The Apple MacBook Air M2 appears as the successor to the MacBook Air M1 from 2020. Here are our first impressions of this Apple laptop.
The new MacBook Air with the M2 chip is now hitting shelves, and Mac fans couldn’t be more excited. The 2022 MacBook Air is a big step up from the previous generation model, which despite having a first-generation Apple Silicon chip, the M1, was largely the same as Intel’s 2018 model. We all assumed that the 2022 generation might continued with the same design and only with a new chip, as was the case with Apple’s base chips. The MacBook Air 2022, however, is all new. All new.
Before we dive deep, know that the MacBook Air M2 is available in two variants in India. The base variant with 8GB RAM, 256GB storage and 8-core GPU will cost you Rs. 1,19,900. The top-end variant has 512GB of storage, a 10-core GPU and a 35W dual-port power brick, costing Rs. 1,49,900. You can get both models in four new colors – Midnight, Starlight, Silver and Space Grey. We have the base 256GB variant with us in Space Gray configuration.
The new MacBook Air M2 is new when it comes to design. Gone is the wedge-shaped corner profile, and in its place sits a thick, chunky profile reminiscent of the 2021 14-inch MacBook Pro. As someone who uses a MacBook Air 2020, this new rounded profile is easier to grip and a breath of fresh air . The overall layout remains largely similar on the outside, with the exception of the MagSafe charging port, which sits alongside the two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports. The 3.5mm audio jack also remains. Unfortunately, there are no USB-A or HDMI ports on the air. Oh, and that Apple logo is bigger on the M2 model.
Open the lid and the feeling of a new laptop continues. The MacBook Air gets the new notch0-style display from the Pro variants, featuring a new 1080p webcam. The notch looks unusual at first, but if you’re used to the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13, it soon disappears from your peripheral vision. The rest of the bezels are slimmer, but the “chin” is still as thick as the previous model. With all the fat reduction in the frame, the display now measures 13.6 inches – significantly larger than the 2020 model.
The layout of the keyboard and trackpad is also largely similar, save for the full-sized Fn keys at the top and generally larger keycaps throughout. Even the fingerprint sensor has grown. The speakers have been removed from the sides and are now located inside the hinge mechanism.
To summarize, the new MacBook Air M2 looks neat and modern compared to the M1 model.
Apple MacBook Air M2 Features at a Glance
While the design is fresh, there are plenty of other new parts that caught our eye in the first few hours. The first is the display, which doesn’t feel bigger, but it’s also brighter. It’s still an LCD display and I wish Apple had figured out a way to use an OLED panel – most laptops at this price come with OLED displays as standard. Viewing angles also seem limited.
Then there’s the new M2 chip, which promises modest gains over the M1 chip. It’s a 5nm chip, and we’re yet to see its potential against a typical use case. The M1 MacBook Air is still not weak by any means, and we only expect to be surprised with the M2 chip.
The new quad speakers also look promising and sound good at first glance. But are they better than the M1’s dual-speaker setup and compared to the competition from Windows laptops?
Apple claims battery life is the same as the M1 model, and you still get a 30W charging brick in the box with the base 256GB model. However, the MacBook Air M2 supports Apple’s 67W fast charging, which promises a 0-50 percent charge in 30 minutes. It sounds enticing and we need to find out if it delivers.
Apple MacBook Air M2 First Impressions
It’s only been a few hours with the new MacBook Air M2 and it already looks like a significant step up from the previous generation model. The all new design makes it refreshing and we guess it will prove to be more practical than the design of the older model. What we’re more excited to see is how the M2 chip performs in real-world performance situations and whether we might see improvements in battery life.
The MacBook Air M2 is on sale now, but if you want to see if M1 users should upgrade or if it’s great for those switching from a Windows laptop, stay tuned for our full review.
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