MacBook Air M2: Everything You Need to Know

Never one for complacency, Apple is always pushing the envelope and continually looking for ways to innovate. Case in point — the MacBook Air M2, the newest version of the M-series chip that was recently unveiled.

Here’s everything you need to know about it, including features, advancements, cost, release date, and warranty information.

On June 6, 2022, Apple officially announced the release of their second-generation M-series chip, which features game-changing innovations that many Mac enthusiasts are drooling over.

“M2 goes beyond the remarkable features of M1,” explains Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Technologies. “With our relentless focus on power-efficient performance, M2 delivers a faster CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine. And along with higher memory bandwidth and new capabilities like ProRes acceleration, M2 continues the tremendous pace of innovation in Apple silicon for the Mac.”

Now let’s look at some quantifiable numbers to get a sense of how much more power this new M-series chip offers than its predecessor. First off, the M2 is larger than the M1, with about 20 billion transistors — 25% more than the M1. Note, however, that the M2 has fewer transistors than other more robust M1 versions like the M1 Pro with 33.7 billion transistors and the M1 Max with 57 billion.

But regardless of how it stacks up to the M1 Pro and M1 Max, the M2 is definitely a workhorse. The added transistors result in 100GB/s of unified memory bandwidth in this new M2 chip, which is 50 percent more than the M1, meaning it can handle a ton of workload. The M2 is also 18 percent faster, has 35 percent more powerful GPU, and has a Neural Engine that can process a staggering 15.8 trillion operations per second! That’s 40 percent faster than the M1 for comparison.

As for other features of the M2, here are some of the most notable:

In other words, the M2 is an absolute beast. It should also be noted that this new generation is part of Apple’s long-term game plan to become more energy-efficient and reduce its impact on the environment. According to Apple, its global corporate operations are already carbon neutral, and they’re aiming to have a net-zero climate impact across all areas of operations by 2030.

Although Apple hasn’t yet announced an exact date, most tech experts anticipate it will be released in July 2022.

$200 more. Older model MacBook Airs with an M1 chip start at $999, while newer models with an M2 chip start at $1,199.

The question is, do you really need the extra firepower of the M2? At $200 more, are all the extra innovations worth it?

It all depends on your personal needs and preferences. If you only use basic features, the MacBook Air M1 should still get the job done. It is, after all, still an incredibly high-performance laptop that will remain in the Apple lineup for the foreseeable future.

But if you want all the bells and whistles, need a laptop that can handle everything you can possibly throw at it, and don’t mind spending an extra $200, the MacBook Air M2 should be a smart investment.

Apple offers a one-year limited warranty on all of its MacBooks. This covers issues stemming from defects and mechanical failures and comes with 90 days of complimentary tech support. After that, however, coverage ends. Because of the large investment that comes with a MacBook of any kind, it’s recommended to get an extended warranty to ensure you’re protected well after the manufacturer’s warranty lapses.

Upsie, for instance, offers two- or three-year extended warranties that cover manufacturer’s issues, as well as accident protection in the event of drops, cracks, and spills. There’s full transparency before you choose a plan, and you can easily control your plan on the Upsie.com website. And if you need to make a claim, you can do so conveniently 24/7 for a prompt repair or replacement.

As for pricing, Upsie costs up to 70 percent less than in-store offers, providing comprehensive coverage at a rock bottom price.