As far as I can see, any upgrade to either RAM or SSD for the M2 Air is a step toward the 14” MacBook Pro. Apple know this, hence the $200 premium for each option. 512gb & 16gb should have been the entry level for the M2 Air priced at $1399 which, from my perspective would be equivalent value when compared with the 14” M1 Pro
I'm a newbie software engineer upgraded to the 512 and 16 simply bc I prefer the keyboard on the air compared to the pro. (The midnight was also a plus)
There is a tremendous and I mean, tremendous misconception in the community among buyers and that is that 8gb is only suitable for the Office, RUclips and Spotify kind of user. 100% WRONG. The company I work for (a silicon valley giant) uses the base model to perform work with .ipa and apk. files on android and IOs platform sans problems. I use docker images, many automation frameworks and 3 programming languages in parallel and I’m yet to encounter any problems. The RUclips community needs to seriously stop spreading lies about 'future proofing' or 'you will only surf the web with that RAM'. Does Apple pay these guys to incite consumers to make a soft hard upgrade? My god…
Hey, I was really looking for a programmer's perspective on the 8ram 512ssd M2 air. Reading your comment, it seems like this spec is more than enough right? What about high Intensive tasks? Do you get any throttling? Also how is the port situation?
This honestly convince me to really consider just the base. Coming from windows which at minimum since 2018 have been running 16GB RAM heck even now my work laptop is 40GB; I really do not want to mess up my first step to the macOS world coming from Windows (this will be my personal; no work laptop) I do run audio software since i record as a hobby but tbh reading comments and suggestions in reddit, mac forums and a lot of YT going base is the way to go
@@АлексП-ж8и I’m using 8/512 for everything including some video/photo editing and office work with utilities like sap, power bi and it works perfectly
Patrick, gotta say I really enjoy and respect your opinion on these M2 machines. You're giving the people info they need, and not creating drama for clicks which I really appreciate. I'm a fan, please keep it up
I just ordered M2 Air... Got college discount + $150 gift card (I graduated 20 yrs ago🤣) Upgraded to 16G and my state is Tax free this week. $1279 total. Helluva deal! Thanks for the review!
the 8gb ram is massively imporved with the 512gb SSD that is not only twice the storage... but more than twice as fast.... an the ram will borrow from the SSD in Ram "Swap" so the 8gb would be enough for 90% of users
One of the big concerns I've seen on other RUclipsr channels is disk swapping caused by too little memory, so I completely agree that increasing the memory is the wisest choice.
Check out "Kevin Ross" who's done the M2 and M1 line up to dispel the fear you have with swapping... Swapping happened in the past, and it isn't going away! What you need to look into? Terabytes Written on the External SSDs... Firecuda is preferred over Samsung 980 Pro, when you use 1TB or 2TB, per "Tech Notice"
I went with the 8gb Ram and 512 on the 10 core as it was in stock. I’ll keep the demanding tasks dedicated to my tower. This feels like the perfect travel companion, portability is key on a MBA in my opinion. Ended up swapping the midnight for a starlight one as my OCD was on high alert with the fingerprints!
How do you like this? I am also looking into getting this exact device. 8GB Ram and 512 SSD with 10 Core. I would mainly just do emails and bare minimum tasks with the occasional video editing but certainly not over the top video editing. Would base level be just fine? I’m worried about storage bc I normally run out of storage with my phone bc of photos
@@andrewdismukes7725 If you're doing mainly emails & web browsing then it should be more than sufficient. When you need it, it'll definitely be able to handle a bit of video editing
I got the exact same specs because it was $200 off at Best Buy. I mostly picked this option because I didn't want to only have 256gb of storage and I don't need this computer for strong enough computing to justify the higher spec models. I'm more than happy with this computer and it does super well with the light multi tasking that I do and some occasional gaming.
I just got this as well, since it is on sale now at Costco. I love it so far! I've done 4K editing, and the swap barely ever even starts. The funny thing is that I auditioned the base model first, since that was also on sale. I noticed it chugged a bit harder on multitasking, although this might be a placebo effect. I ultimately returned that one for the aforementioned.
I agree, always choose RAM. And never get 8GB. A tab uses ~500MB RAM on average nowadays. With 8GB that fills up very fast. I’m using my 2017 MBP with 16GB to this day and I’m so glad I got the 16GB. I would have upgraded my machine a few years ago if I gotten the 8GB RAM. While 8GB might be cheaper today, it will force you to upgrade earlier and costing you more down the line.
That’s the correct global answer in most of the situations. But this particular case M2 has a slower SSD drive compared to M1 by half. Because they are using one 256gb chip instead of 2 128gb. The only solution to by pass this is to get the 512 option (it has 2 chips). So in the M2 particular case storage is more important. Beside transfer speeds swap files will dent the performance experience on the base 256gb model
@@mishos.2228 when u have 16gb ram, u will not use swap often if ever. So it boils down to if u need that much storage or transfer file big enough to make differences.
Thank you, Patrick I agree that more RAM rather than more storage would be the way to spec a MBA. As you quite rightly say if you think you need to upgrade both the MBPro is the better option for that particular use case.
RAM over storage is the correct global answer in most of the situations. But this particular case M2 has a slower SSD drive compared to M1 by half. Because Apple is using one 256gb chip instead of 2 x 128gb. The only solution for this is to get the 512 option (it has 2 chips). So in the M2 particular case storage is more important. On top of transfer speeds, swap files will affect the performance experience on the base 256gb model
For students, I'm thinking the RAM upgrade is great especially with the student discount making the upgrade 180$ instead of the SSD that is still a 200$ upgrade with the discount. Buying during the education deal will give you a 150$ giftcard as well which almost covers the RAM upgrade
The gift cards covers nothing, unless you already intend to purchase apple stuff for at least $150. You cannot use the gift card to reduce the price of the laptop, it's only to be used in future purchases.
@@mackan072 that's true but you still get a giftcard. As you said, if you or your family were planning on purchasing other apple products, it would be useful.
Thnx for the advice, I made up my mind: as a beginner in the creative sector I’ll buy the m2 256 with 16gb ram cause you can always use a external harddrive. When you make a lot of money then you can always upgrade to the pro but then I would use a Studio with Display … :)
Thank you very much for this feedback. I am anything but Tech orientated and have been agonising over what spec to buy with a tight budget and that I work with many Chrome tabs opened for research work, plus some moderate photo editing and maybe later moderate video editing. Sounds like I just upgrade the RAM for now until am ready to buy M2 MBP 14 :)
Personally I value the lightweight and appearance of the MacBook Air, so I am willing to compromise a bit on performance because I have a moderately demanding workload that doesn't necessitate the extremely capable MacBook Pro nor would it work well with a base model M2 MacBook Air, a high-end MacBook Air is perfect for me
I think I'd be fine with the base model M2. I have a base model early 2015 13 inch with 4GB RAM, and 128GB storage. Getting double the storage for $200 more than what my 2015 cost is worth it. Thanks for the video, Patrick.
After ordering and cancelling the M2 MBA twice, I’ll order and stick to the base model thanks to your review. As a lawyer all I use is MS office and safari for most of my work, other reviews made me cancel my order twice since even the MacBook Air is so expensive here in india. Thanks 🙏🏻
I am planning to buy M2 15 inch base model for basic task like yours. Just want to know your experience about file transferring, web browsing, you tube watching, zoom/facebook meeting, word/excel/pdf work etc. Do base model 8/256 M2 Air handle it very well or you found any slow speed or thermal issue as mentioned in few you tube videos? Will appreciate your feedback.
i'm that person who bought a 24GB RAM/2 TB M2 Air. i don't suggest anybody do this, i just wanted it 😂 i already have an insanely powerful gaming PC that i've built, and this is just for fun casual use. eventually will trade in a couple years, when the M2 14/16 Pro becomes available. i love it so much, solid
I am so happy someone on RUclips is giving this a real chance and calling out the overhype of it “not being able to keep up.” I myself am most likely going to get one as a very casual first ever laptop, but so many videos are throwing me off. It will be my first ever laptop or computer for myself. I plan on using it very casually, but considering trying some other things out with it like starting a casual RUclips channel or starting a business or two. But no heavy production or editing of any sort
Agreed on all counts, 16GB will give the Air some extra longevity. An external 1TB USB-C NVMie drive costs $100. 16GB upgrade does make some sense on the Air - but the reason you are buying the Air for battery life and improved portability. I honestly think they should maybe bump the price of it by $100-200 and make 16GB/512GB standard - and then it would have a good value proposition. Once you are upgrading the Air, then the 14 Pro makes much more sense if only for the amazing XDR screen which is best in class. (I went through this buying choice, and by the time I got the Air to the spec I needed to work then the 14 Pro was like $150 more without a 2-3 wait for custom config)
I’m at this same dilemma. Air with 512ssd and 16gb is roughly $350 Canadian less than the 14” Pro and the Pro easily has that $350 in value differential (bigger screen, better screen resolution, better speakers, better chip, more ports, a card reader, longer battery life)…. Too me, it makes sense to just go with the base 14” Pro. It sucks because I wanted the compactness of the Air but it just feels like a bit of a ripoff.
