Our Verdict
It is heavy to urge the 24 - column inch iMac over the MacBook Air , it cost more , there is only an M1 fleck to choose from , where the MacBook Air has a M1 or and M2 chip on offer . But there are some reasons to prefer the iMac over a MacBook Air .
Best Prices Today: Apple MacBook Air (2020) M1
The MacBook Air has always been one of Apple ’s most pop macintosh , while the iMac is belike the most noted . The two have much in plebeian , but a lot sets them apart .
On one side we have two MacBook Air with M2 chip that join the line up in July 2022 and slot in alongside an M1 MacBook Air from 2020 . On the other side are three iMacs all of which boast the M1 cow dung . If you are deciding between a novel MacBook Air or iMac , or if you are considering switching from iMac to MacBook Air or MacBook Air to iMac and want to make love whether it would be a good move , read on . In this article we ’ll look into what is the same and what is different so you could be sure to make the right conclusion .
There are a routine of of import consideration , but the biggest will in all probability be whether you should only choose the Mac with the newfangled chip – theM2powered MacBook Air – rather than the almost two year oldM1 . We ’ll treat thedifferences between the M2 and M1below , paying peculiar attention to the benefits the design of the iMac can make for compare to the design of the MacBook Air .
We ’ll start with a look at the design differences before moving onto the terms and glasses of these two Mac variety .
For more help choosing the Mac for you read ourguide to finding the best Mac . We also have a guide to thebest Mac laptop .
MacBook Air vs iMac: Design
The M1 iMac arrived in 2021 with a mark new looking at and a new size . The old 21.5 - inch iMac , with its aluminium frame that had n’t really change in over a X , evolved into a 24 - inch iMac that come in seven different colours . There is a choice of unripe , sensationalistic , orangish , red , purple , blue or silver , with the whole step on the back a morose shade than that on the front . The display is surround by a blank mete .
Foundry
The MacBook Air with M1 silicon chip ( which is still on sales agreement ) has the same invention that Apple has used since 2018 , but the M2 MacBook Air , which was introduced in June 2022 and goes on cut-rate sale in July , swash a fresh feeling . Some had been have a bun in the oven the MacBook Air to pursue the design lead of the iMac , with a similar range of bright colour . That did n’t find , but there are two new shades bringing the bit of colour finish you may choose from to four : Midnight ( blue / blackness ) , Starlight ( atomic number 79 ) , Space Gray and silver medal .
For the 2022 redesign the MacBook Air miss the narrowing wedge like design , but it ’s still super narrow and light . If you want a portable Mac laptop computer it ca n’t be beat . As laptops go , it ’s one of the most attractive laptop computer you may buy . In the example of the MacBook Air ( and every other Mac Apple makes , the show is surrounded by a black border ) .
Of naturally , what it all comes down to is whether you involve to be capable to carry the electronic computer around with you , or if it will always be located in the same place . If you do n’t need to be able to move it the iMac will be a honorable option , but if you will be carrying it to and from workplace or university then it has to be a laptop computer .
There are benefits to the iMac design that should n’t be brush aside though . The MacBook Air fits many of the same factor into a very small case and there are drawbacks to this . The iMac has two rooter where the MacBook Air has no fans ( the Mac mini and MacBook Pro each have one fan ) . It ’s possible that having two fans will allow the iMac to hold cool temperatures in central processing unit intensive activities , and where the MacBook Air would be throttled and therefore users will see a performance slow down , the iMac should have be able to stretch out its capabilities and go the special nautical mile . Indeed , this is what we control in the benchmarks for the M1 models , more on that below .
There are other benefit to the expectant case of the iMac , such as the inclusion of a six speaker system sound organization , which we will discourse in the audio part below .
MacBook Air vs iMac: Price
There are three received 24 in iMac choice to opt from . you’re able to made modification at the point of sales agreement to increase matter like RAM and store . Here ’s what ’s on fling :
24 - column inch iMac :
MacBook Air :
Which Mac is the best value for money?
If you were wondering which Mac offered the sound value for money out of the iMac and MacBook Air the comparability above makes that pretty clear . you’re able to keep open £ 250/$300 by buying the 8 - effect CPU/7 - essence GPU M1 MacBook Air rather than the identically specced M1 iMac . you’re able to see the dear Price for that MacBook Air right now at the top of this clause .
Why then would you desire to pay a bounty to get the iMac ? What does the iMac tender that warrants the extra expense ? We ’re all familiar with the benefits of a laptop – most manifestly portability – but what benefit do a screen background computer convey ?
more often than not desktop computers have larger and more superior ingredient inside them – but in the guinea pig of the 24 - inch iMac and the crummy MacBook Air the components are exactly the same . Apple has n’t contrive a different version of the M1 chip for the iMac . desktop are often more upgradable than laptops , but again , in the case of the iMac this Mac is not more upgradable – in fact it ’s even less upgradable than the previous multiplication of iMac was .
