@@anupammahato1 I think the major difference is the larger screen. And the keys feel a little softer. The M1 was a magnificent machine and it was practical and efficient. But the larger screen size of the M2 makes it worth it. Especially when working on multiple documents.
I got my 13" M2 MacBook Air early this year. As a former techie in his middle 70s and still tinkering with the keys, I like its small light form factor. It does most of my computer needs as I travel. If the 15" has a slight difference in weight then I might consider it. I know the wider screen would compensate for my fading vision over the years.
@@troyflatland5299 I was 30 when I got hooked on TRS-80 computer learning. I remember starting with BASICA (IBM Basic) programming language and Lotus 123, a spreadsheet software. And I can still recall I had a hard time coding and running simple sorting routines that we saved in cassettes. I guess I became a computer geek over the years knowing how to assemble PCs and learning several languages and applications but remained short of being a hacker.
I’m a 16GB/1TB guy but the 16GB/512GB is the sweet spot. It future proofs your laptop because operating systems and apps get bigger and bigger over time consuming more RAM and SSD.
I love my 15in MacBook Air..I upgraded from 13in MacBook Pro...Love the bigger screen and the 2 C usbs plus the charger means I can use more accessories.
It is a fantastic machine. Has the screen size without the price tag. I have been wanting a larger screen MacBook for years, but I am not willing to shell out over 2k for something that has more power than I need, etc. I think this will be a big seller. Remember, that normal people will never notice the SSD speed issue. Will their Word file save that much faster? No. Does it boot that much slower? I think tech reviewers sill live in a bubble as do power users. Would I like Apple to start the base of their machines higher? Sure, but they are being consistent. Mac mini M2, which people praise, has the same specs and performs essentially the same. I have both. I have use cases for both. For me, it's easy to recommend to the right people. Power users and tech reviewers aren't those people.
"without the price tag" - are you kidding me? A laptop in 2023 with only 8Gb RAM that STARTS at 1830 euro here in Europe?!? You won't be able to use this thing in 4-5 years due to the low RAM. That's a brutal rip-off.
@@webpoet73 The insulting thing is that plenty of 500 euro Windows machines start at 16Gb RAM, 512Gb SSD, but the "PREMIUM" 1800 euro Macbooks start at 8Gb, 256Gb SSD. I understand that Macbooks are premium products, but if you're making a premium product give it at least premium specs. You can't have premium product with low specs.
Recommendation is quite easy: MacBook Air 13' M2: do not need a lot performance, and prefer small size for portability MacBook Air 15' M2: do not need a lot performance, and prefer a larger screen MacBook Pro 14': need performance + portability MacBook Pro 16': need performance + larger screen. That's it, easy, you see?😏
Even though I use iPads for just about everything I’m still intrigued by Apples latest laptop, I don’t need it but I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up purchasing one before the year ends
If you need more RAM then buy it. This is the best ultrabook you can buy. If you want something worse then buy Windows but even then on checking Dell, HP, Samsung, Surface, they all start at 8GB with a similar price in that UK. Maybe Apple will up the RAM if Windows start at 16GB, but there is zero reason for Apple to move that way as Windows owns 90% of the market and they are the market makers. It is so simple to buy more RAM if you have a RAM-intensive workflow, so that would be my advice, rather than whining about Apple’s business model, which by the way they will understand far more than random YT creators! If it is a 5-year computer then $200 for 8GB more RAM seems a very good investment. And let us be honest, if Apple upped the RAM to 16GB base, they would push the price up in line with how much that would lose them in upgrades, so would probably mean an extra $125 for the base.
The problem is the average consumer doesn’t have $1,300 to blow on a base model laptop. So a $1,500 for a 16GB RAM MacBook is a hard sell for most people. It’s a reason the under $1,000 M1 MacBook Air is the most popular Apple computer ever and till this day most people are buying that model.
@@Rivs5117 True, but Apple has always been a premium brand, so it has never been the cheapest option. This and the fact that it has the best outlets and great OS support, they have its own OS (not licensed from MS like Windows OEMs) and its own hardware like miniLLED and Apple Silicon. It is reasonable to accept that the cost is because it is not a generic off-the-shelf Windows copy and pastes.
I wish that during these “reviews”, we also considered other spectrum where movie/photo editing didn’t matter but docker, xcode and vs code did as well..
Yea most reviewers review based on the things they usually do on their computer, i had to add the word “coding” in my searches just to coders view on this machine
I just bought a 16" M2 MacBook Pro (16 Gb RAM, 1 TB storage) and glad I did. It's overkill most of the time, but it's an awesome machine, with no downside, other than weight and cost. But if you keep a laptop 4-5 years, like I do, the amortized cost differential isn't great, and the weight is meaningless (to me). I just love having a powerhouse. My wife bought the 15 Air with upgraded RAM and 1 TB storage. It's flawless for her. I never recommend base models for anyone.
I have an iMac i7 from 2015 with just 8GB. Works perfectly. 8-10 tabs open in Firefox surfing, music from radio station playing, watching iTunes videos, email, all at once. No hiccups, smooth, fast. So, fear not, the base model 8GB RAM is more than enough for everyday usage. M2 Air is fabulous too (I have a 13" M2 Air for mobile usage), just don't underestimate the older chips if millisecond blazing speed isn't a priority. cheers
If the MacBook Air came with 16GB of RAM I would pick it up in a heartbeat.. I mean yeah you can upgrade it but at that point I'd rather just buy a 14 inch MacBook Pro with a much better processor and screen.
Another great video, mate! The 15" Air is a slick machine, to be sure, but I still prefer the smaller form factor of my 13" M2 Air. The 15" Air weighs nearly as much as the 14" MBP M1/M2. As I've written on some other review channels, I like my desktop PCs big and powerful and my laptops thin and light.
@@Mad.Maxx.77 you're right. They are almost the same in weight. I like thin and light for laptops too but wanted the bigger screen so had to take a compromise on the weight. As for the MBP I was turned off by the thickness of it.
So I agree with you in regards to the SSD situation. Apple actually uses a full 256GB SSD nand rather than two 128GB SSD nands like they did before. It doesn't really bother me, but they make it out to be a big deal. I think the only reason is because they are doing side-to-side comparisons and that's really the only way you'll see the difference. I won't be transferring huge amounts of data all the time on my Mac.
