MacBook Air M1 vs M2 | Which is Best Choice in 2024?

The MacBook Air M1, released in 2020, set a new standard for performance and efficiency with Apple’s first custom silicon. The 2022 MacBook Air M2 promises even greater improvements.

With both models still highly relevant in 2024, understanding their differences is crucial for making an informed decision. This article aims to break down the actual differences and help you to determine which model best suits your needs.

Apple Macbook Air M1 and M2: Ultimate Comparison [2024]

Here I am comparing two subsequent Macbook models and expressing my thoughts when I switched from my Macbook Air 2020 M1 to a Macbook Air 2022 with M2 Chip.

Note: For this comparison, I am only considering 13-inch Air models. Let’s compare them on different parameters so you can choose the best system as per your needs:

1. MacBook Air M1 vs M2: Display

The MacBook Air 2022 M2’s display offers several enhancements over its 2020 M1 predecessor, aimed at improving the overall user’s visual experience.

The M2 Air features a slightly larger 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with 500 nits of brightness, compared to the M1’s 13.3-inch Retina display with 400 nits of brightness.

The Liquid Retina display with increased brightness on the M2 also supports a billion colours, offering better colour accuracy and contrast ratios making it more suitable for use in well-lit environments, ensuring clearer visibility even in direct sunlight.

While the differences in pixel density between the two models are minimal, this enhanced colour support is particularly beneficial for users involved in professional design work, photo editing, and digital content creation, where precise colour representation is crucial.

On the flip side of the coin: In everyday use, the display improvements may not be dramatically noticeable for usual tasks like browsing the web, working on documents, and even programming for that matter.

2. MacBook Air M1 vs M2: Body Design

The MacBook Air M2 introduces a sleek, modern design, setting it apart from the M1. Both models share the same width for a full-size keyboard, but the M2 is slightly deeper with thinner bezels to accommodate a larger screen.

While the tapered edges of the Air M1 contributed to a lighter and slimmer profile, they also restricted space for ports and internal components, potentially affecting heat dissipation.

That’s why Apple finally decided to eliminate the classic tapered design in the 2022 M2 Air and launched a flat body with uniform thickness.

Another notable feature in the M2’s design is the addition of a notch to house the 1080p webcam, similar to the design of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. However, the notch has been met with mixed reactions, as it lacks additional functionalities like Face ID, which some users might have expected.

I personally loved the reintroduction of the MagSafe port in the M2, offering a quick and secure magnetic connection for charging, which frees up one of the Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports for other uses.

Also Read: Macbook vs Windows Laptop: Detailed Comparison

3. MacBook Air M1 vs M2: Processing Power

The Apple Silicon M2 processor is an upgraded version of the M1 chip, featuring more powerful and efficient cores. Both the M1 and M2 MacBook Air models have an 8-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficient cores, which handle tasks ranging from simple web browsing to more demanding applications like video editing.

For everyday tasks such as browsing websites or writing papers, the difference between the M1 and M2 in single-core performance is minimal, with the M2 being only about 11% faster. The M1 already provides robust performance, allowing you to open multiple tabs and run various applications without noticeable lag.

The M2’s improvements are more pronounced in multicore performance, being 15% to 18% faster GPU than the M1. This makes the M2 a better choice for power users who engage in heavy multitasking or media creation, benefiting from the ProRes decode engine designed specifically for handling media.

In real-world use, the performance gains of the M2 over the M1 may not be significant enough to justify the extra 25,000 to 30,000 rupees.

If your primary use involves everyday office tasks, browsing, and basic applications, the M1 MacBook Air remains an excellent choice in 2024. It provides ample power for general use and will feel significantly faster if you’re upgrading from an older Intel-powered Mac or a Windows PC.

4. MacBook Air M1 vs M2: Configurable Options

At their base configurations, both the MacBook Air M1 and M2 come with 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage. However, the M2 model costs around INR 20,000 more than the M1. Despite this price difference, any upgrades to storage or memory cost the same for both models.

Both the M1 and M2 MacBook Airs can be upgraded to 2TB of storage, but the M2 offers an advantage in terms of memory, supporting up to 24GB of Unified Memory compared to the M1’s maximum of 16GB. This can be a significant factor for users who require more memory for demanding tasks.

