Why the M2 MacBook Air remains the laptop KING!

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In my latest long-term review of the Midnight M2 MacBook Air, I reveal why I think it's the best laptop out there. Dive in and find out what my reasoning is for this, and be sure to get involved in the comments, too!
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CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
01:03 - Trend Micro
02:24 - Careful owner
04:21 - One-handed operation
05:32 - Powerful little beast
06:51 - Should you wait for the M3?

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Got an M2 MacBook Air? What's your favourite and least favourite thing about it?

[@djwalkerfemaledj]

Got MacBook Air m2 last July I like the shape, screen , battery life and keyboard ❤

[@MT_20_24]

@@djwalkerfemaledj Question ? How does the mba m2 16gb of ram 512 ssd does with light or heavy video editing ?

[@frontgaming7672]

I got a midnight m2 MacBook and it has soo premium looks just love it!

[@arkantochiron]

I have the base M2 Macbook Air. I am not a programmer, video editor, or gamer, and this machine is just perfect for my daily tasks. I absolutely love the design, display, and portability. I also believe the keyboard is quite improved from the M1 Air. Overall, I'll need no upgrades for several years to come.

[@phillipjames453]

Thank You! That's all I need to know.

[@jlordalmighty5352]

Same I purchased mines last week. I'm satisfied great machine.

[@kwmulligan]

Yep me too..I'm a new mac user coming from chromebooks and windows..Best Buy had them for $899, scooped one up!

[@irensaga561]

M1 MacBook Air is still the one for me. My friend just got an M2 Air, and it looks very nice, and has MagSafe (I miss MagSafe), but the M1 has never let me down, and is still so so snappy.

[@zchovan]

This is where I am at as well! If they truly announce a 15" M2 Air at WWDC, though, I may seriously consider that, though. But at the same time, why bother when this one is still perfect for me? A bigger screen would indeed be nice, though.......

[@renzzz1908]

M2 and M1 are basically the same, except the design. The base M1 is also a bit faster than M2 so I guess you're fine.

[@georgecollins3482]

I use my M2 Air (8 gb-256g) for extensive photo editing with Adobe apps and Luminar Neo, and have never had a problem. I use an external Thunderbolt SSD for photo storage because it was cheaper than Apple's upgraded internal option. So, unless you need to do heavy video work, I think the M2 Air is perfect.

[@JustinHarwood-ni5mm]

Love reading this. I'm heavily debating the base M2 Air. I am a no-code wed designer/builder so I use Chrome a lot, and then for photo editing/mockups I use Figma. I feel like the 8gb/256gb with an external SSD should be plenty, but for some reason I am second guessing myself like crazy here.

[@ashtonlagreenia6114]

​@@JustinHarwood-ni5mmyes but do note that one you upgrade the ram to 16gb and SSD to 512gb, you're nearing the MacBook Pro 14 (M2 Pro base) model which would be more worth it with faster memory bandwidth, mini led screen, pro motion screen, fan cooling and thunderbolt 4 ports. So I'd rather either the base air or base pro. Apple is clever in their upgrade rungs to make you spend more. And seriously, for the price they charge to 512, I could get a external Samsung T7 1TB SSD and is also safer in case of motherboard failure. So in my opinion, don't waste your hard earned money on upgrades especially in this economy. Just get the base model. If you want more performance, get the base MacBook Pro 14. Ive always been buying the base storage options on Mac, iPhones etc....also reduces the depression loss on trade in. Me personally, I got the base pro 14 as I like promotion. Never do storage upgrades on aplny apple device. Choose by the model like air or upgrade to pro.....So hope it helped your decision.

[@ashtonlagreenia6114]

​​@@JustinHarwood-ni5mmyes but do note that once you upgrade the ram to 16gb and SSD to 512gb, you're nearing the MacBook Pro 14 (M2 Pro base) model which would be more worth it with faster memory bandwidth, mini led screen, pro motion screen, fan cooling and thunderbolt 4 ports. So I'd rather either the base air or base pro. Apple is clever in their upgrade rungs to make you spend more. And seriously, for the price they charge to 512, I could get a external Samsung T7 1TB SSD and is also safer in case of motherboard failure and can connect to iPad / iPhone (15 series with usb C) to access files. So in my opinion, don't waste your hard earned money on upgrades especially in this economy. Just get the base model. If you want more performance, get the base MacBook Pro 14. Ive always been buying the base storage options on Mac, iPhones etc....also reduces the depreciation loss on trade in. Me personally, I got the base pro 14 as I like promotion. Never do storage upgrades on any apple device. Choose by the model like air or upgrade to pro.....So hope it helped your decision.

[@Joseph-zm6sy]

“I eject them from my life immediately” 😂

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Jokes, obvs. Maybe.

[@emadalposefy]

SO ENGLISH

[@jeffone]

Great video. I have the M2 Air with 16GB RAM and 512 Drive. I LOVE this machine. I wouldn't trade it for anything!

