Apple today pulled the wraps off a new MacBook Air (with an upgraded M2 chip). That now makes Apple’s smallest laptop one of its most powerful – which combined with some all new stylings; makes the makes for one pretty and portable package.
For starters, let’s talk about the new chip; Apple long ago decided to ditch Intel as its chipmaker, deciding it could handle the job itself. That led to the creation of the M1 chip, quickly followed by the M1 Max and M1 Ultra that currently power Apple’s more premium Pro lines.
As you might expect, the M2 is better than the M1 (almost 25% better across the board). But that’s not just down to more grunt under the hood. The M2 makes the MacBook Air that much more efficient, so it can squeeze extra power in such a way as to not drain the battery. Apple now says its littles laptop can keep going for up to 18-hours (which, even if that is a bit of an optimistic stretch of the imagination, is some serious endurance).
Elsewhere you get an all new design and four new colours. That design mimics the MacBook Pro (complete with the notch). You get MagSafe charging and two USB-C ports, as well as a new charging puck that gives you additional charging ports at the base. There’s the same chicklet-style keyboard (which reminds us of Apple’s Magic Keyboard) as well as a fingerprint reader under the power button.
For the first time – the 13-inch MacBook Air actually rocks a slightly larger 13.6-inch screen – and this time it’s Liquid Retina-friendly; that should make for pin-sharp pictures and movies.
All of that sounds great on paper, and in reality the MacBook Air M2 is too pretty great. It’s s a tad lighter than the past version, and the new design gives you more screen-estate for the same body size. Throw in a more powerful chip, a better front-facing camera and the same ever-lasting battery; and the MacBook Air looks pretty sweet.
Apple were keen to point out that it sells more MacBook Airs than it ever thought possible. And with these upgrades – that’s not going to change anytime soon.