I'm surprised that many RUclipsrs have either ignored or downplayed this issue. Thank you for not being one of them. Having a M1 Air, the SSD speed is extremely important. I noticed this immediately when, after opening up a few apps, the 8GB started limiting at around 7GB and the swap usage became increasingly larger but the performance did not slow down! This meant the SSD speed was fast enough to substitute for RAM without appreciable cost. If the SSD has half the speed then going from base M1 to base M2 will not be an upgrade but a downgrade in performance. Potential purchasers should know this!
@@morten1 no they are not but many of them has unlike MaxTech who bought multiple configurations received an upgrade model with a bigger SSD and often more memories. The thus did not have the opportunity to do the extensive testing Max and His brother does on their channel. Apple does not need to sponsor RUclipsr and RUclipsrs does call them out when they are ‘forgetting’ to tell the negative consequences of their decisions.
Will the MacBook Air 2 be a decent upgrade from an early MacBook Air (2020) with a intel chip in it? Is it better to go the route of M1 air or the M2 air if I’m willing to dish out just a little extra bit of money.
How many of those RUclipsrs that are downplaying the issue or ignoring it all together get early test models of Apple products to review? I would say just about all of them
Agreed. They intentionally deceived their customers into thinking they got something better and faster than M1 when they did not. Most consumers will just be getting the baseline model and not upgrading the storage or RAM
@@michael_dugan as a person getting the m2. Kinda disappointed that they didn't let their customers know beforehand. But at the end of the day i'm gonna be using an external ssd anyway so it doesn't bother me too much.
@@karlcompuesto4682 it’s for the clicks. If the m2 air stayed at 999. I would say it’s a game changer but it being $200 more it’s not a no brainer recommendation anymore
I can say from experience: I purchased a base M2 air yesterday, opened 20+ tabs, Photoshop, Blender, Figma, XD, and basically any other app I could open...the M2 in my experience did not lag at all. I was surprised. It was using a lot of swap, but no lag. Now, for video editing it could be a different story, but I truly think for most users the 256gb will be lightning fast even with a ton of apps and tabs open.
@@truthwarrior1358 I agree. My testing is limited, but promising, at least for me. I bought the base M2 air thinking I’d return it, but its been perfect even for heavy design tasks. Doesnt even get warm at all. I didnt want to upgrade the specs at all since I think it defeats the purpose, it puts it in the 14” pro territory. And lets not fool ourselves, the 14” is very portable and not that much heavier…very happy with the M2 base personally, but I also can understand why others might upgrade the specs, but to me, just go for the 14” pro in that case.
@@samiliorian990 Glad that its working, so far, for you. I need a heavy performing laptop…I do video/photo editing all day long, lots of multitasking & numerous programs at once ….I need a larger screen than 14, so I think I will just get the 16” M1 MBP 16GB/1TB…hopefully that will work for me 🙃
Dont lie to yourself:D I mean yes base model is still fast obviously, but getting 512ssd would be better move nevertheless. Might seem like a hassle you (returning, than buying again, backup etc.). You mac is underperforming now and more nand chips are always welcome
I’d like to see how a 16/256 compares to a 8/512 model. Wonder which would perform better for most users. I’m guessing that the 512 storage would be more bang for the buck as you get the extra storage and faster swap even if not always faster than the model with more RAM.
THIS is the test everyone should be doing - as it would save money for the user and does it possibly work better? - hope someone sees this and performed this exact testing. 16/256 vs 8/512
People have tested the 8/512 Pro against the 8/256 Pro which is essentially the same computer as the Air and the 8/512 destroys the 8/256 due to having the extra nand chip. People have also tested 16/512 against 8/256 and that just trounces the baseline model. If I was advising someone I would say if you plan on doing any heavy workloads get the 16/512 model
I still have to receive my M2 MBA 8core-16gb-256gb combo that’s why I’m watching. I’m a photographer and I’ve owned laptops pre-SSDs. I configure my devices with high RAM or memory for speed and never consider on-board storage as a variable. But I know no storage is infinite that can’t be filled up over time. This is the reason why external HD and SSDs come to play.
It’ll help with application performance as more gets stored in memory than to the SSD directly (swap), but to the extent that you’ll be reading from your SSD ina given application, you’ll still see slower read/writes which may make the app feel slow at times.