[@mikerisner]

I bought the base M2 Air shortly after its release even though you and Max Tech had noticed the hamstrung storage configuration of the base model. My use for the Air is basic. For pedestrian uses, it is terrific. While it might sputter with FCP, it works fine for photo and illustration apps. I can even throw together simple, low-rez videos easily. My Mac Studio handles the heavy stuff for me. And yeah, walking around with the Air is quite easy.

[@PLANETWATERMELON]

Love the videos. Great information and the humor is fantastic. Cheers.

[@tapiokuusisto4780]

Agree. Mine is 16/512. ”Normal” laptop things + app development/xcode. Perfect laptop for me.

[@markslima1557]

i've worked with apple products and used them for decades. right when they were released last year i picked up a midnight m2 macbook air, 1tb drive, 16gb ram. this is one of those legend computers that will define apple for years. absolutely love the stealth, low-key look of the macbook air - no branding other than the imprinted apple logo on the lid. i use mine for a ton of different purposes, and it is without fail excelling at all of them. yes i could get a fat 16" macbook pro, yes more power, but my priority for laptops is portability and flexibility, and nothing compares to putting my air in my messenger bag and not feeling anything there, incredible.

[@cherylelinsmith743]

Have you done video editing on the 13 inch M2 Air? I'm going to sign up for the Apple Store cinematic video class, and maybe get a video editing program. I suck at doing videos, I'm better with photos. My first laptop, and I love it. I'm used to Windows desktops. I used to build my own web pages for a site I had.

[@gregheyheyhey]

I'm someone who dithered about buying one, but followed your guidance about RAM and SSD capacity and bought a 16/512GB M2 Air. I *love* it. It's the best laptop I've ever used, Mac or PC. The keyboard is fantastic. Chrome flies, no matter how many tabs I have open. Start-up is almost instantaneous. I pair it with my 12.9 iPad Pro and Sidecar works beautifully. I wish I had done it sooner. My least favorite thing is that I wish the notch at the front to open the lid were a little less sharp. I have big hands and my wrist digs in a little bit. Totally worth it, though. I wish I could use it as my daily work driver, but I'm required to use a Dell, which is just abysmal. FWIW, I also saved some money by buying a refurb, and it was totally the way to go. And no, Mark did not pay me to write this

[@tennesseetom8687]

Mark, really enjoy your reviews! I had a base level 2017 MacBook Pro for just over 6 years and recently purchased an M2 MacBook Air. I love this computer! For me, it is the screen, awesome keyboard, and the incredible battery life.

[@GarryBurgess]

yeah, I agree 100%. I will get this 15" model soon.

[@dgutie8]

Always enjoy your posts, very useful information. I have the M2 MacBook Air, Midnight. Bumped up to 16gb. Love it!

[@blues5482]

great review!

[@Richard_Barnes]

Being impatient I wanted mine quick so I got the 8Gb and 512Gb set up. I love it. Easily does what I need it to and the battery life is so good. I'll never do anything that works it hard but for portability and all things M2, it is really good. Quite the upgrade from my 2013 MacBook Air 😉

[@zainichia]

Same! I was really stuck between paying for the 16GB upgrade or not. But then an Amazon had a great discount on the stock 8GB RAM + 512GB SSD model and I just went for it and have not been disappointed. The responsiveness, speed and efficiency of this laptop is so good, and the swap does it’s job perfectly that it’s really seamless. Have not bumped into any issues yet (I do a bit of programming and data science, but nothing too heavy). The thin/light design + battery life + display: so much to love about this laptop

[@DanMills7]

I have the M2 Air with 24 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, and I am able to run Windows 11 in VMware Fusion with NO ISSUES! (I don’t game on Windows - just for productivity reasons) All while still running my other macOS software. I so appreciate this little machine!

[@arielspalter7425]

Didn’t it make more sense to you to buy the MBP 14” which is about the same price?

[@DanMills7]

@@arielspalter7425 Good question, but for the type of computing I do which is largely personal productivity and “utilities,” a MBP would have been overkill. The additional upside, is that I have killer battery life compared to the MBP, even on light loads. The only thing I miss, and it almost got me to buy the MBP, is that beautiful display…

[@cuve_ae]

I pair my base M2 MBA with a base M1 iPad Air for college. Amazing combo, no complaints.

[@MrDos22]

Just want to say i have no Apple products but love you talk about them and just your general chat

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thank you!

[@andresorvananos]

I changed my MacBook Pro 14" for the MacBook Air 16GB and 512SSD and loved it. The difference in weight really makes a difference. I always found the Pro too heavy to move around all day and travel a lot.

[@paymans1153]

Just got my M2 MBA Space Grey 16GB Ram, 1TB SSD and that thing is a beauty and it flies compared to my base M1 MBA!

[@SoftwareManiacLSM]

Great. I upgraded from m1 to m2 air and agree with your review!

