Apple has finally refreshed its MacBook Air series by introducing the next generation of Apple MacBook Air 2022. The newest MacBook from the company brings a redesigned look and is the first laptop from the company that comes loaded with the latest Apple M2 chipset. The MacBook Air M2 brings a host of interesting features to the table, whether be its design, performance, battery life, bezel-less display, and more. However, it still has some big shoes to fill as its predecessor, the Apple MacBook Air M1, took the market by storm with its flagship-grade performance.
The first generation of MacBook Air M1 was introduced in 2020 and still continues to be one of the best-selling laptops for the Cupertino-based giant. That said, does it make sense to go for MacBook Air M2 if the MacBook Air M1 still being so good? In this article, we put both the MacBook Air against each other to check out the differences and which one is better suited for you. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Also Read: MacBook Air M1 Gets a Price Bump in India, Now Available at Rs 99,900
MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Air M1: Price in India
The Apple MacBook Air M2 price in India starts at Rs 1,49,900 for the base variant with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage. The 16GB model with 1TB is priced at Rs 1,89,900. The top-end variant with 24GB of unified memory and 2TB of SSD storage comes with a price tag of Rs 2,29,900. Just like every other Mac device, one can also pick and choose the best configuration as per your requirements.
The company has also increased the price of the Apple MacBook Air M1 with the launch of the MacBook Air M2. The laptop’s India price now starts at Rs 99,900 for the 8GB + 256GB model. The 16GB + 2TB option now comes with a price tag of Rs 1,99,900. That being said, you can choose different storage option for both 8GB RAM and 16GB storage option that ranges from 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB.
MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Air M1: Design
Apple has introduced a complete overhaul in terms of the design of the MacBook Air M2. MacBook Air M1 followed the same design language as its predecessor. Although the MacBook Air design was iconic, it now started to feel dated. However, with MacBook Air M2, the company has introduced a completely new design, which looks much more modern.
The laptop comes with a square design that now looks more similar to the MacBook Pro. The company claims that MacBook Air M2 has a 20 per cent smaller footprint compared to the MacBook Air M1. Moreover, it is now sleeker with 11.3mm thickness and weighs 2.7 pounds. You still get an all-aluminium unibody and the laptop is available in four colour options: Silver, Space Gray, Midnight, and Starlight. Both the laptops are loaded with Backlit Magic Keyboard that comes with an ambient light sensor and Touch ID for added security.
MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Air M1: Display
The MacBook Air M2 also features an improved display. The laptop comes with a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display that comes with a screen resolution of 2560 x 1664 pixels. The laptop also comes with a 500nits brightness and one billion colours. The bezels around the screen have also been reduced quite significantly, which gives a much more modern look.
The Apple MacBook Air M1 comes with a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with an IPS panel. The Retina display comes with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and offers 400 nits of peak brightness.
MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Air M1: Performance
The real difference between both laptops is in the performance. The Apple MacBook Air M2 is loaded with the latest Apple M2 silicon that brings a host of interesting features. The chipset comes with 18 per cent faster CPU and 35 per cent faster GPU performance as compared to the Apple MacBook Air M1. The silicon offers an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU. The new chipset also supports up to 24GB of LPDDR5 unified memory and comes with a host of interesting features like a ProRes video engine, 100GB/s memory bandwidth, support for 6K external monitor, and more. It also comes with up to 2TB of SSD storage options.
The MacBook Air M1 gets its power from the Apple M1 chipset, which still offers some substantial performance, given it is now two-year-old. The chipset comes with an eight-core CPU with four performance and four efficiency cores. The SoC also features 7-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. The laptop also packs up to 16GB of LPDDR4X unified memory and up to 2TB of SSD storage.
Also Read: Apple M2 vs Apple M1: What is the Difference in CPU, GPU, Performance, and More
MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Air M1: Battery
In terms of battery, both the MacBook Air provides up to 18 hours of movie playback and up to 15 hours of wireless web. The MacBook Air M1 comes with a 49.9 Watt-hour lithium-polymer battery, while the MacBook Air M2 offers an integrated 52.6 watt-hour lithium-polymer battery. That said, the difference between the device comes in terms of charging capabilities. The MacBook Air M1 support a 30W USB-C power adapter that is included in the box. The MacBook Air M2 comes with a host of fast charging options. To start with, you get a 30W USB-C power adapter that is included with an 8-core GPU variant, while the 35W dual USB-C port compact power adapter is available with a 10-core GPU and 512GB storage option. Lastly, the MacBook Air M2 also supports a 67W USB-C power adapter.
MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Air M1: Connectivity and Ports
In terms of connectivity, the MacBook Air M1 and Air M2 feature Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology. The MacBook Air M1 comes with stereo speakers, while the MacBook Air M2 offers a four-speaker sound system with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. Both laptops also feature a 3.5mm audio jack. For ports, the MacBook Air M2 comes with a MagSafe charger and offers two Thunderbolt ports, which is the same as MacBook Air M1.
MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Air M1: Which One Is Better For You?
The choice between the MacBook Air M2 and MacBook Air M1 can be tricky. It all depends on the usage. If you want to experience the performance of the Apple M2 and want a modern-looking laptop, then you can consider MacBook Air M2. However, the MacBook Air M1 still stands tall with its performance and it still actually costs cheaper than the M2 model, despite the price hike. So, if you are looking for a reliable laptop that can handle most of the tasks efficiently, then MacBook Air M1 seems to be the better choice here.
