MacBook Pro M1 vs MacBook Air M2 – It Is Actually Simple

In June 2022, Apple introduced the updated and redesigned MacBook Air to the world and it was billed as the biggest design overhaul to the MacBook Air line since 2010. This was also the first time an Apple MacBook was introduced with an M2 chip. Though sales started only in mid July we’re now in 2023 and people are still curious about the M2 chip and its usage in comparison to their M1 Pro experience.

MacBook Pro M1 vs M2

The internet is divided with opinions when you simply Google MacBook Pro M1 vs M2 or anything similar so here in this blog today we’re going to check both the dominant category of MacBooks – the yesteryear MacBook Pro M1 as well as the latest MacBook Air M2 – so stay tuned as we deep dive into the world of Apple-powered M1 and M2 chips and see how much technology has evolved since the first iPhone arrived back in June 2007.

But before we go head to head, let us first check out the MacBook Pro M1 features followed by MacBook Air M2 features. Here we go!

Difference between M1 and M2

Head To Head Comparison Between MacBook Air M2 & MacBook Pro M1 (16” and 14”)

Read – MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro M1 Features

Display – The MacBook Pro models were given a form factor overhaul and come in 14.2 inch and 16.2 inch displays. The MacBook Pro M1 is also designed using slimmer bezels around the display – approximately 24% thinner on the left and right sides and 60% thinner on the top. These were also the first models to include Apple’s Liquid Retina XDR technology, previously seen in the iPad Pro. This calls for more realistic image quality due to the mini-LED display.

Resolution – the 16.2 inch MacBook Pro M1 offers 3455 x 2234 pixels (254 ppi). The 14.2 inch model offers 3024 x 1920 (226 ppi). Brightness has almost doubled from 500 nits – in the previous models – to 1000 nits in the MacBook Pro M1 series.

RAM & Processor – compared to the previous intel-based chips, the M1 processor offers a massive performance boost and comes with a 10-core CPU. The 14 inch MacBook Pro M1, though, comes with an 8-core CPU.

The M1 Pro either gives you a 14-core or 16-core GPU option depending upon your configuration. On performance, the 16.2 inch MacBook Pro is up to 2X faster in terms of CPU speeds than their predecessors. On the other hand, the 14.2 inch model offers up to 3.7X faster CPU speed in comparison to its predecessor.

When it comes to RAM, the MacBook Pro M1 models start at a base level of 16GB of RAM and are configurable up to 32GB or 64GB.

Battery Performance – M1’s prowess helped Apple improve the battery life massively in their MacBook Pro M1 series. The 16.2 inch MacBook Pro offers up to 21 hours of video playback on a charge – said to be the longest in a MacBook. The 14.2 inch model, in comparison, offers up to 17 hours of video playback.

Top Features – Apple’s innovation is beyond any doubt and the MacBook Pro M1 series saw multiple updates aimed at enabling video and audio conferencing needs after the meteoric rise of work-from-home (WFH) scenarios in the post-Covid world.

The MacBook Pro M1 model has a high-fidelity speaker system and has a total of 6 speakers. The speaker system is 2X larger and has four woofers increasing the bass by over 80%.

It also offers a 1080p front-facing webcam with a wider aperture to let in more light. This comes along with a larger image sensor, giving 2X performance even in low-light conditions. The M1 Pro has Apple’s image signal processor technology for improved video quality.

MacBook Air M2 Features

Display & Resolution – the MacBook Air M2 model also comes with a 13.6 inch (diagonal) liquid retina display with 2560 x 1664 native resolution (224 ppi). This is an LED-backlit display that comes with IPS technology or liquid crystals sandwiched between two glass surfaces. It can support up to 1 billion different colours.

When it comes to the resolution and brightness, Apple’s M2 chip boasts of 500 nits of brightness and offers the True Tone technology to the set of M2 users.

RAM & Processor – compared to the M1 processor, the MacBook Air M2 comes with an 8-Core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. The 8-Core GPU together adds value and forms the 16-Core Neural Engine and gives up to 100GB/s of memory bandwidth to the users.

It is configurable up to 8-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU.

Battery Performance – the M2-powered MacBook Air gives up to 18 hours of video playback and up to 15 hours of wireless web surfing prowess in one charge. It comes with a 52.6 watt-hour lithium-polymer battery that can be charged in an optimum manner using the 30W USB-C power adapter (for 8-Core GPU) and 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact adapter (for 10-Core GPU). The availability of the MagSafe 3 charging port allows users to go for a MagSafe 3 cable.

Top Features – the prowess of M2 has made the MacBook Air 2X faster and comes with 8GB unified memory – configurable up to 16GB or 24GB. This is the first time a MacBook Air is configurable up to 2TB of SSD storage, that’s epic! The four-speaker audio system and wide-stereo sound calls for an enhanced music experience.

When it comes to camera, the MacBook Air M2 comes with a 1080p camera and that is actually an HD camera given specially for FaceTime purposes. It also has an advanced image signal processor with computational video capability.

The MacBook Air M2 was launched in four distinct colours – Silver, Starlight, Space Gray, and Midnight.

Comparing Both M1 & M2 Generations

Now that we have a fair idea of the technical specifications, we can proceed to find out what’s best for you – the MacBook Pro M1 or MacBook Air M2; let’s begin.

Let’s face it, the 2022 MacBook Air has a better chip, a bigger display and a brand new design. But is it worth spending more when the M1 is on sale? If we’re talking in terms of design then the M2-powered MacBook Air clearly stands out. But you must notice that despite the surreal changes both the MacBook Pro M1 and the MacBook Air M2 are fanless, which might pose a problem for those working for long hours.

In terms of battery, the MacBook Pro 13 M1 has an 11% larger battery than the MacBook Air M2 but that is the only thing that seems to go in the M1-powered MacBook’s favour. MacBook Pro 16 vs MacBook Air M2 might be an even debate if we’re talking about the battery prowess but it is more or less the same in all other parameters.

The MacBook Air M2 is easier to carry (weighs 130 grams lesser), has thinner bezels (3% screen-to-body ratio) and can run popular games at about 8-11% higher frames per second. The M2-powered MacBook Air has a better webcam recording quality too.

In terms of performance and portability, the Apple MacBook Air M2 is almost equal to the M1 Pro version and even exceeds it in a few parameters like Sound, GPU Performance, and Base Frequency.

Read – Apple MacBook Air: Pros And Cons You Need To Know

The Verdict – MacBook Pro vs Air M2

First things first, the MacBook Air M2 is going to cost approximately $200 more than the MacBook Pro M1 model and you must decide whether the chip upgrade is worth your money.

Secondly, if you’re someone who is into avid gaming or want to make use of your MacBook for your recreational purposes then the MacBook Air M2 is the best device for you in the markets. If you’re someone routinely using your MacBook for official purposes then even the MacBook Pro M1 is a great device to help you do all your tasks with efficiency.

Though it must be said, the M2 chip upgrade is worth every penny and makes the device faster, lighter, and at least 3X efficient than its predecessor models. That was our comparison of the MacBook Pro M1 vs MacBook Air M2 – hope you make a wise decision.

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