[@vincentleong9701]

I still don't understand why most reviewers just expect the MacBook Air to do any creative work. I am pretty sure that the target market for this MacBook Air is students. But as soon as you start to spec up this MacBook, then just get the 14-inch pro instead. Thanks for making this video, this is the true honest review of this MacBook

[@keenesaulcrescini8687]

100% Agree! Bought mine last year with a 512SSD + 16RAM and it is the best ever!

[@asan1050]

Mark Ellis ..Thanks Much !.......💣

[@Wokiis]

The portability factor is indeed what's amazing. I can pick this up almost as effortlessly as an ipad which results in me using it more often. Regarding the M2. I think the explanation here becomes confusing. Probably the intent was to keep it simple and not start talking about SSD swap speed which presumably is the problem, but if I knew nothing of the situation I would have further questions. The chip is fine afaik and compared to an Intel generational jump it was above expectations + we got added functionality with the ProRes engine. Furthermore I do think you should clinically try to reproduce the video editing problem on the base M1 vs base M2 MBA. That could be content. Since the M2 has a prores engine and higher clock speeds, better GPU etc, I think most people assume it's better. Maybe it's not. Could also be interesting to compare the difference on the upgraded 16GB variants of each model and see how much exactly the tables turn. As always great to hear your take!

[@aalexis3]

I purchased the 512gb / 16gb one after watching your videos last year, and also an iPad mini 6. I think as an average user, I have my computing devices needs covered for the next ten years easily. Thank you for your work and amazing videos. Keep it real for the average consumer please. You are probably the last one left.

[@delerium62]

Definitely agree! I've had my M2/16gb/512gb for about 4 months now, after using Microsoft/Windows for about 30 years (yes, the agony!). I thought of the base model for about 5 seconds, and just couldn't do it - years of under-powered Windows machines will do that to you! The M2 has been an absolute delight, taking everything I throw at it. I do the occasional video "editing" (basically combined clips and maybe some removing of sections) that I've used iMovie for at the moment (FCP seems overkill right now). Processing of those videos just flys! Best of all: no noise, no constant update nagging, no Microsoft BS. I've banished MS completely, giving up on Office an dusing Apple's native apps. Absolutely the best decision I've eve made - tech-wise.

[@edcipriani8873]

@delerium62 - Can I ask a stupid question, I am not tech savvy, how easy is it to run windows on a macbook? I have a good windows laptop now, but might keep the option open to get another Macbook down the road.

[@delerium62]

​@@edcipriani8873 I don't run Windows on my Macbook, mainly becuase I still have my Windows laptop (there was nothing wrong with it, but Microsoft gave it an end-of-life- date by not allowing it to upgrade to Win11, even though it's from 2018, and works perfectly!). There are a few software solutions to run Windows in a virtual machine, the most common one being Parallels, which is also officially supported by Microsoft.

[@louisefindlay23]

@@edcipriani8873 Parallels makes it really easy to run Win 11 on a Mac. They guide you through the installation process (no installation media needed) and there's different modes so you can run both OSes side by side or make it like a Windows machine all the time.

[@cherylelinsmith743]

Yes me too, been a Windows user since 1999 with Windows 98. This is my first laptop, and I love it. I got this one cause I have the iPhone 13 Pro, so thought they would sink together well. I like the fact, that when I take a photo with iPhone it automatically goes onto my laptop. Same with text messages, back and forth. I got the Silver color.

[@jimtipton8888]

My 16” M1 Max is still amazing, but yes to the size comment you made is accurate. Daily out the door device is the M1 12.9 iPad Pro. Love a lot about the iPad but some of the limitations are frustrating. The mobility is amazing. When the time comes to replace the iPad, this might be the solution. Dollar to dollar I think the Air seems the better value.

[@NazmulIslam-tp1qs]

I have the base model M2 air and it works a treat! I use for general computing stuff and photo editing so can’t fault it.

[@guycortesi]

Mark - I have the M2 MacBook Air 8GB / 512GB in Midnight. I really like the color, weight and performance. I’d probably benefit from 16GB RAM, but didn’t want to special order one. The 512GB SSD one was in stock and I thought I’d also benefit from more storage than 256GB. (I was correct). Adding an external SSD to the laptop is not really practical. I even use it with Parallels with Windows 11 and it works fine with only 8GB RAM as long as I keep an eye on memory pressure. I just close most other apps when using Parallels / Windows. All Mac apps I use run great on this laptop. Ironically, I do find myself sometimes tying to touch the screen to scroll just like I do with my M1 iPad with the Magic Keyboard. Sometimes I wish Apple would add a touch screen just for that reason. I also like the new shape of the MacBook Air M2, since it is very thin over the entire device when closed. I really like the MagSafe connector too. With respect to dislikes, I find the color lends itself to serious fingerprints, but have learned to just ignore them. I also wish it had ports on both the left and right sides. Four ports would be great, but one on each side would still be better then both on the one side. I thought I’d be bothered by the notch, but that is only a problem when startup icons disappear from view. I have learned to disable some icons from view such as Bluetooth and WiFi. I have owned a number of laptops over the years and the M2 MacBook Air is my favorite. It feels a lot like the “Goldilocks” version - just right.