Of course you'd have less swapping with the same memory foot print. But once you reached the memory limits, you'd be right back in the same issue. I can fill up 16gb of memory fast, but you might not have that same problem.
This is the video everyone was waiting for Now ppl can make their final choice MBA M1 vs M2 For me it’s gonna be the base model M1 It will get the job done for me (photo editing and minor video editing) Thanks for the videos
@@justinzandee it will handle them a lot better than my 2013 27” iMac lol Based on the countless reviews I’ve seen it is a very capable computer and can’t argue it’s price point
If what you’re worried is the SSD speed, the m2 comes with a media engine so editing videos and photos will be much more efficient than the m1, even with “slower” read speeds
The MacBook Air M2 has a glowing review and I call it the laptop for most people! However, I've heard people mention the speed throttling because of the fanless design and remarked the MacBook M1 Pro can still run circles around the MacBook Air M2, calling the fanless design a "bottleneck" for truly resource-intensive tasks, but most people aren’t likely to encounter that day-to-day. But the new MacBook Air M2 looks elegant in the new midnight color (in my honest opinion) but be warned that thermal throttling can slow the computer during more intense workloads.
3:38 in my opinion having a slow SSD translate to slow computer overall, even when you browse the internet, the computer writes something on the SSD, launching a program for example also translate to writing data on the SSD. Apple really trashed their new Macbook Air lineup. it could have been a HUGE, HUGE success if they just decided to use dual SSD even on the 256 GB Models.
its not a slow ssd, its the same ssd. M1 has two 128gb ssd and they can be read and written to in parallel. This is like a RAID 0 configuration. Most likely, the cost of nand chips went up due to huge demand and Apple decided to go with single chip as it wouldn't be expensive.
Thank you for making this video and bringing this issue to light. Very helpful for those of us weighing between a refurb M1 base and M2 base Air in terms of value and performance. If I won an Apple Gift card I would use it to buy a MacBook to make compilation videos for my kids of their best moments growing up. I would give it to them when they got older.
that is actually a very good point at the end: should I upgrade to 16GB of ram so swap memory isn't used as much, or should I go for a 512GB SSD for faster swap?
No. Apple did this precisely for someone like u 2 go for the 14in Mac Pro. Your use case or consern and pocketbook makes the decision 4 u as Apple marketing designed it that way. Just worry about the color and accessories - as their new products are tierred so that u don't have to customize specs like this 👍🏾
get the 16gb and 512gb M2 Air. But if you do that, you might as well buy the M1 Pro 14 inch since the price of the two are almost the same. But, the M1 Pro is way better than the M2
The problem is Apple users still buy a product that's clearly having issues. We buyers should use our purchase power not to buy 'troubled' Apple product. Skip the upgrade, don't just blindly buy anything Apple made.
Apple price gouging is insane with storage prices. Charging $200 to go from 256gb is 512gb SSD and another $200 to go from 8gb to 16gb RAM is just pure greed.
Lmao maybe you live in an alternate universe, but it's very rare for a phone to come with 256gb by default. Even amongst flagships, the default is almost always 128gb, not 256gb. I get that you're trying to make a point, but simply spreading lies isn't going to make you look good when you get called out like this.
@@beastinfection638 In some regions like South Korea, Samsung's flagships have come with 256G by default for a few years, I wish more companies followed suit.
I mean, I definitely have at least 5-7 chrome tabs open and 3 applications in which I work. It turns out that it makes no sense to take the base model M2 and overpay foe design, and if you add a few options, it's better to take 14 M1 PRO. Damn Apple smartass.
If 128GB module were unavailable, Apple could have just used two 256GB modules on the base model. What, they have increased the price like 200 dollars; how much would the flash chips cost more, probably just a few dollars. So, they thought it was better to save a few dollars than going through this flashgate shenanigans. Tells a lot about Apple.
Yeah, 256GB on a laptop is criminal in 2022. If Apple truly wanted to make a great product, they would start the SSD sizes at 512GB and absorb the extra cost (like $15) into their profit margin.
They are making sure there is a diff between base model here and the older version. This makes the decision easier for buyers as there will be something for everyone...including those who fault the m1 air for not being bright enough, bad camera but just want to browse and using google sheets.