@@beri232 You should always get what works for you, of course. But unless you are an actual pro user with a pro-style workload, I just don't know why you would go for the MBP. I mean if you like to buy laptops based on specs and benchmarks, by all means do what you like. But the MBA is not a ripoff - it is just a machine for a completely different user / user case scenario compared with the MBP. For me, the MBP is too heavy, almost clunky IMHO, and is too much overkill for how I use my laptop. Sleekness and portability is far more important to me. That is why I went for the MBA with no regrets.
@@larryb4392 Agreed, the Apple line up is very specifically targetted at specific use cases. In my case, it's used for work; but technical work (coding) and not content work so the value for me is a balance of portability and power. If you are travelling around a lot / constantly in meetings then the Air is better. If you are video editting or such and need something portable, then the larger Macbook is probably better. I would have liked to have seen 16GB / 512GB base on the Air as that would give it a bit more longevity which I think has a bit more longevity at the mixed consumer tier they are selling into.
In markets such as Brazil the 16gb versions are only sold through Apple, so no discounts, ever. A 16gb M1 MacBook Air here costs around USD2800, whereas the 8gb M1 MacBook Air can be found discounted in major retailers for USD1300 and the 512gb for USD1700.
It’s crazy how much information was about “upgrade the storage!” Or how it’s only one chip being the issue Or these benchmark tests that were doing the base model vs 512/16gb and not comparing to 256/16gb. Which everything clearly indicates massively improves the performance over 512/8gb.
I understand for casual use the base model is more than enough. But for future proof sake, I always go a step ahead with RAM and storage so I bought 16GB RAM with 512GB SD for M2 10-core GPU model. Yea, it is overkill for day to day use: writing, scheduling, researching, etc but it’s a peace of mind for me.
I wouldn’t even call it overkill necessarily. If you have the budget, I think it’s a wise upgrade, looking at the future. The purpose of this particular video was to make a case for the base model for those who don’t have the budget to “beef it up”. It’s very capable as is. But of course , upgrade is useful. I do think there is a point where upgrading the M2 Air becomes silly and it makes more sense to get an M1 Pro. Video about that dropping tomorrow :)
Thanks for the very useful video. One of the best I've watched - clean videos, clear to the point dictation, no time waste, absolutely amazing flow and structure. You have a spark
The 13" M2 MBP exists because the M2 is basically an overclocked M1 & it will get hot for some types of users/applications. That model has a fan & the price is still pretty far off from the M1 MBP, especially in countries beyond North America where the price difference becomes really crazy due to exchange rates, duties, etc. It is an important machine in the lineup. However for most reviewers in North America, they understandably will not be able to see that perspective.
Thank you so much for the plain English discussion of when a non-power user may want to upgrade the RAM and/or SSD. I probably would be fine with the base model--in fact I probably should get the M1 MBA. But to ensure longevity, I decided to upgrade to 16 RAM and 512 SSD in the M2 MBA after a long and torturous internal debate of whether to shell out a few more dollars for the 14 MBP.
I had to get the 8GB/512GB SSD model mainly because I do want this thing to last me as long as possible. I edit videos here and there but thats about it. Its just nice knowing that I wont have to worry about upgrading any time soon
Great video, as always, Patrick. I was glad to see that your conclusion is the same as mine-more RAM is the way to go. A fast external SSD works well for me when using my 16 inch M1Pro MBP to edit videos in FCP. I keep the files I’m working on on the external drive and work from there, avoiding the risk of filling up my internal storage and allowing me to move my project from the MPB to my desktop machine (M1 iMac) at will.
Yeah but then less people would be convinced to pick the 14/16 MBP M1... They're pushing the middle option much closer to the top option which causes way more people to buy the most expensive model. Sales trick and all about making money. But you're right, base should be 16gb/500gb and be $1399 or less but...nah
I'm not sure if I'm comparing lemons and oranges, but as a content creator that mainly blogs and creates simple videos, I have worked with a Macbook Pro from 2015 with 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD with Intel chip. I work with Cloud and an external hard drive. This worked fine. I have a sh*tload of Chrome tabs open, as well as Pages documents and some more. I also have a lot photo material on my laptop and some videos. This has always been sufficient more or less. If my laptop didn't break down a few days ago I would still use it. Since I now have to look for a new laptop I decided to buy the M2 base version, because I figured out this would be sufficient for my type of use: Lightweight video editing and lightweight photo editing. Which can mostly be done online or with Macbook's own apps. Yes, my Macbook pro became slow when I had too much video material on my laptop. That just mean I had to transfer it to an external drive. After watching some review websites and watching some RUclips videos I got confused and thought I needed MORE or even consider buying a Pro again just to be "future proof" (the new magic word on RUclips, it seems). Yet, some comments under this video have heen very helpful and reminded me of my own data and experience. Which show I'll be fine with the M2 base model. Additionally, nowadays I don't always have to edit on my laptop since I can do this on my smartphone as well, so my way of working has changed also during the years and therefore my laptop needs as well. So, thanks for helping me clear my mind and looking at my own facts.
I opted for the SSD upgrade since my wife will also occasionally use the laptop as another user. (Mostly for the upgraded camera for video calls) - plus I don’t like to carry around external drives and do not want to run into the issue of running out of memory. I understand there’s cloud storage but in the long run the upgraded SSD will suit me well. Plus I always keep files saved to my actual computer in the event I don’t have access to my cloud. I feel like with this type of laptop you you eventually run into bottlenecks when drastically upgrading only 1 component. If I needed more RAM I would have opted for the 14 pro imho.
I’m using a Mac mini m2 with 8/512GB. I need the portable MBA. Unsure of which version. Due to high prices I’m thinking pre-used. A M1 16/512GB costs 700 dollars. A M2 16/512GB around 1000. A M3 16/512GB for 1250 dollars. What do reckon? I’m playing keys with MainStage
Sometimes it is good to step back and do a full on reality check, in particular for the average user, the category that I belong to. We often struggle for weeks trying to decide how much to spend on RAM or Drive upgrades. Then I remind myself that I am still doing the work and play that I need to do on a 2009 MacBook! Incredible as it may sound, the machine still works. The only problem is that I am limited to using an older OS, which prevents me from using the latest versions of Chrome that I need for google meet and docs, but Firefox is still fully operational on my ancient OS.
Spot on! I'm on a 2017 Intel Core i5 which has become a little too slow for my regular John Doe Office/media multitasking. The M1 would be a perfect choice but I want the new form factor with thinner bezels and Mag-Safe. I was gonna do 16/512, then I thought about 16/256 and now I'm even considering 8/256 and live happily ever after saving 460€ in my part of the World.
@beltrangarrote1982 you’re totally right about not needing to max out a machine for everyday type use. I would try to stay away from 8gb though, especially on the 256. It will save you money on the short term but I believe you might regret it down the road.
Thanks for your video help clear out some of my thoughts. I recently purchased a basic m2 air & so far it done all my needs editing videos, pictures etc. so like you said unless your into heavy editing or work flow the basic air will do just fine. like your videos keep up the great work. 😊
Apparently only the 256 ssd is configured in a diff. way (1 nand chip instead of 2), resulting in a lesser performance than the other versions, even compared to the M1. Upgrading to 512 or more solves this resulting in better overall performance without memory boost
I personally got my Macbook Air M2 with 8GB and 512GB basically because of all you said but meaning the opposite... What is the damn point of a Laptop - a mobile work station - when I have to carry an external SSD all the time because 256GB is not cutting it? 8GB is fine for most people, even when you're doing photo and video editing here and there. But not having enough storage to even use those 16GB? That's stupid. Especially when you're using slower external storages because then the time you need extra because of this slow storage FAR exceets the amount of time you need because the RAM is not enough here and there... I'd rather have enough storage for everything I need on the go than having enough RAM but not enough storage to even use the RAM.
