Today at WWDC, Apple has not only unveiled its new M2 Silicon, but also a couple of devices that will be equipped with it: the new MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro. While most Pro looks similar to older models, the Air is also undergoing a redesign, making it thinner and lighter than before. It also comes in four colors and has a new, square look. Today I was able to quickly play with the new Air at Apple Park, and so far I’m glad it looks noticeably different, as it’s been four years since Apple last redesigned the MacBook Air.
Of the four colors that now come to Air, my personal favorite is Midnight, which is a deep blue. Our editor-in-chief Dana Wollman, who attended the event with me, also preferred this tone. The silver and space gray models are very familiar, while the starlight didn’t stand out to me.
If you’re a fan of Apple’s wedge design other than previous MacBooks, you may be worried about the new, more square look. I didn’t care – I actually prefer the upgrade, as the older aesthetic seems pretty outdated to me. However, it’s similar to the new MacBook Pros, so if you liked it, you’ll appreciate it. Like the recent Pros, too, the new Air has a full-size row of physical function keys. At the far right is the power button with a Touch ID sensor. Dana is a fan of the groove here, which makes it easy to tell by touch where you should put your finger. It also doesn’t have a glossy finish that attracts fingerprints.
Gallery: Apple MacBook Air (2022) with M2 chip 5 Photos
Gallery: Apple MacBook Air (2022) with M2 chip 5 Photos
It’s important to note that the new MacBook Air has a 13.6-inch liquid retina larger than the 13.3-inch Retina display of the latest model. This made the photo being edited on some of the demo units look bright and crisp. The new Air increases its brightness by up to 500 nights, compared to the previous 400 nights, and is about 64 pixels higher.
I also liked the quality of the webcam power when I opened the FaceTime app, even though I didn’t actually take any photos or spend too much time examining my face.
Of course, the quality has a lot to do with the improved webcam, which is now 1080p (unlike 720p before). Again, I didn’t actually get a call or have enough time with the device, so I can’t tell you if it’s much better than before.
Cherylnn Low / Engadget
I can tell you that I definitely noticed the new notch that houses the camera. Again, this is similar to the recent MacBook Pros and has been a polarizing feature since its introduction. My colleague Devindra Hardawar, who reviewed the MacBook Pros, didn’t care and I’m inclined to agree with him. Although I thought the notch was oddly high, it didn’t extend beyond the macOS title bar, ending just a hair before its bottom edge.
With the new MacBook Air, Apple is once again bringing the MagSafe charging port. The company also made MagSafe cables that match the four new colors for laptops, just in case this aesthetic is important to you. I plugged one of these wires in and out of the plug of a demo unit repeatedly and I can tell you it works fine and feels secure when plugged in.
A disadvantage of the layout of the new Air port is that the MagSafe and two USB-C / Thunderbolt ports are located on the left edge, while an individual headphone jack is on the right. I would prefer Apple to offer a USB-C per side, so it would work better with more dongles. But perhaps the reason why the company was unable to do so has to do with the new four-speaker audio system, which, incidentally, supports space audio when playing music or video with Dolby Atmos.
Dana Wollman / Engadget
Despite the added speakers and larger screen, the new MacBook Air manages to be slightly lighter than the M1 model, weighing 2.7 pounds compared to the 2.8 pounds of the latter.
Of course, one of the highlights of the new MacBook Air is the M2 processor inside.
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