Apple's MacBook Air is the company's lightest, thinnest and most affordable laptop. The Air is regularly our top recommendation for anyone in need of a solid, reliable everyday laptop. And when Apple released the 2020 MacBook Air with its first-gen M1 system-on-chip, the performance was as impressive as its design for the $999 price. Show Now, the new MacBook Air is here with Apple's new M2 SoC. The M2-based Air looks better in every way, but you're going to pay more, too, with a starting price of $1,199. MacBook Air (13-inch, M2) vs. MacBook Air (13-inch, M1)
The MacBook Air M2's design changes from the tapered wedge look of the 2020 and earlier models to more of a blocky slab, more like the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops from late 2021. The 2022 Air didn't receive all of the additional ports of the 2021 Pro models: There's no SD card slot, it doesn't get an HDMI output for an external display and it has just two USB-C Thunderbolt ports. However, the updated Air does have MagSafe charging.
 Now playing: Watch this: MacBook Air M2 vs. MacBook Air M1: Worth the Extra $200 9:10 Built around a larger 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, the MacBook Air M2 has a new fanless body available in four colors: silver, space gray, starlight and midnight. The laptop is just 11.3 millimeters thick and weighs only 2.7 pounds (1.2 kilograms) -- a touch lighter than the M1 version. If video call quality is important to you, which is probably a "yes" for everyone at this point, going with the M2-based Air gets you a higher-resolution 1080p webcam along with three mics and a four-speaker sound system. The MacBook Air M2 unsurprisingly delivers better performance. Apple said with the new M2 chip, Final Cut Pro performance is nearly 40% faster than on the M1 Air and Photoshop is up to 20% faster. Battery life is up to 18 hours of video playback and with an optional 67-watt power adapter it can charge up to 50% in 30 minutes. You can see some of our own performance test results below, with even more in the full MacBook Air M2 review. Geekbench 5 (multicore)Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M1 Pro, 2021) 12259 Lenovo Yoga 9i 9016 Apple Macbook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) 8954 Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M2, 2022) 8592 Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M1, 2020) 7729 Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED 7649 Note:Longer bars indicate better performanceCinebench R23 (multicore)Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M1 Pro, 2021) 12302 Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED 10322 Apple Macbook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) 8731 Lenovo Yoga 9i 7716 Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M2, 2022) 6796 Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M1, 2020) 6615 Note:Longer bars indicate better performanceWith all of that said, though, many people don't need all those extras, especially at a $200 premium. The good news is that Apple is keeping the M1-powered MacBook Air in the lineup at its $1,000 starting price. Though the new model is great, the Air M1 should still provide excellent performance for everyday use for years -- particularly important if you're looking for a lower-cost option to get through high school or college.
Dan Ackerman/CNET The updated Air not only has a new look but its performance is closer to that of a MacBook Pro than past Air models. Along with the upgraded processing power, you'll find a larger, better display, a full-HD webcam, four-speaker audio and it's even a touch lighter. You will pay a little more for it, however. Read our MacBook Air M2 review.
Dan Ackerman/CNET The M1-powered MacBook Air from 2020 stays on as Apple's entry-level laptop. The design hasn't been updated since 2018 really but not exactly a knock against it -- it's still one of our all-time favorites. Performance and battery life remain excellent for anyone looking for a grab-and-go productivity machine. Plus, the starting price, especially with an educational discount, makes it a great pick to carry a student through high school or college. Read our MacBook Air M1 review. You're receiving price alerts for Apple MacBook Air M1 (256GB, space gray) Is MacBook Air M2 better than M1?The M2 MacBook Air went on sale in July 2022. Compared to the M1 MacBook Air that launched in November 2020, it has been completely revised, not just on the inside, but for the first time in years, also on the outside. The 2022 MacBook Air has a better chip, a bigger display, and a brand-new design.
Is it worth upgrading MacBook Air M1 to M2?Not really. The M2 is basically just a slightly more improved M1 — it is an iterative upgrade. Nothing more, nothing less. If you already own an M1-based machine you shouldn't even think about upgrading as you're not going to notice any tangible difference.
What is the difference between Mac M1 and M2?The M2 features two more GPU cores over the M1, resulting in a moderate boost in graphics performance. Apple says that the M2 has up to 25 percent higher graphics performance than M1 at the same power level, and up to 35 percent better performance at its max power.
Is M2 more powerful than M1?Apple M2 chips are 1.4x faster than the M1 and 15x faster than Intel-based MacBook Air options. They also have more memory, better security, and other great Apple next-generation custom technologies.
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