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MacBook Air M2 (2022) review

Soumen Maity

December 27, 2022

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Detailed Review of MacBook Air M2 (2022) 

As compared to the previous model, the new MacBook Air has better speakers, a larger screen, and a 1080p webcam than the MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 (2022) that we actually received. The M2 chip in both laptops provides very similar performance, and, contrary to popular belief, the new MacBook Air does not come in a rainbow of pastel colors like the 24-inch iMac, but rather in a handful of professional-looking colors.

The new MacBook Air M2 (2022) is equipped with Apple’s second-generation, 5-nanometer M2 System on Chip (SoC), which the company claims will offer a 35% faster GPU (now 10 cores), 18% faster CPU, and a 40% faster neural engine than its predecessor. It is worth noting that the MacBook Air’s base system comes with an 8-core GPU, but you can upgrade to a 10-core GPU. During our time with the MacBook Air, it performed admirably. The pre-installed macOS Monterey boots quickly and runs smoothly, and it looks great on the new screen. For everyday use, we can rely on the MacBook Air M2 (2022). The web was fast and responsive in both Safari and Chrome, even with multiple tabs open (the model we tested has 16GB of unified memory, which certainly helps here), and typing up documents on the slightly redesigned keyboard (which is slightly narrower due to the redesign, but retains the same Magic Keyboard switches) feels nice and comfortable. 

While you might lament the loss of the Air’s iconic wedge, the new MacBook Air looks far more modern and elegant than previous models, thanks to one of the most radical design overhauls we have seen Apple be an iconic product. The MacBook Air, as its name implies, is the company’s smallest and lightest laptop. With the new MacBook Air 2022 model, Apple has made even more advancements, reducing the overall weight and size of the unibody design while actually enlarging the screen size. The increase in resolution (along with improved image and low-light handling with the new M2 chip) will be appealing to anyone who relies on making video calls or video conferencing with friends and family. The webcam on the MacBook Air has been upgraded to 1080p to match those found in the MacBook Pros starting in late 2021. The new Liquid Retina screen now supports one billion colors and is 100 nits brighter than the previous model (500 nits). However, ProMotion is not supported. The MacBook Air M2 (2022) appears to be a much better purchase for those who depend on visual quality, particularly photographers.

We had high expectations for the battery life of the MacBook Air as the M1 chip, which was incredibly effective and offered both high performance and long battery life, and Apple’s promise of the same with the M2 chip raised our expectations. Surprisingly, despite the 13-inch MacBook Pro’s larger battery, it actually had a longer battery life. The Pro’s Touch Bar and less energy-efficient screen could be to blame for the device’s faster battery drain. The MacBook Air M2 (2022) has a battery life that allows for easy use throughout a full workday or a lengthy flight, which is seriously impressive. We discovered that using the MacBook Air gave us much more freedom as we did not have to stop and consider where to plug it in to recharge the battery. When we needed a charge, our stronger charger did, in fact, quickly fill the battery. The MagSafe port is also fantastic as it makes it simple to connect the charger quickly thanks to the magnetic connection, and it disconnects without the risk of damaging the port if it is inadvertently pulled out.