M2 MacBook Air Review: Thin, Powerful, and Surprisingly Pricey

The M2 MacBook Air: A Thin, Powerful, and Pricey Upgrade

Introduction

The MacBook Air has long been one of Apple’s most popular laptops, thanks to its lightweight design, reliability, and excellent battery life. With the launch of the M2 chip, Apple has completely redesigned the MacBook Air, marking a significant shift in design and performance. But is it worth the price? Let’s deeply dive into what the new MacBook Air has to offer.

Design Overhaul: A New Look and Feel

Apple has ditched the classic wedge-shaped design in favour of a uniform, flat design that measures 11mm in thickness across the entire laptop. This makes it thinner overall and even more portable. The laptop now has thinner bezels, allowing Apple to increase the display size to 13.6 inches.

One noticeable change is the notch at the top of the screen, housing the new 1080p webcam. While it blends into the background during regular use, it’s part of Apple’s design language now, just like on the MacBook Pro. The display is brighter with a 500-nit max brightness, making it easier to use outdoors, and a lower minimum brightness, useful for working in dim environments.

Another big update is the return of MagSafe charging, freeing up one of the two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports. However, port selection remains limited, with just two USB-C ports on the left and a headphone jack on the right. Additionally, the laptop only supports one external monitor, which may be a downside for power users.

Performance: M2 vs. M1 and M2 MacBook Pro

The M2 chip brings significant improvements in both CPU and GPU performance. The laptop handles everyday tasks like browsing, photo editing, and multitasking effortlessly. However, when compared to the M2 MacBook Pro, some limitations become evident.

The biggest difference is that the MacBook Air lacks a fan, meaning it can’t sustain high performance for long periods. For short, bursty tasks, performance is nearly identical to the MacBook Pro. But for sustained workloads, like video editing or gaming, the MacBook Air starts to throttle after about five minutes, while the Pro maintains its speed thanks to active cooling.

Despite this, it’s impressive that the MacBook Air can handle 4K video editing, multiple Chrome tabs, and various applications running at once. If your workflow involves light to moderate creative tasks, this laptop will perform well.

Midnight Color: Looks Good, but Hard to Maintain

Apple introduced a Midnight colour option, which looks like a deep blue in some lighting but almost black in others. While the colour is sleek and modern, it has two major issues:

1. It’s a fingerprint magnet, making it hard to keep clean.
2. It’s prone to scratches, especially around the USB-C and MagSafe ports, revealing the silver aluminium underneath.

If you choose this colour, you may want to use a case or a brand skin to keep it looking new.

Battery Life and Speakers: A Solid Combination

Battery life is excellent, with Apple claiming 15 hours of web browsing, which holds up in real-world testing. For general use, the MacBook Air can last an entire workday with around 20% battery left.

The speakers are hidden in the hinge of the laptop, making them almost invisible, but they deliver surprisingly good sound. While they don’t have as much bass as the MacBook Pro, they are loud and clear, making them great for media consumption.

The Price Dilemma: Is It Worth It?

The biggest downside of the M2 MacBook Air is the price. The base model costs $1,199, which is $200 more than the M1 MacBook Air. However, the 256GB SSD in the base model is slower, making the laptop feel sluggish during intensive tasks.

To get the best experience, it’s recommended to upgrade to 512GB SSD ($1,500 total). While this is a fantastic machine, it raises the question: is the M1 MacBook Air a better deal? The M1 version, priced at $999, still offers great performance and battery life at a more affordable price.

Final Verdict

Pros:

✅ Thin and ultra-portable design
✅ Bright, high-quality display
✅ MagSafe charging returns
✅ Excellent battery life
✅ Great performance for everyday tasks

Cons:

❌ Base model has a slower SSD and limited RAM
❌ Only two USB-C ports and one external display support
❌ Expensive compared to previous MacBook Air models
❌ Midnight colour attracts fingerprints and scratches

Who Should Buy the M2 MacBook Air?

• Casual users who want a sleek, reliable laptop for everyday tasks.
• Students and professionals who need a portable machine with great battery life.
• Light content creators who do moderate photo and video editing.

Who Should Skip It?

• Heavy users and creative professionals – the 14-inch MacBook Pro ($2,000) is a better choice.
• Budget-conscious buyers – the M1 MacBook Air ($999) is still a great deal.

Final Thoughts

The M2 MacBook Air is one of the best ultraportable laptops on the market, but it comes at a premium price. If you can afford at least $1,500, it’s a fantastic choice. However, for those on a budget, the M1 MacBook Air remains an excellent alternative.

Would you buy the M2 MacBook Air, or is the M1 still good enough for you? Let me know in the comments!