Apple’s newest processor, the M2 chip, has arrived in two 2022 models of its flagship laptops: the 13-inch version of the MacBook Pro and the redesigned MacBook Air. Laptops have a lot in common, but even though they both use the M2, the chip is slightly different, and is implemented in different ways, in each.
So which of the two new M2-powered MacBooks offers better performance? After testing both, we are ready to compare the numbers and give you the answer.
The MacBook M2 (so far): CPU configuration and nuances
Theoretically, the cheaper 13-inch MacBook Pro should easily outperform the cheaper MacBook Air M2, because the Air starts with an eight-core GPU (offering the 10-core GPU as an optional add-on) and the MacBook Pro 13 only comes with the 10-core version.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
However, of the two revision units we tested, neither is the base model. For the 13-inch MacBook Pro, our test system has a bit of extra memory and larger storage, while the MacBook Air M2 also has the enhanced 10-core GPU and the same 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage. Both test configurations sell for $ 1,899.
One of the advantages of having the two models with such similar configurations is that we can compare them safely, without having to worry about differences in memory or storage affecting performance.
The Apple M2 MacBooks we tested
One thing that needs to be deepened, though: the cooling systems of these two laptops, which take two very different approaches. The 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro offer two packages for the same M2 chip. The biggest difference between the two new MacBook models, more important than any aesthetic difference, is how they cool the M2 chip inside. The air adheres to passive cooling, letting the natural airflow and some heatsinks do the work of preventing the CPU from overheating.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro, on the other hand, uses a pair of fans, which actively draw in fresh air and expel heat. This is an important difference, as the active air flow can be accelerated when needed and used to keep temperatures cooler even when the hardware wants to heat up, such as when performing various demanding tasks.
Both the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air have built-in ventilation, but Apple’s design team hides it well. Instead of visible ventilation grilles on the side of the keyboard or on the bottom of the laptop, both MacBooks maintain what appears to be a seamless metal housing. Actually, the grilles are integrated into the hinge, out of sight, but with plenty of free space for air. And, in the case of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, it also allows airflow for this pair of cooling fans.
A confrontation with Apple M2: comparison of the performance of the MacBook without fan and cooled by active
For each aspect of performance we analyzed the test results from both systems, but we also analyzed a couple of other systems to add context. For the most part, we compared it to the M1 version of the MacBook Pro or the MacBook Air M1, though only to illustrate how the M2 has advanced over its predecessor.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
For a graphics test, 3DMark, we also compared the M2 to the M1 Max version of the Mac Studio desktop. This was done in large part because we had the data for this fairly new test, but also because it shows exactly where the M2 is for serious graphics applications, and how much more power is available if you are willing to use more variants. capable of the M1 like the M1 Pro or the M1 Max. The M2 may be much better than the M1 on the front of the GPU, but it’s not replacing these high-end chips, not by a long shot.
Next, we will get to the 3DMark results. First, let’s look at a trio of CPU-intensive productivity benchmark tests: HandBrake 1.4, Cinebench R23, and Geekbench 5.4. Of the three, Handbrake is the most real-world application-based test, as it is a timed test that converts a short 4K video clip into a smaller 1080p file. Faster times are better, and the differences here will translate directly into differences in performance and experience when working with media files.
The second test is Cinebench R23, which uses Maxon’s Cinema 4D engine to render a complex scene, to test multi-core and multiprocess processing. It is a stress test for multi-core processors, and higher numbers equate to better maximum performance.
The third productivity test is Primate Labs ’Geekbench Pro, which simulates a wide range of tasks and office applications ranging from PDF rendering and voice recognition to machine learning.
Outside of particularly demanding applications, such as media editing, you’ll see very little difference between the two systems in everyday use. Geekbench is one of the few tests in which the two M2 systems are almost identical, 17 points apart. But the differences were marked in the Cinebench and HandBrake tests, where the extended time these tests lasted is reflected in the best performance of the MacBook Pro with active cooling.
