Video Editing on the M2 Macbook Air - Do You Need M3?

[@mattchungz]

Yes, you can edit 4K videos on a Macbook Air. What a time.

[@SnoringVids]

Subscribed such a great video! You'll be up to 1000 by the end of the week!

[@Zero]

you can edit 4k videos with a iphone se, the real question is can you edit actual videos for production on them

[@mattchungz]

Technically yes, would you want to, probably not

[@harshithpn2750]

on 8/256??

[@RickieAr]

Sir, is this good enough for 4k video editing in 30 minutes for KZbin? 2022 Apple MacBook Air laptop with M2 chip: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD storage, backlit keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD camera. Works with iPhone and iPad; Space Grey

[@BalaKrishna-bq5iz]

One huge but common misrepresentation on KZbin mac videos is using video editing as a linear barometer for the processor. But most of the heavy lifting for common editing taks are handled by the dedicated video encoders and decoders (media engine as Apple calls it). So, dont assume that as you go up in the tiers and spend more you get linear returns. An M1 Macbook Air you can get used for $500 is way more than enough for video editing for 95% of the content being made. There are other factors though, having more RAM to keep more of your footage in memory while editing, more gpu cores for less export time but after a point, you are staring at diminishing returns. But the actual experience of the video editing is more or less the same with maybe a couple of minor tweaks.

[@mattchungz]

I think it heavily depends on what the project is, along with the footage being used. While I agree that even an M1 Air can be enough for a lot of people, it really depends on the person. For general content creation as a hobbyist where you’re not strapped on time, an M1 Air should be enough. However for professionals dealing with clients, where you’re obligated to timelines, spending the extra say $1500 to have a smoother experience editing and saving a few minutes in export times makes all the difference in the world when you’re editing day in and day out. Plus with client work, you never know what the scope can be and you never want to be in a position where you have a client that requires edits where your machine is maxed out.

[@BalaKrishna-bq5iz]

@@mattchungz Like I said there are some advantages to have to go from Air to Pro but they are diminishing returns the more you spend especially with Max Macs. I've a M1 pro MBP 14 (which we can now find for $1200 used) isn't practically all that different from M3 Max MBP to pretty much everyone. I went way overboard to torture test them in Davinci resolve with 6 layers of Blackmagic 6K RAW, RED 6K RAW and Prores HQ from Sony FX3 clips on top on one another on a 4K timeline, reduced opacity to make sure all 6 layers are visible at a time, color graded the heck out of them and appled noise reduction to all the clips at the same time. That is way more than any one realistically need even if you're editing a blockbuster hollywood movie and both my M1 pro MBP 14 and a plugged in Lenovo Legion with Nvidia RTX 4070 both handled it fine. So, what real benefits are a video editor gonna get for going with spending $2k more to get an M3 Max when most of that extra power isn't even utilized or doesn't scale linearly for video editing?? The only tangible difference I found is in export times of few minutes but I haven't known anyone who stares at the screen for export to complete. It is a passive task and the differences aren't huge. The friend I borrowed this M3 Max MBP from is in the process of returning it to get a M1 pro MBP instead. When it comes to Macbook air, the export times are much longer (still not unreasonable) than M1 Pro and you might need to reduce the quality to half while working on the timeline but if you're on a budget and need to get the work done, thats a great option without much compromises. It is common practice in film and tv to work with 1/2 or 1/4 for playback and scrubbing so its not like you're having a sub par experience.

[@TimelyAdventure]

I was going to say, it's standard among many professionals to use a proxy workflow so even on the Airs if this in place it can work with super high res footage and various layers@@BalaKrishna-bq5iz

[@mr_red13]

@@BalaKrishna-bq5iz For video editing 4K iPhone footage (for a KZbin series), would you recommend the M3 Air (16/512)? My workflow: Using Logic Pro to record audio while talking and then import iPhone footage to Final Cut to edit a 45 min footage into 10 min video with basic editing and throwing up PS5 gameplay as a backdrop. I’d really appreciate your insight. I’m liking the 15” Air since the 14” Pro has a smaller display. I do not intend to use external monitors. What do you recommend? If 14” is more viable then i guess I’d have to look at the refurb section. My budget is within $1600.

[@AC-mj1pr]

@@mr_red13 This is almost exactly something that I've personally done on my 8gb M2 MBA and it was a pleasure. Hooked it to my 4k external monitor and went to work with no hiccups.

[@cyclo_x]

now i'm more convinced macbook air is more capable than i expected..and i want to buy one now..thanks for the insightful review bud!

[@mattchungz]

Can definitely hold it down as long as you’re not doing graphic intensive stuff. Glad it was helpful!

[@gonzasdetailing]

I just got a 15 inch MacBook Air 16GB and 1TB with the M2 chip and it works so well, now i can start editing videos to post on my channel.

[@ThunderDawg0]

@@gonzasdetailing I've got the same model, it can handle demanding games and video editing, as well as days without charge.

[@mxrtyforeal]

this really gave me a clearer idea on what to consider and what macbook I should get. thanks

[@mattchungz]

Glad it was helpful

[@SameMan020]

I have macbook air m2 base model for djing and video editing my dj sets. Im running 3 programs ( traktor, ableton and bitwig) and i have used 6gb of ram. I also edit my 1 hour dj set in 1080p in 60 fps in 19 min without problem.

[@waxmaster-c]

This helps a lot, thanks!

[@EarthbendR]

Thanks for this vid. Super clear, well put, and to the point. Just what I was looking for. Appreciate this so much

[@mattchungz]

Glad it was helpful!

[@LibertyArmsCo]

Just bought a m2 air 16gb for 750 at Best Buy coming from a 2015 MacBook Pro and a m1 iPad Air I am happy

[@yahelluna3842]

Do you use it for heavy editing?