This will be the best selling mac ever as it has got everything is perfect from screen size to weight . Most people can go for 16gb Ram+ 1tb ssd for future proof next 10years 👍🏻
I mean that’s like saying apples iPhones having 60 fps on the base models is unexceptional, to so many they have absolutely no idea what 120 hz even is or want to pay more for it. Same with iPhones as far as the gpu and stuff, it’s all built into the apple silicon at the end of the day and it is actually ahead of the competition. But I do agree that the 256gb storage is low. 512 should be the baseline.
@@philipp594 why is that a joke? I'm being sincere, I'm not a big user and I'm a light user. If I need storage I'll use iCloud or get an external drive to offload big videos, etc. On a budget, want to get this 15 inch, 256, 16 gigs…
I agree that Apple should have made the base MBA 16GB and 500GB ssd. 8GB and 256GB are way too little. But I don't think you are right about getting ram upgrade over ssd. (Dolphin). The ssd has been shown to slow down data transfer even if you have a fast external disk. Basically you need 16GB AND 500GB ssd or even 1 TB ssd, because the speeds of the lower ssd are below what was in the M1 MBA.
Don’t let the reviewers fool you. The 15 inch (512 GB and up) feels amazing and if you just need a productivity machine with amazing battery that feels good in hand… this is it. I’ve been Windows my whole life, but I probably won’t go back after just a few days with this. But don’t get a 256 though. It’s 2023.
Try using the base model & opening lots of browser tabs, word processing/office software, maybe some youtube videos or music or podcasts in the background, and see what happens. The slow 256GB ssd is going to affect performance even for this relatively basic use case, because with just 8gb ram, macOS starts using swap REAL quick. Don't give bad buying advice without first understanding things properly, this is people's hard earned $$$ we're talking about.
I had the 13 inch air with 8gbs of ram and it was rough. I had a couple tabs open and it would start slowing down. I tried basic gaming and it was laggy. I returned it for the 15 inch air withb16gb of ram and I am so happy. I also wanted the bigger screen and the better speakers.
Yes, I hate it when reviews just rattles off what is easily viewable in the manufacturer's web site. Additional info like the above that is not easily discernible is what would be helpful.
Thanks for the vid! 🐬Two things - one, switch from chrome to firefox! I just made the switch on my M1 air (base) and chrome would start to choke around 50 tabs or so. I have something like 160 tabs open on firefox and still have ram for other things. it's more secure, has better memory and tab management. Second, apple's really grinds my gears sometimes. I can buy a 2TB samsung nvme PCI-gen 4 with insane read/write speeds for around 150$. I can also buy 32gb of DDR5 memory at the fastest speed for $130. 16/32GB of ram wit 1gb of storage should be the base spec for these machines, esp since they're just using the chips and leaving the controllers in the processor.
hey man , im new to Mac, can u explain what do you mean by "upgrade" because afaik we cant change the RAM once u purchase it, or do you mean to purchase a new laptop 16gb variant
@@ak_1979 I've only been with it for a week, and I don't feel it getting hot. It’s another reason why I made the purchase. I have a 16” intel MB Pro, and it is impossible to have it on my lap.
No, the slow SSD of 256Gb is a concern ... it's the combination of slower SSD and only 8GB RAM that's a concern because you can easily get SWAP memory and that's when you feel the slowness of SSD because that becomes your extended RAM
I had to go MacBook Pro 16 M2 for bigger screen and better display. I like to do some photo editing and video editing. I tried MacBook Air, but unfortunately its not beefy enough for me!
Think you made an interesting point. If you just upgrade the RAM to 16gb, it's still a pretty good computer at a solid price, and as you said, you can always get external storage later if you need it. If you're coding or something, you'd probably go for a pro laptop anyways. frankly, this computer being slightly slimmer, I wanted to build it out and upgrade the specs, and it was still cheaper than the Mac Pro.
I just picked up my 15' MBA from a reseller for $800. The owner said it wasn't powerful enough for his needs. The computer only has 8 power cycles which means. I bought it at a steal. I only want to use it for media consumption, notes for church, emails, and light work. For what I paid I can't be upset about anything.
I had the intel i3 MacBook Air and I could not stand that computer. I did not do enough research before I bought it. Upgrading to this has been amazing. I do wish I got the 16 GB ram but Best Buy was running a sale lol
They could have at least put an extra Thunderbolt port on this machine given the size increase. The Air series are as expensive now as my MacBook Pro 15" was in 2016. The whole range is too expensive realistically, but that could be alleviated somewhat if Apple weren't so stingy with memory and storage.
Apple under-equips with 8gb ram and 256 ssd to encourage the sale of upgrades. I bought the 16gb/512gb model because I couldn't see the point of the base model.
So you say the slower SSD speeds is not a problem because most people are doing light tasks on this machine, with which I agree, but then you also say 8gb of ram isn't enough because if you decide to edit 4k video with a bunch of chrome tabs open, something playing in the background, with slack open and discord open, all at the same time -- i mean, who is doing that on a MBA? I also agree 8gb is a bit limiting, but for the price, i think it's a fair value.
🐬 I really agree, baseline shouldn’t have such shortcomings, especially in comparison the the base M1 in regards to the drive. Which is why I haven’t upgraded. But what I really want is that beautifully formed wedge shape.. Nice review!
Yes! 15" with wedge, no notch and 2x128 would have me upgrading. LOVE my M1 Air, use it on the road to edit 4k vids, no stutter, lil beast. Not 'upgrading' to 1x256, 40% slower r/w, notch, no wedge. Sorry Apple, see you on M3 in Nov (maybe)
Good thing I got 16 gb and 512, still a good deal on price even if it is close the the 14" MacBook Pro price refurbished or maybe even cost a little more than that. But that has the M1 Pro processor (vs base M2 non Pro) so a generation behind and less battery life. You do get more cool color options and lighter weight with bigger screen though not pro motion 120 hz and mini LED but that's not that much of a trade off for getting the bigger screen.