[@Uptownv]

I absolutely love the matte midnight color. I am going to buy it for that alone. I don’t care if it smudges.

[@Wanted797]

Opening the laptop with one hand because it’s a perfectly balanced is a MacBook thing. I absolutely love it. I hate that my work Thinkpad doesn’t do this. You notice it when you have to go back to a non Mac.

[@Hawtload]

I do photoshop, lightroom, and final cut, and I think this is the best laptop ever made especially for the size/weight/portability.

[@AMCarter33]

Good review. I am ready to buy a MB Air M2 but could not find the buying guide you referred to. Could you tell me how to find it please?

[@bigman8733]

Got a 2 week used base model M2 Air from best buy for under 900 and it’s been really great for my main office computer. I have a 13900K 4090 beast pc at home, so if there’s anything crazy I need to do I do it on there at home so it’s a perfect combo!

[@absolute_tk]

Totally agree!😎

[@patrickcallahan2885]

Well, I spec’d mine with the 8/10 core, 16gb ram, and 512gb SSD as you said, and it is the best laptop I’ve ever owned! When I really considered the price versus the base 14” Pro, I was within $300. However, for my workflow, I do not need the MBP, I work in an office environment. This upscale MBA is perfect….

[@RVNmedic]

OK. I'm convinced. 16g and 512SSD. Thanks for the help!

[@macplash]

Which size of that case you recommend exactly? There are 13 and 13,3 options.

[@melonella81]

I'm a new Apple user: I bought my first MacBook when the M2 Air came out. Got the Midnight Blue, 16GB, 1TB. It's the best computer I've ever had! So powerful, user friendly and so elegant! I love it!

[@javtimestwo]

The midnight color is 🔥I purchased the basic model and occasionally I do notice that my activity monitor does turn orange in the graph. Which is disappointing. That was happening last week but this week that problem has vanished. I'm sure if I upgraded to the specs you mentioned that would not occur but then again the upgrade in specs would have been out of my budget. What is a customer to do? This is a great machine for the average/casual user and the wrong laptop for someone who edits videos regularly

[@therigg5241]

i am contemplating buying this laptop heavily, but should i be worried about the screen size? I have above average hands and I am wondering if the keyboard and 13.6 inch screen will seem too small? what say you?

[@Anarcath]

I've had M1 iMac for more than a year. It is the most amazing machine I've ever sat in front of.

[@BrianJones-wk8cx]

It’s a BEAUTIFUL laptop, and had I not purchased my 14” M1 Pro a bit before this came out, I probably would have picked up the M2 Air instead. Oddly enough, my favorite MacBook of all time is still my Early 2016 12” (he says, as a writer, who somehow actually really likes the keyboard). The form factor is absolutely perfect, and with a few tweaks along the way-like using Retina DisplayMenu and editing a few system files to bump resolution to 1920x1200 while remaining land-locked on Big Sur), this machine is often the one I reach for to get work done. It won’t win any foot races, but that form factor is phenomenal and always a joy to use for low-impact computing!

[@ellisz5972]

I got one for my wife, but I use it quite a bit. (M2 Air/16GB/512GB). The surprising thing to me was that it runs circles around my primary work machine (MBP/i9/32GB/1TB). So much so that it's not even a contest.

[@marksaxon]

My wife has the M2 Air with 16GB and 512GB storage and she loves it! The battery life is incredible. She can go a whole week without plugging it in as she uses it for a couple of hours here and there. I'm waiting for the M3 version just because I want to see if Apple does anything different for the ports and if they are going to offer a 15" version. I use my Mac for Logic Pro and I would love to have a 15" Air. I would gladly take a 13" if that rumor is fake. The display on the M2 is amazing. My only nitpick is the keyboard. It does feel a bit hollow and cheap when typing on it. Plus if you are video conferencing, the sound the keyboard makes while typing caught by the mic is annoying. Of course you can mute yourself and problem solved.

[@szumlan2]

hi I have got Macbook Air M1 base model since 2021 and I still happy with them.

[@danielpeti3885]

I replaced my 2015 MacBook Pro 13 with this few months ago. I’ve got a good deal through my uni for the base model. £580. For my needs this laptop is perfect. I have the midnight blue. I don’t do video editing etc so for me this machine is unreal. So light to travel with and the keyboard is fantastic. Battery last for ages. Honestly an average user won’t need anything more powerful than this.

[@steviesmiler]

M2 MBA for the win! 👍🏻 as a normal user (mainly used to watch KZbin etc) I think its a cracking laptop to own.

[@MT_20_24]

Question ? How does the mba m2 16gb of ram 512 ssd does with video editing ?

[@BKMTechReviews]

Hi Mark I have the MacBook Air Standard and find it amazing and does what I want it do like editing, watching KZbin etc had it about 5 months and never let me down I love it...😁👍

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Nice!