[@mattchungz]

What a deal. It's a great laptop

[@markockwell]

Just ordered my M2 Pro Mac Mini - will wait to see how much more power this has. I have got the M1 Mac Book Air and the Base model M1 Mac Mini - both edited my 4K footage ( Drone Work ) quite well but I needed something with a little more Humph .... Cool Video by the way .... 👍👍

[@FlatEarthPhotography]

Just went with a M3 Air 13 inch, got the 24 GB ram and 512 SSD, I know my friend is using M1 with 16 GB, editing 4k without issues :)

[@mattchungz]

With light editing, you won't have issues! Nice go with the 24gb

[@FemtioCent]

Great review! Made my decision to get the Air easier for some light travel editing

[@anmolsawant3504]

Did you buy it? is it good?

[@vladepast4936]

Thank you! Good video up to the point information... Great job man!

[@mattchungz]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful

[@timm_rennertz]

Great video and very helpful

[@mattchungz]

Thanks glad it was helpful

[@nyadakajawin3425]

I have the M2 Air 8GB and would love to be able to edit on the go through premiere pro

[@mattchungz]

You should be able to get by with basic editing for short 4K videos.

[@minjusong3445]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing!

[@mattchungz]

Glad it was helpful

[@poweredbysoul6630]

My 2020 MacBook Pro was stolen earlier this week. I have a KZbin channel, and did all my video editing on it. Luckily, my insurance covers stolen property, so I’ll be replacing it next week. The best possible option that I can afford with my insurance payout (and a 15% discount from a friend who works for Apple), is a MacBook Air M3, 24 GB of RAM, 512 SSD. I’m wondering if 512 SSD is a bit low, but I can’t afford to upgrade to 1TB. I figure the 24GB of RAM will help make up for it. What do you think?

[@mattchungz]

Sorry to hear. Yeah I think that’s a solid choice. I prioritize memory over storage since you can always edit off external SSDs and can’t upgrade your memory. 24gb will be really helpful to have. I edit off Samsung T7 SSDs. If you want more storage without having multiple SSDs, you can always get an exclosure and throw in a NVMe SSD that’s higher capacity. Some enclosures also double as input hubs too. Hope that helps

[@TopDogAcademy]

Could I edit a 15 minute 4k KZbin video on it?

[@SnoringVids]

My man!!! This is exactly what i was looking for! Just picked up an M3 with 16GB and was a little hesitant but seeing your workflow I'm happy with our choice. Do you have any videos on what to look for in an external SSD? We have an older one gonna try it out.

[@mattchungz]

Glad I was helpful! I don’t, but I’ve only used Samsung T7’s and they’ve been tried and tested. A lot of videographers use the T7’s

[@muhammad.faizal]

What application do you use for editing video in that video?

[@mattchungz]

I use DaVinci Resolve

[@muhammad.faizal]

@@mattchungz thanks brother

[@gilleslecouteur2748]

I’m considering the purchase of a laptop but not sure on which unit to get. I now have a 12.9 I-pad which I basically use for surfing the web, e-mailing,watching videos on KZbin, storing documents in Notability, etc. I have a drone and take 4K videos and have to edit my videos by clipping the beginning and the ends for a better overall clip and also will sometimes clip two or three short videos together therefore creating one longer video. The problem is that with the I-pad; when I attempt to share my video clips in e-mails or in messenger, I keep getting a message “file to large, can not send” This problem also occurs when trying to share several photos on the same message. What do you suggest I should look at?

[@mattchungz]

As great as the iPad has become, it’s challenging to replace a laptop with it. I’m actually going to put out a video discussing this subject. Regarding a laptop for your use, sounds like you’re doing basic editing. Just cutting drone clips and maybe some grading. You can pick up the same MacBook Air M2, upgrade the memory to 16gb and it’ll run you $1299. If you want to save $100, you can do the same upgrade but on the M1 Air, however for the extra $100, might as well get an upgraded chip with the newer Air chassis. This should be more than enough for your needs. If you think you’ll be editing a lot more, under time restrictions, and with more graphical work, then consider looking into the MacBook Pro.

[@gilleslecouteur2748]

@@mattchungz thank you so much for your valuable information. Will certainly note this advice.

[@creativerosger]

Thanks for the review. I work with AE (rotoscope selections, animations, etc) and deal with unconventional project dimensions (10,000 x 1080px). My current M1 Air chugs along, but was hoping the M2 Air/24GB/1TB would be the sweet spot without having to splurge on a pro. (Justifying the 24GB of ram since they’re giving $250 gift cards for Black Friday). What do you think? Air and save $, or be extra sure with a MBP M3? I wish you could test workflows before buying.

[@mattchungz]

That’s a tough one. If the M1 Air has been keeping up with your workflow, then the BF deal with that M2 configuration would be a good option, since you know what to expect from an Air. The Pro is that much more plus the additional upgrades you’d have to make, including the memory since the MBP base starts at 8gb of RAM, which boggles me cause I think the Pros should just start with a base of 16gb of RAM.

[@AndroidGraphics]

Sleep mode is better or shutdown for longevity I am new Mac user

[@mattchungz]

I don't think I ever shut down...maybe only restart from time to time but mostly sleep mode.

[@kravislagando]

Can you do a video on how well it handles after effects as such compared to your Mac mini?

[@mattchungz]

I don’t do much visual effects but if I get into it with AE, I’ll definitely make one

[@hreetampaul9350]

Should i go with Air 8gb and 512 gb for ML and Deep learning? basically intense image processing and ML models

[@keefmane]

probably not bro that sounds demanding

[@hreetampaul9350]

@@keefmane thought so I guess i will go with m3 16 or M3 pro 18 Lets see which one is available faster

[@mattchungz]

Yeah sorry I don’t know much about ML and programming but it sounds intense

[@keefmane]

@@hreetampaul9350 if i were you i would go for a pro model but not any of the new m3 base models because of the low unified memory.