🐬I watched the whole video and I was waiting for the problem and I think that the title of your video is a clickbait. Yes, I agree, that the base model is limited, but nobody is forcing you to buy it 🙂 Currently I'm writing this comment on 15" MBA - I bought 24 GB RAM and 1 TB storage. I bought it as a shared device for me and my wife. I didn't want to buy MBP because there is active cooling and right now I'm sitting outside covered with fluffy blanket and MBA is on my legs. Activity Monitor shows 19 GB of used memory. Personally, if MBA would allow 3 external screens natively, then I could imagine it as my main Mac even for work, but I bought Mac Studio for myself last year where is no problem... I don't need much performance, but I need 3 screen for optimal effectivity and sometimes I even borrow my wife's screen, so I use 4 screens :-)
@@Tvj_films8452 I returned it for a full refund. Apple will give you a full refund within 14 days no problem.... within 30 days if you claim consumer rights or within 90 days if you're very very nice to the Apple Store staff
I have gone back and forth on this and the 13 inch M1 for weeks and have realized all you get is more white screen when web browsing. Of course you can zoom in to fill the screen in but why? Just save $400 and buy the m1!
It’s way easier to put windows side-by-side on the 15 inch plus watching videos on there is way way better. Makes more sense to go for 15 considering it’s not a huge difference in price from the 13 M2.
I own a 16 inch M2 Max MacBook Pro, fully speced out besides storage (1TB) , I will buy this one too (fully speced out) but only for school, and for that I love it
🐬 I have the 13" base model and I have to agree that from time to time my machine does run slow or my activity monitor goes from green to orange-which is very frustrating. Just terrible that Apple refuses to offer the 16GB at fair value or just standard issued. By the way, thank you again for suggesting the educational discount. I am shocked there is no vetting from Apple for this but then again the logistics might just be overwhelming. Last but not least the midnight color is 🔥- best color for sure and same color I have
I mean if a cheapo Windows laptop or even a Steam Deck comes with 16GB of RAM, this feels like nothing more but extra sales. 15 inch Air starts at 1599 euro over here, friend of mine ordered it with 8GB of RAM, because 16GB upgrade is too much, that same friend his sister had to send in her 13 inch AIR because her SSD died due to low amount of RAM. Problem with 8GB on MacOS is, it can handle fine with it but will use swapping a lot, and it used the SSD for that (that nicely soldered one) If you are such a heavy user (she is) that would make that thing swap all the time, you could wear it out, that happened to her M1 model (Apple care replaced it, but imagine NOT having Apple Care) It's ridiculous.
So tell me, under Educational discount, did you use the K-12 or the college discount? I used to be a teacher, but retired 3 years ago. I'd still love to get that discount though!! Glad to know that you did too.
I use LumaFusion to edit videos. I traded in my 13 inch 2020 MacBook air base model that had the core I five CPU in it faded value of $390 plus I am college duty so I got a gift card for $150, I got the basic model 512 GB storage in dollars I end up $1100 and I got the AppleCare for three years ago to hundred dollars to my $179. I use the hundred dollar gift card plus pay $29 For the extended warranty. I’m really happy with this purchase I really like having a larger screen as well and it’s a lot faster than my 13 inch MacBook Air
I think 16GB/256GB is fine enough, you can always connect a USB 4 40Gb/s external 2TB/4TB SSD which are much bigger, faster & cheaper than investing in the SSD on chip Apple sells you
The base model MacBook Air is suitable for the majority of normal users. If you start experiencing memory lag and you’re running out of storage then you should have got a MacBook Pro!
Fernando, I have followed since your early days on how to use your iPad to its ultimate protential. I have to take exception to your 15” MacBook Air review. If someone opens 50-100 tabs on Chrome, I can’t imagine they haven’t learned what a memory hog it is.
Thank you so much for this. This is really my dilemma right now and your vid helped me a lot. This is how tech reviewers should explain the air not with their fancy benchmarks and citings what the air can't do against the pros. Subscribing from now on
🐬 Thanks for the honest review. Can I ask if the 15” air has any heating issues,ie, gets too hot when using iMovie or other graphics intensive applications?
I appreciate these reviews and understand power users need upgraded RAM and SSD. BUT, I just ordered this from Costco for $1k and it will serve as my main home computer. Email, web, pics, watch vids, etc...basic use. For the price and my applications I'm not bothered a bit about those "limitations". My iPhone has 256 storage with thousands of pics and music, and I'm nowhere close to filling it up. LOL! Look forward to getting it.
It’s pretty much common knowledge that if you buy a baseline model, it’s not gonna be powerful enough for heavier tasks. I think most people know what they need. Funny how TH-camrs keep making that the biggest point. I bought a spec’ed out 13”. Maybe I should have gone for the 15” but I don’t like the design of 15. The 13” just looks better overall. Maybe I’ll get the 15 when Apple redesigns it with a M3 chip. I can’t get over the fact of how much bigger the 15 looks compared to the 13. It looks gigantic, I personally don’t think that is a good thing.
80-100 Chrome tabs...guess thats possible..especially if you are a millennial or boomer who recently got bit my the Internet bug...this is not an all encompassing definition btw...I know there is a minority that actually works or has meaningful lives in those demographics...still I am getting tired of this Chrome tab factor in reviews..80-100 chrome tabs is not multi-tasking...its multi-wasting...a more realistic scenario would be 2-3 Excel files with lot of columns...my decently speced 13" M2 MacBook Air (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) sometimes lags when working on these files, but my 14" MacBook has never skipped a beat...the 14" MacBook to me is still the best portable laptop...
I have a question that I hope that you can get too. I would like o to hook up my M2 MacBook Air into three monitors but I’m not sure what adapter I may need to purchase to connect it to them.
The speed of the 256GB SSD is not a tiny bit slower, it is allot slower, in fact it is 6.5 slower with large files compared with the 512GB. 256GB and 8GB of RAM are a joke in 2023. Even the base iPhone 15 pro max has the same RAM and disk size. The base configuration is expensive here in Europe, it costs 1500 euro. When you upgrade the to 16GB/512GB the price is 2100 euro. I think that Apple is afraid that customers will buy the air 15 over the pro, this is why 16GB/512GB 15" air cost like the 14" Pro with the same RAM and disk size.
I get a. better deal on the MacBook Pro M2 pro 14 with only 600 more. That's exactly as you said. I upgrade the RAM, SSD is almost the same price as MacBook Pro base model. I have the upgrade of display, Thunderbolt ports... and performance.