We then analyzed a handful of browser-based tests to see how suitable the M2 chip is for web-based school and work use. Let’s start with JetStream 2, which combines 64 JavaScript and WebAssembly benchmarks to measure a browser’s suitability for advanced web applications. We also use Principled Technologies WebXPRT 3 (a browser-based HTML and JavaScript performance test). The latest is the Basemark Web 3.0 test, which combines low-level JavaScript calculations and testing using popular JavaScript frameworks and document object and CSS model functions with WebGL graphics content that the GPU exerts. All these tests give a numerical score; higher numbers are better.
In all three tests, the M2 systems offered a remarkable step up from the already good performance of the M1 chip, making the new systems a fantastic choice over the M1 if you can afford the higher prices. Interestingly, the M2-based Air outperformed the M2 MacBook Pro in WebXPRT 3. In the other two, however, the Cooled Pro actively outperformed the Passive Air.
Which MacBook M2 has better graphics performance?
The other area of interest for the M2 chip is graphics performance. Since the M2 has more GPU cores than the M1, this translates into some improvement, which we analyze in more detail in our analysis of the graphics performance of the M2.
To make this comparison, we looked for 3DMark Wildlife Extreme, which runs natively on the Apple and Mac metal graphics API, and GFXBench, a cross-platform GPU performance benchmark.
Here, the differences were obvious. The M2 processors of the Air and Pro may be the same silicon, but the performance was not identical in length, with the MacBook Pro offering much better scores than the M2 Air in all three graphics tests; active cooling surpassing passive cooling.
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But for serious graphics users, such as professional media creators, the best option is still to opt for the more powerful (and more premium) Macs, such as the 16-inch MacBook Pro or the Mac Studio. (The M1 Max chip outperforms the M2 quite decisively.)
Lastly, while it’s not just the result of the processor, Apple has definitely highlighted the M2’s energy efficiency and the longer battery life you’ll get. But in our battery depletion tests, which use a 720p loop video until the battery runs out, it’s true, it’s not a test that encompasses the subtle aspects of mixed performance and hybrid core designs, the M1 models offered better battery life and by a considerable margin. in the case of Air.
The M2 Air died first, lasting almost 17 hours, while the M2 MacBook Pro, which has more chassis space for a larger battery (58.2 watts-hour, compared to 52.6 watts -Air time), lasted almost 22 hours. Both are fantastic and provide all-day battery life, but it’s not as impressive as the M1 generation, which surprised us with some of the longest battery life we’ve seen, even breaking the barrier of 24 hours in the case of the M1 Air.
Apple M2: Great Daily Performance Improves
Before naming a winner for the best MacBook M2 so far, it’s worth noting that the M2 lives up to almost every promise Apple made for the new chip. It offers faster and smoother processing for everyday tasks and more GPU muscle for tasks such as editing videos or playing some games. And the energy efficiency still offers an impressively long battery life.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
If you want to upgrade to an older Intel MacBook, it’s an easy win – only performance gains are worth the price of entry. If you’re starting to get tired of your MacBook M1, it’s not so clear. You’ll get better performance, but you’ll sacrifice battery life a bit.
And if you need more serious processing and graphics power for professional use or multimedia work, the old M1 Pro and M1 Max are still better options, for now. With a potential M2 Pro and M2 Max (or equivalent) that will arrive sometime in a year or two, the CPU power rating will change. But for now, the M2 is a step up from the bottom, not a competitor at the top.
Verdict: Is the Apple M2 better on the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?
When it comes to pure performance, the numbers tell the story: the 13-inch MacBook Pro (2022 M2 version) is the best performance measured with the 2022 MacBook Air. The added cooling fans and larger battery translate into better maximum performance when stressed in a given task for longer periods and longer time away from the charger.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Still, for most people, the MacBook Air M2 is the Mac laptop we recommend. The performance differences won’t be noticeable to everyone, except for the small minority of users who regularly push their processors to the limit, making the two systems almost identical in everyday use. In addition, the MacBook Air offers a new, thinner, lighter design, and even has a better screen. It is the best laptop for money, which is …