

As such, I was thrilled to have actual keys back on the Air.
Real mac geekbench scores pro#
I got some use out of the Touch Bar’s context-sensitive controls when using the MacBook Pro M2 but still found it tedious for making simple adjustments. Like the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros before it, the MacBook Air M2 ditches the polarizing Touch Bar in favor of full-size function keys, which make it easy to brighten the display, adjust the volume or pause a song with a single, satisfying tap. While I was especially smitten with the Midnight version when I saw it up close last month, my Starlight review unit still looks beautiful, and certainly excites me more than the many gray and silver MacBooks that have piled up on my desk over the years.īut while slim edges and pretty colors are nice, it’s the small quality-of-life upgrades that make the new MacBook Air stand out. The new MacBook Air introduces two new color options alongside the usual Space Gray and Silver: Starlight (basically a lighter version of last generation’s Gold) and Midnight (a deep, dark blue). Either way, this laptop is wonderfully thin and light, and having just used the MacBook Pro M2 for a few weeks, I appreciate just how much easier the 2.7-pound MacBook Air is to pick up when I shift between working at my desk and kicking back on the couch. I personally dig this new look, though I can see how some Mac aficionados might miss the seemingly skinnier design of previous Airs. That being said, this new Air design - which adopts the more uniform look of the larger MacBook Pros - is still a tiny bit lighter than the 2020 model, and its edges are pleasingly thin at just 11.3 millimeters. The new MacBook Air may not look as compact as its predecessor at first glance, ditching the tapered-off, wedge-like design that we’ve seen for years and adopting a taller display. It takes some of the best things from last year’s 14-inch MacBook Pro - including physical function keys and a more seamless display - and packs it all into a gorgeous construction that’s a delight to use.
Real mac geekbench scores upgrade#
It might not be an essential upgrade for everyone, but the MacBook Air M2 is the new best MacBook for most people - and the one I’d personally spend my money on.įrom a design standpoint, the new MacBook Air feels like the perfect MacBook. And thanks to that M2 chip inside, it’s just about the most powerful mainstream laptop out there. The latest version of Apple’s entry-level laptop (if $1,199 can still be considered entry-level, that is) sports a refreshed design with larger function keys, a convenient MagSafe charger, a more immersive display and some gorgeous new color options. Enter the MacBook Air M2: a laptop that combines everything I love about those two machines and strips out everything I don’t. The more recent 13-inch MacBook Pro M2 is one of the fastest laptops I’ve ever used, but its outdated design brings nothing new to the table. I fell in love with the 14-inch MacBook Pro’s updated keyboard and seamless display, but its beastly (and pricey) performance is overkill for my needs. Your CNN account Log in to your CNN accountĪpple has released a slew of new MacBooks lately, and I’ve tested nearly all of them.