You also get the upgraded processor in addition to the upgraded charger standard, and you also didn't mention the larger track pad. But if you compare to the 13" with upgraded processor and charger, it's only an $80 difference in price. what is a dolphin? 🐬
If I get one, it won't be to save money. It would be for a lighter laptop with a bigger screen. I will max out everything, just like I did my 2020 intel model.
🐬Completely agree with all. your comments. In the end, I decided to go with a 13" M2 MBA 16/1 TB because the weight increase on the 15" brings it too close to the 14" M1Pro MBP--and a year ago when I looked at the 13" M2 MBP vs 14" M1 Pro MBA, I thought the difference in weight was noticeable. For me, weight and overall portability were key--I have a 16" M1 Pro MBP that is heavy enough and unwieldy enough that it usually stays stuck on my desktop for times when I need its power features. If this were my primary machine, then I would have chosen the 15" over the 13" with same specs.
I'm a bit of a tech caveman: someone please tell me how the amount RAM effects one's use of the laptop, and which uses of the laptop justify getting more than 8GB of RAM, thank you.
i wish there was more color options for the macbook pro but i love the colors on the macbook air just the whole fan issue is bothering me that it will get hot quick
I have an mba 15" 16g 512ssd yes it's fast but it has a poor camera quality, and I can't connect to Bluetooth when using the iPhone using another account id, iMovie only gives 720p to export files. I feel disappointed. I'm going to send this back
With software being optimized for the specific device it is going to run on, I think the M1 or M2 iPad Pro at 8GB of RAM is a better option than buying an upgraded MacBook Air. It seems to me that the software is still as capable as on the Macbook Air/Pro, but is designed to work with the base RAM of the iPad.
Get back to me on the software being as capable on the iPad vs a MacBook. Try setting up a smart mailbox in mail on the iPad. I just bought a 512/8 M2 13" Air which lists for $1400. A 12.9 M2 iPad Pro with 512GB storage, Wifi and a Magic Keyboard is $1750. For that price a person could get the M3 14 " MBP Base for $1600. The iPad is ridiculously over priced all things equal. I'm not an iPad hater, used one for the last two years for work, but it was time for a change and the Air with MacOS is just a better option, at least for me.
So, the base model SSD is fine for people who won't be doing editing and if you are going to be, go to a Macbook Pro. But then the 8gb RAM isn't enough for editing and that's a downside? I thought the target audience isn't going to edit... Hmmm
I kind of want to switch to a Mac I kind a want it to be for multiple purposes but if I were to get a MacBook I'd get myself AT LEAST 1TB SSD storage because in 2023 256GB 512GB ARE CRIMES because file sizes are getting larger
I’ve had the M1 Air for 4 years and it was brilliant. Updated recently to a M2 15 inch and thinks it’s amazing. Love my M2!
what kind of a difference are you experiencing? based on the tasks you perform do they perform exactly the same?
@@anupammahato1 I think the major difference is the larger screen. And the keys feel a little softer. The M1 was a magnificent machine and it was practical and efficient. But the larger screen size of the M2 makes it worth it. Especially when working on multiple documents.
I got my 13" M2 MacBook Air early this year. As a former techie in his middle 70s and still tinkering with the keys, I like its small light form factor. It does most of my computer needs as I travel. If the 15" has a slight difference in weight then I might consider it. I know the wider screen would compensate for my fading vision over the years.
70’s?! We need your tech origin story!!!
@@troyflatland5299 I was 30 when I got hooked on TRS-80 computer learning. I remember starting with BASICA (IBM Basic) programming language and Lotus 123, a spreadsheet software. And I can still recall I had a hard time coding and running simple sorting routines that we saved in cassettes. I guess I became a computer geek over the years knowing how to assemble PCs and learning several languages and applications but remained short of being a hacker.
We wished for the origin story and we got it. Thanks!
@@butchgo6130thank you for sharing
@@butchgo6130 cool bro
I’m a 16GB/1TB guy but the 16GB/512GB is the sweet spot. It future proofs your laptop because operating systems and apps get bigger and bigger over time consuming more RAM and SSD.
Another TH-camr holding a brand new Apple product with facepalm Thumbnail 🤧. You forgot to put in the titel: “why I am returning it”
Keeping it lol
Don’t choose wrong
Become meme now ? Return meme ?
LOL
"DONT MAKE THIS MISTAKE WHEN BUYING THE NEW 15 INCH AIR"
Wow one difference you forgot to mentioned is the entry level 13” is a binned chip 8-Core CPU and the base 15” model is a full 10-Core CPU
Thanks. That is a significant difference!
actually its an 8 core cpu on and 10 core GPU on 15" entry
OMG the speakers on the 15 inch is AMAZING
I love my 15in MacBook Air..I upgraded from 13in MacBook Pro...Love the bigger screen and the 2 C usbs plus the charger means I can use more accessories.
2 usb c???? You act like they added a bunch more plugs. Lol. SMH
It is a fantastic machine. Has the screen size without the price tag. I have been wanting a larger screen MacBook for years, but I am not willing to shell out over 2k for something that has more power than I need, etc. I think this will be a big seller. Remember, that normal people will never notice the SSD speed issue. Will their Word file save that much faster? No. Does it boot that much slower? I think tech reviewers sill live in a bubble as do power users. Would I like Apple to start the base of their machines higher? Sure, but they are being consistent. Mac mini M2, which people praise, has the same specs and performs essentially the same. I have both. I have use cases for both. For me, it's easy to recommend to the right people. Power users and tech reviewers aren't those people.
"without the price tag" - are you kidding me? A laptop in 2023 with only 8Gb RAM that STARTS at 1830 euro here in Europe?!?
You won't be able to use this thing in 4-5 years due to the low RAM.
That's a brutal rip-off.
@@JC-XL try buying another 15" MacBook for this price.
@@webpoet73 The insulting thing is that plenty of 500 euro Windows machines start at 16Gb RAM, 512Gb SSD, but the "PREMIUM" 1800 euro Macbooks start at 8Gb, 256Gb SSD.
I understand that Macbooks are premium products, but if you're making a premium product give it at least premium specs. You can't have premium product with low specs.
@@JC-XL understood. I am.basung my assessment of price compared to other macs.
Recommendation is quite easy:
MacBook Air 13' M2: do not need a lot performance, and prefer small size for portability
MacBook Air 15' M2: do not need a lot performance, and prefer a larger screen
MacBook Pro 14': need performance + portability
MacBook Pro 16': need performance + larger screen.
