A hands-on test of the Apple MacBook Air M2
14.7.2022
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Better display, fewer screws, a nicer case design, a better cable using MagSafe and the new M2 processor. My hands-on test of the new Apple MacBook Air is here, providing an overview and comparing it with the predecessor in benchmarks.
Apple’s new MacBook Air M2 offers more of everything in the same dimensions compared to its M1 predecessor. The lid isn’t only emblazoned with a larger Apple logo, but also offers a new 13.6-inch display instead of 13.3 inches, appearing more powerful in its new body. This is accentuated by the fact that the base is curved in the predecessor, making the Air M1 seem thinner than it is. The Air M2 does without this «bowl design», looking like it was made from one big piece.
When turning the case over, only half as many screws are visible as before. There are also new rubber pads integrated into the case design. They’re somewhat enveloped by the shimmering aluminium.
Things get interesting when it comes to connections. Charging once again uses MagSafe. It’s a magnetic connector, attaching better than Microsoft’s Surface competition and possessing integrated multicolour LEDs. This allows charging for the new Air M2 without occupying one of the Thunderbolt 3 ports (USB-C). The ports on the left are supplemented by a 3.5 mm jack on the right.
When comparing the new charging cable, I immediately noticed that not only is the MagSafe connector back, but the cable looks different as well. It was resleeved and feels much better. The predecessor came with a rubber-coated cable that feels a bit sticky. No more – the cable hardly curls at all thanks to its textile sheathing.
When you open the screen, a new design philosophy eagerly awaits you: the IPS display now has a resolution of 2560 × 1664 pixels (224 ppi), is brighter (up to 500 nits), has been pulled further to the edge, now has a notch, and the display mask is rounded at the upper corners. The scaling of macOS Monterey 12.4 is adapted to the notch, making the entire surface appear more filled out. There are slightly fewer apps in the dock. When I measured the display edge, it came in at around six millimetres on the sides and top.
Looking at the keyboard and trackpad, two adjustments stand out: the speakers next to the keyboard seen on the M1 have disappeared. Now music plays invisibly. Apple has also adjusted its top row of buttons to the size of all others, including Touch ID.
The trackpad, on the other hand, is almost the same – 12.8 × 8 centimetres versus 12 × 8.2 centimetres. When used, it feels exactly the same as on the M1 laptop. Which is more than I can say for the keys, which have definitely become softer. Tactile haptic feedback when keys are released feels less «mechanical». A pleasant sensation, even as I type this.
In general, I enjoyed experiencing my first few hours with the Air M2. Still, it’s too early to say whether it’s more than just a successful upgrade. Apple provided me with a test device. I obtained a comparison from our store. The Air M2 is the entry-level version with 8 gigabytes of working memory, 8 processor cores, 8 graphics cores and 256 gigabytes of SSD. I’ll primarily work with this one as of now, then subject it to an intensive review.
The test device, shimmering in gold or starlight:
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For all MacBook Airs with M2 processors, click here. You can get the laptop with either eight or ten graphics cores. You can choose between 8, 16 and 24 gigabytes of RAM, and the SSD comes with 256, 512, 1000 or 2000 gigabytes. In terms of colour, there’s gold, blue, grey and silver.
While we still need a detailed review by an author who’s more critical of Apple, I won’t deprive you of initial benchmark results. I ran Geekbench 5.4.5 and Cinebench R23 on the Air M2 and Air M1.
According to the thermal image from the FLIR cam on my Cat S62 Pro, the M2 case reached up to 47.3 degrees Celsius during testing. I checked after about eight minutes of continuous load through Cinebench. For the M1 case, it was 45.3 degrees Celsius at the same point.
| Benchmark | MacBook Air M2
(8 CPU-Cores, 8 GPU-Cores, 8 GB) | MacBook Air M1
(8 CPU-Cores, 7 GPU-Cores, 8 GB) |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 – CPU Multi-Core | 7749 points | 6704 points |
| Cinebench R23 – CPU Single-Core | 1581 points | 1494 points |
| Geekbench 5 – CPU Multi-Core | 8985 points | 7751 points |
| Geekbench 5 – CPU Single-Core | 1915 points | 1734 points |
| Geekbench 5 – GPU OpenCL | 23 844 points | 17 635 points |
| Geekbench 5 – GPU Metal | 26 236 points | 19 529 points |
The new processor runs using 3.2 gigahertz for multi-core tasks and 3.5 gigahertz for single core. Compared to 3.0 and 3.2 gigahertz in the M1. In multi-core processor tests, the M2 achieves 15.6% more performance in Cinebench and even 15.9% more in Geekbench compared to the M1. Single Core is 5.8 and 10.4 per cent higher. According to Geekbench, the graphics performance increased by 35.2 per cent in OpenCL and by 34.3 per cent in Metal.
The MacBook Air with M2 has been available for pre-order since July 8. Deliveries will begin on July 15, 2022.
Martin Jud
Senior Editor
martin.jud@digitecgalaxus.chI find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.