Always love your video bro! I bought a M1 MBA because of you and i love it! Fast CPU, great speaker, comfort keyboard, big battery, perfect for mobility. Specially for a student like me who wants to work and study at anywhere. 💪
So we have some options here. Either pay $1400 (plus tax) for a 16/256GB or a 8/512 M2, or bump up to 1600+ for a 16/512. I would say at this price there are so many other alternatives from the Windows world that could evenly match and even beat the MBA. My own due diligent is: either you spend more to buy the best one if possible, or spend the least for the most value. That's why an M1 (definitely open box or refurbished, not at $1k) is still my best option atm. Will wait until the M3 or M4 with 4nm chip rolls out, because if I chose new design & better Oled screen, I would have gone with a Windows alternative. I'm just realistic, not Apple fan boy (although I bought everything they released last year - M1 air, pro, iphone 12, ipad air, airpods 3)
The M2 MBA still has an LCD display, if I get what you mean. Now going with the M1 and upgrade when M3/M4 get released is a choice I didn’t think about, I’ve been wanting to pick an upgraded M2 for a while. How about a 16/512 M1 Air?
@@sayrandriantsoa oh I know it does not have Oled, just say if I wanted an Oled I would have gone with Windows (like Asus or Dell). Actually jumping up to 16/512 M1 air at this time point is not a good choice to be honest. The reason why I took the M1 air was because I found a good deal around $750 for an open box - 1 cycle charge one. If you could find st like what you mentioned at $1100 to $1200 max then it would be a great deal, but if buying new from Apple then nope, go for the M2. :)
Starting my new job on Monday and have always been an apple fan but unfortunately can not afford it at the moment. Would forever be indebted to you if I win the laptop and would love to slowly pay you back! Would be a massive help instead of always carrying around a pen and notepad!
I'd go the gift card, because I already have the MacBook Air. Kind of want a shiny new iPad, because I have a 7th gen iPad from 2019. I'm feeling the upgrade pinch, while my girlfriend's iPad Pro bought the same year is fine.
@@MrEffu The inventory of M1s is not infinite, at some point they have to be remanufactured so they would be affected by the nand supply problem. Assuming it is a chip supply problem.
That’s assuming Apple is not producing the m1 computers now with the same restriction. If they have 128gb ssd’s laying around why would they put them in m1 instead of m2? Food for thought
I recently bought a MBAm1 with 16gb and 512gb configuration and i wonder if the ssd problem is only with the base version like it happens with the MBPm2
I think when a company brings out a new product like this they put more into it in the first year to gain market acceptance. Then, in the second generation they will find ways to adjust for profit and hope no one notices. I think it's a lot like shrinkflation, where price increases are accomplished through delivering less product.
Thank you for this video, it clarifies everything. Before I got the M1 MacBook Air, there was a lot of noise regarding the SSD Swap issue, however I went ahead and bought it after your video on the issue, never been happier. Keep up the good work!
I think apple made the m1 much more powerful than even they anticipated. That messed up their M2 upgrade path. This is a path correction that will make sense again with M3.
@@plasticdope my 2020 8/8 MacBook Air 16GB ram and 512SSD is the single best laptop purchase I've ever made. It's 2 years old and trades blows with the m2. So it's still highly relevant even through the m2's lifecycle.
@@AvocadoAtrocity I have almost the same device specs and I was just saying the same earlier today. I’ve never been more happy with a laptop than I am with this one.
I just got a new Mac yesterday. I have been holding out as a software developer with my MBP13 2018. I was seriously considering the MBA, and gave no thought to the M2 MBP13 (which should not exist). Once you upgrade the storage of the MBA which also fixes the storage speed problem, and the RAM to something usable you are just too close to the MBP14 price. So I just got a MBP14.
I’m glad you really get in there and tell it like it is… I’ve seen other videos where they really gloss over anything remotely negative and just put the M2 on a high pedestal and creating FOMO. I like that this video allows us to make informed decisions.