That's it, easy, you see?😏
Exactly. I already have a fully loaded iMac for editing and performance. I just need a laptop to write, so the 13 or 15 Air is perfect for me.
What do u mean by performance?
Can i buy an m2 13inch for high quality video editing and maybe 3d designing for 3d printing?
@@ناصر2003 Ho for the pro.
Even though I use iPads for just about everything I’m still intrigued by Apples latest laptop, I don’t need it but I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up purchasing one before the year ends
You can edit on the M2 base model 15" Macbook Air. But I do recommend using the student discount and upgrading to 16GB of RAM.
If you need more RAM then buy it. This is the best ultrabook you can buy. If you want something worse then buy Windows but even then on checking Dell, HP, Samsung, Surface, they all start at 8GB with a similar price in that UK. Maybe Apple will up the RAM if Windows start at 16GB, but there is zero reason for Apple to move that way as Windows owns 90% of the market and they are the market makers.
It is so simple to buy more RAM if you have a RAM-intensive workflow, so that would be my advice, rather than whining about Apple’s business model, which by the way they will understand far more than random YT creators! If it is a 5-year computer then $200 for 8GB more RAM seems a very good investment. And let us be honest, if Apple upped the RAM to 16GB base, they would push the price up in line with how much that would lose them in upgrades, so would probably mean an extra $125 for the base.
The problem is the average consumer doesn’t have $1,300 to blow on a base model laptop. So a $1,500 for a 16GB RAM MacBook is a hard sell for most people. It’s a reason the under $1,000 M1 MacBook Air is the most popular Apple computer ever and till this day most people are buying that model.
@@Rivs5117 True, but Apple has always been a premium brand, so it has never been the cheapest option. This and the fact that it has the best outlets and great OS support, they have its own OS (not licensed from MS like Windows OEMs) and its own hardware like miniLLED and Apple Silicon. It is reasonable to accept that the cost is because it is not a generic off-the-shelf Windows copy and pastes.
If you want something worse? 😅😅😅😅😅
Go lick steve jobs shrine
@@andyH_Englandlol you re an awesome fanboy. Tim cook would buy you a beer
Apple copied many companies. Dont get me started.
I wish that during these “reviews”, we also considered other spectrum where movie/photo editing didn’t matter but docker, xcode and vs code did as well..
Yea most reviewers review based on the things they usually do on their computer, i had to add the word “coding” in my searches just to coders view on this machine
I just bought a 16" M2 MacBook Pro (16 Gb RAM, 1 TB storage) and glad I did. It's overkill most of the time, but it's an awesome machine, with no downside, other than weight and cost. But if you keep a laptop 4-5 years, like I do, the amortized cost differential isn't great, and the weight is meaningless (to me). I just love having a powerhouse. My wife bought the 15 Air with upgraded RAM and 1 TB storage. It's flawless for her. I never recommend base models for anyone.
The screen and speakers alone are worth the cash with the MBPs.
The MacBook Pro M2 is a monster. I’m grabbing a 16” 16GB/1TB next week. Base model MacBooks are a way of money honestly.
@@xmaverickhunterkxThe screen is definitely next level.
I have an iMac i7 from 2015 with just 8GB. Works perfectly. 8-10 tabs open in Firefox surfing, music from radio station playing, watching iTunes videos, email, all at once. No hiccups, smooth, fast. So, fear not, the base model 8GB RAM is more than enough for everyday usage. M2 Air is fabulous too (I have a 13" M2 Air for mobile usage), just don't underestimate the older chips if millisecond blazing speed isn't a priority. cheers
If the MacBook Air came with 16GB of RAM I would pick it up in a heartbeat.. I mean yeah you can upgrade it but at that point I'd rather just buy a 14 inch MacBook Pro with a much better processor and screen.
Another great video, mate! The 15" Air is a slick machine, to be sure, but I still prefer the smaller form factor of my 13" M2 Air. The 15" Air weighs nearly as much as the 14" MBP M1/M2. As I've written on some other review channels, I like my desktop PCs big and powerful and my laptops thin and light.
The 15” Air weighs quite a bit less than the chunky 14” MBP actually.I should know as I have held them side by side.
@@davidjacobs6244 The 15" Air weighs 3.3 pounds. The 14" MBP weighs 3.5 pounds. I've held both and looked at the specs.
@@Mad.Maxx.77 you're right. They are almost the same in weight. I like thin and light for laptops too but wanted the bigger screen so had to take a compromise on the weight. As for the MBP I was turned off by the thickness of it.
@@rickyb8636 👍
So I agree with you in regards to the SSD situation. Apple actually uses a full 256GB SSD nand rather than two 128GB SSD nands like they did before. It doesn't really bother me, but they make it out to be a big deal. I think the only reason is because they are doing side-to-side comparisons and that's really the only way you'll see the difference. I won't be transferring huge amounts of data all the time on my Mac.
This will be the best selling mac ever as it has got everything is perfect from screen size to weight . Most people can go for 16gb Ram+ 1tb ssd for future proof next 10years 👍🏻
I wish that they’d at least make the usb-c ports on both sides if they’re gonna limit it to 2
Yeah 8 / 256 is a joke no base spec upgrade in years and the upgrades are way overpriced.
512 should be minimum nowadays. It is a joke!! They pathetic.
I mean that’s like saying apples iPhones having 60 fps on the base models is unexceptional, to so many they have absolutely no idea what 120 hz even is or want to pay more for it. Same with iPhones as far as the gpu and stuff, it’s all built into the apple silicon at the end of the day and it is actually ahead of the competition. But I do agree that the 256gb storage is low. 512 should be the baseline.
That’s why u get an external hard drive
@@EnigmasEpiphany That's a joke.
@@philipp594 why is that a joke? I'm being sincere, I'm not a big user and I'm a light user. If I need storage I'll use iCloud or get an external drive to offload big videos, etc. On a budget, want to get this 15 inch, 256, 16 gigs…
I agree that Apple should have made the base MBA 16GB and 500GB ssd. 8GB and 256GB are way too little. But I don't think you are right about getting ram upgrade over ssd. (Dolphin). The ssd has been shown to slow down data transfer even if you have a fast external disk. Basically you need 16GB AND 500GB ssd or even 1 TB ssd, because the speeds of the lower ssd are below what was in the M1 MBA.
but if they did that then no one would go buy pro models lol
Don’t let the reviewers fool you. The 15 inch (512 GB and up) feels amazing and if you just need a productivity machine with amazing battery that feels good in hand… this is it. I’ve been Windows my whole life, but I probably won’t go back after just a few days with this.
