Written by
Vain Rowe
With the release of the M2 chip, so many technical writers may have already explored the differences between M2 and M1 in detail, whereas the latter definitely welcomes sorts of new features and highlights.
But that's just the comparison between the two chips, today this post guides you to know the differences between the MacBook Air devices configured with two different chips, that is, MacBook Air M1 VS M2. If you're interested in it, just follow this post to find the final results!
M1 VS M2 MacBook Air: all details you want to know
MacBook Air is a significant laptop lineup released by Apple, which won lots of commendation and popularity from users. As Apple's entry-level device, it is designed for users who desire to deal with some basic work. MacBook Air M1, one of the topics of this post, was released in November 2020 with an Apple-designed M1 processor. Two years later, the MacBook Air M2 came to the public successfully with fabulous enhancements and upgrades.
M1 VS M2 MacBook Air: Appearance
Appearance is also an important factor always being taken into consideration when users pick a suitable device. MacBook Air is famous for its being light, portable, and delicate. Yet there are still differences between MacBook Air M1 and MacBook Air M2. Let's see them in detail:
| MacBook Air M1 | MacBook Air M2 | |
| Height | 0.41–1.61 cm (0.16–0.63 inch) | 1.13 cm (0.44 inch) |
| Width | 30.41 cm (11.97 inches) | 30.41 cm (11.97 inches) |
| Depth | 21.24 cm (8.36 inches) | 21.50 cm (8.46 inches) |
| Weight | 1.29 kg (2.8 pounds) | 1.24 kg (2.7 pounds) |
| Color | Space Gary, Silver, Gold | Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, Silver |
Therefore, we can see that the MacBook Air M2 is lighter and more portable, if you want to pick a device and spare no effort to carry it along with you, the M2 is a better choice. On top of that, you have more choices on the device's color if you pick the M2 MacBook Air.
M1 VS M2 chip MacBook Air: Display
Usually, the newer the machine is, the more advanced the hardware is. Now let's see what display improvements have been built with the MacBook Air M2 than the MacBook Air M1.
| MacBook Air M1 | MacBook Air M2 |
| 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology | 13.6-inch (diagonal) Liquid Retina display |
| Retina display | Liquid Retina display |
| 2560 by 1600 pixels | 2560 by 1664 pixels |
| 400 nits brightness | 500 nits brightness |
| Wide color (P3) | Wide color (P3) |
| True Tone technology | True Tone technology |
MacBook Air configured with an M2 chip has a higher lever in high-resolution and high-definition, which gives you more vivid frames and a better experience when you watch videos or movies. If you have a higher requirement for display, considering using eGPU on your device is a nice choice.
M1 VS M2 chip MacBook Air: Performance
Now that a computer's performance depends on so many parts including memory, neural engine, decode machines, and so on, this section presents you a comparison between these aspects of the MacBook Air M1 and MacBook Air M2:
| MacBook Air M1 | MacBook Air M2 | |
| CPU | 8-core | 8-core |
| GPU | 7-core | 10-core |
| Unified memory | Up to 16GB | Up to 24GB |
| Storage | Up to 2TB | Up to 2TB |
| System on Chip (SoC) | 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores 7-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine | 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores Up to 10-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 100GB/s memory bandwidth |
| Media Engine | Hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC Video decode engine Video encode engine | Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW Video decode engine Video encode engine ProRes encode and decode engine |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.0 | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Power and Battery | Up to 15 hours of wireless web Up to 18 hours of Apple TV app movie playback Integrated 49.9-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery 30W USB-C Power Adapter | Up to 15 hours of wireless web Up to 18 hours of Apple TV app movie playback Integrated 52.6-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery 30W USB-C Power Adapter (included with M2 with 8-core GPU) 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter (included with M2 with 10-core GPU and 512GB storage, configurable with M2 with 8-core GPU) Fast-charge capable with available 70W USB-C Power Adapter |
We can conclude that the MacBook Air built with an M2 chip exceeds the MacBook Air with an M1 chip in configurations, making the device with an M2 chip's performance more brilliant and advanced. If you have enough money, we do recommend you'd better off paying for the MacBook Air with an M2 chip.
Besides, Apple doesn't offer the MacBook Air with an M1 chip any longer, so you have to buy this model in its second-hand version or find any unofficial store selling this old machine.
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MacBook Air with an M3 chip: what's new with it?
Following its device's publication, Apple released MacBook Air with an M3 chip on March 4, 2024, which has three versions for you to choose: MacBook Air M3 Based configuration, MacBook Air M3 Review configuration, and MacBook Air M3 Max configuration.
With the M3, the MacBook Air is up to 60 percent faster than the model with the M1 chip and up to 13 times faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. With a faster and more efficient Neural Engine in M3, MacBook Air continues to be the world's best consumer laptop for AI.
The 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air both feature a strikingly thin and light design, up to 18 hours of battery life,1 a stunning Liquid Retina display, and new capabilities, including support for up to two external displays and up to 2 times faster Wi-Fi than the previous generation.
With its durable aluminum unibody enclosure that's built to last, the new MacBook Air is available in four gorgeous colors: midnight, which features a breakthrough anodization seal to reduce fingerprints; starlight; space gray; and silver.
Combined with its world-class camera, mics, and speakers; MagSafe charging; its silent, fanless design; and macOS, MacBook Air delivers an unrivaled experience — making the 13-inch model the world's bestselling laptop and the 15-inch model the world's bestselling 15-inch laptop.
If you prefer this new MacBook Air model, go to Apple's official site to order this Mac designed with an M3 chip for its super performance and fast running speed!
