpu 16gbs ram, 1tb storage for 1k. I hope you're enjoying your new laptop though congrats :).

[@garuda909]

@@13gta Didn't think of that. I have the M1 8GB/256G that I had for a year. Gave it to another family member :). I'm sure the M1 16G on Ebay would have been good, just didn't think of that + liking the new lid design of the new M2 now that I have it :)

[@ritiksaklecha889]

Ended up buying the M1 with upgraded memory and student discount, costed me around $970. It is a fantastic machine,.M2 not worth it imo as a college student when M1 can do all the tasks I want effortlessly

[@TheEverydayDad]

I think thats a good point of view, the M1 to this day is still a top performer compared to other small work/school laptops.

[@roguewavecreative]

@@TheEverydayDad I truly believe the M1 MacBook Air will possibly go down as one of the craziest most efficient laptops ever. I own an ad agency we were using MacBook Air M1‘s for a while when they came out using Creative Cloud and Final Cut Pro it’s really no problem at all. We upgraded to MacBook Pro M1‘s just because of the larger screen because we all went with 16 inch but we still use the MacBook Air sometimes I mean that computer can you so much and I think part of the problem right now with Apple is is that people look at the M2 and think it’s gonna do that much more better and it’s not going to. You are going to have incremental upticks but nothing crazy. The biggest problem with these Apple reviews nowadays but especially how people are choose things they need to forget the benchmarks and just use it for a while and see how it actually works in your workflow and that’s why apple silicon is so amazing because most people even professionals don’t need the supercharged funny car they just don’t they thought they did an Intel world you probably did in the Apple Silicon world I really don’t think you do because one of the software catches up with the hardware you don’t need that much power

[@Lftt447]

L

[@perry731_YT]

@@roguewavecreative I agree that M1 Air was the best choice two years or one year ago. But it’s 2022 now, we should always get the newest model possible as the old model will obsolete faster. Pay $2-300 more for M2 air, it can probably last 2-3 years longer than M1 machines.

[@_basedperry]

@@perry731_YT I just replaced my 2009 Mac Pro with a Mac Studio. It’s been my daily driver for the last 6 years before that it had two other owners. As long as he keeps Apple Care he’ll be perfectly fine with the new program you can extend it forever.

[@ryuuseiSoul]

Your conclusion segment about the M2 sitting in the middle as a negative is actually a positive for me. I'm not a casual user, but I also have a pro level desktop PC already for very heavy loads. With the M2 in the middle, it seems like a perfect portable machine to get the majority of my work done, at a faster rate than the M1 with the improved specs, but without sacrificing the portability.

[@arwilmington]

I got upgraded M2 because I absolutely don't need the extra performance of the M1 pro and I much prefer the M2 air form factor over the 14" pro. Very happy with the M2 air so far.

[@arwilmington]

@Ali No I spec'd it up. Wanted more RAM and storage, but don't need anymore CPU/GPU performance and I strongly prefer the air's form factor (and battery life).

[@geeskndr]

One of the best reviews I've seen for the M2 Air. Very grounded and realistic. The base model is definitely not future proof with apps and services getting hungrier, but an upgraded M2 (16/512) would be a delightful machine to work on for several years

[@CA11100]

But the time you spend the outrageous upgrade costs you should just get a 14”

[@Speed_7545]

So just buy a cheap m1 air and build a desktop

[@timsonxx]

I just ordered my MBA M2 because i like having 2 thunderbolt ports while charging. I upgraded both storage and RAM and was very unsure if I rather wanted the 14 Pro. I decided for the Air because of the size and weight. it's just so much smaller and lighter than the 14 Inch. Sure the Pro has more performance for a similar price, but I really don't need more performance.

[@ErrydayYe]

Anyone thinking about buying the M2, go with the 10 GPU. U won’t regret it. Graphics looks unbelievable, blacks look crispy.

[@foskr4]

As a student looking for a portable workspace this is perfect for me. I already have a supped up gaming pc so yeah. Shame about the lack of dual display, really was a bit of a bummer. I went for 16gb/512 in silver, cant wait :D

[@bandito241]

IMO Macs work better with one screen (a big one) instead of two. The dual display functionality is not as good as Windows or Linux but if you have an external trackpad (or know the correct key combination) one display is good for macOS.