I preordered the Air with 512SSD and 16GB. I was eager to get one since I have a speced out M1 iMac and have been super impressed with it. However when I ordered my Air I had no idea about the ssd issue with the 256GB model. Good thing I always get at least 512SSD and 16GB on my macs by default but a majority of consumers are just going to get the baseline model and expect it to be better. Apple really needs to disclose this issue on their website. They market the M2 as a being far superior to the M1 when in reality in order to see that better performance you have to upgrade the ssd and you really should be upgrading the RAM too. This was a big miss by Apple and is arguably unethical
Macbook has been really a dream-item to me for a long time... If I have chance to win the 1000$ giftcard, definitely I will pay a bit more to try the 16gb Ram/225gb air M2. Hope the write/read speed will not be the problem to me.
It is what it is. For those who don't want a drop in SSD speeds, they will spend $1,399 to upgrade to the 512GB. I think the smart spend is to spec up the M1 MBA with both 16GB of RAM and 512GB for the same price if you need thin and light performance. I would skip the M2 MBA entirely and jump to the 14" instead if I want a speed bump from the M1 MBA.
This shows tht Apple cares about profit first and then their customers… Apple just want FORCE everyone to spend $200 to get a faster ssd… People defending Apples decision confuses me like fr🤦🏽♂️
I agree. The MBP 14 continues to look like a worthy upgrade for folks who can spend a couple hundred more. Performance, ports and display are all superior. But it's still more $$$.
@@timstafford6815 in my country Macbook pro 14” has the same price as MBA M2 16/256. There is no reason to buy this greedy MBA M2 except the weight and thickness.
First and for most, I would be thrilled to have either. I currently have a mac book pro (2011) that was given to me two years ago by a friend since my mac book 2011 was useless. When fully charged, my mac book pro 2011 works for 1 hour before it dies. I am unable to download certain apps; making it a challenge for school use. I would use the apple device primarily as my school computer but also to edit photos and videos in my free time. It would be a dream to own a new apple computer that can keep up with my needs of being a student!
I'd edit some backlogs with the (hopefully) M1 Air, so this giveaway is just awesome! The M1 Macbook Air is still relevant today despite the M2 release.
the SSD speed will not affect the daily consumer that much but it's still a bummer as apple's base m2 MacBook has a price increase compared to the m1 MacBook air which is 2 years old.
I just impulse bought the base model MBA M2 from Costco because it was on sale for $999. It worked fine, and I’m sure it would have been decent for my usage, but after reviewing many videos and articles, I decided to exchange it for an upgraded version. What I really wanted was 8c/8g/256g, but somehow the prepackaged models they sell at Costco and other big box stores like Best Buy don’t have upgradable RAM! If I wanted that configuration, I would have to pay full price! So I ended up settling for the prepackaged 10c/8g/512g model for $1,299. Yes, that $300 seems like a substantial bit more, but with the improvement in the SSD, plus more space to boot, it should hopefully last much longer. There’s also debate on whether the 10 core GPU makes any difference whatsoever, but I figured it was worth a shot.
you mention to copy a large file on external SSD is aslower but you dont show the test resulst at all. There is a dude that show that is actually faster in real world. can you show the test? thanks
I was already pissed with the situation that only the biggest storage options get the mac speed, so 2TB minimum for the 14". But this thing now is NOT OK.
I think if you’re going to be running it hard you’ll need 16gb but apparently you’ll avoid the alleged throttling with 512gb ssd. Honestly I’ve been looking at the 14” pro because of feeling required to upgrade the M2.
The reality is that..as many of us were using external ssds instead of upgrading through apple..they deliberately included a problem with the base ssd..so people would need to jump up to 512
Coming from a brand like Apple, such behavior is unacceptable. Not only the M2 is more expensive than previous generation, but base model performs worse, and yes it does affect overall performance contrary to what Apple wants you to believe. I’m a huge fan, but such behavior is really really disappointing.
Thank you for the excellent info. I found your channel a few days ago and have been binge watching the vids as I am in the market for a new Mac- our family iMac is on its last legs so looking at MacBook Air purchase. Thanks again, I look forward t your new content. 😊
I just ordered the Macbook Air M2, 16GB RAM, 256 GB Storage. I think people are making a big deal of the storage speed. Most people will not notice a difference.