[@ayushsenseisama]

you need dedicated gpu

[@chrislarimore4096]

You could also stream the mini to the air

[@HelloSugboLiezelTorres]

Saving up and researching for my first Macbook. This is definitely helpful! Any video editing software recommendation for beginners that may work perfectly with the M2 chip? Thank you!

[@mattchungz]

Glad it was helpful and hope you get your machine soon. I have a video comparing the big 3 editing softwares, maybe check it out! Thanks for stopping by

[@triton113]

Think this is ok for simple 4k go pro footage?

[@mattchungz]

Yeah for sure

[@SamanthaMunitz]

I've got an M2 Macbook Air 13" w/ 24gb ram and 2tb ssd. I'm guessing using Photoshop 2024 and Apple Final Cut Pro will be just fine. Correct?

[@mattchungz]

That’s decked out! It’ll more than enough

[@jmanlevan]

Matt, I am a hobby type video editor working with videos from a DJI mini drone and Go Pros and my iPhone 15 pro max. I also do hobbyist level photo editing from a Mirrorless Sony camera and Canon SLR. The rest and majority of my time I am just browsing the internet, doing media consumption and light tasks. I can afford to max spec out a M2 Macbook air with 24gb ram ---16gb of ram still feels too low for comfort to me. I love the form factor and weight of the new Macbook airs but I know a lot of people suggest that if you are going to upgrade the internals on the M2 Macbook air that it makes more sense to get a M3 14" Macbook pro. However I don't like the thicker chassis. Do you think getting a 24gb Ram M2 Macbook air is a mistake or will I be fine editing videos with this 24gb ram version of the M2 Macbook Air?

[@mattchungz]

Based on the gear you’re using and how you’re not handling heavy tasks, especially with beefier assets, I think 16gb is fine. If you can afford the 24, go for it. Even though you’re getting into Pro territory, keep in mind that the base Pro only has 8gb of RAM. If you like the Air chassis better because it’s thinner and lighter, but don’t mind using a hub for stuff like hdmi output and SD card slot, then I think you know the answer. The Pro only makes sense when it’s spec’d out to be much more expensive than the Air. The base Pro never makes sense and I feel like it’s only there to attract customers to spend a bit more. Makes no sense why any Pro Mac model would come with 8gb as an option, they should always have 16gb as its base for Pro users.

[@jmanlevan]

Thanks for the reply@@mattchungz . I agree. I prefer the form factor and portability of the air and I feel like even though I am getting into Macbook pro price territory, in my head, I am paying for the slim design and portability factor of the air while still having enough power to complete the tasks I want. I appreciate you taking the time!

[@ogBravo1]

All recent reviews of the M3 Macbook Air with at least 16gb say it kicks ass with 4k editing. Its only in the output or batch rendering super high-res photos that is shows appx a 20% decrease in performance compared to the Mackboook Pro

[@mattchungz]

Yeah there isn’t much of a performance gain between the base MBP and MBA. That base MBP is really there offering the chassis otherwise you should be getting the Pro/Ultra/Max chips to justify buying MBP

[@DrillHistory]

@@mattchungz im editing in adobe, usually videos that are between 1-5 minutes, in a 1080 x 1920 format, do you think the air is going to perform highly over the long term without any overheating issues? if it becomes my daily driver i do a lot of multitasking, typically 10+ tabs in chrome i don't really like to feel restricted, I want to go with the Air over Pro but the slimness of the Chassis is kind of scaring me as I don't see how it can stay cool

[@mattchungz]

@@DrillHistoryspend the money and get more ram especially if you have multiple tabs open and plan to edit at the same time. Heat hasn’t been an issue with me, the Apple Chips are really efficient

[@icweener1636]

Thank you for the this very informative video. This just confirms my decision to buy Air rather than the Pro but I'll be waiting for the M4

[@mattchungz]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kaliou6645]

I have a question Matt: I work as an Event Videographer using Hp workstations and i'm looking into buying a MacBook (M2 or M3) I deliver 5-6 hours of recorded and exported 1080p 30fps MP4 edited video (1stream of video and audio w/ simple transitions). What Macbook Air/Pro would you recommend me and what spec would you recommend. Thanks!

[@mattchungz]

Are they filmed in 4K or 1080? 5-6 hours is long but if at 1080, M2 or M3 is more than fine, with 16gb of ram or more. If 4K, I would recommend at least bumping up to the Pro chip

[@trishanamungal8566]

Hi Matt, stuck between getting the MacBook Air M2 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD or the M3 Pro with 18GB RAM and 1TB SSD. I’ll be using it to edit footage off my DJI action camera that I shoot in 4K. I have a travel account that I’d be creating this footage for. I’d also use it for digital marketing tasks for clients as well as web design. I honestly cannot stand the thickness of the pro model, it’s really putting me off. Also looks like a corporate Dell laptop haha. If I’m going to pay that price for something I’ll look at everyday I’d like it to atleast look good. Although looks are the only important thing I wouldn’t want to pick something that looks pretty but cannot handle the above tasks. Performance is still important for me. What’s your take on this for the tasks I’ll need to perform on the MacBook. Would I be able to do them on the MacBook Air (which I’m leaning towards because of it being lighter and thinner)

[@mattchungz]

Based on your options and the fact that you have the budget, go with the Pro! Even though the Air will handle your DJI footage fine, you might as well go with the Pro especially for the M2 Pro chip since you mentioned 18gb or Ram and you’re getting a better screen, better battery life, SD slot, and HDMI port. Plus better heat management since the Pro’s have a built in fan. But I get you, how thin the Air is, is a huge difference and deciding factor lol. But if it’s going to be your main computer to edit, I’d go with the Pro.

