MacBook Air M2 Versus MacBook Pro M1

The Apple M1 chip, which entered markets in 2020, reimagined MacBook performance. Before the M1 chip, the MacBook Pro was objectively the best laptop. But the M1 chip made the MacBook Air more competitive than its Pro counterparts. With the Apple MacBook Air M2 hitting stores soon, customers may wonder which is better. Comparing the MacBook Air M2 and MacBook Pro M1 models shows which computer you get more for your money.

The M2 chip is 1.4x faster than the M1 model and 15x faster than Intel-based MacBooks. The 2022 MacBook Air M2 boasts up to 18 hours of battery life, an 8-core CPU, and up to 10-core GPU, making it an extremely powerful computer in a 13-inch laptop. In addition, the Apple Air M2 is available with up to 2TB of SSD and 24-GB of memory.

The vivid 13.6-inch liquid retina display has 500 nits of brightness, P3 wide color, and true tone technology. Capable of streaming at editing 4k and 8k video, the MacBook Air M2 is no longer just for browsing. Instead, it can edit media, stream video games, and more for a lower price than Pro models.

The MacBook Air M2 has a 1080p Facetime camera with a 3-microphone array and a 4-speaker sound system with spatial audio. The keyboard now contains 78 keys and the TouchID pad. There are two USB-C thunderbolts and a Mag-safe power adapter port, so the power cord no longer plugs into Thunderbolt.

The M2 raises the high bar set by the M1 chip and packs even more power into the lightweight Air model. The MacBook Air M2 costs $1119 for an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 8 GB memory, and 256 GB of SSD storage.

There are two M1 MacBook Pro models: the 13-inch MacBook Pro M1 that came out in 2020 and the 2021 MacBook Pro M1 that comes in 14-inch and 16-inch displays.

The 2020 MacBook Pro M1 has an 8-core GPU, 8-core GPU, up to 16GB of memory, and up to 2TB of storage. It boasts a 20-hour battery life, longer than the M2 Air, but only a couple of hours. The 13.3-inch Retina display has 500 nits of brightness, and the Facetime camera records 720p. This model has stereo speakers with a wide stereo sound but only has 65 keys.

This model is not sold on the Apple store anymore but starts at $1299 at BestBuy with 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage, over $100 more than the MacBook Air M2 model.

The Pro M1 2021 model has either an M1 Pro or M1 Max chip. The 14-inch MacBook Pro M1 has up to a 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 64 GB memory, and 8TB of SSD storage. The base 14-inch model costs $1999 and has an 8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16GB of memory, and 512 GB of SSD storage. The base model with the 16-inch display has a 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB memory, and 512 GB SSD storage for $2,499.

The 14-inch Pro has a 17-hour battery life, whereas the 16-inch has up to 21-hour battery life. They have 78 keys and a Touch ID pad, but no Touch Bar like the 13-inch model. Both models have a 1080p Facetime Camera, six-speaker sound systems, and a three-microphone array.

The 14-inch and 16-inch displays use Liquid Retina XDR technology, with 1000 nits of standard brightness, up to 1600 nits of brightness for HDR content, and 500 nits for SDR content. It has three thunderbolt ports, an HDMI, and an SDXC card reader.

The MacBook Air M2 is a better computer than the 2020 MacBook Pro M1. It has nearly all the same functions, a better display, faster charging, a larger keyboard, and is more competitive in performance. In addition, it can browse, stream movies, edit videos, and play video games.

The MacBook Pro M1 2021 models are much more expensive but may be better for those who regularly use demanding software like graphic design, video editing, music editing, etc. The Pro is probably worth the money for people using it for this demanding software, but the Air M2 will satisfy a larger range of users while saving them hundreds of dollars.

Whether you purchase an Air or Pro model, an Apple MacBook is an investment. Like any computer, they are prone to mechanical defects, screen cracks, and more. MacBooks can be tricky to repair, and Apple Care is expensive and sometimes difficult to deal with.

Upsie has the best MacBook extended warranties. Upsie’s warranties include protection from accidental damage, defects, wear, and damage. In addition, customers can choose between a two-year warranty and a three-year warranty, with an industry-low deductible of just $25. If your MacBook breaks, you can submit a claim 24/7/365 and choose between a mail-in or local repair with a certified repair technician. If they cannot fix it on the first claim, Upsie will replace your device.

Upsie’s warranties are also affordable. For example, an Upsie warranty for a $1119 Macbook Air costs just $177.99 for two years of comprehensive protection. Customers can also make unlimited claims up to the laptop’s purchase price.

Save money and protect your devices with Upsie.