Having MacBook Air would be a great for a person who is really need to have one for something such as video edition, school or for a student. Wish you all the best. May all being be happy and safe. Keep your finger crossed.🤞
Shame on Apple, I love their computers, their ecosystem, and the iPhone, but this is really REALLY disappointing. I hope authorities around the globe charge to solve this problem for consumer safety. This is just not fair. Jobs, we really REALLY do miss you.
@Telephone Backgrounds On a Clear Day well it’s not new to know that jobs was not an Angel, but despite his mood swings and mistakes he had another take on the company, I’m sure of it
Now nobody will believe that any new Apple device is better than the old one without thorough research. Nobody, any, and for several years. Damage that cannot be undone.
I have the base model and consider my self an average user. At any one time I have about 10 Safari tabs open, Numbers, Mail, Calendar, Messages and can run WoW at medium settings, all without the laptop getting more than moderately warm. If you are a power user, don't by this laptop, otherwise it will be fine for you. I love it!
Thank you for pointing out this issue, I was ready to upgrade my laptop to an M2 apple air but I don’t think I will anymore… i got an iphone 13 and an ipad air 4th generation, which I am delighted with, but what apple does to cut costs or for some other reasons is deeply disappointing.
Wonder why Apple was never upfront with this? Did they think people wouldn't test and discover this? As for the giveaway, I'd take the gift card and put it toward an iPhone 14.
Since the 512gb ssd seems to mitigate the problem. So rather than going for the upgraded model, if you upgrade the base model to 512 it would perform the same maybe?
I personally am not tech savvy but for improvements to technology I hate seeing all that mother board... I want it to one day be small as the iPhone or Apple Watch and have ultimately be mainly battery and speakers... I bet that's going to happen in another 6-8 years.
I found your channel quite recntly and fell in love with your sense of aesthetics. Also, the 200k is around the corner- just keep coming with such quality content. Lastly, yes, I would love an M1 MacBook Air. Excited for the giveaway. Good luck everyone.
It is interesting that the “ RUclipsrs “ received upgraded models for review videos.
(2:01)
I'm surprised that many RUclipsrs have either ignored or downplayed this issue. Thank you for not being one of them.
Having a M1 Air, the SSD speed is extremely important. I noticed this immediately when, after opening up a few apps, the 8GB started limiting at around 7GB and the swap usage became increasingly larger but the performance did not slow down! This meant the SSD speed was fast enough to substitute for RAM without appreciable cost.
If the SSD has half the speed then going from base M1 to base M2 will not be an upgrade but a downgrade in performance. Potential purchasers should know this!
Yeah,Everyday Dad only knows how to shill apple product.
Many of them are sponsored by Apple or want to be friends with Apple
@@morten1 no they are not but many of them has unlike MaxTech who bought multiple configurations received an upgrade model with a bigger SSD and often more memories. The thus did not have the opportunity to do the extensive testing Max and His brother does on their channel. Apple does not need to sponsor RUclipsr and RUclipsrs does call them out when they are ‘forgetting’ to tell the negative consequences of their decisions.
Will the MacBook Air 2 be a decent upgrade from an early MacBook Air (2020) with a intel chip in it? Is it better to go the route of M1 air or the M2 air if I’m willing to dish out just a little extra bit of money.
How many of those RUclipsrs that are downplaying the issue or ignoring it all together get early test models of Apple products to review? I would say just about all of them
I think Apple should informed customers that the base model are slower.
Agreed. They intentionally deceived their customers into thinking they got something better and faster than M1 when they did not. Most consumers will just be getting the baseline model and not upgrading the storage or RAM
They stopped being a great, innovative company awhile ago. They knew they were slowing down older iPhones when the new ones came out.
@@michael_dugan as a person getting the m2. Kinda disappointed that they didn't let their customers know beforehand. But at the end of the day i'm gonna be using an external ssd anyway so it doesn't bother me too much.
Yet some of them despite knowing the situation still labels the M2 air as a game changer 😂
@@karlcompuesto4682 it’s for the clicks. If the m2 air stayed at 999. I would say it’s a game changer but it being $200 more it’s not a no brainer recommendation anymore
I can say from experience: I purchased a base M2 air yesterday, opened 20+ tabs, Photoshop, Blender, Figma, XD, and basically any other app I could open...the M2 in my experience did not lag at all. I was surprised. It was using a lot of swap, but no lag. Now, for video editing it could be a different story, but I truly think for most users the 256gb will be lightning fast even with a ton of apps and tabs open.