Good video, but still does not relate to the majority of user who uses MBA. I am more interested in seeing a comparison between a 16GB/256 vs 8GB/512 with the SSD full to almost 256 to make the best comparison whether its better to make a choice to upgrade between 16GB or 512 SSD for the everyday user who rarely uses coding, graphics, etc.
Working from the assumption that the base MacBook Air will work for most people, if your 256GB SSD will always be full, you might consider a 512GB MBA. You might also think about an M1 Air and upgrade both RAM and SSD.
@@brachiator1 Thank you...your response seems to be the most honest to someone whose on a budget/wants the best bang for your buck with my use or the typical user I think of the MBA. I agree, since I only have 10 days left to return my current macbook air 8GB/512 that its better to have 512gb storage over 16GB RAM in my situation than have to deal with the slow swap SSD with the new M2 with 256. I learned a lot from your suggestion. Definitely agree M1 Air with both upgraded ram and ssd is the best way to go...but I love the new design of the M2. Thank you.
Very informative. I wish the other youtubers that making so many videos about the M2 Air were making informative videos like this that actually help people make an informed buying choice. Knowing how well the M2 Air does in heavy workloads is important as there are alot of people that make very poor purchasing decisions. When I was in collage one of my fellow classmates bought a base model xps 13 for autocad. This is back when they were pushing those very power efficient intel U processors. Great for light tasks, but were not true work horse CPU's. Needless to say he ended up returning it and was very upset it could barely run programs we used in class. And this was after the professor told them they needed something more. Point being people need good informative videos to help them avoid this kind of scenario. As for me I have not put my M2 Air through it's paces yet. Still installing programs and getting it ready. Though I'm loving the keyboard and light weight. This is definitely a great machine for anyone that needs something light and loves to type.
Great info on the M2! Also the way you asked for the like and subscribe in the b-roll is genius, loved that. I hate creators doing an over-the-top ask, yours was perfect!
Just put this on! Hope you're having a good day 💻 Regarding RAM I did what you said and used the internal monitor this morning. When making music I never get as high as 8GB so my 16GB model wasn't really needed. But as my projects get bigger it may help! What is noticeable is the M1 Processor panicking briefly because making beats/video editing is processor heavy... MEANING YOU ARE ALWAYS RIGHT 😂😭 M1 Pro or M1 Max will be my next processor, or I'll wait a couple more years and get the M2 'Pro' variant when it's out. I am in love with the M2 Air it looks sick man! To be honest an M2 Air might even perform better. I'll go to Köln (Cologne) next week and ask to time machine my settings and make some music in store. Another great video. Looking forward to the next 💪🏽
I plan to use M2 Air for Excel (maybe 5 heavy files opened) and Google Chrome for browsing and researching (maybe 20 tabs opened). Sorry for the dumb question, but can a base model handle that? Thanks! Love your content, sleek and straight to the point, it's just that I'm not really a tech-savvy. 😅
After checking Art is right, your channel and a few others, I finally just ordered a very good second hand Air m2 16/256. Instead of a Pro m1. I couldn't justify the 1500€ for a second hand M1 Pro 14", and got that machine for 1050€. I do dabble in GarageBand and iMovie for audio and clips, and hope to move to LogicPro after the air arrives. I think with some external ssds for data it should handle well enough the tasks I'll ask from it for some time.
For $1900 you can get an M2 Macbook Air with 16gb RAM and 1tb SSD. The same specs on a 14" M2 pro will run you $2500 - the difference being 4 extra CPU cores and the M2 Pro chip.
Am a first time Mac user , and I got a good deal in apple refurbished MBA16gb 256 M2=1019$ but due to the storage slow anxiety I choose 16gb 512 M2=1189 which is bit higher than my budget , do u think the 10cGPU & 512gb is worth the 170$ than my budget ? my usage is office & personal browsing , videos , movie, office works , VM , Remote Desktop, may be video editing in future. I currently use 15" 8gb 512gb M2 and I don't see any issue in my daily ... but this 256gb anxiety kills me. do u think the 16gb 256 performs better in these..?
I haven't seen anyone getting upset that it doesn't compare to any MacBook Pro models. The things I've seen that RIGHTLY make complaints are that it's just slower for a lot of work than the base M1 MBA, which is $200 cheaper.
Thank you so much, man. Out of the hundreds of videos about helping me choose what type of macbook to buy, yours gave me the most clarity. Really appreciate it! Subscribing from now on.
All this info is available on other channels without Patrick's clarity and lack of hype. I wish I found this before I bought my MBA w/ 16GB RAM. I would have saved me a lot of time. I bought Ram for future proofing. I got 10 years out of my last MBP... I'm hoping to do better this time.
Im not a heavy user, I dont use lightroom, photoshop or cinema tools. IM A COLLEGE student. Moslty excel and few other engineering related softwares. I think future proofing it with 16gb ram will be good. Wont macbook slow down in the future with multiple software updates ?? I okay with the fact for using an external ssd which I can buy for halp thr price.
Looking into getting this macbook. Will update the RAM, but is 256gb enough for me to store a decent amount of files without my computer notifying me I'm running out of storage after a year of updates? My last macbook (128 gb) started giving me these problems pretty early on and I want this computer to run smoothly for at least 5 years
you're so patient and serene you're like a tech Buddha. I love the way you speak. I'd love it if you could help me out - I'm finally upgrading my computer after ten years (a mid-2012 MacBook Pro). It makes me uneasy that the most recent MacBooks no longer allow you to upgrade RAM or storage over time, because that's what let me keep mine for as long as I have. Now I wanna invest in a machine that's gonna last me another 10 years, you know? Here's the thing, I'm lawyer and my work is mostly office stuff and heavy research (lots of tabs and windows and apps open simultaneously), so I know the M2 air would serve me fine for this. But there's something else making me doubt: I'm not a gamer exactly, but I do play one game - the sims. All expansions, all game packs, custom content and mods, the full stuff. I don't play very often because of work, but every now and again if I have time off I'll go on a gaming spree and play 18h a day for like two weeks. I don't know how much you know about it, but in that case, would the m2 still serve me well? Would there be thermal throttling during gaming, would I miss the fans? Would the 16gb of RAM suffice as upgrade or should I just go for the M1 pro already? I'm honestly leaning towards the M2 air with 16gb RAM because of portability and design (I'm all day out and about with the computer in my bag, plus lots of papers). But would it handle my occasional gaming fine? That's a detail that could make me go for the 14'' pro. Pretty please help me out!
Hey thanks for the kind words. Without knowing the full requirements for the Sims, prolonged gaming sessions can definitely make the fanless M2 heat up. When it comes to performance doubts, I always point people in the direction of the pro. Still plenty portable but a lot more powerful.
Patrick, thank you for posting such fun, informative videos!🙏 Quick quest.: I want to take advantage of the current back-to-school deal on the 13” MacBook Air M3 w/8-core 8GB RAM. Would 8GB of RAM be enough for downloading the occasional torrent? Thank you in advance and please keep up the good work!
If you choose storage, you won’t be able to upgrade the RAM later, if you choose ram, you can still use external drives to store more files and programs so I think more RAM makes more sense.
That’s the correct global answer in most of the situations. But this particular case M2 has a slower SSD drive compared to M1 by half. Because they are using one 256gb chip instead of 2 128gb. The only solution to by pass this is to get the 512 option (it has 2 chips). So in the M2 particular case storage is more important. Beside transfer speeds swap files will dent the performance experience on the base 256gb model
Glad you also shared the ArtIsRight channel as they did run some very extensive tests. I just got my MBAM1 8/512 yesterday and I'm super happy! I'm the type to hoard files vs multitask and I'm pretty happy with my decision.
Hey Patrick. I’m about to buy a M2 MBA 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD. I’m only going to be using this machine for iOS and Android development. Would this be a suitable choice or do you recommend upgrading the ram?