I saw some people online suggesting to get 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage to future-proof your laptop. The 16GB/512GB variant of the Air M2 costs around INR 130,000, while the same configuration for the Air M1 is nearly INR 85,000.

However, for a significantly faster experience, consider the MacBook Pro 2021 model with 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and the M1 Pro chip, available for around INR 120,000 on Lapicart. It offers superior performance compared to the Air M2.

Sticking with the base variants of the MacBook Air models is advisable because they provide ample performance for everyday tasks and most professional needs, making them a cost-effective choice for many users.

Additionally, despite their fanless design, the base variants rarely overheat even when pushed to their performance limits.

Also Read: Apple M Chip vs Intel Processor: Best Processor in 2024?

5. MacBook Air M1 vs M2: Battery Life

The MacBook Air M2 features a larger 52.6-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery than the M1’s 49.9-watt-hour battery. Despite this increase, Apple states that both models offer the same battery life of up to 18 hours.

However, Lapicart’s testing reveals a slight edge for the M2. This improved efficiency makes the M2 MacBook Air one of the longest-lasting laptops available, even outperforming many Windows competitors like the HP Dragonfly Pro.

The M2’s longer battery life is partly due to its larger battery capacity and more efficient power consumption. This can be particularly beneficial for professionals who rely on their laptops for all-day use during business travel or long meetings.

But to be honest, for typical users who use their MacBook for 8-9 hours per day, there is practically no difference between the M1 and M2 Air in terms of battery life. Both models will comfortably last through a full workday without needing a recharge.

6. MacBook Air M1 vs M2: Price

When considering the price of the MacBook Air models, the base variant of MacBook Air M1 (8/256) offers excellent value at INR 70,000, whereas MacBook Air M2 is commonly available for INR 94,000.

However, there are more affordable options if you’re open to purchasing lightly used devices. On the Lapicart platform, you can find almost new, mint-condition MacBook Air M1 systems for INR 57,000 and MacBook Air M2 units for INR 85,000.

These prices make both models accessible at different budget levels, providing you flexibility based on your financial considerations and usage needs.

Must Read: Buying Used Macbook: 9 Things to Check Before Buying

7. MacBook Air M1 vs M2: Webcam & Speakers

It’s quite obvious that the MacBook Air M2 offers significant upgrades in both webcam and audio performance compared to the M1 model.

The M2 features a 1080p webcam, a notable improvement over the 720p FaceTime HD camera in the M1 Air. This upgrade is particularly beneficial for users who frequently engage in video calls, providing clearer and more detailed video quality.

The enhanced resolution of the M2’s webcam ensures better performance in various lighting conditions, reducing graininess and delivering sharper images.

In terms of audio:

the M2 MacBook Air advances from the stereo speaker system to a four-speaker setup with support for Spatial Audio, also known as 3D audio.

This new configuration delivers a richer and more immersive sound experience, making it ideal for multimedia consumption, virtual meetings, and creative work involving audio.

MacBook Air M1 vs M2: Which is Better in 2024?

The decision between the MacBook Air M1 and M2 largely depends on your specific needs and budget.

For those seeking enhanced performance, the MacBook Air M2 is definitely the better choice. It features a slightly larger and brighter 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, superior multicore performance, and an improved GPU, making it suitable for professional design work, photo editing, and digital content creation.

The M2 also comes with a 1080p webcam, a four-speaker audio system, and the reintroduction of the MagSafe port, enhancing the overall user experience.

However:

For students, normal office tasks, and casual users, the MacBook Air M1 still remains the best choice. Despite its slightly older hardware, the M1 still delivers robust performance for everyday tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and streaming. It also provides excellent battery life, making it a reliable companion for daily use.

• Checkout the Best Prices on: Excellent Condition Pre-Owned Macbook Air 2020 M1 (8GB RAM / 256GB SSD) Macbook Air 2022 M2 (8GB RAM / 256GB SSD) with 10+ Months Apple Warranty

As per my experience with both of these models, The M1 model offers remarkable value and I seriously don’t think, it’s justified to spend an additional INR 20,000 for basic needs.

If you require the extra performance and features of the M2, it’s worth the investment. However, for most users, especially those on a budget, the MacBook Air M1 remains an excellent and cost-effective choice.