[@trishanamungal8566]

I meant to say looks aren’t the only factor oops. But thank you so much for this! It would be my main laptop as I don’t have a desktop because I travel and can’t really take it with

[@mattchungz]

If looks aren’t a factor, go with the Pro since that build is within your budget

[@nrkhtm]

Is editing video via Adobe Premier Pro on MacBook Air M3 valid?

[@mattchungz]

Yes it is

[@ygproductions_]

Have you tested Adobe Premiere Pro on Mac OS Sonoma yet? How does it run?

[@mattchungz]

I haven’t. I actually moved off of Premiere now that I only use Resolve or Final Cut. Maybe something to explore in the near future

[@holleamruppen8995]

hi, so I cut videos for social media in my job (sometimes also 4k). I would only use the MacBook Air on vacation and on the go. However, you said that as soon as you earn money from cutting, you should go straight to the Pro. Should I still take the pro, even if I only use it in the mentioned scenarios?

[@mattchungz]

If you have the budget to spend for the Pro, yes get it. It has features that’ll make life easier especially when you’re using it for work. The Air is good to get by if your budget is tighter.

[@nightsbeatswitchgood]

Wow, is that Log footage you're editing as well? have to replace my 2018 macbook pro, im shocked at the quality of the m1/m2 airs

[@mattchungz]

Yup, SLOG3 and HEVC codec, 4K 10 bit footage. As long as you’re keeping your editing basic: 1-2 layers and a grade, the M series Air will cut through it like butter. Just get a minimum of 16gb of RAM.

[@oswindavid6979]

How efficient is it whilst running DaVinci resolve 18, any lag? Also hows the color accuracy? Looking for a good laptop to edit 10bit 4k videos.

[@mattchungz]

Mostly depends on your workflow but simple editing like shown in the video it keeps up without any issues, with 10 bit 4k footage.

[@mattchungz]

Also regarding color accuracy, it’s a Mac, so I don’t think you really need to worry whether their screens will be accurate for editing. MacBook screens and Apple displays are built for creative work. The M2 Air’s screen scored: 100% of the SRGB spectrum, 84% of AdobeRGB, and 95% of P3.

[@mannysanimalkingdom]

I got a M3 air 8gb and use davinci resolve for basic editing. No hiccups or throttling.

[@mattchungz]

It’s using swap memory and using your ssd to write and delete cache files. This strains your ssd in the long run

[@nsen93]

how will it perform with apple pro-res transcoded footage?

[@mattchungz]

No issues when I’ve transcoded to Pro Res. I usually only transcode if I need to render a clip in place because there are heavy effects applied and I need to playback on the timeline, like speed warp in DVR to slow 24fps footage down. Otherwise just edit my H265 clips. I know the M2 (and M3) Air is capable of handling ProRes but I would think about how it maintains a lower temperature and performance in the long run when doing a longer edit, since it doesn’t have a fan. If transcoding to ProRes is a regular part of your workflow, I’d just consider going to the Pro. The Air is capable but I wouldn’t depend on it as my main editing machine especially if you’re an experienced editor. Hope that helps

[@nsen93]

@@mattchungz thank you for the reply... so I work as a freelance editor in the advertising sector in India... most ads that I edit are shot on red 8k or arri Alexa cameras and then they are transcoded to apple prores for offline editing... once edit is locked we share and xml or edl to a colorist to do the grade and then master delivery happens through auto desk flame setup... so all my edits happen on 1920x1080 apple prores LT

[@nsen93]

@@mattchungz I won't be using my mac as my main setup for editing... mostly just to edit on the go or on sets so I guess the air should be good to edit only on prores

[@mattchungz]

Yeah Air should be enough to edit on the go if it’s not going to be your main machine.

[@robertrownd3893]

hi @matt, Nicely organized review. are you using proxies in your work flow for this? I need to do something similar with my laptop for rough cuts and then moving to a mini in my studio to finish off the work. Think this will work just wondering about proxies if needed.

[@mattchungz]

Hello, nope I don’t use proxies. I even disabled automatic rendering and I was using H.265 clips

[@DavidAdlawan]

Would u consider Air M2 8gb 512gb 4k footage basic editing

[@mattchungz]

@DavidAdlawan I've seen people get away with it but it will for sure be using swap memory, which in the long term is not good for your SSD. Even 16gb sometimes on longer edits is barely enough. So if you can afford to upgrade the memory, I definitely would.

[@AppleForBeka]

How many inches of MacBook Air M2 is shown in this video and which color?

[@mattchungz]

This one is the 13” in Midnight color

[@AppleForBeka]

@@mattchungz Thank you very very much for your reply! I am currently interested in graphic design, video editing, web and mobile development. I want to study these at my own pace. In this case, Air will also do its job? Or should I make a choice directly on the MacBook Pro? In the country I'm from there is a catastrophically large price difference between Pro and Air. Will the Air version be useful for both learning and entry-level professionals? Something in the early stages? Or is it better to save the money for the Air and then buy the Pro directly? What do you think?

[@mattchungz]

For beginners learning, yeah the M2 Air will be able to perform. I’d recommend spending a bit more for the M3 if you can cause of the dual external monitor support and wifi 6E. If not, the M2 is totally fine. When you start to get more advanced in graphic design, video editing, and coding, you’ll probably want to upgrade to the Pro. And make sure you upgrade the RAM to a minimum 16gb. 8gb won’t be enough for those tasks

[@onkarmishra270]

Wallpaper?

[@SilviaRB]

I bought the M2 air yesterday with 8GB/256GB because it was on sale. Would this be sufficient for editing/colorgrading 4k drone videos for social media (less than 15 secs). No plans for longer stuff, just reels. My question is should I just return it and get a pro?