My biggest problem with the argument that the M2 Air is not meant for “Pro” workflows is they are forgetting about what happened when the M1 hit the scene. When the M1 MacBook Air came out people were comparing it to an Intel i9 16” MacBook Pro and in some benchmarks the M1 Air gave the Intel machine a run for its money - even when comparing the base model M1 Air to an 8 core Intel i9 CPU. Even though the M1 Air lagged a little behind the 16” Intel MacBook Pro it was good enough to do “pro” workflows such as Final Cut and Logic. Hardly anyone was complaining that the M1 Air couldn’t keep up with performing processor intensive tasks. To this day the single core performance of the M1 Air is unmatched by any Intel CPUs. I’ve been using Final Cut Pro for about a month now on my 1 TB / 16 GB M1 Air and the thing runs great. I have yet to feel affected by slowdown. But when the M2 MacBook Air came out everyone has to put out the disclaimer that a M2 MBA should not be used for Pro apps. I call hogwash. If my 2 1/2 year old M1 MacBook Air can handle Pro tasks, then its successor in the form of a M2 model should have no problem executing the exact same things. It really rubs me the wrong way that people have such a short term memory when it comes to comparing the M1 to the M2 MacBook Air and if a 2 1/2 year old M1 MBA old can do things a M2 MacBook Air cannot, something is wrong when Apple designed the M2 processor and further crippling it with a slower SSD. PS, I'm not upset with you Patrick. It upsets me when the community has such a short memory when it comes to the claiming that the M2 MacBook Air is not meant for pro applications while they forget how capable the M1 is in comparison.
Do not want to be bothering you too much but would a used MBP 14 inch from 2021 be an upgrade in terms of performance from my MBA M2 base model? Thanks
In every review that I see about the MacBook Air, they always say that if you upgrade RAM and SSD, you should buy the MacBook Pro, and I couldn't disagree more. The MacBook Air with 16gb ram and 512ssd is perfect for me since the weight and size of the Pro are just too much for what I want. MacBook Air 16gb and 512ssd perfect for me!
I really need your advice am buying MacBook air just because i have problems with the storage in my iphone 11 I need to used to store all my photos videios so that am very to make more content with the iphone I may use it for editing,but i do that on my i phone anyway So is 256gb of storage would be enough and if not could i buy an external storage with the base model??
I ordered 8/512 M2 Air model. Doing web-browsing, word document, mailing and watching some youtube. I do open a lot of tabs tho, easily 50-60 can hang in the browser. Decided to go with 512gb because dont like to carry external drives with me + with updates the OS will require more disk space, so I will have to decide what to keep and what to delete in order to free space. Also swap memory takes a chunk of storage from SSD. Is the train of thought seem logical? Hope that the choice was good enough)
It's got to be the RAM. Cloud storage and plug-in drives can answer the storage problems. But I will tell you why you should upgrade the memory - Running Windows with Parallels. I need to use Windows for many of my accounting problems that often don't exist on MacOS. Do I need a chunky Pro to do that? No.
In case of the M2 air it's not that straightforward. The lower storage model runs on a single NAND chip, making memory swaps a painful affair. If it was simply a matter of storage, I'd agree with you and attaching some external SSDs would be the way to go.
@@PatrickRambles I have just purchased the base model today for my daughter’s Christmas present. I was shitting myself thinking Iv bought the wrong Mac for her. I have been debating calling and cancelling the order all afternoon. But after watching your video it has settled me right down. It’s more than enough for her needs. Thanks bro 👊
I ran out of ram yesterday on my macbook pro retina 2015 8gb ram for first time ever! understand it all now it was slowing up. so glad opted for the 16gb ram macbook air m2 and 256gb ssd. Thanks so much for your help 😊
I've just used my new macbook air with those specs. Wow I was so surprised how much ram that was used up. There was Web tabs open, music, apple TV. They were not labour intensive ones either. At one point the ram use was 12gb! It has not got to swap once. Now if I had chosen the 8gb ram I would have been in swap and laptop slowing. So definately was the right choice. I've installed most of the apps I want at the moment and still have 201 gb ssd spare! Tks soo much again! So pleased with it 😊
Please make a video comparing MacBook Air m3 with 16 gb ram 256gb storage to MacBook Air m2 16 gb ram 512 gb storage. Because in this configuration the price is almost same. Which one should I go for.???
I’ll only use the m2 for browsing and youtube, netflix basicaly for entertainment so i don’t think i need an upgrade tbh but since i want the laptop to last me maybe up to 5-6 years? then do you think i need an upgrade?
@PatrickRambles, I have purchased today M2 Air Base model from Authorised Apple Seller here in Mumbai, India. I ve checked for 16 GB but the store guy told me that it has be customised online and only base model is available at store. So I purchased M2 8/256 version starlight colour. When I got the MBA in my hand, the store guy unboxed it and opened the lid but to my surprise it didnt start until we plugged in to circuit. We checked the battery health which was 100%. But this is the first time the Mac product didnt start after opening the lid. Is it normal or any issue with the hardware? The battery was charging well when plugged in but any idea why such thing must have happened? May there be any battery issue? The date of manufacture is September 2023. Will appreciate your feedback.
Does it start when you open the lid now? Assuming it was brand new in the box, it needs to be turned on first, so opening the lid in the store wouldn't turn the Macbook on. However, if you still need to be plugged in for it to work now, it's definitely not normal and you may have a faulty unit.
Well passive cooling one of key features of macbook air, no worries about the dust etc, so it can be safely used I'm trips, or in a bed on daily bases. So upgradint macboom air maikes sense of course, because the usage is a bit different, battery life is wayyy better compared to mbp as well
🔥Hey guys! For those of you asking about the leather sleeve, you can find it here geni.us/H9z0 🔥
😊
As far as I can see, any upgrade to either RAM or SSD for the M2 Air is a step toward the 14” MacBook Pro. Apple know this, hence the $200 premium for each option. 512gb & 16gb should have been the entry level for the M2 Air priced at $1399 which, from my perspective would be equivalent value when compared with the 14” M1 Pro
Agreed on all points.
yeah. super annoying that base is 8gb ran and 256gb ssd
Can’t even get the M1 Pro equivalent without spending $500 more
I'm a newbie software engineer upgraded to the 512 and 16 simply bc I prefer the keyboard on the air compared to the pro. (The midnight was also a plus)
@@imthebadguyy It's the same keyboard?
There is a tremendous and I mean, tremendous misconception in the community among buyers and that is that 8gb is only suitable for the Office, RUclips and Spotify kind of user. 100% WRONG. The company I work for (a silicon valley giant) uses the base model to perform work with .ipa and apk. files on android and IOs platform sans problems. I use docker images, many automation frameworks and 3 programming languages in parallel and I’m yet to encounter any problems. The RUclips community needs to seriously stop spreading lies about 'future proofing' or 'you will only surf the web with that RAM'. Does Apple pay these guys to incite consumers to make a soft hard upgrade? My god…
Hey, I was really looking for a programmer's perspective on the 8ram 512ssd M2 air. Reading your comment, it seems like this spec is more than enough right?
What about high Intensive tasks? Do you get any throttling?
Also how is the port situation?
Seriously. Who is going to spend over a grand just to surf the web? If that’s all you are going to do, might as well just get a $200 Chromebook.
This honestly convince me to really consider just the base.
Coming from windows which at minimum since 2018 have been running 16GB RAM heck even now my work laptop is 40GB; I really do not want to mess up my first step to the macOS world coming from Windows (this will be my personal; no work laptop)
I do run audio software since i record as a hobby but tbh reading comments and suggestions in reddit, mac forums and a lot of YT going base is the way to go
100% agree! i use the base 256/8 for everything and it works perfectly.. after effects indesign premiere pro photoshop, no probs..
@@АлексП-ж8и I’m using 8/512 for everything including some video/photo editing and office work with utilities like sap, power bi and it works perfectly
Patrick, gotta say I really enjoy and respect your opinion on these M2 machines. You're giving the people info they need, and not creating drama for clicks which I really appreciate. I'm a fan, please keep it up
Thank you , I appreciate the kind words :)
I just ordered M2 Air... Got college discount + $150 gift card (I graduated 20 yrs ago🤣) Upgraded to 16G and my state is Tax free this week. $1279 total. Helluva deal! Thanks for the review!
This message right here , officer 👮♀️.
Just kidding , thanks mate !
This is awesome. I wish Michigan did tax free weekends
Don't you need to prove student status?
the 8gb ram is massively imporved with the 512gb SSD that is not only twice the storage... but more than twice as fast.... an the ram will borrow from the SSD in Ram "Swap" so the 8gb would be enough for 90% of users
I am using a MacMini 2018 with 8GB RAM with 1TB SSD. Still running great till today! I use Photoshop 24.2 and have zero problems.