[@driven01]

Totally agree with you. Got one of these for my wife for her social media stuff. I ended up using playing with it and then sort of taking it away when I found out it literally blows my 2019 Intel i9 MBP out of the water for video editing and Xcode. I *LOVE* this laptop. (Yes, I have the 16GB/512GB version). To compare that, my i9 has 32GB / 1TB, and it's awful in comparison. The only advantage to my Intel one is that it supports more external displays. Both look fine on my Apple Studio Display. Bonus: I'm typing this message on the M2 MBA. I haven't charged it in days. I still have 61% battery left. Amazing.

[@callmeNeno]

I still love my M1 MacBook Air M1 second tiered one with 8GPU and 512 ssd. Phenomenal machine

[@garycroftsmicroscopy]

I have the base model M2 MacBook Air and yes it works for my videos (youtube hobby) and programming needs I haven’t hit any roadblocks with it. For me its a very affordable all in solution and since i dont keep computers very long (3 years max and i mean max i normally trade in earlier due to shiny syndrome) the base model is reasonably for me budget friendly rather than specking out a high end machine for 3-5 years which is fine in principle but i never seem to keep them that long so it would be a wasted investment for me despite my best intentions. They are very capable, i run Xcode (learning iOS dev) and VSCode for Python data analysis and scraping, sure an extra 8gb of ram would be nice but not essential when rendering video its time for a brew anyway

[@BFree]

I'm still satisfied with my first gen M1 MacBook Pro (16GB/2TB). Video editing could be faster with the new codecs, but my main business is music production and I'm loving my MacBook for just doing everything I can imagine without any issues rapidly fast. I'm using it as a desktop replacement, too. With a 32" inch ProArt, my iPhone as the perfect webcam and all my music gear attached with just a single USB C cable to the monitor, it's absolutely gorgeous. On the road I stopped using it cause of my iPad Pro 11" M2, that can do everything I need on the go including audio recording and finally Logic Pro. So I think I won't need the MacBook Air M2 for a couple of years but maybe it will replace my old MacBook Pro in a few years just for the fun and portability factor…

[@MadMaxx.1977]

Another excellent video, mate. I think you’re right on target with the M2 Air. I love mine the more I use it. Fun video with Patrick, too!

[@kevinmckenna2559]

Agreed!

[@djross95]

Great review as always, Mark! My only issue with this Air is, if you purchase the 16GB/512GB version you recommend, that's $1600. I don't know about you, but that's a bit pricey for a consumer machine. I have a 8GB/256GB M1 Air that I purchased for $799 (admittedly on sale), and I would never "upgrade" to a $1600 model M2. I think I'll wait for the M3 and see what Apple does--perhaps they won't gimp the base model storage speed!

[@johnildineorquejo8285]

What keyboards do you use?

[@thenotoriousstg]

I made the jump from an intel MBP to the M2 Air. I love it. And what made the decision for me between the M1 and M2 was that I didn't like the wedge . Sorry not sorry. This machine handles everything I throw at it. I'm not a power user like everyone on youtube, but I create graphics, I edit audio, I create greeting cards, and I do daily tasks. It's in clamshell mode 95% of the time, but I adore this thing.

[@orangeleatherloop]

got macbook air 15 8/512 silver model for 10% off today!. use it for media consumption, emails, video calls, browsing multiple tabs with no issue!

[@yozoraict]

I have the base version, with icloud+ storage for more storage. Perfect for UIUX and Web Development

[@Yes_Im_Adarsh]

My 16” intel i9 is heating too too much can someone help me why it’s happening

[@louismultimedia2619]

👍🏻👍🏻It's my main computer and I loved 🥳🇨🇦

[@Big_catlaflare]

I purchased a 1tb 24gb m2 MacBook Air and it runs flawlessly with davinci resolve and photoshop. It does heat up a bit when running davinci but it’s not unbearable. The highest I’ve seen the ram usage was at 16.5gb so far

[@mohammedallamy]

I totally great with you. It’s one of the most beautiful laptops , can’t wait to pick up mine. I hope it’s gonna be a good investment for my needs . I gonna use it for checking my mail and surfing the web maybe KZbin’s and some document editing

[@ppi57]

Still using a MacBook 12" from early 2016 for my travel needs (email & browsing)... I'll keep on until it doesn't.

[@something2sea]

Or until apple releases another laptop with a 12-inch display. Lol. I've got a 12-inch too, it's a wonderful machine. But it's silently, fanlessly, crying out for an Apple Silicon chip. Laptops that are defined by the width of the keyboard (12-inch PowerBook; and this 12-inch MacBook too), truly are something special.