[@Poever]

But as a student, do you have the money to afford such a supped up portable workspace that’s over $1k?

[@yenigunler9704]

M2 air’s price is the only problem it has. M1 can do 99% of the things M2 does for a lot cheaper. $850 vs $1200. M1 is a no brainer rn.

[@TheEverydayDad]

Yeah its just in a weird spot where its better, but like not better enough to justify the price (IMO).

[@yenigunler9704]

@@TheEverydayDad Exactly! If I can catch a $200 off deal this week I would buy it but seems like I am going to get an M1 air. I need a laptop for med school so super high end specs are completely unnecessary for my use case. All I’ll do is take notes, write papers, research and super light gaming like Darkest Dungeon. I guess M1 would be more than enough

[@MarkJThompson]

I got a 11% off via Amazon on a space grey base model, it made it worthwhile

[@disownedrock]

The m1 air and m2 air are a little bit different imo. Camera, body, screen, MagSafe. M1 MacBook is still better for the fact it’s cheaper and the people looking at MacBook airs need cheaper laptops, not more expensive one.

[@matt2m]

I understand but it is a long term decision why look at the old model. It’s not like I buy MacBooks everyday. I bought the Xbox series X and it is 200 more than the S. But it’s not like I’m buying it everyday, buy once cry once.

[@marksaxon]

I was strongly considering the M2 Air to replace my Mac Mini for Logic Pro but the fact it only allows for one external display is a problem. I run dual monitors (one at the desk and one at my drum kit). Sure I could constantly switch the cables but I like both monitors to be running. Call me crazy but like he said, running dual monitors on a lower priced laptop is not a crazy requirement. I'd be ok with limiting the refresh rate to 60 Hz and/or to 2K resolution but only one display?? I know I can get the Pro models but honestly an Air with 16GB RAM would handle Logic Pro (and even some light video editing) just fine. My fiance has the M2 Air and I can say it's well built & very portable.

[@deannayeah6983]

I ended going with the m2 cuz of the screen as someone who's legally blind that really matters to me its nice to hear this is a good laptop as I plan to keep it for years

[@thee_drupe]

I really appreciate your small point about how popular it is to consider the Air as a plaything and not a work tool at $1200 USD. Sure it’s an awkwardly position tool, but it’s still a tool IMO. Thanks for the vid!

[@jo22k]

The M2 air seems like an awesome laptop to be honest, but definitely pricey for what it is. The last time I bought a macbook was in 2010 and the base had 256gb. I find it kind of crazy that in 2022 looking at macbooks again since I need a new laptop, the base is still at 256gb. A larger ram/ssd on the base model would of definitely helped justify the price and its place in the line up imo.

[@mckungsmakong]

I love it to have the options for the slower Flash Storage and RAM with more capacities. I am ready to live with the consequences of slow swap files. But if the MacBook has enough RAM swapping things shouldn't be the issue.

[@pneumaturgo3620]

It’s funny how in 2020-21 the MacBook Air M1 was basically a tiny cool Intel Macbook 16” and all of the sudden, in 2022 not even a MacBook Air M2 base model is enough for regular use. Something’s missing here.

[@michael_dugan]

The fact that we are even talking about pushing a base spec MacBook Air is impressive. It’s supposed to be Apple’s entry level computer yet we just expect it to handle pro tasks because the M1 MacBook Air was so powerful for the price. That being said, if you are planning on doing extensive productivity on it just get 16GB of RAM and 512SSD so you won’t have to question whether your base spec MacBook Air is powerful enough

[@iamBede]

Thanks for helping me justify that I should get the MBP 14" instead of the M2 MBA.

[@TheEverydayDad]

Personally I would absolutely take the 14 over the MBA if I needed any kind of power.

[@emiliomaldonado1862]

I was in the same shoes as you, I went for the MBP14. You will not regret it lol.

[@iamBede]

I just pulled the trigger and purchased the MBP 14” 😎

[@ThePC3D]

@@iamBede heavy bulky; poor choice

[@iamBede]

@@ThePC3D maybe it is heavy for you but not for me :-).

[@KatanaHYC]

This is the most objective review I have ever seen regarding M2 Air. Cheers.