Well put. If only Apple is not so greedy that it puts 2 x 128gb SSDs on its base M2 MBA, none of this issue would happen.
One of the big concerns I've seen on other RUclipsr channels is disk swapping caused by too little memory, so I completely agree that increasing the memory is the wisest choice.
Check out "Kevin Ross" who's done the M2 and M1 line up to dispel the fear you have with swapping... Swapping happened in the past, and it isn't going away! What you need to look into? Terabytes Written on the External SSDs... Firecuda is preferred over Samsung 980 Pro, when you use 1TB or 2TB, per "Tech Notice"
Kevin’s a buddy of mine 👍
@@phoenixbwp Thanks for the tip!
@@PatrickRambles Thanks Patrick. Kevin is also one of the RUclipsrs I trust and subscribe to.
I went with the 8gb Ram and 512 on the 10 core as it was in stock. I’ll keep the demanding tasks dedicated to my tower. This feels like the perfect travel companion, portability is key on a MBA in my opinion. Ended up swapping the midnight for a starlight one as my OCD was on high alert with the fingerprints!
Ha! I feel that OCD. The smudge is real…
How do you like this? I am also looking into getting this exact device. 8GB Ram and 512 SSD with 10 Core. I would mainly just do emails and bare minimum tasks with the occasional video editing but certainly not over the top video editing. Would base level be just fine? I’m worried about storage bc I normally run out of storage with my phone bc of photos
@@andrewdismukes7725 If you're doing mainly emails & web browsing then it should be more than sufficient. When you need it, it'll definitely be able to handle a bit of video editing
I got the exact same specs because it was $200 off at Best Buy. I mostly picked this option because I didn't want to only have 256gb of storage and I don't need this computer for strong enough computing to justify the higher spec models. I'm more than happy with this computer and it does super well with the light multi tasking that I do and some occasional gaming.
I just got this as well, since it is on sale now at Costco. I love it so far! I've done 4K editing, and the swap barely ever even starts.
The funny thing is that I auditioned the base model first, since that was also on sale. I noticed it chugged a bit harder on multitasking, although this might be a placebo effect. I ultimately returned that one for the aforementioned.
I agree, always choose RAM. And never get 8GB. A tab uses ~500MB RAM on average nowadays. With 8GB that fills up very fast. I’m using my 2017 MBP with 16GB to this day and I’m so glad I got the 16GB. I would have upgraded my machine a few years ago if I gotten the 8GB RAM. While 8GB might be cheaper today, it will force you to upgrade earlier and costing you more down the line.
Always upgrade RAM. There are a lot of options for extended storage but I think there's none for extended memory.
That’s the correct global answer in most of the situations. But this particular case M2 has a slower SSD drive compared to M1 by half. Because they are using one 256gb chip instead of 2 128gb. The only solution to by pass this is to get the 512 option (it has 2 chips). So in the M2 particular case storage is more important. Beside transfer speeds swap files will dent the performance experience on the base 256gb model
that's only applicable for m1 mba......not m2 mba!!
@@mishos.2228 when u have 16gb ram, u will not use swap often if ever. So it boils down to if u need that much storage or transfer file big enough to make differences.
Not in this case, the ssd is so crap in the 256gb. The SSD upgrade made a way bigger noticeable difference
With 16GB of RAM there will be no need for swapping, so the SSD issue becomes less relevant.
Thank you, Patrick I agree that more RAM rather than more storage would be the way to spec a MBA. As you quite rightly say if you think you need to upgrade both the MBPro is the better option for that particular use case.
Thanks Derran !
I like your calm and concise way of speaking- immediately a fan and subscribed :)
I'm so happy that you first get straight to the point to answer the question. Great help thanks.
What do you mean? He answers the question only 4:15 min into the video. Great advice etc but doesn’t seem straight to the point ❤
RAM over storage is the correct global answer in most of the situations. But this particular case M2 has a slower SSD drive compared to M1 by half. Because Apple is using one 256gb chip instead of 2 x 128gb. The only solution for this is to get the 512 option (it has 2 chips). So in the M2 particular case storage is more important. On top of transfer speeds, swap files will affect the performance experience on the base 256gb model
Benchmarks disagree with you there
@@ViKiinGViiRuS benchmarks are bullshit. Have no relation with real life experience.
With 16gb of ram you will almost never get swapping, it's pretty hard to use 16gb of ram tbh
Except you dont need to swap with 16gb ram. The it supposed to be ok right?
For students, I'm thinking the RAM upgrade is great especially with the student discount making the upgrade 180$ instead of the SSD that is still a 200$ upgrade with the discount. Buying during the education deal will give you a 150$ giftcard as well which almost covers the RAM upgrade
Good point !
The gift cards covers nothing, unless you already intend to purchase apple stuff for at least $150.
You cannot use the gift card to reduce the price of the laptop, it's only to be used in future purchases.
@@mackan072 that's true but you still get a giftcard. As you said, if you or your family were planning on purchasing other apple products, it would be useful.
@@mackan072 the only thing you can buy with 150 is probably the air pods gen 2. (which isn't pretty mediocre)
@@h3nry_t122 Or put it towards something else. They do sell some non-apple products/accessories as well, such as backpacks and external HDDs
Thnx for the advice, I made up my mind: as a beginner in the creative sector I’ll buy the m2 256 with 16gb ram cause you can always use a external harddrive. When you make a lot of money then you can always upgrade to the pro but then I would use a Studio with Display … :)
Thank you very much for this feedback. I am anything but Tech orientated and have been agonising over what spec to buy with a tight budget and that I work with many Chrome tabs opened for research work, plus some moderate photo editing and maybe later moderate video editing. Sounds like I just upgrade the RAM for now until am ready to buy M2 MBP 14 :)
Personally I value the lightweight and appearance of the MacBook Air, so I am willing to compromise a bit on performance because I have a moderately demanding workload that doesn't necessitate the extremely capable MacBook Pro nor would it work well with a base model M2 MacBook Air, a high-end MacBook Air is perfect for me
I think I'd be fine with the base model M2.
I have a base model early 2015 13 inch with 4GB RAM, and 128GB storage.
Getting double the storage for $200 more than what my 2015 cost is worth it.
Thanks for the video, Patrick.
100% worth it. And thanks !
After ordering and cancelling the M2 MBA twice, I’ll order and stick to the base model thanks to your review. As a lawyer all I use is MS office and safari for most of my work, other reviews made me cancel my order twice since even the MacBook Air is so expensive here in india. Thanks 🙏🏻
Go for M1 air & save Rs. 20K. You don't need the extra performance offered by M2 chip.
Where do you plan on buying it from? The official apple store?
I am planning to buy M2 15 inch base model for basic task like yours. Just want to know your experience about file transferring, web browsing, you tube watching, zoom/facebook meeting, word/excel/pdf work etc. Do base model 8/256 M2 Air handle it very well or you found any slow speed or thermal issue as mentioned in few you tube videos? Will appreciate your feedback.
i'm that person who bought a 24GB RAM/2 TB M2 Air. i don't suggest anybody do this, i just wanted it 😂 i already have an insanely powerful gaming PC that i've built, and this is just for fun casual use. eventually will trade in a couple years, when the M2 14/16 Pro becomes available. i love it so much, solid
Hey man if you have the cash to burn, why not 😅
@@PatrickRambles EXACTLY !!!
I am so happy someone on RUclips is giving this a real chance and calling out the overhype of it “not being able to keep up.”
I myself am most likely going to get one as a very casual first ever laptop, but so many videos are throwing me off. It will be my first ever laptop or computer for myself. I plan on using it very casually, but considering trying some other things out with it like starting a casual RUclips channel or starting a business or two. But no heavy production or editing of any sort
Thanks Aaron, for that it will be totally fine.
Agreed on all counts, 16GB will give the Air some extra longevity. An external 1TB USB-C NVMie drive costs $100. 16GB upgrade does make some sense on the Air - but the reason you are buying the Air for battery life and improved portability. I honestly think they should maybe bump the price of it by $100-200 and make 16GB/512GB standard - and then it would have a good value proposition. Once you are upgrading the Air, then the 14 Pro makes much more sense if only for the amazing XDR screen which is best in class. (I went through this buying choice, and by the time I got the Air to the spec I needed to work then the 14 Pro was like $150 more without a 2-3 wait for custom config)
I’m at this same dilemma. Air with 512ssd and 16gb is roughly $350 Canadian less than the 14” Pro and the Pro easily has that $350 in value differential (bigger screen, better screen resolution, better speakers, better chip, more ports, a card reader, longer battery life)…. Too me, it makes sense to just go with the base 14” Pro. It sucks because I wanted the compactness of the Air but it just feels like a bit of a ripoff.
