![]() The most important thing to clarify here is just where the new M2 chip falls in the Apple Silicon lineup. Plus, we've been testing and reporting on every M1 iteration since 2020, including the original M1, the M1 Pro, the M1 Max and the M1 Ultra (which is just a double M1 Max). That's because we've just tested and reviewed the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, which also runs the M2 chip. The performance story this laptop tells is a predictable one. Keep a cleaning cloth handy for the fingerprint-prone matte finish. ![]() I felt obligated to carry a cleaning cloth with me everywhere, and I'd advise you to do the same. It's a common issue with dark matte objects, and I had to give this laptop a thorough wipedown before snapping each photo. But I could barely breathe on the Midnight MacBook Air without leaving smudges and fingerprints all over it. Reader, I am no greasy-fingered vulgarian. The Midnight version of the MacBook Air has a sharp, modern look, but there's one catch. Some models experiment with dark interiors or garish lid illustrations, but there's generally a lot of zigging and not much zagging out there. It's a great look, and stands out nicely from the sea of nearly identical laptops that are all either silver, gray or. ![]() The 13.6-inch display fits more screen into about the same space. I actually found one of these a few years ago, in 2018, and it booted up and worked, although the battery was shot. It took me back to one of the very first MacBooks (and one of the first Intel Macs), the black polycarbonate model I first reviewed in 2006. Apple doesn't describe it precisely, but I'd call it a matte black with a hint of a blue tint. However keep in mind that the webcam is going to knock a little notch into the screen, much as it does on the iPhone and some MacBook Pro models.Īfter seeing the new MacBook Air in person for the first time at Apple's WWDC event in June 2022, I knew I had to try the Midnight color. ![]() Yes, I've gotten to the age where most of my Google Docs are at 125% by default, so a bigger screen definitely helps. The slightly larger screen, which measures 13.6 inches diagonally where the previous model was 13.3 inches, also aids visibility. The brighter screen - similar to the ones on current MacBook Pro laptops - helped when I had to crank up the brightness to write outdoors. But it's a great fit for my small travel bag, and I wouldn't object to taking it on a daily commute. The new Air is only slightly smaller and lighter than its predecessor, so don't expect a revelatory experience. Of course, the ultimate travel laptop, at least for me, was the late 12-inch MacBook, sadly discontinued before it could find its audience. For example, I've had an excellent time taking the tiny Surface Laptop Go 2 around with me, even on a cross-country flight. The regular Air was always a fine travel companion, but frankly newer, lighter laptop designs have been more travel-friendly. So it came with me, to the coffee shop, on the subway, to the office and more. The MacBook Air has always been my favorite coffee shop companion.Ī MacBook Air is fine for sitting at a desk at home or in the office, but it's really a laptop that needs to be on the go with you to shine. Otherwise, you just get the standard 30W MacBook brick. If you buy the least expensive M2 MacBook Air configuration, it's a $20 add-on upgrade. It's compact and has two USB-C ports built right into it - one for the power cable to the laptop, and one free one for anything else you need. It also adds the new MagSafe power connection also found in the 14-/16-inch MacBook Pro, and some configurations include a new 35W dual USB-C port power adapter. Larger, brighter display (13.6 inches versus 13.3 inches).Slimmer, more modern design in new colors.To sum it up, the key reasons you're going to prefer the new Air over the previous model are: That's a lot of different MacBook models, prices and specs to keep track of. The M2 Air is slimmer at the rear hinge than the old design. It's also a bit lighter, at 2.7 pounds versus 2.8 pounds. It's 11.3mm thick overall, while the previous design tapered thinner at the front, but grew to 16mm at its rear hinge. The new Air's footprint is a hair smaller than before, and it feels slimmer. That Midnight, which appears as a matte black finish, reminds me of the old matte-black polycarbonate MacBooks of the mid-2000s, which I've always thought was a very sharp look. The new MacBook Air goes beyond the Pro models it mimics in one important respect - it adds new colors to the space gray and silver, with a new gold Starlight and a deep, dark Midnight finish. Read more: MacBook Pro M2 13-Inch Review: Familiar Design, New Apple M2 Chip
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