[@rocksinger45]

I brought the 512 model of the M2 as you sugested here when it came out almost a year ago and have had absolutely no problem so far ~ Well almost ~ I do get finger prints on my camera every time I open it ~ But thanks to you I see I've been opening it the wrong way ~ I didn't get the black model I found Space Gray easier to live with ~ I guess I'm a clean freak ~ All in all it's turned out to be a good investment ~ I really can't see at this point that a new M3 Mac Book Air would be that big of a jump in Tech to warrant an upgrade ~

[@jebaker2]

Agreed! 🏅

[@RycoonGalloy]

gonna wait till WWDC to buy it, hopefully the price goes down then

[@chriz_SE]

@2:50 Me too hahahahaha

[@cherylelinsmith743]

I just got the M2 MacBook Air with 16 gigs of ram memory, and 512 SSD. storage. This is my first laptop, and I love it. I'm used to Dell desktops with Windows. My last Dell had Windows 7 pro with 2T hard drive, cause I used to have a website and build my own web pages. That's why I upgraded everything besides keeping the 8 core GPU. I also got the Silver color, because of the smudges, and fingerprints on the Midnight or Space Gray. I think the Silver looks elegant. After watching the reviews on the new 15 inch MacBook Air, I'm glad I got the 13 inch one. One of the reviewers compared the sound quality with speakers on both models. He played some heavy metal on both, and although the 15 inch Air was louder, it sounded muffled and garbled to me. I'm going to have Mac class at Apple Soho Store, so will test out the sound on new 15 Air. The 13 inch Air is very portable, and didn't put a strain on my shoulders in the crossbody laptop briefcase.

[@tomburke5311]

Hmm.... the M2 MBA with 16Gb unified memory and 512Gb storage is at least £1649, or £1749 for the version with 10-core GPU. That's a lot of money! There again, the M2 MB Pro 14" base model is even more money - £2149. Wow - when did this happen? (Oh yes, it was early summer 2022, wasn't it.) Or you could buy the M1 MBA with 16Gb unified memory & 512Gb storage for £1349 - that looks like a good deal. I continue to be overjoyed that I went mad and bought an 14" M1 MBPro base model for £1900 in October 2021. More and more that's looking like a great purchase.

[@brunopithon754]

Doubt: Does a 512gb ssd from the m2 have the same speed as the m1? Is the downgrade only in the 256gb version?

[@sudeepgokarakonda]

Would you recommend a base M2 over an M1 with 16GB unified memory (and whose 256 SSD is faster than the M2's) given that both are about the same price? i.e. do the new design, the MagSafe port, and the M2 speed/efficiency improvements outweigh the extra memory and SSD advantage of the older machine?

[@kevink9765]

M2 is more future prof but it’s up to you

[@andyH_England]

The slower SSD speed is only necessary if you constantly transfer files in and out of your machine. The random read and writes on the M2 are faster than the M1, and that is 99% of what your SSDs are used for.

[@DogLover-wg4fx]

i agree

[@itsathejoey]

I bought the M2 Air with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB ssd and it seems to do fine.

[@TheEmrickman]

I think you are right it’s the best right now.. until a 15” model maybe comes out

[@danielwilliams310]

I'm still using my M1 Air - absolutely love it and can't see any reason to upgrade! M2 looks great though :)

[@gregheyheyhey]

My wife broke her M1 Air and while I could have had it repaired, I bought her the M2. She's much happier, and she doesn't care about computers.

[@presymarauder]

I want to play age of empires 2 definitive edition and Diablo 2 resurrected in this laptop using parallels. I know it works well, but my question is without fans can this machine handle those games for 3 to 4 hours?

[@martingifford5415]

A 15" version is coming out in 2 weeks. BTW, I never heard of M2 having trouble with video and being worse than M1. The only problem I heard about was the 256gb having slower write speeds when taxed hard due to having 1 chip instead of 2.

[@andyH_England]

Using a supported codec, the M2 has encoders and decoders that make it much faster than the M1. There is a slowdown if you buy the 8GB model for a lot of editing and non-supported codec, but that is the buyer's mistake as video editing needs a minimum of 16GB, and DaVinci suggests 32GB as the best spec.

[@martingifford5415]

@@andyH_England I just use iMovie for 20 minute videos and M1 base model has zero problems with that. It's incredible when compared to old Intel machines. No noisy fans or uncomfortable heat or slowdowns. It's great that bumping up the ram will make more serious programs work well too.

[@andikunar7183]

Totally Agree - but I had got a 24GB/1TB model (4 months ago). And I got it Apple-refurbished to save a bit of money. Never regretted it! Still not totally sure if Midnight was the right choice - while I LOVE that color, it still smudges a lot. The 24GB enables me to run Lightroom+Photoshop together easily. And I can also use Parallels with Windows, Linux and MacOS VMs. I had MacBook Pros before, but love the Air for it's size/weight and for being totally quiet / fan-less. BUT I still think, if somebody does not need the 24GB RAM or the increased brightness, the 16G M1 MacBook Air (which I had before and sold to a friend who still loves it) is the better choice. One of my in-vain M2 hopes was, that it might be able to run "nested hypervisors" some time - I need/want this for running all Windows functionality (WSL2,...) under Parallels (like I do on my Intel iMac). It might seem tiny, but for me it's a major non-fulfilled M2 feature, which Apple did not yet deliver (it's not a Parallels limitation). Therefore my M1 recommendation, if someone does not need the 24GB or slightly brighter display - the M2 price premium is too high otherwise.