[@mattchungz]

Yeah that should be fine. Short reels that don't need a ton of different clips won't need as much memory. I'd recommend not having anything open when editing though, especially a browser with multiple tabs.

[@seangebob4566]

Will M2 16gb ram 256gb will do the work with da vinci or final cut?

[@mattchungz]

Yes should be enough!

[@crodrigueztv]

I’m honestly hesitant to get the extra gigs of ram.. I edit videos on iMovie no extra tabs running just straight editing for KZbin. I have a 2tb external hard drive and my videos range from 15sec to 10 minutes do you still recommend me upgrading the ram?

[@mattchungz]

It’s always best to get more ram if you can since you can’t upgrade them later with a Mac

[@NodesofTravel]

Indeed to the point video … I have been struggling (4 K vids have become impossible to edit) with my 2014 MacBook Pro i5 although have been able to roll out about 100 videos.. My question is will the M3 Air 16GB be enough for Adobe Premiere Pro or I need to use DVResolve … I am on a budget and would like to see if my work can be done with the MBA … many thanks in advance and I have subbed you bro. ❤ love from Toronto

[@darkpixel_1]

I have the same question. Should I go for Air M2 16gb for photo editing/light video editing? I am worried about the temperature, will I stress the machine too much? Is 13inch enough for photo editing?

[@mattchungz]

Thanks for the sub! The M3 Air 16g will be enough. My M2 16gb Air has been keeping up with my editing and I run my own video business full time, so I'm doing client work. I've taken it on work trips and edited in flight, hotel, you name it and it's kept up. The editing I do is pretty light work, no fancy transitions or effects. Multi cam setup with even a few audio tracks. Typical testimonials, case studies, etc. So for something like a KZbin video, it'll handle without problems. I've edited a couple of my YT videos on my Air without issues. Of course if you throw on things like a noise reduction effect, it won't playback but not even my M2 Pro Mac Mini can do it. Think you need the Max or Ultra chips on a Mac Studio or Pro to do that level of heavy lifting. I haven't used Premiere on my Air though as I've switched to DVR but I don't see why there would be any issues if DVR is running smoothly.

[@mattchungz]

Yep it'll be enough for photo and light video editing. I do it with mine and have no issues. Though, my Air is NOT my main editing machine. I only use it to edit on the go but I've never ran into issues with it. It's always kept up with me and my work. I run a video business full time and so I do client work. Taken my Air with me on work trips and edited with no issues. I haven't even felt my machine get warm enough to be worried.

[@darkpixel_1]

@@mattchungz wow, this was extremely helpful from you!! After hours of reading reviews and watching yt videos, your comment made me buy the 16gb Macbook Air!! Thank you so much!!

[@NodesofTravel]

@@mattchungz many thanks 🙏 and really appreciate your kind reply

[@d4v1d_2_3]

Hello. New to this Macbook Air (and Apple) world : what are the best softwares for video editing? Thanks!

[@mattchungz]

Hey there, welcome. You should check out my other video where I do a comparison of the top 3 video editing softwares. That should be pretty helpful for you.

[@simonchu998]

I newly purchase a macbook pro m4 pro and use Capcut to export 4k 30 fps video. For a 6 min video , it take 4 to 5 min. Vs your case, 2 min to export 6 min. I wonder why my macbook take that much longer ? software issue?

[@oyeranay]

wtf bro

[@bocchicchiotwo]

Im trading in my m1 macbook air and my mac mini m1 towards s new computer. Im not going to get the base model m2 air cause my m1 is not the base model i manly going to use it for photo and video work like you said. The m2 would be great for editing on and i would agree w u. How is the m2 going Is it still worth getting now

[@mattchungz]

If it’s going to be your main machine to edit on, I’d get something a bit beefier like the Pro chip just to handle a bit heavier lifting if needed. Though the M3 MacBook Air is expected to be announced in a few months. My M2 Air still holds it down but I only do basic light editing on it like cuts and grading. Anything heavier like graphics or multi layer clips, I use my M2 Pro Mini

[@priyankmehra532]

​@@mattchungzI am also planning to buy the M2 Macbook Air with 16 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD. Wont this be any slower than the M1 MacBook Air, due to, as many people are claiming, it having a slower SSD speeds because it has to create a swap in the SSD once the RAM is full! So will 16 GB RAM solve this problem? (If at all this problem exists)

[@mattchungz]

The swap happens when you run out of RAM, so upgrading your RAM will prevent it. The more RAM you have the better especially when you have a project editing off a lot of footage. Minimum 16gb should be okay but really depends on your work. Between the M1 and M2, if the M1 machine has the same amount of RAM then the performance difference comes down to the chip performance decoding and transcoding. The M1 is still very capable.

[@Eddy_bella]

Hey matt, i wanted to purchase the APPLE MacBook Air 13'', Chip M2, 8 CPU 8 GPU, 256GB, (2022), midnight for my video editing because I have a KZbin channel and some of my videos is about 1 hour long while some are 15 minutes long videos . But seeing this review got me more confused.

[@mattchungz]

What made you more confused? Also, opt for minimum 16gb ram if you're video editing.

[@edgargarciahernandez2476]

Ehat about Mac book air m3? Or shall I do mac book pro m2

[@mattchungz]

The M3 Air is worth the extra money for the dual monitor support and Wifi 6e. Barely any performance difference over the M2. The base M2 Pro is not worth it in my opinion. At the end of the day, just make sure you don’t stick with the base 8gb of RAM and upgrade to a minimum 16gb

[@edgargarciahernandez2476]

@@mattchungz so m3? With 16gb?

