MacBook Air M2 Review

At the WWDC 2022 conference, we were introduced to the latest in iOS16, macOS Ventura, watchOS 9, and iPadOS 16, but the new MacBook Air M2 was the main highlight of this event.

Apple introduced the MacBook Air with the new M2 chip, along with an innovative redesign that aligns it with the MacBook Pro models presented last year.

 

Slim and Solid Design

• Dimensions: 304.1 x 21.5mm, 1.24kg
• Ports: 2x USB-C / Thunderbolt 3, 3.5mm headphone jack
• Colors: Starlight, Midnight, Silver, Space Grey
• The new MacBook Air M2 resembles the MacBook Pro released in 2021, and the design that characterized the Air for nearly a decade is no longer part of this new model.
• Instead, it features a flatter and more squared appearance. However, those who prefer the wedge-shaped design can opt for the M1 model.
• Features were removed to create a thinner and lighter device, with this last characteristic being more noticeable in this model than in the MacBook Pro. It no longer includes an SD card slot or HDMI ports.

 

Display

• 13.6-inch Liquid Retina, resolution 2650 x 1664, 224ppi
• 500 nits brightness
• True Tone support
• Wide Color P3

This model is 20% smaller than its predecessor, but that does not affect its screen size. It offers a 13.6-inch display (2650 x 1664) thanks to the reduced bezels.

The notch at the top of the display houses a new 1080p camera that was already part of the MacBook Pro.

This new model also upgrades the retina display found in the M1 model to a liquid retina display, providing a 25% increase in brightness up to 500 nits.

 

Advanced Camera and Sound

The MacBook Air comes with a new 1080p FaceTime HD camera that offers twice the resolution and low-light performance compared to the previous generation.

Gone are the speaker grilles on both sides like on the MacBook Air M1 and MacBook Pro. Instead, it features a four-speaker sound system, integrated along with the microphone between the keyboard and display to maintain the device's slim design.

• Supports Spatial Audio from integrated speakers
• Dynamic head-tracking Spatial Audio support with AirPods

 

Enhanced M2 Chip Performance

The M2 chip marks the beginning of a new generation of Apple chips and takes performance, energy efficiency, and the groundbreaking capabilities of the M1 chip to a whole new level.

• Apple M2 processor with a more powerful 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU
• 100 GB/s unified memory bandwidth and support for up to 24 GB of unified memory, enabling the execution of even heavier and more complex workflows
• Storage options: 256 GB / 512 GB (up to 1 TB, 2 TB)
• Even with a larger display and increased performance, the MacBook Air M2 offers up to 18 hours of video playback, just like the previous model
• Only Apple's chip can deliver this combination of performance and capability in a notebook with such a thin, light, and fanless design.

 

Charging Options

Supports various charging options, like the new 35W compact power adapter with two USB-C ports allowing you to charge two devices simultaneously. For the first time, the MacBook Air offers fast charging, allowing you to charge 50% of the battery in just 30 minutes with the optional 67W USB-C power adapter.

 

MacBook Air M2 (2022) Technical Specifications