[@presymarauder]

Can macbook air m2 with 16 gb ram and 512 gb ssd handle age of empires 2 De and Diablo 2 resurrected using parallel? I know those games work well with macbook air m2 but without the fans can the laptop handle those games for 3-4 hours? I have a ps4 and planning to get a desktop for other types of games. But some rpg and most rts games require mouse and I'd like to play them on my laptop. I'm almost convinced of this laptop barring heat management for more intense activities for longer periods

[@andikunar7183]

@@presymarauder - sorry, I don‘t game on Windows. I need Windows for Office/Development work. So I can‘t answer this. I DID play the new Firmament game on macOS, and it totally maxed out the machine (specially all GPUs). Was smooth except for one short crazy scene where I don’t know if it was the MacBook or the initial SW-release which were to blame.

[@presymarauder]

@@andikunar7183 Thank you so much. Firmament seems a graphically more intense game than AOE 2 DE. But it is optimized to play natively for MacOS, which AOE 2 or Diablo isn't. But I have hope from your message that macbook air could handle the heat for those aforementioned games. Will research more. Thanks.

[@andrewpeters7737]

M1 MacBook Air for me!

[@lesliegraham8478]

You kill me!😆

[@8k843]

Not sure I got it right: M1 MB Air has more computing power than M2 one with the same specs?

[@andyH_England]

No, M1 is inferior on 99% of the metrics versus M2 Air.

[@8k843]

@@andyH_England Right, I watched the other videos, and Mark says that the problem is with the 256Gb SSD having (significantly?) slower access times in M2 compared to M1.

[@DOB27011966]

Great video. I have a pro M1 Max 16 in with 64 gb of ram. I am a normal user except I need to run a windows vm via Parallels as I use some windows only applications (access, project, publisher etc). It almost burnt up my previous intel MacBook Pro - literally. I have a Mac m1 mini 16gb which struggles frequently. The MacBook Pro m1 takes it in its stride but is heavy….. would a MacBook Air hack it?

[@something2sea]

How much RAM have you allocated to your windows VM? If the M1 Mac Mini is not coping because of ram, an M2 MacBook Air with 24GB ram might just cut it. Do some tests on the Mac Mini with activity monitor open, if activity monitor is telling you a RAM story, it might be worth trying a 24GB MacBook Air; but if it's telling you a CPU / GPU story, the thermal limitations of the MacBook Air will probably become an issue for you.

[@DOB27011966]

@@something2sea Thanks Ben. I need to get more forensic. I definitely get the fans going on to the Macbook Pro so that will probably seal it. I guess I need to go to the gym.

[@toxotis70]

I edit 4k 10bit footage without any problem in my base model m2 air….

[@chriscasillas]

I believe it is the king of laptops for the vast majority of people. Unless you have a workflow that regularly demands more CPU/RAM/Graphics intensive tasks, the M2 Air will work great for you.

[@peterhansteen4056]

I agree with your conclusion: The M2 MacBook Air is likely the best general purpose laptop available today. I myself just got one this Monday, after having a 12 inch MacBook 2017 model with an i5 processor which I had been using as the main home hacking/writing/everything else machine since some time in 2018. However, the thing developed ever more screen flicker and roll (much like a badly synced CRT monitor in the old days), so after coming back from a conference in Ottawa (BSDCan, a really nice tech meet) seeing the poor thing at the breaking point I found this one for click and pick up at a local store. This gave me my first and very successful Migration Assistant experience, and after firing up my usual set of programs -- including a couple of Chrome windows with *lots* of tabs in each -- I saw this machine running at 4 to 7 percent CPU with the same processes that hade the 12 inch running at 40 to 70 percent CPU. The M2 Air is about 300 grams heavier than the old 12 inch, but it is gloriously silent and for the stuff I generally do -- a bit of writing, some programming but mostly really things that happen in web browsers -- it feels slightly faster than the MacBook Pro M1Pro that has been my work machine for the last year or so. I too chose the midnight color which I find very visually pleasing. And of course the build quality is at least on par with the MacBook Pros. I expect to have this as my main home and travel laptop for at least five years, and I look forward to life with this laptop.

[@something2sea]

As someone who upgraded from an 11-inch MacBook air to a similar 2017 12-inch MacBook (i5, 512GB SSD, 8GB ram), your experience is particularly interesting to me (as is Mark's comment at 5:13 about carrying the laptop with two fingers, even though his example looked noticeably heavier than our 12-inch MacBooks). Despite the previous owner's terrible effort at looking after the 12-inch I got, that laptop isn't yet showing any display or keyboard related issues. An upgrade is still in the cards though, as the i5 is at that point where it's... mostly doing what I need. Now is not yet the time for me to buy; but I'm researching and planning. The 14-inch Pro is really the temping one, as I've always wanted a laptop with multiple display outputs, and those speakers are awesome. Although I'd sacrifice those feature again for the footprint of a 12-inch, I feel the 13-inch Air is just a little too close in footprint to the 14-inch Pro (with its slightly narrower bezels) to really warrant sacrificing the extra features of the Pro.