[@JustPun-k7n]

I'm a student and all I do is programming (for 2-3) hours in a row and presenting my screen and explaining content for another (2-3) hours in a row. So, which mac is the best for me considering the usage and battery consumption.?

[@chrisatye]

256Gb is fine on my Mac Mini, because it’s sat permanently on the desk so I can easily add an external HD. But on a laptop, I would definitely want more!

[@marlonmalave7098]

12:52 THATS WHY I CHOOSE THE MBP 14”!!!!!!! i still don’t know why people bump the specs on their MBA. i get it that it’s lighter and it’s silent, but the MBP 14” it’s a workhorse even with the base model (which is what i have).

[@JBoy340a]

I have a M1 Air and probably just wait a year or 2 until the M3 based Air comes out. Hopefully by then 16 GB/512 GB will be standard. I will pay $1300 for that configuration in a heartbeat.

[@Josh-im9go]

I agree with your point of view, but all of these things are not an issue for me except for the oily skin; I also have an oil field for skin, lol. I am not a power user; I am a student, I chose the Midnight MacBook Air 8GB/512GB model, and honestly, I cannot tell that there are only 8 gigs of ram. I also purchased the 2022 13" MacBook Pro with 16GB/512GB, and honestly, the MacBook Air outpaces it slightly sometimes, even though it is specked lower. I purchased the 13" MacBook Pro because I like the portability of a small laptop with enough power to run Photoshop and Lightroom; I will be installing a NAS array in my home, so storage will become a nonissue. I will purchase a 14" MacBook Pro next year, and a Mac Mini is just a month away. Thank you for your honest opinion; I appreciate it.

[@polarismanak]

bought mine with 16gb ram through the education store. works awesome for what I need it for and the 16gb helps future proof

[@markbrian.2559]

Depends on how you imagine you’ll use it. I bought mine just to write on. I had an XPS13 before this and it ran so hot and the battery life was so terrible just running MS Word. I went searching for something better. This is it. Light, runs cold and the battery lasts forever. Playing games, I don’t, so I didn’t need it to do that at all. Video editing, I use a workstation, it’s just the right tool for that job. But for light duty and real lap-top use, I love this thing. I ordered the starlight color with 16gb & 512gb upgrades which is more than I’ll ever need. Writing for eight hours and it still had 70% battery left. But I do buy these things based on imagined use + headroom and these are great for some - not all, but they do tick boxes for many. I do like mine. So much better than my Dell.

[@mizwonton7736]

I ended up picking up MacBook m1 pro 13” 16gb and grabbing external hard drive, pretty happy with it so far :)

[@Josiahgoldsmith]

I had a 1 terabyte MacBook Pro for 5 years and never used more than 200gb, even with all the software updates. So 250 is fine for plenty of people

[@eggshi]

Couldnt agree more about frustration of the no duel display support.

[@ORo392]

Gary, laptops obviously get cheaper as the years go on. I think a cool series would be doing updates based on the current cost. For example, right now the M2 air is $849. Curious what you’d say about value at that price.

[@annatomacari9349]

I purchased the Macbook Air 2 and did not migrate anything over from my mb pro but signed into my apple I.D. The brand new MacBook air 2 was super slow out of the box! I'm not sure why, but I returned it. This was my first MB 'Air' and I think I'll stick with the Pro. Oh and I had 16 gig on it.

[@jamescollieson4726]

Well said. Very straight forward and concise.

[@CA11100]

The fact that in 2022 apple only gives you 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM is absolutely criminal

[@brianalpert2383]

This is the point where you really have to appreciate the Refurbished Store on the Apple website. If you click on the Macbook Air, you can then filter on both capacity and memory. You can get an M1 Macbook Air with 16 gigs of RAM and 512 gigs of storage for $1200. This is $400 less than an equivalently specified M2 Air and 500 less then the 13 inch MB Pro. The MACBOOK Pro starts at $1800 on the refurbished site. That's $100 more than the 13 Pro, with 512 storage and 16 gigs of RAM. You just need to look.

[@davidharrison7030]

You are a terrific analyst: technical, yet accessible for a layman like me. I think I’ll stick with my gold, 16gb, 512gb, 8-core M1 Air!