@@beri232 You should always get what works for you, of course. But unless you are an actual pro user with a pro-style workload, I just don't know why you would go for the MBP. I mean if you like to buy laptops based on specs and benchmarks, by all means do what you like. But the MBA is not a ripoff - it is just a machine for a completely different user / user case scenario compared with the MBP. For me, the MBP is too heavy, almost clunky IMHO, and is too much overkill for how I use my laptop. Sleekness and portability is far more important to me. That is why I went for the MBA with no regrets.
@@larryb4392 Agreed, the Apple line up is very specifically targetted at specific use cases. In my case, it's used for work; but technical work (coding) and not content work so the value for me is a balance of portability and power. If you are travelling around a lot / constantly in meetings then the Air is better. If you are video editting or such and need something portable, then the larger Macbook is probably better. I would have liked to have seen 16GB / 512GB base on the Air as that would give it a bit more longevity which I think has a bit more longevity at the mixed consumer tier they are selling into.
In markets such as Brazil the 16gb versions are only sold through Apple, so no discounts, ever. A 16gb M1 MacBook Air here costs around USD2800, whereas the 8gb M1 MacBook Air can be found discounted in major retailers for USD1300 and the 512gb for USD1700.
It’s crazy how much information was about “upgrade the storage!” Or how it’s only one chip being the issue Or these benchmark tests that were doing the base model vs 512/16gb and not comparing to 256/16gb. Which everything clearly indicates massively improves the performance over 512/8gb.
I understand for casual use the base model is more than enough. But for future proof sake, I always go a step ahead with RAM and storage so I bought 16GB RAM with 512GB SD for M2 10-core GPU model. Yea, it is overkill for day to day use: writing, scheduling, researching, etc but it’s a peace of mind for me.
I wouldn’t even call it overkill necessarily. If you have the budget, I think it’s a wise upgrade, looking at the future. The purpose of this particular video was to make a case for the base model for those who don’t have the budget to “beef it up”. It’s very capable as is. But of course , upgrade is useful. I do think there is a point where upgrading the M2 Air becomes silly and it makes more sense to get an M1 Pro. Video about that dropping tomorrow :)
Thanks for the very useful video. One of the best I've watched - clean videos, clear to the point dictation, no time waste, absolutely amazing flow and structure. You have a spark
Thanks, I appreciate it!
The 13" M2 MBP exists because the M2 is basically an overclocked M1 & it will get hot for some types of users/applications. That model has a fan & the price is still pretty far off from the M1 MBP, especially in countries beyond North America where the price difference becomes really crazy due to exchange rates, duties, etc. It is an important machine in the lineup. However for most reviewers in North America, they understandably will not be able to see that perspective.
Thank you so much for the plain English discussion of when a non-power user may want to upgrade the RAM and/or SSD. I probably would be fine with the base model--in fact I probably should get the M1 MBA. But to ensure longevity, I decided to upgrade to 16 RAM and 512 SSD in the M2 MBA after a long and torturous internal debate of whether to shell out a few more dollars for the 14 MBP.
At least you bought some peace of mind. In a couple of years, 8GB is going to be a bit too low I think.
I had to get the 8GB/512GB SSD model mainly because I do want this thing to last me as long as possible. I edit videos here and there but thats about it. Its just nice knowing that I wont have to worry about upgrading any time soon
I have important question how about if I got already 8 GB RAM then I decided to upgrade it to 16 GB can I ?
Great video, as always, Patrick. I was glad to see that your conclusion is the same as mine-more RAM is the way to go. A fast external SSD works well for me when using my 16 inch M1Pro MBP to edit videos in FCP. I keep the files I’m working on on the external drive and work from there, avoiding the risk of filling up my internal storage and allowing me to move my project from the MPB to my desktop machine (M1 iMac) at will.
Thanks Marian !
The entry level configuration should be 16GB Ram and 512gb storage
Yeah but then less people would be convinced to pick the 14/16 MBP M1... They're pushing the middle option much closer to the top option which causes way more people to buy the most expensive model. Sales trick and all about making money. But you're right, base should be 16gb/500gb and be $1399 or less but...nah
I'm not sure if I'm comparing lemons and oranges, but as a content creator that mainly blogs and creates simple videos, I have worked with a Macbook Pro from 2015 with 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD with Intel chip.
I work with Cloud and an external hard drive. This worked fine.
I have a sh*tload of Chrome tabs open, as well as Pages documents and some more.
I also have a lot photo material on my laptop and some videos.
This has always been sufficient more or less. If my laptop didn't break down a few days ago I would still use it.
Since I now have to look for a new laptop I decided to buy the M2 base version, because I figured out this would be sufficient for my type of use:
Lightweight video editing and lightweight photo editing. Which can mostly be done online or with Macbook's own apps.
Yes, my Macbook pro became slow when I had too much video material on my laptop. That just mean I had to transfer it to an external drive.
After watching some review websites and watching some RUclips videos I got confused and thought I needed MORE or even consider buying a Pro again just to be "future proof" (the new magic word on RUclips, it seems).
Yet, some comments under this video have heen very helpful and reminded me of my own data and experience. Which show I'll be fine with the M2 base model.
Additionally, nowadays I don't always have to edit on my laptop since I can do this on my smartphone as well, so my way of working has changed also during the years and therefore my laptop needs as well.
So, thanks for helping me clear my mind and looking at my own facts.
I opted for the SSD upgrade since my wife will also occasionally use the laptop as another user. (Mostly for the upgraded camera for video calls) - plus I don’t like to carry around external drives and do not want to run into the issue of running out of memory. I understand there’s cloud storage but in the long run the upgraded SSD will suit me well. Plus I always keep files saved to my actual computer in the event I don’t have access to my cloud. I feel like with this type of laptop you you eventually run into bottlenecks when drastically upgrading only 1 component. If I needed more RAM I would have opted for the 14 pro imho.
I do agree there is a very fine line between upgrading the M2 and getting an M1 pro. Check my next vid this weekend :)
I’m using a Mac mini m2 with 8/512GB. I need the portable MBA. Unsure of which version. Due to high prices I’m thinking pre-used. A M1 16/512GB costs 700 dollars. A M2 16/512GB around 1000. A M3 16/512GB for 1250 dollars. What do reckon? I’m playing keys with MainStage
super useful video. Short, concise, and to the point! Thanks Patrick!
Quality - Loving the open and honest “No Click Bait” style!
Thanks, Scott !
Sometimes it is good to step back and do a full on reality check, in particular for the average user, the category that I belong to. We often struggle for weeks trying to decide how much to spend on RAM or Drive upgrades. Then I remind myself that I am still doing the work and play that I need to do on a 2009 MacBook! Incredible as it may sound, the machine still works. The only problem is that I am limited to using an older OS, which prevents me from using the latest versions of Chrome that I need for google meet and docs, but Firefox is still fully operational on my ancient OS.
Spot on! I'm on a 2017 Intel Core i5 which has become a little too slow for my regular John Doe Office/media multitasking. The M1 would be a perfect choice but I want the new form factor with thinner bezels and Mag-Safe. I was gonna do 16/512, then I thought about 16/256 and now I'm even considering 8/256 and live happily ever after saving 460€ in my part of the World.
@beltrangarrote1982 you’re totally right about not needing to max out a machine for everyday type use. I would try to stay away from 8gb though, especially on the 256. It will save you money on the short term but I believe you might regret it down the road.
Thanks for your video help clear out some of my thoughts. I recently purchased a basic m2 air & so far it done all my needs editing videos, pictures etc. so like you said unless your into heavy editing or work flow the basic air will do just fine. like your videos keep up the great work. 😊
Thanks, Luis - much appreciated!
Been on the fence for weeks. This was very helpful. Thank you, sir.
