The new MacBook Air is one of Apple’s most important computers since Steve Jobs pulled the original Air out of an envelope. It shows what’s possible when Apple builds an ultraportable entirely around its mobile chips, instead of lazily sticking them in old laptop designs, like with the recent 13-inch MacBook Pro. The Air is impressively thin and light, but it also has a bigger and better screen, a great set of speakers and a nifty MagSafe power adapter. And thanks to Apple’s M2 chip, it’s also far speedier than the last model, a computer I called “stunningly fast” just a year-and-a-half ago. Once again, Apple has set a new standard for ultraportables.
Before I dive into what’s under the hood, I’ll just say what we’re all thinking: This is a gorgeous computer! The Air’s trademark wedge design is gone – now, it’s uniformly thin from front to back. Apple basically repeated the PowerBook-esque design of the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro – more rounded edges, a notch for the webcam – but squished it into a case that measures just 11.3 millimeters thin and weighs 2.7 pounds. While it’s only a tenth of a pound lighter than the last Air, it’s far more balanced, making it easier to hold.
Pros
- Far thinner than before
- Gorgeous 13.6-inch screen
- Great quad-speaker setup
- Excellent M2 performance
Cons
- More expensive than before
- Some speed throttling for extended tasks
- No ProMotion
Gallery: Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) | 12 Photos
Gallery: Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) | 12 Photos
When I picked up the MacBook Air for the first time, it felt more like an iPad with a built-in keyboard than a laptop. What’s funny is that it’s actually more portable than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which weighs about 3 pounds when combined with its Smart Keyboard. The iPad Pro has always been positioned as a futuristic ideal for truly portable computing, but it turns out it weighs the same as the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Once again, the humble Air wins out.
It’s also nice to see Apple offering a wider variety of finishes. In addition to the typical space gray and silver, there’s a brighter starlight case and a sleek black midnight option. I’ve been testing a starlight model, and the way the color pops off of the aluminum always gives me a bit of joy.
Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
To be honest, that sense of delight can be found just about everywhere in the MacBook Air, like its new 13.6-inch Liquid Retina screen. It’s only a third of an inch larger than before, but it feels more expansive and engrossing. It helps that Apple shaved off a bit of bezel and also bumped up the brightness to 500 nits, which makes the Air far easier to use outdoors.
For the most part, the Liquid Retina screen is on par with what …….
Source: https://www.engadget.com/macbook-air-m2-review-2022-130040098.html