[@TheEverydayDad]

Well thanks so much!

[@blueflash9897]

I was going to get an iPad Pro 13 with a keyboard but then it just makes sense to get the MacBook Air m2 base model...

[@VegasGuy1975]

This should be an interesting video. I’m also going to be very curious how this machine fares against upcoming MBP M2 models.

[@TheEverydayDad]

I think it'll come down to the price and features of the new laptops.

[@VegasGuy1975]

@@TheEverydayDad agreed. Although it will be very interesting to see just how close Apple cuts the dividing line between Air and Pro on the next round of MBPs.

[@30secondsflat]

Bro, I know this has nothing to do with the MacBook, but you look great in that interview suit!

[@raphymartinez]

A minute into this video and I’m still waiting for the “if i can figure it out, you can figure it out” intro.

[@robwoolley]

Wasn't sure if this was about the Air 2 or Hello Fresh, but apart from that, good review and thanks.

[@NorCal-refrigeration]

14" M1 MBP 1599.00 at Best Buy today 🤘⚡🤘✨✨

[@saitoshinanomoto4416]

Sooo it's way way way faster than my current 2016 Intel-based Macbook Pro 15". I'm excited!

[@tomvo1992]

Thank you. I’ve been on the fence on if 8GB is enough. Will get more RAM on next computer

[@TheMetalMag]

You have a good point, I used to have at least a 500Gb HD, but on seeing they have been upgrading to 2T internal drives .. now getting to a simple 256G is quite stupid for such a company who makes great computers but today it is just a business thing to get more money cos some people will pay!!! Everybody knows the OS with the software take a large place and they could have made a second partition rather that having the buyer to buy an external HD that never is as fast as the internal...

[@Booom_]

fun fact. when you priced that upgraded starlight M2 macbook air, I checked amazon and the base model 14" macbook pro is 1,799. the same price as what you speced (new, not refurbished. refurbished was 1,699)

[@andyH_England]

Yes, the M1 Pro 14 will be replaces soon as it is now close to being based on 2-y-o architecture, which in tech terms is old. So, buying the M1 Pro even with those discounts we should expect better value. The M2 is new so ATM there is a premium, but I already have seen the base model at £100 off and on eBay the MB Pro 13 M2 with £300 or more off. So, it is not just one way.

[@Travel_domi]

@@andyH_England M1 Pro 14 is less than a year. don't think it would be replaced soon...

[@Errcyco]

This is really neat and the computer I’d buy for a loved one or something but I’m super happy with my M1 Air. I got myself the base cause I don’t use much storage and basically just stream and light video and audio edits. Still have like 160gb of storage free and downloaded a solid 15 movies from my apple account. The M1 Air hasn’t gotten warm once and goes like two full days of streaming video on a charge. I really love it. I do prefer the new body of the M2 though I will say that. Thing looks sick in black.

[@PhillMac]

Great video! Appreciate the honest opinions

[@pinkrockshard]

512 / 16 m2 MBA - I love this thing. I bring it everywhere with me. This week I used it Tuesday through Friday and didn't have to charge it. I'm not doing anything crazy with it - making assignments for students and taking classes myself while I'm at work - but it's been fantastic for that. So easy to carry it's barely heavier than an iPad. It's with me literally every day. Maybe I could've gotten by with the M1 MBA? Yeah, probably. I'm not that worried about the price of it and think M2 will be supported that much longer. Very happy with this machine.

[@pinkrockshard]

Will add - i got a silver one, which is nice, and added a dbrand skin to it, so it doesn't just get trashed going in and out of my bag as much as I'm doing it. Added a neat little riser thing from moft that makes using it in all the other places I use this thing so much more comfortable.

[@The-ZebraFinch-Channel]

@@pinkrockshard might of as well bought the 14” pro.

[@ThePC3D]

m1 pro is better

[@Smittron]

$1200 should buy 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD.

[@noob_master_6933]

I want to buy mac M1 cuz it's so value for money and cheap...but I am to use laptop for like 4-5 years and the bezels and shit already feel outdated today.....but M2 air is just so expensive....but I don't even wanna go to windows side cuz of the good battery life which is important to me !!!