But don’t get a 256 though. It’s 2023.
😂 its 2023
Try using the base model & opening lots of browser tabs, word processing/office software, maybe some youtube videos or music or podcasts in the background, and see what happens. The slow 256GB ssd is going to affect performance even for this relatively basic use case, because with just 8gb ram, macOS starts using swap REAL quick. Don't give bad buying advice without first understanding things properly, this is people's hard earned $$$ we're talking about.
I had the 13 inch air with 8gbs of ram and it was rough. I had a couple tabs open and it would start slowing down. I tried basic gaming and it was laggy. I returned it for the 15 inch air withb16gb of ram and I am so happy. I also wanted the bigger screen and the better speakers.
Yes, I hate it when reviews just rattles off what is easily viewable in the manufacturer's web site. Additional info like the above that is not easily discernible is what would be helpful.
Thanks for the vid! 🐬Two things - one, switch from chrome to firefox! I just made the switch on my M1 air (base) and chrome would start to choke around 50 tabs or so. I have something like 160 tabs open on firefox and still have ram for other things. it's more secure, has better memory and tab management.
Second, apple's really grinds my gears sometimes. I can buy a 2TB samsung nvme PCI-gen 4 with insane read/write speeds for around 150$. I can also buy 32gb of DDR5 memory at the fastest speed for $130. 16/32GB of ram wit 1gb of storage should be the base spec for these machines, esp since they're just using the chips and leaving the controllers in the processor.
Agreed, people should upgrade the RAM to 16gb.
hey man , im new to Mac, can u explain what do you mean by "upgrade" because afaik we cant change the RAM once u purchase it, or do you mean to purchase a new laptop 16gb variant
@@Catharsiswitharthritis yep. I mean make sure you buy the 16gb model when you buy a new machine. The 8gb can work, but will slow down rather quickly.
@@SeanTube2099 yeahh truee , will keep that in mind!!
I just get it and is perfect, this niche is what me and lot of people were waiting for.
This Mac is the best balance. I purchased one 512gb 16Gb and it’s perfect.
does it overheat in any way? have the old m1 macbook and the overheating issue is frustrating
@@ak_1979 I've only been with it for a week, and I don't feel it getting hot. It’s another reason why I made the purchase. I have a 16” intel MB Pro, and it is impossible to have it on my lap.
It is the best laptop made EVAH! Been sending my vibes to Apple since 2016 to produce one! As an UI/UX digital nomad I can't recommend it enough!
No, the slow SSD of 256Gb is a concern ... it's the combination of slower SSD and only 8GB RAM that's a concern because you can easily get SWAP memory and that's when you feel the slowness of SSD because that becomes your extended RAM
Correct and it's not a tiny bit slower, it's half the speed using just 1 NAND instead of 2 at the same time.
I had to go MacBook Pro 16 M2 for bigger screen and better display. I like to do some photo editing and video editing. I tried MacBook Air, but unfortunately its not beefy enough for me!
Think you made an interesting point. If you just upgrade the RAM to 16gb, it's still a pretty good computer at a solid price, and as you said, you can always get external storage later if you need it. If you're coding or something, you'd probably go for a pro laptop anyways. frankly, this computer being slightly slimmer, I wanted to build it out and upgrade the specs, and it was still cheaper than the Mac Pro.
Don’t think I’d ever buy anything without OLED or mini led high refresh rest screen anymore. I’ll never go back to 60hz.
I just picked up my 15' MBA from a reseller for $800. The owner said it wasn't powerful enough for his needs. The computer only has 8 power cycles which means. I bought it at a steal. I only want to use it for media consumption, notes for church, emails, and light work. For what I paid I can't be upset about anything.
Thanks for letting us know about the chipped port. I’m sending my one back it’s lucky I just got yesterday, thanks.
The best form factor except for few is the 14' pro. No doubt for me.
Thank you for the candid review! Perfect as I’m debating between the MBA and MBP.
I had the intel i3 MacBook Air and I could not stand that computer. I did not do enough research before I bought it. Upgrading to this has been amazing. I do wish I got the 16 GB ram but Best Buy was running a sale lol
If you max out the 15" Air with the 24GB RAM and 2TB SSD, it's the same price as the base model 16" Pro. Nobody in these reviews has mentioned that.
It’s a joke. The base spec should be higher on the 15”
Pro is heavier
His man Squiggle cooked up that beat.
I’m seriously thinking of getting the 13 inch. Thanks for all of your information.
They could have at least put an extra Thunderbolt port on this machine given the size increase. The Air series are as expensive now as my MacBook Pro 15" was in 2016. The whole range is too expensive realistically, but that could be alleviated somewhat if Apple weren't so stingy with memory and storage.
Apple under-equips with 8gb ram and 256 ssd to encourage the sale of upgrades. I bought the 16gb/512gb model because I couldn't see the point of the base model.
Honestly the base model is a waste of money.
If most of what you do is browser based, 8GB is generally sufficient. It actually depends on the use case scenario.
So you say the slower SSD speeds is not a problem because most people are doing light tasks on this machine, with which I agree, but then you also say 8gb of ram isn't enough because if you decide to edit 4k video with a bunch of chrome tabs open, something playing in the background, with slack open and discord open, all at the same time -- i mean, who is doing that on a MBA? I also agree 8gb is a bit limiting, but for the price, i think it's a fair value.
I think the m2 14 is far better value once you leave the base spec 🐬
Since the trackpad is as big as an iPhone Pro Max ... why not make it a secondary display with touch?!?!?!? Just say'in LOL
🐬 I really agree, baseline shouldn’t have such shortcomings, especially in comparison the the base M1 in regards to the drive. Which is why I haven’t upgraded. But what I really want is that beautifully formed wedge shape.. Nice review!
Yes! 15" with wedge, no notch and 2x128 would have me upgrading. LOVE my M1 Air, use it on the road to edit 4k vids, no stutter, lil beast. Not 'upgrading' to 1x256, 40% slower r/w, notch, no wedge. Sorry Apple, see you on M3 in Nov (maybe)
I'll stay with my M1 Macbook Air. It's still a great machine after 2.5 years.
