Refreshed MacBook Air Sporting M2 Chip Nearly Achieves Perfection, However, sports an Incorporated Notch
Introducing the revamped MacBook Air! Making its grand entrance at WWDC 2022, this upgraded version boasts a captivating aesthetic and a host of impressive improvements.
First impressions are everything, and that's precisely what the new colors are designed to do. Say hello to Starlight, a soft golden hue, and Midnight, a dark, bluish tone, joining the traditionally loved Space Gray and Silver. The laptop's profile has also changed slightly, featuring a more flat design, parting ways with the iconic wedge look. Furthermore, it's now more portable than ever, weighing just 2.7 pounds and measuring 0.5 inches thick.
Another notable change is the introduction of MagSafe, freeing up the left-side Thunderbolt ports. The 3.5mm headphone jack, complete with high-impedance audio support, has taken up residence on the right side of the device.
The star of the show is undoubtedly the expanded screen, now measuring 13.6 inches. Despite the size upgrade, it retains the Retina display quality, only this time, it's 25% brighter than before. However, fitting this larger screen necessitated the inclusion of a notch, located at the top edge, which could be a love-it-or-hate-it feature.
Apple hasn't forgotten about the camera either, and the new 1080p webcam promises to deliver crystal-clear video, boasting a three-mic array and a four-speaker sound system to boot. Returning for your typing pleasure is the Magic Keyboard, sporting a full-height function row and Touch ID. The Force Touch trackpad hasn't been left out and continues to be a vital aspect of this device.
Underneath the hood, the new M2 chip steals the show, boasting an enhanced 5nm design with 20 billion transistors - an impressive upgrade from the M1's 16 billion. The chip supports 100GB/s memory bandwidth, which is an increase of 50% from the M1. In terms of performance, Apple claims that the M2's multicore CPU performance is 18% greater than the M1, while its single-core performance is only 11% faster.
The M2 chips benefit from a ProRes decode engine, designed for handling media, and a next-gen GPU with 10 cores, compared to the M1's 8. Other additions include a 16-core neural engine and integrated graphics that deliver a 35% performance increase.
Despite all these upgrades, the MacBook Air maintains its fanless design and promises an impressive 18 hours of battery life during video playback, with a new compact power adapter offering the convenience of USB-C ports. Fast Charge is now a reality, charging the MacBook Air to 50% in just 30 minutes.
So, what's new with the MacBook Pro 13, you ask? Not much, as it continues to sport the M2 chip, but the design remains unchanged.
The new MacBook Air with M2 will retail at $1,199 or $1,099 for education, and the MacBook Pro costs $1,299 or $1,119 for education. Stay tuned for further updates!
The revamped MacBook Air, showcased in 2022, is set to revolutionize tech and technology with its introduction of the new M2 chip, boasting an enhanced 5nm design and 20 billion transistors. This cutting-edge technology means an improved 18% multicore CPU performance and 11% faster single-core performance.
The new MacBook Air's aesthetics also receive a tech upgrade with the addition of the Starlight color, a soft golden hue, joining the traditional Silver and Space Gray. This tech enclosure, paired with the new MagSafe feature, aims to augment the laptop's portability, now weighing a light 2.7 pounds and measuring just 0.5 inches thick.
The MacBook Air's future-focused features extend to itsExpanded screen, now measuring 13.6 inches, which boasts a 25% brighter Retina display, despite the notch addition at the top edge. This 'love-it-or-hate-it' feature highlights the prime focus on tech advancements that define the MacBook Air's future in the world of technology.
As we move forward into the tech landscape of 2022, the MacBook Air's substantial upgrades, including the enhanced camera, improved keyboard, and efficient performance due to the powerful M2 chip, align with the expectation of a bolder future in the realm of portable tech devices.