[@whitespirit1000]

Same for me! I can’t decide!!! Uugghhh!! M2 is waaaaaay to expensive

[@abmstudio3678]

In 4-5 years, the notch design is going to look outdated. Design doesn't matter much.

[@noob_master_6933]

@@abmstudio3678 if you say the notch will look old in the future...think bout how older the the thick bezels would look

[@splinters_pinter]

Love mine. The single display is lame, I agree, but that's marketing man. A Porsche Cayman could produce more power than a 911 but it doesn't cause you have to buy a 911. I know I know, but ya... Turn on Low Power Mode for when it's on battery, I don't notice any difference and I think it just uses the efficiency cores.

[@Mangold108]

should be 1199 with 512GB SSD. period. so for a decent value we need to wait for the refurbished 512/16

[@capt.azzamganadily4892]

It’s not better in every way! When I ordered the M2 Air 3 weeks ago I did spec it up to the point I had to look at the 14 Pro but portability won. What bothers me is the refresh rate otherwise I can’t wait for it to arrive. Love the sound of you mic.

[@shylady8711]

get rid of the thunderbolt and stivk with type c

[@loserstateofmind1]

Shout out to you for getting the ad out the way at the beginning of the video lol

[@noob_master_6933]

"Also cuz this is my video".... True lol!!

[@kadeemlendor5729]

“I could think of a lot better toys to buy with 1200” best most passive aggressive thing I’ve heard all week .😂😂

[@nihilriv3r]

It's really NOT a professional work device. It's a school and hobbyist device for those that want an extra port and the new design. You absolutely CAN use it for better things, but that is not what it is designed around. I have to recommend devices daily and explain different use cases for the devices to consumers. It's my job to make these recommendations in person with everyday consumers AND business professionals to go through their needs. I'll be the first to say that I don't recommend these a whole lot of the time and usually have people go up to an M1 Pro 14 or down to an m1 air, but it has its place and people who know exactly how they are going to be using it for what it is.

[@keithgregory3973]

Great video and your points are dead on. I have an m1 with 16g and 1 tb. No need to upgrade. Picked up for my wife the m1 base model on sale at best buy for $800 which is hard to beat with anything out there. M2 might be a nice shape but for basic email web word work, no need

[@TheEverydayDad]

Those M1 computers are just so good for performance to price paid.

[@haleymctaggart]

Would you consider this a good in-between machine when I have a M1 Mini and 2018 11” iPad Pro? The Mini was a great upgrade to my 2012 15” MacBook Pro but I’m starting to feel the strain of not having a proper laptop.

[@Mnrl8218]

I have the cheapest, I'm a high school teacher + graphic designer and so far I have NO issues whatsoever, bit expensive but love it

[@TheEverydayDad]

Nice! I’m glad you enjoy it!

[@NK-er3ci]

Excellent points right here. Thanks

[@tpolarbeart]

The 14 pro makes since at the discounted $1600 price right now. Even though a new 14 pro is to be announced the $400 price reduction of the current model makes it worth it.

[@majidshaikh7717]

which macbook air is worth buying in 2022 for editing photos videos between m1 and m2 ?

[@wandering.camera.guy.411]

I think the 8GB/256GB is for people that use it as a Chromebook (surface pro does similar). Neither is good enough for me either. I think maybe my issue is apple sees me as a pro user but my budget thinks of me as an air user.

[@TheEverydayDad]

Thats fair, but if you are super budget I would still recommend the m1 air instead.

[@abmstudio3678]

Just go for the M1 Air, and upgrade the storage and ram for the price difference between the M1 and this one.

[@THEWATEROFLIFEFILM]

Totally agree. Love the look and specs of these but I have a setup with two externals displays and that’s likely going to be a dealbreaker for me. Could you do a video about some of the third party workarounds? Are they’re worth it? Do they work?

[@Big-E-dog]

My wife never thought she would ever get an iPad Pro. In fact she would preach against it. After showing her your iPad videos… we got her an iPad Pro 🤣🤣

[@woodypwx]

Can't you attach an external USB-C display using DisplayLink? It's costs some CPU perf. but would be enough for work

[@MissLyricc]

Since I have ICloud 200gb I shouldn’t have to worry too much about the 256gb of storage right?