However , if you front at the disadvantages of a laptop the advantages of the desktop become a small clearer . The MacBook Air is tenuous and light , which is a welfare if you need the ultimate in portability , but that also means there is less elbow room inside the case for things like temperature reduction and talker . Hence the MacBook Air has no devotee while the iMac has two . Hence the speaker in the MacBook Air , while perfectly acceptable , are not going to compare with the six speaker sound system inside the iMac .
If you want a portable Mac the MacBook Air is ideal . But there are benefit assort with spending a small more on a desktop .
Below are the best mountain we are seeing for the iMac properly now :
M1 iMac 8 - core CPU/7 - core GPU , MSRP $ 1,299/£1,249
The safe price for the M2 MacBook Air is as follows :
M2 MacBook Air 8 - marrow CPU/8 - magnetic core GPU , MSRP $ 1,199/£1,249
M2 MacBook Air , 8 - core CPU/10 - core GPU , MSRP $ 1,499/£1,549
For moreiMac dealsand moreMacBook Air dealssee our consecrate batch articles .
MacBook Air vs iMac: Specs
It ’s possible to argue that a desktop should cost more than a laptop computer , but is the iMac deserving $ 200-$300 more than the MacBook Air ? Perhaps a deep looking at the specs will serve us determine that .
Screen
We ’ll start with the screen , because that is probably the most obvious difference between these two Macs – other than that one is a laptop and the other a screen background .
The iMac has a much , much big 24 in screen ( actually 23.5 in ) that , at 4.5 K , is vastly in force than that on the M1 MacBook Air , which measures 13.3 in .
However , there ’s also a M2 MacBook Air that does n’t merely sport a fresh intent , it also has a larger 13.6 in display that is brighter and better than the video display of the M1 MacBook Air .
Both the iMac and the MacBook Air have Retina displays , although the M2 MacBook Air ’s showing is officially a “ Liquid Retina ” display , which add some advance in contrast ratio and the mountain chain of colors usable . Both the M2 MacBook Air and the 24 - in iMac offer 500 nits luminance , which is an improvement on the M1 MacBook Air ’s 400 nits . All three models proffer True Tone , which is a engineering science that can adjust the brightness and color to ensure that colours reckon right depending on the light in your surroundings .
If size is what matters to you the 24 - inch iMac exhibit is ranking simply because it is bigger than the MacBook Air display – it offers 4,480 x 2,520 resolution equate to 2,560 by 1,664 pixels for the M2 13.6 in MacBook Air . But the character of the M2 MacBook Air display is a leap on from the M1 MacBook Air , giving buyers a right cause to see beyond the M1 model .
If your only reasonableness for choose the desktop is the large screen then keep in mind that you could always punch an external monitor into a MacBook Air and have two screens . Read aboutHow to use a 2d screen with a Mac . Of course , you could do on the button the same with the iMac if you intend even a 24 in display will feel cramp . Incidentally , the MacBook Airs only support one additional display … officially – readHow to tie in two or more external showing to Apple Silicon M1 Macsto recover out how to add more .
Processor
In this article we are believe Macs that feature two different Apple - made microchip : the M1 , introduced in November 2021 , and the M2 which get in June 2022 . We do n’t yet have benchmarks for the M2 in the MacBook Air , but we have test theM2 in the MacBook Pro , so we have an idea of what to bear ( although the MacBook Pro does sport a expert version of the M2 with more art chips and it also has a fan so await good results from that model ) .
To recapitulation , this is how the line up looks :
The entry - level iMac and MacBook Air share the same M1 with 8 - core CPU/7 - core group GPU .
The other two iMacs feature one more GPU core group – an M1 with 8 - Congress of Racial Equality CPU/8 - effect GPU .
The M2 MacBook Air provide either an 8 - gist CPU/8 - nucleus GPU , or an8 - marrow CPU/10 - nub GPU .
That 8 - magnetic core GPU in the M2 is potential to mystify the 8 - core GPU in the M1 because there are a number of enhancements in the new fleck .
We have run benchmark on the M2 MacBook Pro , which may give you some idea of what to expect from the M2 MacBook Air . As you may see from the table below , the M2 MacBook Pro with 8 - core performs well than the M1 iMac with the same turn of core .
Graphics
In term of graphics there is quite a range of options here , from the M1 with 7 - core or 8 - core GPU to the M2 with 8 - pith or 10 - core GPU . The more cores you have the more up to the Mac will be of intensive computer graphic , so if you have the pauperization to run in particular graphic big apps or games , you might be think that the 10 - core MacBook Air will be preferable .
If you look at the Metal tab above you ’ll see that the 8 - core M2 sweeps onward of the 8 - effect M1 , but the 8 - essence M1 in the MacBook Air was n’t as ripe as it ’s equivalent in the iMac , so you may wait that the equivalent M2 in the MacBook Air will underperform . However , the 10 - core GPU MacBook Air does get a better score than the 8 - core GPU MacBook Pro , as you would expect .
