MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Pro M2: Which One To Buy?

Are you looking to upgrade to the new MacBook? Our MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Pro M2 review is here to help you!

While reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo did say that Apple will launch a new MacBook Air later this year with an M1 chip at the helm, recent reports from the like of Jon Prosser contradicts Kuo, citing that the new MacBook Air will be powered by the M2 chip instead. It is now almost two years since Apple last announced the transition from Intel Macs to Apple Silicon.

Apple’s M2 chip is shaking up the computer industry thanks to impressive gains in performance and battery life. There is always a reason to be cautiously optimistic about switching from the older Mac with M1 ultra chip to the Apple M2 chip in the near future.

However, the decision to switch to an M2- based entry-level Mac is still not as easy as it may seem. So we are going to put out the biggest pros and cons of using an M2 Mac to help you decide whether you want to make this switch or not.

MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Pro M2: Comparison

MacBook Air M2

While analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the new MacBook Air will have an updated M1 chip, other reliable sources now say that the machine is being developed with the new M2 chip with codename J413.

This next-generation MacBook Air is expected to be released in a single version featuring M2 (codename Staten). Although M1 features efficiency cores like the eight-core CPU, M2 is bringing more powerful GPU cores like the 10-core GPU.

Pros

Battery Life/ Power Efficiency: Expect better battery life from this M2 device (more than 29 hours) as compared to an Intel-based MacBook (Do keep in mind that desktop machines such as the Mac mini and the 16-inch Mac Pro are now more power-efficient).

Faster: Prepare to experience performance like never before, whether it’s about opening more browser tabs without worrying about your machines freezing, a faster boot-up, or quicker wake from sleep mode. That also means apps will load much faster on these new machines.

Streamlined Portfolio: You no longer need to worry about the processor or graphics on your Mac. From high-performance desktop machines to ultra-portable laptops, every machine has the same M1 processor. Since the processor has an integrated GPU, you no longer need to worry about that choice either. Sure, some variants may offer an extra GPU core

Cons

Fewer Ports and Limited Support: The latest Macs won’t have SD card slots with fewer ports than ever before (Apple has made it a habit to remove useful ports from its machines). Removing basics such as an SD card slot and an Ethernet port from a $1300+ iMac is brutal.

Upgrades: Mac upgrades are expensive! A Mac mini with 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage costs $699 and if you want 16GB of RAM and 1TB storage, the same machine goes up to a whopping $1699. Similar price jumps across the M2 Mac lineup are to be expected (even more expensive in different regions across the world).

Apps Compatibility:  Apps such as Adobe Premiere Pro didn’t have stable, optimized build available for M1 Macs and issues like these are also expected to accompany the M2 Macs. We advise caution if you are planning to upgrade!

Boot Camp Support: Boot Camp is not expected to be supported on M2 Macs, so the dual-booting options will be limited to Mac virtual machine apps such as Parallels Desktop most probably. You might also not get the same performance running Windows via virtualization.

MacBook Pro M2

Apple is expected to keep the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro around for longer. Sources confirm that the 13-inch MacBook Pro is getting a new model with the M2 chip. The machine is based on the current 13-inch MacBook Pro under the codename J493, which means that it will retain the current form factor.

Pros

Processing Speed: Remarkable performance when using native software, Comfortable keyboard and trackpad, MacOS Big Sur is a nice update, Can run iOS apps, Improved webcam.

Battery Life: MacBook Pro remains a workhorse for those who want a compact macOS laptop that’s still powerful enough to perform processor-intensive workflows with more than 22 hours of battery life.

Ports: Only two USB-C ports are to be expected with a standard 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM device.

Display: This MacBook will offer a brilliant Retina display with a resolution higher than 2560 by 1600 and multiple color options, although the touch screen feature will still not be a part of it.

Cons

Weight: Not a very distinct difference from the MacBook Air M2 but this device is slightly bulkier in weight, yet that should be a decisive factor when you’re making a choice!

Price: Across all the different configurations, there is a $300-$1,000 difference in cost between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. The standard stocked models come as 256GB/8GB RAM and 512GB/8GB RAM configurations for the 13-inch Air and Pro and models with 16GB RAM for Air and Pro are custom orders.

The new M2 chip will come to replace the current entry-level M1 but not the other high-end M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra versions. Apple currently has M2 Pro, Max, and Ultra in the line, the latter will be a 24-core CPU.

Interestingly, Apple is internally considering getting rid of the “Pro” name from this machine and it will be rebranded as an entry-level MacBook. Let’s see how many more of the “Peek Performance” announcements we can review for you this year.