'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAUACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABfAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQgQAAMAAQUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxEABAYHIQUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECEQACAgMAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMRABIhBDGR/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDZtup+bidIV7M+wWpTKWnNkdVGSV9qwIOdVtp1/wAs2m1ht35/9izxkiNVkXLlRgsfT6dNNWJXAqxXvoBxkc+RI0jhdie6qEHxaGf/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Apple's MacBook Air is among the most popular notebooks on the market. The Cupertino-based tech giant has built this machine from the ground up to cater to all kinds of users. In many ways, the Air is ideal for students and users looking for a portable and powerful machine for basic computing purposes.
Apple has used its in-house silicon in MacBook devices for more than two years. The first iteration of the chip was titled the M1, which powers the 2020 model of the notebook lineup.
Last year, the company introduced the M2, which powers the latest MacBook Air. However, the M1 is not yet discontinued, and users can get a solid deal on slightly used models on websites like eBay and Craigslist.
Thus, choosing between the MacBook Air M1 and M2 can be a bit difficult for some. This article dissects the differences between the laptops and finds out which is a better option.
Trending
MacBook Air M1 gives M2-powered devices some serious competition
It is worth noting that the M2 is an improved version of the original Apple silicon. Devices powered by the chip are better than older models in all aspects, including battery life, performance, and software features.
However, almost two and a half years since its release, the MacBook Air M1 seems like a solid bargain since it cuts corners in the right places.
Before delving into the finer details, let's check the two devices' specs to figure out how much of an improvement the 2022 model is.
Spec comparison
Details of the M1- and M2-powered MacBooks are listed below.
The M2 MacBook makes more sense for a small segment of the market
The M2 version of the MacBook is a slightly bumped-up version of the last-gen machine. The device offers slightly longer battery life, a brighter display, faster charging, and more memory options. It is also slightly lighter and uniformly thick, making it more portable.
In addition to these improvements, the new MacBook packs a few features like support for hardware-accelerated ProRes encoding and decoding. The device also packs a 3.5mm AUX jack that supports high-impedance headphones.
Which laptop is the best choice? The answer varies
Power users working in the field of audio or video can highly benefit from the new device. The M2 SoC's CPU is about 18% faster, and the GPU is about 35% faster than the last-gen variant. This aspect makes it a more apt device for professionals.
However, for most users, the M2-powered laptop packs insignificant improvements to upgrade to the latest laptop from Apple. The M1 is more than powerful for basic computing tasks and entertainment uses.
For students, the M1 MacBook Air represents solid value for money. The device is now cheaper than ever. It runs the latest software without hiccups and can handle school and college work like a champ.
Both the M1 and M2-powered devices are solid laptops. However, unless one has a specific use case for one of the latest features of the latest model, dumping over $1,000 on the latest Apple notebook does not make sense. For the majority, the M1 MacBook Air continues to be the laptop of choice.
