Which MacBook Should You Buy: MacBook Air M2 or MacBook Air M1?

The new MacBook Air M2 is now available. This new notebook, like the previously introduced MacBook Pro M2, is the most unique to contain the Apple M2 CPU, making it one of the most performant and overall finest laptops available. Despite its high beginning price of $1,199, it is undoubtedly worth every cent because of the value it gives.

The prior MacBook Air M1 should be considered because a new generation is available. Despite being a generation older, this notebook still outperforms some of the finest Windows laptops in terms of performance and battery life. Because of these qualities and its comparatively low $999 price, it's not surprising that some people feel the MacBook Air M1 is the superior buy.

Below, we compare the MacBook Air M2 against the MacBook Air M1 to see which laptop you should buy. Here's how the old and new MacBook Air compare.

MacBook Air M2 versus MacBook Air M1: Price Comparison

The MacBook Air M2 is available for $1,199. In comparison, the MacBook Air M1 costs $999. However, certain stores choose to cut the latter's price during shopping holidays, such as Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday.

The Air M2 is more expensive than its predecessor, which is justified by its redesigned design and improved components, including the Apple M2 processor. However, as we'll see below, these upgrades may be insignificant to certain folks.

• The MacBook Air M2 lives up to its name as an ultra-thin and ultra-light notebook.
• It's so thin that it might be mistaken for an iPad when closed.
• Even a standard Bic pen seems hefty next to the Air M2, being 0.44 inches thick with the lid open.
• Despite being 20% less in bulk than the previous Air, it boasts a larger 13.6-inch display due to the laptop's narrower bezels.
• Like the MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 16-inch, the Air M2 features a notch at the top of the screen.
• Some may find this annoying because the gap breaks the aesthetics by reaching down to the bottom of the Menu bar.
• The 2.7-pound all-aluminium chassis strikes a mix between robustness and low weight.
• You may buy your Air M2 in Starlight (pale gold) or Midnight if you want it to stand out (dark blue).
• Silver or space grey is also available for those who want a more conventional design.
• The MacBook Air M1 features the line's signature wedge-shaped machined aluminium chassis. 
• It is available in Gold, Silver, and Space Gray.
• Unless you're a great lover of the old tapering style, the Air M2 wins in design because it's new and current.

Display Comparison: MacBook Air M2 vs. MacBook Air M1

• The 13.6-inch (2560 x 1664) Retina display on the MacBook Air M2 is bright and vibrant, making it ideal for watching films, editing images, and other tasks.
• It also covered 107% of the sRGB colour gamut and 75.9% of the DCI-P3 colour space.
• The 13.3-inch (2560 x 1600) pixel Retina display on the MacBook Air M1 can display great detail in any material you're watching.
• While the Air M1 covers a more significant portion of the sRGB colour spectrum, the Air M2 is much brighter.
• Furthermore, because of its bigger screen, the new laptop has a greater pixel count.
• The MacBook Air M2 wins this round.

Graphics and gaming on the MacBook Air M2 vs. the MacBook Air M1.

• Our $1,199 MacBook Air M2 arrived with a 10-core GPU rather than the regular 8-core CPU.
• Despite the increased GPU capability, the MacBook Air M2 (as well as the MacBook Pro M2) needs to catch up to a gaming laptop.
• The resolution was 1920 x 1200.
• The MacBook Air M2 managed 27 frames per second in Rise of the Tomb Raider.
• That falls short of the 30 fps threshold most gamers are ready to accept.
• At 2940 x 1920, it dropped to 15.3 frames per second.
• Civilization VI: Gathering Storm by Sid Meier performed higher, hitting 40.3 frames per second at 1470 x 956 resolution.

Which MacBook should you buy: MacBook Air M2 or MacBook Air M1?

The MacBook Air M2 offers improved speed, a larger display, and a good 1080p webcam in a thinner and lighter design. Despite the new Air's more excellent price, it will remain a popular product. With this gadget, Apple delivered.

The MacBook Air M1 is still a good laptop for most people. Its M1 CPU makes it faster than earlier Intel Mac laptops and many Windows notebooks. The computer will not let you down whether you use it for business, leisure, or even video or audio editing. It's no longer groundbreaking, but it's still an excellent laptop, especially for $999.

We feel the MacBook Air M2 is one of the good laptops on the market. However, if you want a solid and trustworthy Apple laptop under $1,000, the MacBook Air M1 is an excellent choice. Both are among the greatest MacBooks, so you'll have an ideal notebook.