The M2 MacBook Air is right here and, just like the M1, Apple has two choices to select from, one with an 8-core GPU and one with a 10-core GPU. We’ve been testing each fashions right here at Macworld, the step-up mannequin that begins at $1,499 (the mannequin we examined and reviewed right here has 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM for $1,899), and the entry-level mannequin with 256GB of storage, which prices $1,199.
That’s a fairly large distinction in worth, which led us to marvel what precisely you’re getting for the additional cash. It seems, you’re getting rather a lot.
With two fewer GPU cores, much less RAM, and an SSD configuration that seems sub-optimal for learn and write speeds, the most cost effective MacBook Air faces a number of obstacles in attempting to compete with its costlier sibling. In some instances we have been shocked by how a lot worse it carried out, however there have been some nice surprises too.
Learn on to learn the way each the top-end and entry-level variations of the M2 Air received on in our pace and efficiency benchmarks. The place attainable we’ve included equal scores for the 256GB model of the M1 MacBook Air launched in 2020, and for the quad-core Intel i5 mannequin that got here out in the identical yr.
M2 MacBook Air: Uncooked processing energy
We started by processing energy utilizing the Geekbench 5 and Cinebench R23 CPU benchmarks. We didn’t count on an enormous distinction right here, provided that our 2022 Airs have the identical processor with the identical variety of CPU cores, though the top-end mannequin we examined did have twice as a lot RAM (16GB vs 8GB).
A promising begin, with the entry-level Air monitoring near its dearer sibling throughout all 4 exams (it was by no means greater than 2.2 p.c behind) and displaying beneficial properties of as much as 16.5 p.c on 2020’s M1 Air. Actually the 256GB Air scored barely larger than the 1TB mannequin in Cinebench’s multi-core part, though this was by lower than 1 p.c and doubtless simply an anomaly.
M2 MacBook Air: Actual-world duties
CPU benchmarks offer you an thought of a machine’s pace on paper, however we wish to understand how these Macs will behave in the actual world. We set them our regular battery of stabilizing, exporting, and encoding duties in iMovie and HandBrake 1.5.
There was barely in distinction within the M2 Airs’ pace when exporting a 4K file at Excessive settings, however in each different take a look at we noticed important lack of efficiency when utilizing the cheaper mannequin. Exporting at ProRes settings took 27.6 p.c longer. Stabilizing an iMovie clip, in the meantime, took an alarming 43 p.c longer; we truly needed to wait longer than when utilizing the M1 mannequin from 2020 (which was additionally an entry-level unit and price simply $999).
In our HandBrake exams the 256GB mannequin was slower than the 1TB model by 27.2 p.c and 20.4 p.c, respectively. In each instances it was nearer in pace to the M1 mannequin than to its personal sibling.
M2 MacBook Air: Disk speeds
We take a look at the learn and write speeds of our evaluation Macs utilizing Blackmagic Disk Velocity Check. We have been significantly eager to see how the bottom Air received on on this take a look at, following experiences that its SSD is as much as 50 p.c slower on learn speeds and 30 p.c on write speeds. (The reason, based mostly on teardowns of the machine, is that Apple makes use of a single 256GB chip moderately than two 128GB ones like final yr.)
The 256GB Air was unable to disprove these dire prognostications. Learn speeds have been 47.9 p.c slower than the 1TB mannequin on common, whereas write speeds have been a staggering 50.2 p.c slower, far worse than anticipated. In each instances the entry-level Air is significantly slower than the 2020 mannequin. You most likely gained’t discover the slowdown in regular day-to-day use, however for $1,199, we count on a lot stronger SSD efficiency.
M2 MacBook Air: Gaming efficiency
Final up, we regarded on the two Airs’ efficiency working a pair of demanding video games: Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Civilization VI. Each of those video games embrace a benchmarking mode that lets you measure framerates with out using any further software program.
That is one take a look at the place Apple’s personal publicly launched specs for the 2 machines led us to count on a big differential. Merely put, the 1TB Air we examined has a 10-core GPU, whereas the 256GB mannequin has solely 8 cores, so decrease framerates are to be anticipated.
Check outcomes have been barely confounding, nonetheless. Tomb Raider numbers have been largely predictable, with the 8-core Air 43 p.c behind at Excessive settings and 26 p.c behind at Medium. (In each instances framerates for the entry-level M2 have been decrease than for the M1 from 2020.) However the cheaper mannequin punched properly above its weight on Civilization, performing comparably to the 1TB MacBook Air with M2 on Excessive settings and barely higher on Medium.
The highest-end Air is undoubtedly a greater gaming machine, however the lack of two GPU cores doesn’t seem to handicap the cheaper mannequin as a lot as anticipated. Efficiency is more likely to fluctuate from sport to sport, nonetheless, and we advise warning if there’s a particular graphically demanding title you intend to take pleasure in.
Conclusions
It’s scarcely stunning to find that this yr’s $1,199 MacBook Air performs much less impressively than the higher-end mannequin. What’s extra troubling is how a lot slower it’s in the case of learn and write disk speeds (round 50 p.c in every, in line with our exams) and at real-world stabilizing, exporting and encoding duties.
It’s at all times tempting to go for the most cost effective configuration of a brand new Apple product with the intention to take pleasure in the brand new design and processor on the lowest attainable outlay. So far as the M2 MacBook Air is anxious, nonetheless, we might advise towards this, since testing suggests you’ll be getting a machine that in sure respects performs no higher than a less expensive mannequin from 2020, and in just a few is definitely worse. Admittedly, you’re getting a much bigger and higher show, MagSafe, and a brand new design, however the M2 efficiency increase simply isn’t there.
In the event you do determine to purchase the brand new Air–and we suggest paying additional for the upgraded configuration–be sure you discover the bottom worth by searching our information to the perfect MacBook Air offers. Or simply decide up an M1 Air and save a pair hundred bucks.