[@mattchungz]

Yeah between the 2. If you’re editing heavy videos and it’s your job, I’d go with something beefier. If you’re editing videos for fun or on the side, the Air can hold it down

[@Liveeachdaytothefullest]

The only thing I hate about my new M2 MacBook Air is basically the screen and ram. Only the 8 GB model was on sale :( . Maximum brightness is only 500 nits but MacBook Pro regular brightness is 1000 nits! Also no HDR and no mini LED. I'll will suck it up for 6 months to save my money and get a pro. I want to do video editing sand photo editing for myself as a hobby but on my Air is just not possible.

[@mattchungz]

You're stretched at 8gb of ram, regarding everything else such as screen brightness and all, you're not wrong but also they're not needs. How I know, I run my own video business and do video professionally full time. I've taken my M2 Air on work trips, editing on the plane, in the hotel, you name it. If I can edit professional 4K videos for my corporate clients on this machine, it's more than enough for you to do video and photo editing as a hobby. Would I get the Pro? Absolutely and for all the luxury features you mentioned, but also for more performance. But only if it makes sense for me. If you can save up, go for it, the Pro is 100% better....but you can't say it's not possible on the Air.

[@Alex_Edits85]

The only thing that I’m video editing is the insta360 studio it’s seems simple not so complicated as Final Cut ect .. would I be okay ?

[@mattchungz]

Yeah I think this machine should handle it without any issues

[@Alex_Edits85]

@@mattchungz thanks bro ! Appreciate you !

[@mattchungz]

No man, I appreciate YOU! Thanks for the support, comments, and subscribing 🙏

[@jactrann]

Hi Matt! I’m so glad I came across your video. I’ve been looking at the base model MBP but a MBA with upgraded RAM seems to make more sense for my situation. Would you recommend upgrading storage or is working off a SSD a better solution? (I am one of those people who have multiple tabs opened so I’ll be stopping that! 😅) Thanks for being to the point in your videos!

[@mattchungz]

Thanks for stopping by, glad it was helpful. I would always recommend upgrading your ram when purchasing your Mac since you can’t upgrade in the future. Storage, get whatever you can afford after upgrading your ram. Cause yeah you can work off SSDs, which is what I do.

[@Screwhdz]

I want to get a MacBook for video editing. Mainly to make content for a business on social media. Also just starting out in the video editing world lol. So would you say MacBook Air 16gb ram & 512 SSD is good?

[@mattchungz]

Yup that should be fine to start out with. I have been creating videos for businesses full time and I’m still using my MacBook Air in this video and it’s holding up fine for me.

[@TboRang812]

Is it 13 inch or 15 inch Mac book air

[@mattchungz]

Mine is the 13”

[@uditkarn1193]

Is MacBook Air M3 8/256gb good enough for video editing on premiere pro?

[@mattchungz]

Depends on what you’re editing and the footage you’re working with. For most cases, it should be enough but with a beefy editing software, I would recommend going minimum 16gb of ram

[@SocialLizy]

Hey bro is this laptop good for graphic designer.

[@mattchungz]

I’m not much of a graphic designer but I would imagine it would hold up since it does pretty well for video editing

[@anakinskywalker6748]

Hey brother. I’m debating whether to grab the air or pro. My main purpose is to do some edits like Star Wars or marvel edits for the fun of it. I intend to use the adobe premiere or any adobe software. Which would you recommend

[@mattchungz]

I think if that's all you're doing, the Air is more than enough. Unless you're going to repurpose the footage with some intense VFX but just basic editing like cutting and stuff, the Air will get the job done. Still upgrade the RAM to 16gb minimum though. Even if you're going to edit videos here and there or in the long run with your own footage, the Air can hold it down. You really only need the Pro when you start doing some advanced editing and VFX. Keep in mind that the base Pro isn't even worth looking at cause it's only 8gb of RAM so automatically tack on the cost of upgrading the RAM to a minimum 16gb as a starting price for the Pro. Hope that helps

[@DreamingForOllg]

@@mattchungz Do you think it's worth a 8gb 512 SSD ?

[@DreamingForOllg]

MacBook Air m3

[@mattchungz]

@@DreamingForOllg Depends what you are editing but if you're doing graphic design, video editing, etc, I would recommend minimum 16gb of memory. 512gb SSD is enough because you can always use an external SSD.

[@PhantasusRex]

Hi Matt thank you for this video. Very helpful. Do you have any experience on how the M2 Air handels Fusion in Davinci. Resolve and when effects are applied to the Clips in the timeline? Does the playback get choppy?

[@mattchungz]

Glad it was helpful. I don’t have Fusion experience unfortunately. In regards to effects, playback will get choppy because I can’t even playback on my M2 Pro Mac Mini without it being choppy. I’d recommend either working with proxies or render the clips with effects. Just pay attention to where your cache is being saved cause rendering will eat up storage.

[@PhantasusRex]

@@mattchungz Wow. Thx so much for this detailed answer! You really answered all my questions and gave me on top some very useful tips and considerations! Really Sir Thank you very much! Much love from Germany :)

[@mattchungz]

@@PhantasusRex Glad I can help! Thanks for watching

[@michaelpapas2855]

m3 for sure ……………..should i get the final cut pro logic to have for light editing

[@mattchungz]

M3 has a slight performance boost but I think it’s more efficient. With the other upgrades like dual monitor support and wifi 6e, I think it’s worth the price difference. I haven’t used Pro Logic so I can’t really comment on it

[@hazellebohol5435]

I’m thinking to upgrade my macbook 2020 to the 2024 m3 16gb 256gb ssd, I usually just edit vlogs as a hobby and not professionally. Outside from that just school stuff (word, excel, …) Do you think these specs are good for this? Any tips for external storage?

[@mattchungz]

@hazellebohol5435 Yeah I think it'll be good for your use case. For external storage, many people that edit videos, myself included, use Samsung T7 SSD drives. I store all my assets in my T7 drives and edit right from them and I haven't had issues with them.