[@Element.89]

Thanks for the review! I have an aging 15" MBP 2015 and have been considering making the jump to Apple silicon for a little while now. I have a windows PC that I need to use for work so it would primarily for personal use. I do a lot of photo editing with Lightroom + Topaz Labs denoise/sharpen AI, and occassionally graphic design with Illustrator/inkscape. This is all quite slow on my 2015 MBP! I think I will feel a significant performance boost with any upgrade - and while it sounds like the M2 Air would be powerful enough for my my typical use I'd like to future-proof somewhat with 16GB ram and 512 GB storage... which brings me within reach of 14" M1 Pro base model territory so I'm a bit hesitant. I think I prefer the M2 Air form factor, but would miss an integrated SD card slot (and HDMI, though not as important)... Am I being silly? The price gap is still a few hundred dollars so not insignificant. Is it also worth waiting for 14" M2 Pro - and even possibly then grabbing a discounted 14" M1 Pro?? I'm not in a RUSH to buy and recognize there will always be something better around the corner... any advice?? Thanks!

[@theitechlab]

I know this is an old video, but it's still relevant. I'm a massive Apple fan and have been for over a decade now. Every computer I've personally owned is a MacBook (2015 13" MBP and a 2019 16" MBP currently) but it's getting harder for me to want to buy a Mac with the overall pricing. Yes, Macs last forever (my old 2015 that I gave to my Dad still runs flawlessly 8 years later) but I need more power than what a base model Mac offers, especially for the price. To get an M2 Air with the hardware I need, I'd be spending $1800, which is ridiculous for a 13" laptop. Realistically, the M2 Air should come with 16 GB of RAM and at least 512 GB of storage out of the box at its base price--I shouldn't need to upgrade both of those things off the rip. 8 GB of RAM is just paltry in today's era, even with the new ARM-based processors and macOS's optimization. Anything less than 16 is basically unusable for anything other than very basic tasks. I use a Surface Laptop 4 (i7/32/1TB) for work and like it quite a bit, but I really don't want to switch to Windows for my personal devices. Hopefully the rumored 15" Air will drop at around $1500 with 16/512, as that would probably get me to stay on macOS.

[@markaznar1979]

Well, the 14 and 16 pro MacBooks is almost getting a refresh, so if you can wait a bit longer, hold off. I am holding off for the refresh myself and just skipped the m2 air entirely.

[@Argetos96]

Hey man! Thanks for the video! Cheers from Greece:)

[@TheEverydayDad]

Well thanks so much!

[@mfdotbmoore]

why isn't the pro in midnight blue as well lol

[@Phoenix-ge3nj]

Hey buddy, I'm having problem with making a decision as this will be my first laptop that im gonna use. So please tell me which macbook to look for cuz im a med student

[@nitsugazemag]

It would have been cool if they had incorporated what the last intel 16” model had where you can change the refresh rate up to 60hz; not great, but I would assume that would help with battery having lower refresh rate than the standard if you’re viewing movies. It sucks that Apple has made that limitation, but is that a limitation on the Thunderbolt or SoC 🤔? I feel that the argument that many people don’t use a dual monitor setup is not really true, especially in the work place. My sister uses dual monitors working from home, and she uses one of those mini-work towers. The thing that tempts me the most about the Air, is the weight, portability, and the amount of power (given specific specs), it’s more or less well-rounded. However, if I’m bumping up the storage and unified memory, I wouldn’t be that far off from the M1 Pro 14” MacBook Pro price. Strangely, the 14” would be lighter than my current and very outdated 2012 13” non-retina MacBook Pro 😅. The only cool thing about that model is the upgradability, but even that is a novelty that’s losing it’s veneer over the years given the limited options to upgrade to. I’m hanging onto it as my backup computer. Really ought to start saving for a more up-to-date laptop. The smudging thing is annoying from what I see. It’s an awesome color, but having to clean it that often is not enticing to me at all. Besides the size, portability and power, not having a loud fan spinning in there is another thing that I’ve yet to experience. At work, I work with desktop towers and I’m used to the noise, I suppose.

[@sbstndltn]

It also doesn't make sense that all LPTO screens have to be 10-120hz. Couldn't it be 10-60hz?

[@ferasal-faqir9268]

Will it be enough for some basic autocad drawings ?

