Apple’s 2022 MacBook Air with the M2 chip marked a notable redesign, bringing a flatter profile, improved performance, and a brighter display. While not a radical overhaul, it refines the ultraportable laptop experience with meaningful upgrades. If you're considering this model, here’s what you should know before buying.
Key Highlights
1. A More Modern Design
Gone is the wedge-shaped chassis—the new MacBook Air adopts a uniform thickness (11.3mm) similar to the MacBook Pro. It’s slightly lighter (1.24 kg) than its predecessor, making it even more portable. The aluminum unibody remains sturdy, and the new color options—Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and Space Gray—add a fresh touch58.
2. Improved Display and Webcam
The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display is brighter (500 nits vs. 400 nits on the M1) and supports a wider P3 color gamut. The notch houses a 1080p FaceTime camera, a step up from the 720p sensor in the M1 model. While the notch is divisive, it allows for thinner bezels and more screen real estate18.
3. M2 Chip: Faster, but Not a Huge Leap
The M2 chip offers an 18% CPU and up to 35% GPU boost over the M1, depending on configuration. For everyday tasks—browsing, office work, media consumption—the difference is subtle. However, creative apps like Lightroom and Final Cut Pro benefit from the extra GPU cores (especially in the 10-core variant)78.
4. MagSafe Returns, Ports Remain Limited
Apple brought back MagSafe charging, freeing up the two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. However, the lack of HDMI or SD card slots means you’ll likely need a dongle for external displays or file transfers510.
5. Strong Battery Life
With up to 18 hours of video playback, the MacBook Air M2 remains an all-day workhorse. The 30W or 35W charger (depending on configuration) supports fast charging with an optional 67W adapter18.
What We Like
✅ Excellent portability – Thin, light, and easy to carry.
✅ Bright, color-accurate display – Great for media consumption and light creative work.
✅ Strong battery life – Easily lasts a full workday.
✅ Quiet and fanless – No noise during use, ideal for quiet environments.
What We Don’t Like
❌ Thermal throttling under heavy loads – Without a fan, sustained workloads (like video rendering) can cause performance drops29.
❌ Slower SSD in base 256GB model – Apple switched to a single NAND chip, reducing read/write speeds compared to the M1 version9.
❌ Midnight color shows fingerprints easily – The dark finish looks sleek but requires frequent cleaning4.
Who Should Buy It?
1. Students and Professionals Needing Portability
If you prioritize a lightweight laptop for note-taking, writing, and web browsing, the MacBook Air M2 is a strong choice. The battery life ensures it won’t die during back-to-back classes or meetings.
2. Casual Creators
For photo editing, light video work, or music production, the M2 handles these tasks well. However, if you frequently edit 4K video or work with large files, consider the MacBook Pro for better sustained performance.
3. Those Upgrading from Older Macs
If you’re coming from an Intel-based Mac or a pre-2020 Air, the M2 is a significant upgrade in speed, efficiency, and display quality.
Buying Recommendations
Avoid the base 256GB model if speed matters – Opt for 512GB or higher to avoid SSD slowdowns9.
Consider the 10-core GPU for light gaming/creative work – The extra GPU cores help in graphics-heavy tasks7.
Skip Midnight if you dislike fingerprints – Silver or Starlight are more forgiving.
Final Verdict
The MacBook Air M2 is a well-rounded ultraportable with a premium design, strong performance, and excellent battery life. While it’s not the best for heavy workloads due to thermal limitations, it’s an ideal daily driver for most users.
Where to Buy:
Get the MacBook Air M2 on Amazon
Would you choose this over the M1 or a MacBook Pro? Let us know in the comments!