[@Utubeisazzho]

1 finger open is a must have

[@jedlomax100]

I have one and I love how small and light it is while being really powerful. I know there's a bigger version now but for me that defeats the object of the 'air' aspect. I don't do video editing though.

[@cherylelinsmith743]

Exactly, I had Apple Store Soho in NYC help me set my 13.6 M2 MacBook Air up. I put it in the laptop briefcase I got with crossbody strap. I didn't put a strain on my shoulders, was really light. Much lighter than when I lugged my Canon Eos Rebel in camera bag. I'm sure if you wanted to, you could do video editing on this model. I'm taking the Mac class next week. Then I'm going to take the video cinematography class where we go outside. I suck at doing videos, going to get a video editing program. This is my first laptop, and I love it.

[@DJ.Skyhawk]

Going to keep screaming from atop my hill, the M1 Pro MBP (especially if you can get a renewed version) is the best computer you can get for the money. If a base MBAir is enough for you, by all means, do that. However, as soon as you start upgrading components, the M1 MBP becomes the computer you should get. With that being said, I have an i7 8gb RAM 2015 MBAir that I used until 2 months ago for very basic tasks (KZbin, zoom, writing). If basic tasks are the only thing you’re going to do, i.e., things that can also be done on a phone, get the MBA, especially if you can find a renewed M1 variant. Apple silicon really is all it’s cracked up to be. I was a PC guy forever, until these chips came out. Shhh, don’t tell my dad I switched 😂

[@DJ.Skyhawk]

Also, silver is the only true MBP color hahaha

[@andyH_England]

That is a solid take. For a casual user like me, the base MB Air M2 I bought renewed for £800 (£450 off launch price) is more than enough.

[@DJ.Skyhawk]

@@andyH_England yea, if I wasn’t a music producer, I would’ve got the Air. The ports on the Pro also won me over, traveling dongleless is the best haha

[@Yotadude2025]

I disagree with the 16GB advice. I have the 8GB/512GB/10-core model, basically the slightly spec’d up version you can buy at any apple store and it works brilliantly for 4k video editing in Final Cut. Otherwise - totally agree. My favorite laptop ever. I use it 10 times for every 1 time I use my work-issued M2 Pro 16 inch

[@andyH_England]

I watch ArtisRight a pro photographer, and he explains in great detail why 16GB/256GB is a far better than 8GB/256GB.

[@Yotadude2025]

@@andyH_England I saw his video, too. But for me, having the space on my computer is far more important than any performance gains I would’ve gotten for using the $ for ram instead

[@andyH_England]

@@Yotadude2025 That is fair enough. Your needs differ from mine, and the 8GB/512GB is a sensible option as well. I have a base version, and that flies for what I do.

[@Yotadude2025]

@@andyH_England The base is a perfect option for most. Like I said, I do lots of video editing on mine in Final Cut Pro, even with other apps running in the background like Music and photos and never once had a hiccup. I'm very impressed. With that said, the video I edit is straight off my iPhone - but still, it's full 4K. Nice computer! What color did you get?

[@andyH_England]

@@Yotadude2025 Good to know that option works so well. I have the space grey version, but I have it in a fake leather casing. Good protection as I am a bit scatty and no issues with thermals.

[@SoftwareManiacLSM]

So your m2 failure on video rendering was due to base m2 config?

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Yup.

[@andyH_England]

DaVinci and other editing software suggest 32GB for 4K+ video editing. RAM is the bottleneck for rendering. 16GB is enough if you do not have multiple other apps running. The issues are two-fold; Apple Silicon uses shared memory, so RAM is sucked by GPU and CPU tasks, so 8GB is very limited. Also, the saviour, Apple's brilliant swap, is restricted by 2-3GB due to single NAND storage versus the M1 (128GB NAND is being phased out). If you are a video editor, an MB Pro is the way to go or buy a 16GB+ MB Air M2.

[@cinderella1395]

Alien 👽 wear legion both great but thinking of MacBook pro

[@jay.jay.1]

I like my MacBook Pro 14 m1 base model

[@Goku61001]

Still recommend trend micro?

[@elin2214]

I have the base model... and I've never once had a hiccup with it. I'm also a regular user with limited need to push my laptop to any limit. This is the laptop I waited for since the original air came out. I always loved the small form factor of the air but desired the aesthetic of the pro. This model finally fit the bill. I had an M1 but the M2 was my wants and needs wrapped up in a beautifully usable and portable package. Thanks for your video!

[@liortisson8007]

The real king is the M1 MacBook Air, mate! Three years later and still nothing can beat its price for performance ratio.