Why The M2 MacBook Air Is Still King! | In-Depth Long Term Review (Late 2023)

Summary

The video offers a long-term review of the M2 MacBook Air, highlighting its durability, design, and performance after 18 months of use. The Midnight Blue model shows minimal wear, with the USB-C ports and paint job holding up well despite regular use. The reviewer praises the laptop's portability, build quality, and efficiency, making it ideal for everyday tasks like email and communication. They also touch on the laptop's ability to handle light video editing and its excellent battery life, concluding that it offers great value for money, especially for users not requiring high-performance tasks.

Takeaways

• 💻 The M2 MacBook Air, released in June 2022, has been used daily for over a year and a half, offering long-term impressions on its design, hardware, and software.
• 🌃 The Midnight Blue version is a fingerprint magnet and can show minor discoloration on the USB-C ports from regular use, but no significant chipping over time.
• 🔧 Despite some user-induced paint chipping from strong adhesive magnets, the overall hardware quality remains high with no degradation in functionality.
• 📱 The M2 MacBook Air represents a departure from the wedge design of previous models, adopting a more squared-off, MacBook Pro-like aesthetic.
• 🖥️ The laptop features a larger 13.6-inch display compared to the previous 13.3-inch, includes a notch for the 1080p webcam, and maintains a thin and light form factor.
• 🔑 The Touch ID sensor remains responsive, and the keyboard shows no signs of wear after extensive use.
• 💾 The reviewer opted for 16GB of RAM for future-proofing, skipping storage upgrade due to reliance on iCloud, emphasizing the device's capabilities for multitasking and moderate workloads.
• 🛠️ While capable of handling applications like iMovie, Final Cut Pro, and Photoshop, the M2 MacBook Air is better suited for lighter tasks and is not recommended as a primary machine for heavy video editing or gaming.
• 🔋 The battery life is impressive, lasting a full workday on a single charge, and the overall performance remains snappy even after 18 months of use.
• 💰 The M2 MacBook Air offers an excellent price-to-performance ratio, making it a valuable option for users needing a laptop primarily for communication, light work tasks, and everyday use.
• 🏷️ The laptop is also available at discounted prices, with the reviewer mentioning specific deals and strategies for obtaining the best value, including education store discounts.

Q & A

How long has the M2 MacBook Air been out?

The M2 MacBook Air has been out for about a year and a half, releasing in June of 2022.

What color version of the M2 MacBook Air did the reviewer use?

The reviewer used the Midnight Blue version of the M2 MacBook Air.

Is the Midnight Blue version prone to fingerprint marks?

Yes, the Midnight Blue version is a fingerprint magnet even after a year and a half of use.

Did the reviewer experience any paint chipping on the M2 MacBook Air?

The reviewer experienced some paint chipping on the top of the display due to removing strong adhesive magnets, but the USB-C ports showed only minor discoloration.

What are the other color options available for the M2 MacBook Air besides Midnight Blue?

The other color options available are a goldish color, Champagne silver, and space gray.

How has the hardware of the M2 MacBook Air held up over time according to the reviewer?

The hardware of the M2 MacBook Air is still in amazing condition, with no issues reported by the reviewer after almost a year and a half of use.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the new design language of the M2 MacBook Air compared to the old design?

The reviewer appreciates the new design language of the M2 MacBook Air, which is more squared off and similar to the MacBook Pro, and does not miss the old wedge design.

What are the software experiences like on the M2 MacBook Air?

The software on the M2 MacBook Air is still snappy and efficient, with no issues reported by the reviewer, and it runs macOS Ventura.

What are the reviewer's use cases for the M2 MacBook Air?

The reviewer uses the M2 MacBook Air primarily for email, slack, browsing with multiple tabs open, and occasional video editing with iMovie and Final Cut Pro.

What is the reviewer's recommendation for those needing more power than the M2 MacBook Air offers?

For those needing more power, the reviewer recommends considering the M3 MacBook Pro models or looking at refurbished M2 Pro models.

What is the price-to-performance ratio like for the M2 MacBook Air according to the reviewer?

The reviewer considers the M2 MacBook Air to have an excellent price-to-performance ratio, offering great value for the money.