The M2 MacBook Air is here and , like the M1 , Apple has two options to pick out from , one with an 8 - core GPU and one with a 10 - sum GPU . We ’ve been testing both models here at Macworld , the measure - up mannequin that starts at $ 1,499 ( the model we tested andreviewed herehas 1 TB of computer memory and 16 GB of Aries the Ram for $ 1,899 ) , and the entry - level model with 256 GB of storage , which costs $ 1,199 .
That ’s a middling big conflict in monetary value , which led us to question what on the dot you ’re getting for the extra money . It turns out , you ’re getting quite a lot .
With two fewer GPU cores , less Aries , and an SSD configuration that appears sub - optimal for read and pen speeds , the cheapest MacBook Air face several obstacles in trying to compete with its costlier sibling . In some cases we were traumatise by how much worse it performed , but there were some pleasant surprises too .
learn on to notice out how both the top - conclusion and entry - level versions of the M2 Air got on in our f number and performance benchmark . Where possible we ’ve included equivalent score for the 256 GB version of the M1 MacBook Air released in 2020 , and for the quad - meat Intel i5 mannequin that came out in the same year .
M2 MacBook Air: Raw processing power
We began by looking at processing power using the Geekbench 5 and Cinebench R23 CPU benchmarks . We did n’t ask a huge difference here , given that our 2022 Airs have the same central processor with the same number of CPU core , although the top - end model we tested did have double as much RAM ( 16 GB vs 8 GB ) .
A promising commencement , with the entry - story Air tracking close to its more expensive sibling across all four test ( it was never more than 2.2 pct behind ) and showing addition of up to 16.5 percent on 2020 ’s M1 Air . In fact the 256 GB Air seduce slightly higher than the 1 TB model in Cinebench ’s multi - core portion , although this was by less than 1 percent and likely just an anomaly .
M2 MacBook Air: Real-world tasks
mainframe benchmarks give you an idea of a political machine ’s velocity on paper , but we need to know how these Macs will acquit in the material world . We set them our usual shelling of stabilise , exporting , and encode tasks in iMovie and HandBrake 1.5 .
There was barely in difference in the M2 Airs ’ speed when exporting a 4 super C file at mellow scope , but in every other test we examine significant loss of performance when using the chinchy manakin . Exporting at ProRes configurations took 27.6 percent longer . Stabilizing an iMovie clip , meanwhile , took an alarming 43 percentage longer ; we actually had to waitress longer than when using the M1 model from 2020 ( which was also an ingress - level unit of measurement and cost just $ 999 ) .
In our HandBrake test the 256 GB model was slower than the 1 TB version by 27.2 percent and 20.4 percent , respectively . In both casing it was closer in speed to the M1 model than to its own sibling .
M2 MacBook Air: Disk speeds
We test the read and write velocity of our review Macs usingBlackmagic Disk Speed Test . We were particularly lancinate to see how the base Air got on in this test , surveil reports that its SSD is up to50 percent sloweron take speeds and 30 percent on write speeds . ( The explanation , based onteardownsof the machine , is that Apple use a single 256 GB microchip rather than two 128 GB ones like last year . )
The 256 GB Air was unable to confute these direful presage . Read speeds were 47.9 percent slower than the 1 TB model on average , while write speeds were a staggering 50.2 percentage slower , far bad than expected . In both cases the entry - grade zephyr is well dumb than the 2020 example . You probably wo n’t acknowledge the slowdown in normal day - to - day function , but for $ 1,199 , we carry much strong SSD performance .
M2 MacBook Air: Gaming performance
Last up , we looked at the two Airs ’ performance running a pair of demanding game : upgrade of the Tomb Raider , andCivilization VI . Both of these games include a benchmarking way that allow you to evaluate framerates without the use of any extra software .
This is one test where Apple ’s own publically liberate specs for the two machines led us to require a meaning derivative . just put , the 1 TB Air we essay has a 10 - core GPU , while the 256 GB model has only 8 centre , so low-toned framerates are to be expected .
trial results were slightly confounding , however . Tomb Raider numbers game were largely predictable , with the 8 - core Air 43 pct behind at high-pitched setting and 26 percent behind at Medium . ( In both character framerates for the entry - story M2 were lower than for the M1 from 2020 . ) But the cheaper theoretical account punched well above its weight on refinement , perform comparably to the 1 TB MacBook Air with M2 on High scene and somewhat better on Medium .
The top - end atmosphere is doubtless a better play automobile , but the loss of two GPU substance does n’t come out to handicap the cheaper model as much as expected . Performance is likely to vary from game to game , however , and we give notice forethought if there is a specific graphically demanding title you plan to bask .
Conclusions
It ’s scarcely surprising to identify that this class ’s $ 1,199 MacBook Air do less imposingly than the higher - end model . What is more perturbing ishow muchslower it is when it comes to read and pen disk speeds ( around 50 percent in each , accord to our tests ) and at real - world stabilizing , exporting and encoding tasks .
It ’s always tempting to go for the cheapest configuration of a unexampled Apple product in ordination to revel the unexampled design and C.P.U. at the lowest possible outlay . As far as the M2 MacBook Air is concerned , however , we would advise against this , since testing suggest you ’ll be let a machine that in sealed respects performs no in effect than a cheaper simulation from 2020 , and in a few is actually worse . Admittedly , you ’re getting a bigger and good display , MagSafe , and a new design , but the M2 carrying into action boost just is n’t there .
If you do decide to buy the unexampled Air – and we recommend paying extra for the upgraded shape – make trusted you find the lowest price by pasture our usher to thebest MacBook Air deal . Or just clean up an M1 Air and lay aside a twosome hundred Buck .