But try using this laptop all day long for work, 8hrs a day, 5 days a week….i wonder how well it will perform? 🤨
@@truthwarrior1358 I agree. My testing is limited, but promising, at least for me. I bought the base M2 air thinking I’d return it, but its been perfect even for heavy design tasks. Doesnt even get warm at all. I didnt want to upgrade the specs at all since I think it defeats the purpose, it puts it in the 14” pro territory. And lets not fool ourselves, the 14” is very portable and not that much heavier…very happy with the M2 base personally, but I also can understand why others might upgrade the specs, but to me, just go for the 14” pro in that case.
@@samiliorian990 Glad that its working, so far, for you. I need a heavy performing laptop…I do video/photo editing all day long, lots of multitasking & numerous programs at once ….I need a larger screen than 14, so I think I will just get the 16” M1 MBP 16GB/1TB…hopefully that will work for me 🙃
@@truthwarrior1358 16” Macbook Pro is one laptop you absolutely cannot go wrong with!
Dont lie to yourself:D I mean yes base model is still fast obviously, but getting 512ssd would be better move nevertheless. Might seem like a hassle you (returning, than buying again, backup etc.). You mac is underperforming now and more nand chips are always welcome
I’d like to see how a 16/256 compares to a 8/512 model. Wonder which would perform better for most users. I’m guessing that the 512 storage would be more bang for the buck as you get the extra storage and faster swap even if not always faster than the model with more RAM.
THIS is the test everyone should be doing - as it would save money for the user and does it possibly work better? - hope someone sees this and performed this exact testing. 16/256 vs 8/512
People have tested the 8/512 Pro against the 8/256 Pro which is essentially the same computer as the Air and the 8/512 destroys the 8/256 due to having the extra nand chip. People have also tested 16/512 against 8/256 and that just trounces the baseline model. If I was advising someone I would say if you plan on doing any heavy workloads get the 16/512 model
Apparently that’s the model to get if you want to do actual work in
what do you mean with 16/256 and 8/512 ?
@@alb.1911
[16GB ram and 256GB ssd] vs [8GB ram and 512GB ssd]
I’m curious about this as well that which works better cuz it will save our budgets.
I still have to receive my M2 MBA 8core-16gb-256gb combo that’s why I’m watching. I’m a photographer and I’ve owned laptops pre-SSDs. I configure my devices with high RAM or memory for speed and never consider on-board storage as a variable. But I know no storage is infinite that can’t be filled up over time. This is the reason why external HD and SSDs come to play.
How was your experience with m2 16/256 model? Ssd health?
Wondering how the 16GB Ram with 256GB SSD performs.
The ssd speed probably won’t change but if you got 512 gb with 16 gb of ram, it’s very noticeably faster
If you look at the 14” pro tests of 16/256 vs 8\512 then the ram increase delivers a bigger benefit than the ssd increase
@@JamesBS yes but the 14" had 2 nand chips in the base 256 model
It’ll help with application performance as more gets stored in memory than to the SSD directly (swap), but to the extent that you’ll be reading from your SSD ina given application, you’ll still see slower read/writes which may make the app feel slow at times.
Of course you'd have less swapping with the same memory foot print. But once you reached the memory limits, you'd be right back in the same issue. I can fill up 16gb of memory fast, but you might not have that same problem.
Thankyou very much . It would be very much appreciated if a side by side comparison is done for performance with 16/256 and 8/256 model
I ordered the 16/256 and hope it means I need to rely on swap memory far less often.
@@JamesBS I did the same thing, delivery first week of august
@@Anthony-cu9go Same for me
Same for me 😄
This is the comparison we need
This is the video everyone was waiting for
Now ppl can make their final choice
MBA M1 vs M2
For me it’s gonna be the base model M1
It will get the job done for me (photo editing and minor video editing)
Thanks for the videos
Do you believe the MBA M1 can handle photo editing really well?
@@justinzandee it is, i’m using a air m1 16/256. I used to use an air m1 base model too. They can handle everything.