[@hazellebohol5435]

@@mattchungz then it’s decided, thank you so much! I will take a look at the drives you recommended as well 😊

[@nazismail2436]

Hey Matt you got yourself a new subscriber here! Appreciate the input on this. I have a question, would the basic be sufficient enough for simple editing on LR and creative works on Canva? Mainly focused towards light photo editing, web surfing and office works.

[@mattchungz]

Thanks for subscribing! Base Air is enough for basic tasks and photo editing. Now that the M3 model is out, for the extra money, go for it. The about the tiny performance boost but more so the support for 2 external monitors and Wifi 6e. Hope that helps!

[@sejaldahake2745]

Will M2 Air 8GB/256GB be enough to edit 4K/1080 videos on Final Cut Pro?

[@mattchungz]

I would always recommend minimum 16gb

[@JAToch-pq7kh]

Does it not lack when you edit 4k videos on the m2 with just 8 GB ram?

[@mattchungz]

I would imagine having only 8gb of RAM would be pretty limiting and that your Mac would probably use a lot of swap memory. There are videos out there I’ve seen people editing 4K videos with the base Air and seemed to hold up with basic stuff. Mine is upgraded to 16gb though which I think is the bare minimum.

[@JAToch-pq7kh]

@@mattchungz thanks for your response i definitely agree with you too bad i can't upgrade my gb then i would have to buy a new mac. Luckily I only edit short-form video in 4k for social media like tiktok that should work then

[@mattchungz]

Yes if it’s just short form videos it should be fine. Though when you’re throwing a lot of graphics like captions, sound effects, images, etc on the screen, your editor will start to use a lot of memory. Once it hits the limit, it’ll start using your SSD for memory and that will put a strain on your SSD. So just be mindful of that cause you don’t want to open your MacBook one day and your SSD is fried and you didn’t back anything up

[@JAToch-pq7kh]

Wauw thanks, this is so helpful! I did have the rainbow wheel the other day probably because of editing and some tabs open maybe upgrade to a 16gb now it can still be done within the return period@@mattchungz

[@katrinanalzaro5205]

Hi sir, i really need your advice. Should i get M2 macbook pro 13 inch with 8-10 core 24GB RAM/1TB SSD or; M2 Macbook pro 14 inch with 10-16 core 16GB RAM/512 SSD Thank you so much 🙇🏼‍♀️🙇🏼‍♀️🙇🏼‍♀️🙇🏼‍♀️🙇🏼‍♀️ im doing freelance video editing

[@mattchungz]

It really comes down to a couple of factors: What editing software you're using and the type of editing you'll be doing. If you're doing more all around editing and not focusing as much on motion graphics and VFX, I think the 13" MBP option should be sufficient and having the 24gb of RAM and 1tb SSD will help big time. Though if you are doing more VFX and motion graphics, having the extra cores will help. 16gb of RAM is a minimum to have when editing 4K. In my experience, DaVinci Resolve has even gone as high as using 12gb of RAM in some of my edits so I'd imagine for others with more complex workflows, it can easily max out the 16gb. So I think if you are doing more general edits, the 13" option with the 24gb of RAM and 1tb SSD will be more than enough as you'd be leveraging the extra memory and storage far more than the extra CPU/GPU cores. If you're doing more graphics and VFX, I don't even think the 10 and 16 cores would be a big enough difference from the 8-10 option, you'd probably want to go as high as the 40 core GPU option especially if doing client work. Hope that helps!

[@katrinanalzaro5205]

@@mattchungz it really helped a lot. Im more confident in my decision to go with the 13”. Thank you so much! 😊

[@MartaBrzozka]

Hi which one will be ok for editing and uploading KZbin video It should last me few years

[@shimondaniel]

I think FCP would perform even better at editing because it must be well optimized for editing as its Apple's own software, right?

[@mattchungz]

You would think, but not necessarily. While editing I didn’t notice any difference since DVR performs pretty smoothly anyways. So the only other way to test is export times and surprisingly, I get much faster export times on DVR than I do on FCP in almost all cases.

[@shimondaniel]

@@mattchungz damn, so like if we're gonna edit on DVR, windows would be much better? Window's Price to performance would be better I suppose.

[@mattchungz]

There’s a lot of variables with a Windows machine cause of all the different configurations you can have. I think the Windows vs Mac argument ultimately comes down to what you’re using the machine for. There isn’t a straight answer indicating one is overall better than the other. I built a custom PC and still have it but actually never use it.

[@YouTubeVictor]

Should i buy ... 16gb m2 pro ? Or 16gb m3 air

[@mattchungz]

I’d go with the M2 Pro. When the M2 Pro is compared to the M3 Pro, the M2 Pro is still better than the M3 Pro in performance whereas the M3 Pro is more efficient. So between the M2 Pro and the base M3, go with the M2 Pro. Better GPU performance if you’re using it for editing.

[@osamaibrahim6880]

macbook pro m3 8gb ram and 512 or air 16gb ram and 512 for a graphic designer and is it a big difference?

[@mattchungz]

I’d go with air more ram. The pro base is the same M3 so other than better features on the Pro, you’re getting better performance with more Ram from the Air

[@anoopsharma1329]

Brother am gonna buy 24 gb ram and 1 tb apple MacBook air is it good for video editing?

[@mattchungz]

Depends what you’re editing but should be good

[@kessashienaestoque7479]

@@mattchungz what if editing podcast videos?

[@mchungcinematography]

@@kessashienaestoque7479 for podcast videos, the Air can handle it. Just upgrade your RAM.

[@DeepakThakurr]

bro can you help me should i buy MacBook air m2 its good for me I'm a graphic designer and motion editor and video editor should i buy?