[@adityasrivastava5772]

Should I buy the M1 MacBook Air 16GB ram for 1150 instead of MacBook Pro M2 or M2 Air base model at 1150??

[@Nhguava]

Is anyone else having problems with the speaker when playing high-frequency sounds, creating a vibration/buzzing sound on the chassis?

[@emmgeevideo]

I'm curious from a gut feel perspective (no specs please) how it compares working on your Studio. I have a base model Studio that I love. I have an M1 MBA that I got from work. Honestly I feel they are much closer than I would have thought. My guess is that the M2 MBA/Studio difference is almost nil in the real world unless you're doing serious video/photo editing.

[@SantiagoSalse]

My 2015 Pro has 8GB of RAM, I consider it insulting having 8GB as an option on any laptop in the market on late 2022 Jesus, even freaking cheap Android phones come out with at least 12GB Aaaaaand also I keep doubting about getting 16GB M1 Air, M2 Air or 14'' M1 Pro

[@andyH_England]

The base super-new much lauded, Windows supreme ultrabook, mega praised, hyped to infinity XPS 13 Plus starts with 8GB/256GB! So insulted as you are, nearly all premium ultrabooks start with this config, helping lowering the entry point means more people can access them. Anyway 8GB/256GB is great for 80% of consumers, I have no need for more and I am a heavy office user. If you need more there are plenty of options.

[@Rsalcedo27]

Would you trade in a MacBook Pro 2020 for a M2 air?

[@mckungsmakong]

By the way, which camera did you use to choose the footage on the plane? Poor quality.

[@2009jeffpatriot]

Great review. Although gotta admit, I subbed for the T Shirt. Gotta get one.

[@sklynexd]

3:18 the bottom bar of icons is like for blind people :D

[@KevinRodriguez-tb9gk]

I bought the base M2 MBA despite all the negative comments that it has gotten since it was released, but hear me out, im not upgrading from an M1 MBA, Im switching from a 2020 i3 model, which wouldnt let me watch a youtube video without it ridiculously heating up😐 I think any upgrade would be better than this piece of crap

[@javtimestwo]

The Midnight color is 🔥Oh no, you have to carry a microfiber cloth with you to wipe it down 🥲 This model is perfect for the casual user. Apple hit a home run with this model and the two new colors

[@cherylbrantley4736]

Finally a positive comment.

[@jamiepogue6024]

I still kind of feel like I’d rather get the M1 Air and put the extra money towards more RAM. I feel like a slightly slower computer with more RAM will be more future proof in the long run.

[@Bonerbryce]

Which one should I get for college and programming

[@emmgeevideo]

The MBP 14" might be a lot "better computer". Why not get it? If you want a lighter computer for your backpack and other mobile uses, the extra weight is a bummer. The question I would have for myself and anyone else is, how much power do you really need? I have an M1 MBA that my work gave me and I would much rather drag it around than an MBP 14". When I move on from my job and have to buy my own laptop, it will be the MBA for me.

[@candrawp7044]

Got this M2 MBA 8core cpu/ 8core gpu, 8gb ram, and 512gb ssd for 1400usd. The build quality is amazing, I love the design, it's super thin, light and beautiful. I can bring it anywhere in my briefcase without making my shoulders sore. For casual user like me, it's super snappy for office work and web browsing. The display looks good for watching youtube and netflix. And the most surprising thing for me is, the battery life is soooo good !. Combine this with 166usd airpods 3, perfect.

[@koolkevinc]

Got the m2 air 16/512, kinda wish I got 24gb instead, uses 10 gb with only 4 safari tabs open

[@17ryanlee]

Hi Dada Gary, great video as always. However can you make a video on Macbook Pro M2? Esp accessories and editing apps to download. Thanks ❤️

[@wutevertheysay]

I'm in digital marketing and i use Chrome predominantly for my daily task (Google Ads, FB Ads manager, Trello, Google Sheets/Slides). Would the base M2 MBA be more than sufficient for me?

[@5m00v3r]

Bring back the „click. click. Click click click ending please 🥺 that’s your catchfrase

[@rahulshokeen2234]

I mean when I bought mine it was the m1 air versus m2 air and chose the better one