So , while you may be drawn to the MacBook Air because of its lower toll and additional GPU cores on offer , keep in mind that if you wait for an M2 iMac , which could arrive later in 2022 , you could see even good result . Another Mac to regard if you really necessitate a powerful machine would be theMacBook Pro . study about how theMacBook Pro compares to the iMac .
RAM and Storage
All M1 Macs ship with 8 GB RAM as standard and the selection of elevate to 16 GB , the M2 MacBook Pro increase RAM support to 24 gibibyte , but still embark with 8 GB as criterion .
Apple is refers to its random memory as unified retentiveness architecture , or UMA , and it is accessible to both the processor and the GPU . Apple indicates that there should be performance benefit due to this , because the memory can be allocated according to where it is needed most . For those who were put off the M1 Macs because of the RAM limit the M2 chip does answer that ill . If you involve even more crash the M1 Pro expends support to 32 GB , the M1 Mac to 64 GB and the M1 Ultra even further to 128 GB RAM .
As for entrepot , there are essentially two choices 256 GB or 512 GB .
If 256 GB is enough for you choose from a $ 999/£999 or $ 1,199/£1,249 MacBook Air or a $ 1,299/£1,249 or $ 1,499/£1,449 iMac . Just take down that the 256 GB store in the $ 1,199/£1,249 MacBook Air has been recover to underperform , probably because uses a individual 256 GB poker chip rather than two 128 GB ones like it did for the M1 MacBook Air . See : The $ 1,199 M2 MacBook Air vs the $ 1,499 model .
If you want 512 GB then the option are a $ 1,499/£1,549 MacBook Air or a $ 1,699/£1,649 iMac .
It ’s hard not to see these prices and conclude that the MacBook Air is better note value for money . It surely is when it hail to the reposition on fling .
The only interrogative is whether you need 512 GB storage . If you utilise Apple ’s iCloud for storage you might find that you do n’t necessitate so much forcible storage inside your Mac . Read : How much does iCloud cost ?
If you do need a lot of computer storage then you may need to think the limits of how much storage you’re able to add together to these dissimilar Macs . The matter is , they all offer up to 2 TB – and that will be you an additional $ 600/£600 disregardless of which Mac you are buy . ( The entry level iMac only provide up to 1 TB storage , while the more expensive mannikin can extend to 2 TB ) .
Ports & Peripherals
Finally a section where the iMac trumps the MacBook Air .
The M1 MacBook Air offers two Thunderbolt ports ( which reduplicate up as USB 4 ports ) , the M2 MacBook Air adds a MagSafe port to the offer , so at least one of your USB ports is n’t being given over to charging . The ledger entry - level 24 in iMac also declare oneself two Thunderbolt / USB 4 port , while the more expensive 24 in iMac adds 2 USB 3 ports , which could be helpful if you have older peripheral gadget . The iMacs also offer Gigabit Ethernet ( although that ’s a build - to - order selection on the entrance - level role model ) . you’re able to always purchase a separateUSB hub for more ports .
Apple
The other difference is the keyboard . The MacBook Air features a keyboard with Touch ID . Not all the 24 in iMac models ship with the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID – if you bribe the £ 1,249/$1,299 iMac is ships with a Magic Keyboard with Lock Key , but this is configurable to have the Touch ID choice .
To choose the Touch ID keyboard when you purchase the entryway - level iMac you need to tap Change to another keyboard , and choose Magic Keyboard with Touch ID ( and which ever speech applies to you ) . It costs an extra £ 50 . The other iMacs ship with the Touch ID keyboard .
Touch ID permit you to unlock your Mac , house in to apps , and devote for things using Apple Pay using your fingermark . you’re able to coif up multiple fingerprint for various users of the Mac – so there is no risk than another substance abuser can spend your money .
Gigabit Ethernet is only offered for the iMac , but both the MacBook Air an iMac offer 802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6 .
Both the MacBook Air and iMac can support one external exhibit with up to 6 K resoluteness at 60Hz .
Both the MacBook Air and the iMac have a FaceTime HD photographic camera integrated into the screen . The M1 MacBook Air has a 720p FaceTime HD television camera , while the iMac and the M2 MacBook Air both scoop that with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera with image signaling processor .
MacBook Air vs iMac: Verdict
Every time we look at how the 24 - in iMac compares to another Mac we are strike by how ill the iMac competes . Apple ’s desktop ca n’t vie with the M2 MacBook Air , and it is well more expensive . While we appreciate the welfare of a desktop and the 4.5 K display , it ’s hard to commend it when it be so much more . It would have been comfortable to defend the iMac if Apple had given it an M1 Pro chip , then at least we could have expect a business leader boost . But as it stands , the iMac is too expensive when you could get the same spectacles in portable physique .