[@mattchungz]

For graphic design and motion editing, I think you should go Pro. Don’t know if the Air will keep up

[@DeepakThakurr]

@@mattchungz okay thanks

[@JulzzmZnapclipz]

Macbook Air M3 8GB 256GB can edit 4K video?

[@mattchungz]

Bump up your RAM to minimum 16gb, if you can go for more RAM it would be better

[@tibo2090]

should I choose an M2 AIR 15 inch 24GB/512 for €1849 or an M3 AIR 15 inch 16GB/512 for €2059? only for photography and youtube in the background

[@mattchungz]

M2 with more ram, my personal opinion

[@godsguided]

Just wish the air came with a SD slot !

[@mattchungz]

Seriously

[@dudleygb45]

can the m3 16gb/512gb air edit 8k home videos, does anyone know?

[@mattchungz]

Not sure about 8k but you can probably find videos out there of people testing 8k footage. I think it should be able to handle it but also depends on how long the clips are, how long of a video you’re cutting, etc.

[@BiomeTanki]

Hey bro I have question for you @mattchungz. If I have a macbook air m3 with 16gb of ram and using DaVinci Resolve for like edits for a game. Usually I just do some cuts, basic color correction, and a few open FX effects. Do you think it will lag or stop working like my 2018 Intel I5 which never exports properly? Another question: If I like turn down graphics to minimum on my game, do you think my Built in Macbook Screen recorder for M3 Air will drop my game fps? Also I subbed your videos are awesome unlike the other channels that just yap forever and not to point. Thank you so much for your video!

[@mattchungz]

@StyleTanki Thanks for the sub and glad my videos are helpful! For the Macbook Air M3 with 16gb, it should be enough for cuts and color grading on DVR. But, with FX applied, you're likely going to lag on playback if you don't render. Even my M2 Pro lags with FX applied like noise reduction. What you can do is render the specific clips with FX and it should play smoothly. Unless you already have auto rendering on where DVR will render your whole timeline as you edit. I disable this because the rendered cache files eat up your SSD storage fast. So I only render specific clips that have FX applied if I absolutely need to. Otherwise, I apply the effect, disable the node that has the effect, and playback. I'll enable the node to turn on the effect when I'm ready to export. Regarding gaming and fps, sorry but I don't think I can help you there since I don't game on my Macs and haven't tried. In my opinion from what I know though, you'll probably get frame drops because screen recorders use up a good amount of graphic performance. I know cause I've seen export times when exporting videos go really slow if I'm recording my screen so I would imagine a game would be impacted too.

[@BiomeTanki]

@@mattchungz thank you so much for those awesome tips. I wish you continued success on youtube!

[@BiomeTanki]

​@@mattchungz Also like if my Mac Book M3 Air heats up do you think it is safe to put a like cold towel under the bottom because when I edit on my mac book 2018 air now its super HOT and I do that so it helps with export times.

[@Avm371998]

Would you recommend the macbook air m2 15 inch 16gb ram or the macbook pro m3 base model? They're about the same price.

[@mattchungz]

If you’re not doing heavy visual intensive stuff, go with the Air. It’s good for low to medium editing: cuts, grading, audio. When you start to work with multilayers, graphics, visual effects, I’m sure the Air will fall behind. But at that point you should be looking at the Mac and Ultra chips. Plus with the base MacBook Pro, you’re getting 8gb of RAM. With video editing I’ll always recommend minimum 16gb

[@mr_red13]

For video editing 4K iPhone footage (for a KZbin series), would you recommend the M3 Air (16/512)? My workflow: Using Logic Pro to record audio while talking and then import iPhone footage to Final Cut to edit a 45 min footage into 10 min video with basic editing and throwing up PS5 gameplay as a backdrop. I’d really appreciate your insight considering you’re very knowledgeable on this subject matter. I’m really interested in the 15” Air since the 14” Pro has a smaller display. I do not intend to use external monitors. What do you recommend? If 14” is more viable then i guess I’d have to look at the refurb section. My budget is within $1600.

[@mattchungz]

If you don’t intend to use an external monitor then yeah no brainer to go with the 15”! Editing iPhone footage, the M3 Air is more than enough. And yes go with 16gb of ram

[@joanhelsen5251]

Is it worth to wait for the M3 air because now there is Black Friday and I found a good discount on the M2 air with 16 GB ram and 512 ssd

[@joanhelsen5251]

And I’m going to learn video editing

[@mattchungz]

I’d say the BF deal, since you’re getting a deal and with upgraded memory and storage. Versus waiting for the M3 and having to pay more for marginal performance gains between the 2 chips

[@dyantari5216]

Hi can macbook air M2 use to edit RAW video?

[@mattchungz]

I don’t see why it wouldn’t be able to handle RAW video but I think for performance it could depend on the type of RAW you are using. Apple M chips have a media engine that handles Apple’s ProRes RAW easily. So if you’re handling ProRes, it’ll have no problems. If not, you can also convert to ProRes. I don’t have enough experience handling RAW video files yet to have tested it.

[@grantsmall_Ngenious]

Very helpful video thank you.

[@mattchungz]

Glad it was helpful

[@theghobadiart]

Thanksssss❤

[@mattchungz]

Glad it was helpful

[@Idonotexist-k4l]

i just wanted to see the video editing, that i do i can do it on an ipad 10😅😅

[@mattchungz]

Thanks for stopping by. I have a video where I do 4k editing on my iPad Air 4 with the A14 chip lol

[@rafadydkiemmacha7543]

Yeah, 10% faster CPU will for sure make such a difference 🙄

[@Guironey]

thxxxxx

[@mattchungz]

Yessirrrr

[@purplepeeler9955]

hey man, do you need a thumbnail desginer

[@JrC123_00]

Or it can't do 1440p monitors. Scaling looks like shit. It's absolutely crazy.