Hands-On With the M2 MacBook Air: All Your Questions Answered

Happy MacBook Air launch day! Today is the official debut date of the new M2 ‌MacBook Air‌, which features the first major redesign to the ‌MacBook Air‌ in a decade. We picked up one of the new ‌M2‌ ‌MacBook Air‌ machines and decided to do a hands-on video where we answer questions from MacRumors readers.


The ‌M2‌ ‌MacBook Air‌ no longer has a tapered design, and it instead looks a lot more like the MacBook Pro. It's thinner and lighter than the prior model, and it comes in new colors that include Midnight and Starlight.

In the video, we answer questions about the ‌M2‌ chip's performance for everyday tasks, the SSD storage you should choose and what you need to know about the SSD, whether you should upgrade the RAM, how the ‌M2‌ chip compares to the M1 Pro chip, how the display measures up to the prior-generation ‌MacBook Air‌, and tons more.

You'll want to watch our video for our full ‌MacBook Air‌ overview that includes details MacRumors readers wanted to know, but we also want to hear from you. Have a new ‌M2‌ ‌MacBook Air‌? Let us know what you think of it in the comments.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

Popular Stories

iphone 16 display

iPhone 17's Scratch Resistant Anti-Reflective Display Coating Canceled

Monday April 28, 2025 12:48 pm PDT by
Apple may have canceled the super scratch resistant anti-reflective display coating that it planned to use for the iPhone 17 Pro models, according to a source with reliable information that spoke to MacRumors. Last spring, Weibo leaker Instant Digital suggested Apple was working on a new anti-reflective display layer that was more scratch resistant than the Ceramic Shield. We haven't heard...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Reaches Key Milestone Ahead of Mass Production

Monday April 28, 2025 8:44 am PDT by
Apple has completed Engineering Validation Testing (EVT) for at least one iPhone 17 model, according to a paywalled preview of an upcoming DigiTimes report. iPhone 17 Air mockup based on rumored design The EVT stage involves Apple testing iPhone 17 prototypes to ensure the hardware works as expected. There are still DVT (Design Validation Test) and PVT (Production Validation Test) stages to...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue

20th Anniversary iPhone Likely to Be Made in China Due to 'Extraordinarily Complex' Design

Monday April 28, 2025 4:29 am PDT by
Apple will likely manufacture its 20th anniversary iPhone models in China, despite broader efforts to shift production to India, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In 2027, Apple is planning a "major shake-up" for the iPhone lineup to mark two decades since the original model launched. Gurman's previous reporting indicates the company will introduce a foldable iPhone alongside a "bold"...
iphone 17 air iphone 16 pro

iPhone 17 Air USB-C Port May Have This Unusual Design Quirk

Wednesday April 30, 2025 3:59 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to launch a dramatically thinner iPhone this September, and if recent leaks are anything to go by, the so-called iPhone 17 Air could boast one of the most radical design shifts in recent years. iPhone 17 Air dummy model alongside iPhone 16 Pro (credit: AppleTrack) At just 5.5mm thick (excluding a slightly raised camera bump), the 6.6-inch iPhone 17 Air is expected to become ...
apple watch ultra yellow

What's Next for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3

Friday April 25, 2025 2:44 pm PDT by
This week marks the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, which launched on April 24, 2015. Yesterday, we recapped features rumored for the Apple Watch Series 11, but since 2015, the Apple Watch has also branched out into the Apple Watch Ultra and the Apple Watch SE, so we thought we'd take a look at what's next for those product lines, too. 2025 Apple Watch Ultra 3 Apple didn't update the...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 13 New Features

Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Feature

All iPhone 17 Models Again Rumored to Feature 12GB of RAM

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:36 am PDT by
All upcoming iPhone 17 models will come equipped with 12GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence, according to the Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station. The claim from the Chinese leaker, who has sources within Apple's supply chain, comes a few days after industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all be equipped with 12GB of RAM. ...

Top Rated Comments

nvmls Avatar
37 months ago

Even the notch looks pretty.
Whoa... let's not get too courageous now son.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
37 months ago
Not going to lie the color Midnight looks stunningly gorgeous! It's got that stealthier look.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tweaknmod Avatar
37 months ago

But if you are going to get 512/16gb - why not already go to the MBP?
Thinner, lighter, better battery life, less expensive, and (supposedly) better keyboard.

At least, that's why I'm getting a MBA rather than a MBP.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MDomino Avatar
37 months ago
He's got 10 Safari tabs open and 4 or 5 apps running and everything is running fine. What a time to be alive!
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gadgetgirl85 Avatar
37 months ago
But if you are going to get 512/16gb - why not already go to the MBP?
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
darngooddesign Avatar
37 months ago

But if you are going to get 512/16gb - why not already go to the MBP?
Which weighs almost a pound more.

Price aside, the point of the Air is its size, weight, and battery life.

If you don't care about those things consider a discounted 14" MBP.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)