Hey man, glad it was helpful 🤝
This is exactly the video I needed
This is EXACTLY what I have been trying to decide between. Feels like you read my mind! Thank you :)
That's awesome 😄
Apparently only the 256 ssd is configured in a diff. way (1 nand chip instead of 2), resulting in a lesser performance than the other versions, even compared to the M1. Upgrading to 512 or more solves this resulting in better overall performance without memory boost
I personally got my Macbook Air M2 with 8GB and 512GB basically because of all you said but meaning the opposite...
What is the damn point of a Laptop - a mobile work station - when I have to carry an external SSD all the time because 256GB is not cutting it? 8GB is fine for most people, even when you're doing photo and video editing here and there. But not having enough storage to even use those 16GB? That's stupid. Especially when you're using slower external storages because then the time you need extra because of this slow storage FAR exceets the amount of time you need because the RAM is not enough here and there...
I'd rather have enough storage for everything I need on the go than having enough RAM but not enough storage to even use the RAM.
Good video, but still does not relate to the majority of user who uses MBA. I am more interested in seeing a comparison between a 16GB/256 vs 8GB/512 with the SSD full to almost 256 to make the best comparison whether its better to make a choice to upgrade between 16GB or 512 SSD for the everyday user who rarely uses coding, graphics, etc.
Working from the assumption that the base MacBook Air will work for most people, if your 256GB SSD will always be full, you might consider a 512GB MBA. You might also think about an M1 Air and upgrade both RAM and SSD.
@@brachiator1 Thank you...your response seems to be the most honest to someone whose on a budget/wants the best bang for your buck with my use or the typical user I think of the MBA. I agree, since I only have 10 days left to return my current macbook air 8GB/512 that its better to have 512gb storage over 16GB RAM in my situation than have to deal with the slow swap SSD with the new M2 with 256. I learned a lot from your suggestion. Definitely agree M1 Air with both upgraded ram and ssd is the best way to go...but I love the new design of the M2. Thank you.
Very informative. I wish the other youtubers that making so many videos about the M2 Air were making informative videos like this that actually help people make an informed buying choice. Knowing how well the M2 Air does in heavy workloads is important as there are alot of people that make very poor purchasing decisions. When I was in collage one of my fellow classmates bought a base model xps 13 for autocad. This is back when they were pushing those very power efficient intel U processors. Great for light tasks, but were not true work horse CPU's. Needless to say he ended up returning it and was very upset it could barely run programs we used in class. And this was after the professor told them they needed something more. Point being people need good informative videos to help them avoid this kind of scenario.
As for me I have not put my M2 Air through it's paces yet. Still installing programs and getting it ready. Though I'm loving the keyboard and light weight. This is definitely a great machine for anyone that needs something light and loves to type.
Thanks!
Great info on the M2! Also the way you asked for the like and subscribe in the b-roll is genius, loved that. I hate creators doing an over-the-top ask, yours was perfect!
Haha thanks Michael , I appreciate that :)
Just put this on! Hope you're having a good day 💻
Regarding RAM I did what you said and used the internal monitor this morning. When making music I never get as high as 8GB so my 16GB model wasn't really needed. But as my projects get bigger it may help!
What is noticeable is the M1 Processor panicking briefly because making beats/video editing is processor heavy...
MEANING YOU ARE ALWAYS RIGHT 😂😭
M1 Pro or M1 Max will be my next processor, or I'll wait a couple more years and get the M2 'Pro' variant when it's out.
I am in love with the M2 Air it looks sick man! To be honest an M2 Air might even perform better. I'll go to Köln (Cologne) next week and ask to time machine my settings and make some music in store.
Another great video. Looking forward to the next 💪🏽
Ha! Thanks for sharing this dude !
I plan to use M2 Air for Excel (maybe 5 heavy files opened) and Google Chrome for browsing and researching (maybe 20 tabs opened). Sorry for the dumb question, but can a base model handle that? Thanks! Love your content, sleek and straight to the point, it's just that I'm not really a tech-savvy. 😅
After checking Art is right, your channel and a few others, I finally just ordered a very good second hand Air m2 16/256. Instead of a Pro m1. I couldn't justify the 1500€ for a second hand M1 Pro 14", and got that machine for 1050€. I do dabble in GarageBand and iMovie for audio and clips, and hope to move to LogicPro after the air arrives. I think with some external ssds for data it should handle well enough the tasks I'll ask from it for some time.
Art is right is an excellent channel!
For $1900 you can get an M2 Macbook Air with 16gb RAM and 1tb SSD. The same specs on a 14" M2 pro will run you $2500 - the difference being 4 extra CPU cores and the M2 Pro chip.
Nice cool intonation and volume. Some reviewers tend to be "loud". Keep it up !
Thanks!
Use case is important, basically:
You use your Air for productivity: 16gb ram
You use your Air for content consumption: 512gb storage
Pretty much.
this is THE review we've all been waiting for - thanks Patrick, lifesaver!
Thanks, Tom!
I just love your soft voice with very not too pushy demeanor like most youtubers do nowadays!
Thank you :)
Am a first time Mac user , and I got a good deal in apple refurbished MBA16gb 256 M2=1019$ but due to the storage slow anxiety I choose 16gb 512 M2=1189 which is bit higher than my budget , do u think the 10cGPU & 512gb is worth the 170$ than my budget ? my usage is office & personal browsing , videos , movie, office works , VM , Remote Desktop, may be video editing in future. I currently use 15" 8gb 512gb M2 and I don't see any issue in my daily ... but this 256gb anxiety kills me. do u think the 16gb 256 performs better in these..?
I haven't seen anyone getting upset that it doesn't compare to any MacBook Pro models. The things I've seen that RIGHTLY make complaints are that it's just slower for a lot of work than the base M1 MBA, which is $200 cheaper.
Thank you so much, man. Out of the hundreds of videos about helping me choose what type of macbook to buy, yours gave me the most clarity. Really appreciate it! Subscribing from now on.
Appreciate it!
I have the 8gb / 512 and have had no issues. Get a MacBook Pro 14 or 16 for heavy duty tasks!
All this info is available on other channels without Patrick's clarity and lack of hype. I wish I found this before I bought my MBA w/ 16GB RAM. I would have saved me a lot of time. I bought Ram for future proofing. I got 10 years out of my last MBP... I'm hoping to do better this time.
Thanks Fred! Are you unhappy with the 16GB? What would you have picked instead?
Im not a heavy user, I dont use lightroom, photoshop or cinema tools. IM A COLLEGE student. Moslty excel and few other engineering related softwares. I think future proofing it with 16gb ram will be good. Wont macbook slow down in the future with multiple software updates ??
I okay with the fact for using an external ssd which I can buy for halp thr price.
Looking into getting this macbook. Will update the RAM, but is 256gb enough for me to store a decent amount of files without my computer notifying me I'm running out of storage after a year of updates? My last macbook (128 gb) started giving me these problems pretty early on and I want this computer to run smoothly for at least 5 years
you're so patient and serene you're like a tech Buddha. I love the way you speak. I'd love it if you could help me out - I'm finally upgrading my computer after ten years (a mid-2012 MacBook Pro). It makes me uneasy that the most recent MacBooks no longer allow you to upgrade RAM or storage over time, because that's what let me keep mine for as long as I have. Now I wanna invest in a machine that's gonna last me another 10 years, you know? Here's the thing, I'm lawyer and my work is mostly office stuff and heavy research (lots of tabs and windows and apps open simultaneously), so I know the M2 air would serve me fine for this. But there's something else making me doubt: I'm not a gamer exactly, but I do play one game - the sims. All expansions, all game packs, custom content and mods, the full stuff. I don't play very often because of work, but every now and again if I have time off I'll go on a gaming spree and play 18h a day for like two weeks. I don't know how much you know about it, but in that case, would the m2 still serve me well? Would there be thermal throttling during gaming, would I miss the fans? Would the 16gb of RAM suffice as upgrade or should I just go for the M1 pro already?
I'm honestly leaning towards the M2 air with 16gb RAM because of portability and design (I'm all day out and about with the computer in my bag, plus lots of papers). But would it handle my occasional gaming fine? That's a detail that could make me go for the 14'' pro. Pretty please help me out!
Hey thanks for the kind words. Without knowing the full requirements for the Sims, prolonged gaming sessions can definitely make the fanless M2 heat up. When it comes to performance doubts, I always point people in the direction of the pro. Still plenty portable but a lot more powerful.