I’m staying with m1 til m8 or m9. Lol
dunno dawg that 8gb is slowing me down lol
@@Tvj_films8452oo optimistic. It will come with windows preinstalled and nvidia gpu😅.
I see a lot of M1s with dead SSD in the repair shops.
Thanks for sharing. I agree that 8 gb ram and 256 ssd is not enough. Blessings on your day 🐬
Good thing I got 16 gb and 512, still a good deal on price even if it is close the the 14" MacBook Pro price refurbished or maybe even cost a little more than that. But that has the M1 Pro processor (vs base M2 non Pro) so a generation behind and less battery life. You do get more cool color options and lighter weight with bigger screen though not pro motion 120 hz and mini LED but that's not that much of a trade off for getting the bigger screen.
🐬I watched the whole video and I was waiting for the problem and I think that the title of your video is a clickbait. Yes, I agree, that the base model is limited, but nobody is forcing you to buy it 🙂
Currently I'm writing this comment on 15" MBA - I bought 24 GB RAM and 1 TB storage. I bought it as a shared device for me and my wife. I didn't want to buy MBP because there is active cooling and right now I'm sitting outside covered with fluffy blanket and MBA is on my legs. Activity Monitor shows 19 GB of used memory.
Personally, if MBA would allow 3 external screens natively, then I could imagine it as my main Mac even for work, but I bought Mac Studio for myself last year where is no problem... I don't need much performance, but I need 3 screen for optimal effectivity and sometimes I even borrow my wife's screen, so I use 4 screens :-)
15" MBA, 24 GB Ram, and 1 TB storage club member too. Totally happy with my purchase!
for me 16gb 512gb 70w is the sweet spot... I know im not far from the 14 pro BUT I like the air design an thin-ness.... I found the 14 pro too Chuncky
Sell me your 14 in
@@Tvj_films8452 I returned it for a full refund. Apple will give you a full refund within 14 days no problem.... within 30 days if you claim consumer rights or within 90 days if you're very very nice to the Apple Store staff
I have gone back and forth on this and the 13 inch M1 for weeks and have realized all you get is more white screen when web browsing. Of course you can zoom in to fill the screen in but why? Just save $400 and buy the m1!
It’s way easier to put windows side-by-side on the 15 inch plus watching videos on there is way way better. Makes more sense to go for 15 considering it’s not a huge difference in price from the 13 M2.
I own a 16 inch M2 Max MacBook Pro, fully speced out besides storage (1TB) , I will buy this one too (fully speced out) but only for school, and for that I love it
The speakers sound awesome on that 15"
🐬 I have the 13" base model and I have to agree that from time to time my machine does run slow or my activity monitor goes from green to orange-which is very frustrating. Just terrible that Apple refuses to offer the 16GB at fair value or just standard issued.
By the way, thank you again for suggesting the educational discount. I am shocked there is no vetting from Apple for this but then again the logistics might just be overwhelming. Last but not least the midnight color is 🔥- best color for sure and same color I have
I mean if a cheapo Windows laptop or even a Steam Deck comes with 16GB of RAM, this feels like nothing more but extra sales.
15 inch Air starts at 1599 euro over here, friend of mine ordered it with 8GB of RAM, because 16GB upgrade is too much, that same friend his sister had to send in her 13 inch AIR because her SSD died due to low amount of RAM.
Problem with 8GB on MacOS is, it can handle fine with it but will use swapping a lot, and it used the SSD for that (that nicely soldered one)
If you are such a heavy user (she is) that would make that thing swap all the time, you could wear it out, that happened to her M1 model (Apple care replaced it, but imagine NOT having Apple Care)
It's ridiculous.
So tell me, under Educational discount, did you use the K-12 or the college discount? I used to be a teacher, but retired 3 years ago. I'd still love to get that discount though!! Glad to know that you did too.
I use LumaFusion to edit videos. I traded in my 13 inch 2020 MacBook air base model that had the core I five CPU in it faded value of $390 plus I am college duty so I got a gift card for $150, I got the basic model 512 GB storage in dollars I end up $1100 and I got the AppleCare for three years ago to hundred dollars to my $179. I use the hundred dollar gift card plus pay $29 For the extended warranty. I’m really happy with this purchase I really like having a larger screen as well and it’s a lot faster than my 13 inch MacBook Air
🐬 Always appreciate your common sense analysis and clear presentation.
For 80% of people, keep base 8gb but upgrade to 512gb ssd. Your photos and saved videos will exceed 256gb quickly.
I think 16GB/256GB is fine enough, you can always connect a USB 4 40Gb/s external 2TB/4TB SSD which are much bigger, faster & cheaper than investing in the SSD on chip Apple sells you
I miss the 11,6 MacBook Air
The base model MacBook Air is suitable for the majority of normal users. If you start experiencing memory lag and you’re running out of storage then you should have got a MacBook Pro!
Fernando, I have followed since your early days on how to use your iPad to its ultimate protential.
I have to take exception to your 15” MacBook Air review. If someone opens 50-100 tabs on Chrome, I can’t imagine they haven’t learned what a memory hog it is.
I just ordered one and maxed out the RAM and went with the 512 hard drive. Buy once cry once!
homie works at 9-5 mac how the years have flown
🐬 Made it to the end. I think I’m buying one of these laptops.
Thank you so much for this. This is really my dilemma right now and your vid helped me a lot. This is how tech reviewers should explain the air not with their fancy benchmarks and citings what the air can't do against the pros. Subscribing from now on
I dislike the ports all on one side one or two additional ports on the opposite side would be much appreciated
Same advice as Dave2D👍. Max Tech on the other hand recommends upgrading the SSD.
🐬 Thanks for the honest review. Can I ask if the 15” air has any heating issues,ie, gets too hot when using iMovie or other graphics intensive applications?
This video should be labeled, why you shouldn’t upgrade from a 13-15 instead. I don’t have a MacBook.
I appreciate these reviews and understand power users need upgraded RAM and SSD. BUT, I just ordered this from Costco for $1k and it will serve as my main home computer. Email, web, pics, watch vids, etc...basic use. For the price and my applications I'm not bothered a bit about those "limitations". My iPhone has 256 storage with thousands of pics and music, and I'm nowhere close to filling it up. LOL! Look forward to getting it.
