WWDC
Completely renewed power notebook: Apple introduces MacBook Air with M2
The MacBook Air M2 comes in four colors. Including a midnight blue.
©Apple
6/6/2022, 10:33 p.m
2 min reading time
At the WWDC, Apple introduced the in-house processor M2. The first device with the new super chip is a super-slim MacBook Air, and there's also a MacBook Pro.
At the end of 2020, Apple installed its own M-Chip for the first time. Since then, the M1 has delighted everyone who enjoys this special processor. The M1 is quiet, fast and economical. Despite its success, the successor didn't have to wait long: The M2 is already at work in the new MacBook Air, which Apple has now presented at the WWDC.
MacBook Air in a completely new design
Apple took this as an opportunity to change the design. Gone are the days of the Apple wedge, the new MacBook Air M2 is thin everywhere, measuring just 11.3 millimeters when closed. So little housing is of course also noticeable on the scales, because the device weighs only 1.2 kilograms.
Apple is celebrating the fresh design with new colours, the MacBook Air M2 is available in silver, gold, gray and blue. The latter color in particular looks extremely classy.
The screen measures 13.6 inches and has a resolution of 2560 x 1664 pixels. There are no OLED or mini-LED, Apple calls the display "Liquid Retina Display". Apple specifies the brightness at around 500 nits, which is well below an iPhone 13 Pro, but achieves more than the MacBook Air M1 (400 nits).
Apple M2: More power, more efficiency
Apple is particularly proud of the performance of the new chip. According to the manufacturer, the built-in M2 achieves up to 40 percent more performance with demanding workloads. According to Apple, an increase in performance of around 20 percent can be expected in everyday use. The battery life should not change negatively as a result, Apple continues to speak of all-day stamina.
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The new MacBook Air M2 offers eight gigabytes of RAM as standard, but can be equipped with a maximum of 24 gigabytes. The SSD is at least 256 gigabytes in size, the maximum is two terabytes.
As usual, Apple is frugal when it comes to the connections on the device, although the device has more to offer than its predecessor. The Magsafe magnetic charging connector is back on board, as well as two Thunderbolt 4 connectors in the form of USB-C sockets and a jack connector for headphones.
The webcam is also new and now has Full HD. But: With the new MacOS Ventura it is possible to use the iPhone as a webcam. Since its camera is much better in case of doubt, the integrated webcam should become less important.
MacBook Air is getting more expensive
In terms of price, the MacBook Air M2 is not a bargain. For the device with the least equipment, 1499 euros are due from Apple, with full equipment the price shoots up to 2999 euros. A pre-order is not yet possible, Apple wants to start delivery in July 2022.
Incidentally, the M2 also works in the new MacBook Pro with a 13-inch screen. The prices for this device start at 1599 euros and end at 2979 euros. In contrast to the MacBook Air, there is probably a bit more clock speed in the processor and a touch bar, but less screen area, a (probably whisper-quiet) fan and no Magsafe.