Patrick, thank you for posting such fun, informative videos!🙏
Quick quest.: I want to take advantage of the current back-to-school deal on the 13” MacBook Air M3 w/8-core 8GB RAM. Would 8GB of RAM be enough for downloading the occasional torrent? Thank you in advance and please keep up the good work!
If you choose storage, you won’t be able to upgrade the RAM later, if you choose ram, you can still use external drives to store more files and programs so I think more RAM makes more sense.
That’s the correct global answer in most of the situations. But this particular case M2 has a slower SSD drive compared to M1 by half. Because they are using one 256gb chip instead of 2 128gb. The only solution to by pass this is to get the 512 option (it has 2 chips). So in the M2 particular case storage is more important. Beside transfer speeds swap files will dent the performance experience on the base 256gb model
is it good to do 16gb ram and 512gb ssd?
Man! These last vids just knocked it put the park!
Thanks for addressing the concerns of a large majority of users. You’ve got a new fan right here!
Thanks Kevin, I appreciate the kind words!
What is better for music production? (8gb+512 or 16gb+256)???
Glad you also shared the ArtIsRight channel as they did run some very extensive tests. I just got my MBAM1 8/512 yesterday and I'm super happy! I'm the type to hoard files vs multitask and I'm pretty happy with my decision.
🙌
Love this review! You’re so kind on how you give your recommendations!
Thank you :)
Hey Patrick. I’m about to buy a M2 MBA 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD. I’m only going to be using this machine for iOS and Android development. Would this be a suitable choice or do you recommend upgrading the ram?
My biggest problem with the argument that the M2 Air is not meant for “Pro” workflows is they are forgetting about what happened when the M1 hit the scene. When the M1 MacBook Air came out people were comparing it to an Intel i9 16” MacBook Pro and in some benchmarks the M1 Air gave the Intel machine a run for its money - even when comparing the base model M1 Air to an 8 core Intel i9 CPU. Even though the M1 Air lagged a little behind the 16” Intel MacBook Pro it was good enough to do “pro” workflows such as Final Cut and Logic. Hardly anyone was complaining that the M1 Air couldn’t keep up with performing processor intensive tasks. To this day the single core performance of the M1 Air is unmatched by any Intel CPUs. I’ve been using Final Cut Pro for about a month now on my 1 TB / 16 GB M1 Air and the thing runs great. I have yet to feel affected by slowdown. But when the M2 MacBook Air came out everyone has to put out the disclaimer that a M2 MBA should not be used for Pro apps. I call hogwash. If my 2 1/2 year old M1 MacBook Air can handle Pro tasks, then its successor in the form of a M2 model should have no problem executing the exact same things. It really rubs me the wrong way that people have such a short term memory when it comes to comparing the M1 to the M2 MacBook Air and if a 2 1/2 year old M1 MBA old can do things a M2 MacBook Air cannot, something is wrong when Apple designed the M2 processor and further crippling it with a slower SSD.
PS, I'm not upset with you Patrick. It upsets me when the community has such a short memory when it comes to the claiming that the M2 MacBook Air is not meant for pro applications while they forget how capable the M1 is in comparison.
Thank you
Do not want to be bothering you too much but would a used MBP 14 inch from 2021 be an upgrade in terms of performance from my MBA M2 base model? Thanks
finally the best video of it's kind! Thank you!!
In every review that I see about the MacBook Air, they always say that if you upgrade RAM and SSD, you should buy the MacBook Pro, and I couldn't disagree more.
The MacBook Air with 16gb ram and 512ssd is perfect for me since the weight and size of the Pro are just too much for what I want. MacBook Air 16gb and 512ssd perfect for me!
I really need your advice am buying MacBook air just because i have problems with the storage in my iphone 11
I need to used to store all my photos videios so that am very to make more content with the iphone
I may use it for editing,but i do that on my i phone anyway
So is 256gb of storage would be enough and if not could i buy an external storage with the base model??
I ordered 8/512 M2 Air model. Doing web-browsing, word document, mailing and watching some youtube. I do open a lot of tabs tho, easily 50-60 can hang in the browser. Decided to go with 512gb because dont like to carry external drives with me + with updates the OS will require more disk space, so I will have to decide what to keep and what to delete in order to free space. Also swap memory takes a chunk of storage from SSD. Is the train of thought seem logical? Hope that the choice was good enough)
would you recommend me getting a Refurbished 13-inch MacBook Air Apple M2 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 10‑Core GPU with 16GB and 1TB SSD for $1,549.00
Would I need 16gb for music production or will 8gb be sufficient?
Lots of layers require a bit more RAM.
It's got to be the RAM. Cloud storage and plug-in drives can answer the storage problems. But I will tell you why you should upgrade the memory - Running Windows with Parallels. I need to use Windows for many of my accounting problems that often don't exist on MacOS. Do I need a chunky Pro to do that? No.
In case of the M2 air it's not that straightforward. The lower storage model runs on a single NAND chip, making memory swaps a painful affair. If it was simply a matter of storage, I'd agree with you and attaching some external SSDs would be the way to go.
Is it good enough for software development?
Very intelligent and honest man. Always listen to your advice. Thank you
Thanks man 🤝
@@PatrickRambles I have just purchased the base model today for my daughter’s Christmas present. I was shitting myself thinking Iv bought the wrong Mac for her. I have been debating calling and cancelling the order all afternoon. But after watching your video it has settled me right down. It’s more than enough for her needs. Thanks bro 👊
@RoadmanRob8 she'll love it 💪
If my use is basic internet surfing, movies, reading emails
Is it better to upgrade the ossd RAM memory?
Excellent video
I ran out of ram yesterday on my macbook pro retina 2015 8gb ram for first time ever! understand it all now it was slowing up. so glad opted for the 16gb ram macbook air m2 and 256gb ssd. Thanks so much for your help 😊
Thanks for sharing 🤝
Thank you very much for taking the time and effort to make the video Patrick awesome work! 😊
I've just used my new macbook air with those specs. Wow I was so surprised how much ram that was used up. There was Web tabs open, music, apple TV. They were not labour intensive ones either. At one point the ram use was 12gb! It has not got to swap once. Now if I had chosen the 8gb ram I would have been in swap and laptop slowing. So definately was the right choice. I've installed most of the apps I want at the moment and still have 201 gb ssd spare! Tks soo much again! So pleased with it 😊
if you need 16GB you are likely doing tasks that would benefit from just getting the pro
Super helpful, Patrick! Liked & subscribed :)
Please make a video comparing MacBook Air m3 with 16 gb ram 256gb storage to MacBook Air m2 16 gb ram 512 gb storage. Because in this configuration the price is almost same. Which one should I go for.???
So helpful. Thanks. Ramble on!!!
🙏
Nailed it. Kudos!!!
Thanks!
I’ll only use the m2 for browsing and youtube, netflix basicaly for entertainment so i don’t think i need an upgrade tbh but since i want the laptop to last me maybe up to 5-6 years? then do you think i need an upgrade?
I am a student, what should i go for 16/256 or 8/512? I will used for occasional video editing.. and should i get 8 core or 10 core?.. please reply..
serious question,
How does the macbook air 13 inch 16gb 256ssd 2022 m2 compare to Micrsoft surface 2017 16gb ram 500gb ssd??
Should i switch??
@PatrickRambles, I have purchased today M2 Air Base model from Authorised Apple Seller here in Mumbai, India. I ve checked for 16 GB but the store guy told me that it has be customised online and only base model is available at store. So I purchased M2 8/256 version starlight colour. When I got the MBA in my hand, the store guy unboxed it and opened the lid but to my surprise it didnt start until we plugged in to circuit. We checked the battery health which was 100%. But this is the first time the Mac product didnt start after opening the lid. Is it normal or any issue with the hardware? The battery was charging well when plugged in but any idea why such thing must have happened? May there be any battery issue? The date of manufacture is September 2023. Will appreciate your feedback.
Does it start when you open the lid now? Assuming it was brand new in the box, it needs to be turned on first, so opening the lid in the store wouldn't turn the Macbook on. However, if you still need to be plugged in for it to work now, it's definitely not normal and you may have a faulty unit.
Well passive cooling one of key features of macbook air, no worries about the dust etc, so it can be safely used I'm trips, or in a bed on daily bases. So upgradint macboom air maikes sense of course, because the usage is a bit different, battery life is wayyy better compared to mbp as well
What would be the best for college students???
valid points well taken; thanks indeed : )
Thanks!
Very informative and clear, thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!