I really like the size of the 15 inch so I’m considering getting that one
It’s pretty much common knowledge that if you buy a baseline model, it’s not gonna be powerful enough for heavier tasks. I think most people know what they need. Funny how TH-camrs keep making that the biggest point. I bought a spec’ed out 13”. Maybe I should have gone for the 15” but I don’t like the design of 15. The 13” just looks better overall. Maybe I’ll get the 15 when Apple redesigns it with a M3 chip. I can’t get over the fact of how much bigger the 15 looks compared to the 13. It looks gigantic, I personally don’t think that is a good thing.
80-100 Chrome tabs...guess thats possible..especially if you are a millennial or boomer who recently got bit my the Internet bug...this is not an all encompassing definition btw...I know there is a minority that actually works or has meaningful lives in those demographics...still I am getting tired of this Chrome tab factor in reviews..80-100 chrome tabs is not multi-tasking...its multi-wasting...a more realistic scenario would be 2-3 Excel files with lot of columns...my decently speced 13" M2 MacBook Air (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) sometimes lags when working on these files, but my 14" MacBook has never skipped a beat...the 14" MacBook to me is still the best portable laptop...
Millennials grew up with the internet so I don’t think so
There is an entire generation between millennials and boomers😂
stop telling me to buy 14 inch pro instead of 15 inch air…I just don’t give a Fook..mid night blue 15 inch air is the BEST for me!
How are you finding the midnight blue color?
I just use the thumbs down button whenever I see this stuff. Creators who do this shouldn’t be encouraged
I have a question that I hope that you can get too. I would like o to hook up my M2 MacBook Air into three monitors but I’m not sure what adapter I may need to purchase to connect it to them.
Fernando, do you film videos with iPhone? Is it enough room for so much footage?
The speed of the 256GB SSD is not a tiny bit slower, it is allot slower, in fact it is 6.5 slower with large files compared with the 512GB. 256GB and 8GB of RAM are a joke in 2023. Even the base iPhone 15 pro max has the same RAM and disk size. The base configuration is expensive here in Europe, it costs 1500 euro. When you upgrade the to 16GB/512GB the price is 2100 euro. I think that Apple is afraid that customers will buy the air 15 over the pro, this is why 16GB/512GB 15" air cost like the 14" Pro with the same RAM and disk size.
12gb and 24gb options would have been good but 8gb is just too low
I get a. better deal on the MacBook Pro M2 pro 14 with only 600 more. That's exactly as you said. I upgrade the RAM, SSD is almost the same price as MacBook Pro base model. I have the upgrade of display, Thunderbolt ports... and performance.
You also get the upgraded processor in addition to the upgraded charger standard, and you also didn't mention the larger track pad. But if you compare to the 13" with upgraded processor and charger, it's only an $80 difference in price. what is a dolphin? 🐬
For the same price of 15 inch Air 512GB and 16GB Ram or 14 inch MBP in India, I could get
1 MacBook Air 13
1 JBL FLip
1 HDR Monitor
1 External HDD/SSD
Is that LEGO diagon alley at back ? ❤
If I get one, it won't be to save money. It would be for a lighter laptop with a bigger screen. I will max out everything, just like I did my 2020 intel model.
🐬I’m considering the base model. That should be fine for my use.
enjoy
If they support dual monitors then yeah but we all no the reason and a so wish they bring the midnight color across cause its gorgeus.
Chrome uses a lot more processing and memory than other browsers such as Safari and FireFox
🐬Completely agree with all. your comments. In the end, I decided to go with a 13" M2 MBA 16/1 TB because the weight increase on the 15" brings it too close to the 14" M1Pro MBP--and a year ago when I looked at the 13" M2 MBP vs 14" M1 Pro MBA, I thought the difference in weight was noticeable.
For me, weight and overall portability were key--I have a 16" M1 Pro MBP that is heavy enough and unwieldy enough that it usually stays stuck on my desktop for times when I need its power features. If this were my primary machine, then I would have chosen the 15" over the 13" with same specs.
Buy it with 16 gb of memory and 1 TB hard drive of SSD space and it will be fine
I'm a bit of a tech caveman: someone please tell me how the amount RAM effects one's use of the laptop, and which uses of the laptop justify getting more than 8GB of RAM, thank you.
Why buy the base model when it is known that there is a problem with speed?
I guess because upgrading the specs will push it into Pro price territory. I’m personally a 16GB/1TB guy.
i wish there was more color options for the macbook pro but i love the colors on the macbook air just the whole fan issue is bothering me that it will get hot quick
Just bought this from Best Buy for $2k CAD. I’m super happy. It’s sexy af!
Great video Fernando!
I have an mba 15" 16g 512ssd yes it's fast but it has a poor camera quality, and I can't connect to Bluetooth when using the iPhone using another account id, iMovie only gives 720p to export files. I feel disappointed. I'm going to send this back
With software being optimized for the specific device it is going to run on, I think the M1 or M2 iPad Pro at 8GB of RAM is a better option than buying an upgraded MacBook Air. It seems to me that the software is still as capable as on the Macbook Air/Pro, but is designed to work with the base RAM of the iPad.
Serious apps if they exist lack full functionality so no
Get back to me on the software being as capable on the iPad vs a MacBook. Try setting up a smart mailbox in mail on the iPad. I just bought a 512/8 M2 13" Air which lists for $1400. A 12.9 M2 iPad Pro with 512GB storage, Wifi and a Magic Keyboard is $1750. For that price a person could get the M3 14 " MBP Base for $1600. The iPad is ridiculously over priced all things equal. I'm not an iPad hater, used one for the last two years for work, but it was time for a change and the Air with MacOS is just a better option, at least for me.
Show me another laptop that I can use on my bed without risk of it burning up.
So, the base model SSD is fine for people who won't be doing editing and if you are going to be, go to a Macbook Pro. But then the 8gb RAM isn't enough for editing and that's a downside? I thought the target audience isn't going to edit... Hmmm
i think 8gb is poor for non editors too. dont get wong its "usable" but crap lol
I kind of want to switch to a Mac
I kind a want it to be for multiple purposes but if I were to get a MacBook I'd get myself AT LEAST 1TB SSD storage because in 2023 256GB 512GB ARE CRIMES because file sizes are getting larger