@@justinzandee it will handle them a lot better than my 2013 27” iMac lol
Based on the countless reviews I’ve seen it is a very capable computer and can’t argue it’s price point
Yea i wanted a vid on MBA 1 and MBA 2 too now ig I'll be going on w MBA 512gb
If what you’re worried is the SSD speed, the m2 comes with a media engine so editing videos and photos will be much more efficient than the m1, even with “slower” read speeds
The MacBook Air M2 has a glowing review and I call it the laptop for most people! However, I've heard people mention the speed throttling because of the fanless design and remarked the MacBook M1 Pro can still run circles around the MacBook Air M2, calling the fanless design a "bottleneck" for truly resource-intensive tasks, but most people aren’t likely to encounter that day-to-day. But the new MacBook Air M2 looks elegant in the new midnight color (in my honest opinion) but be warned that thermal throttling can slow the computer during more intense workloads.
3:38 in my opinion having a slow SSD translate to slow computer overall, even when you browse the internet, the computer writes something on the SSD, launching a program for example also translate to writing data on the SSD.
Apple really trashed their new Macbook Air lineup. it could have been a HUGE, HUGE success if they just decided to use dual SSD even on the 256 GB Models.
What if they start putting slower SSDs in new M1 models?
its not a slow ssd, its the same ssd. M1 has two 128gb ssd and they can be read and written to in parallel. This is like a RAID 0 configuration. Most likely, the cost of nand chips went up due to huge demand and Apple decided to go with single chip as it wouldn't be expensive.
@@mirasolovklose3888 It's the same chip but the 256 ver on this one is slower compared to the M1 .
Thank you for making this video and bringing this issue to light. Very helpful for those of us weighing between a refurb M1 base and M2 base Air in terms of value and performance.
If I won an Apple Gift card I would use it to buy a MacBook to make compilation videos for my kids of their best moments growing up. I would give it to them when they got older.
I just bought a refurbished M1 with 16GB and 1TB. It’s amazing and a great deal.
@@Pesto-64 was the battery depleted or was the battery replaced
@@Allwin-lz6yj probably replaced because when I checked cycle count it said 3
i just ordered one yesterday...
that is actually a very good point at the end: should I upgrade to 16GB of ram so swap memory isn't used as much, or should I go for a 512GB SSD for faster swap?
Answer is no. Buy a 14 inch pro at that point.
No. Apple did this precisely for someone like u 2 go for the 14in Mac Pro. Your use case or consern and pocketbook makes the decision 4 u as Apple marketing designed it that way. Just worry about the color and accessories - as their new products are tierred so that u don't have to customize specs like this 👍🏾
get the 16gb and 512gb M2 Air. But if you do that, you might as well buy the M1 Pro 14 inch since the price of the two are almost the same. But, the M1 Pro is way better than the M2
The problem is Apple users still buy a product that's clearly having issues. We buyers should use our purchase power not to buy 'troubled' Apple product. Skip the upgrade, don't just blindly buy anything Apple made.
that is the main issue here and that's the reason a rich company like apple is ripping off its customers
512GB should really be the baseline for laptops these days, especially when a lot of phones come with 256GB by default.
Apple price gouging is insane with storage prices. Charging $200 to go from 256gb is 512gb SSD and another $200 to go from 8gb to 16gb RAM is just pure greed.
@@your_alter_ego Their upgrade pricings are genuinely insulting lmao
Apple is making so great products while beeing such a disgusting company
Lmao maybe you live in an alternate universe, but it's very rare for a phone to come with 256gb by default. Even amongst flagships, the default is almost always 128gb, not 256gb. I get that you're trying to make a point, but simply spreading lies isn't going to make you look good when you get called out like this.
@@beastinfection638 In some regions like South Korea, Samsung's flagships have come with 256G by default for a few years, I wish more companies followed suit.
This is exactly the review we've all been waiting for. Thank you!
I mean, I definitely have at least 5-7 chrome tabs open and 3 applications in which I work.
It turns out that it makes no sense to take the base model M2 and overpay foe design, and if you add a few options, it's better to take 14 M1 PRO. Damn Apple smartass.
The M1 Pro is a great device and def worth getting if you need a fan.
If 128GB module were unavailable, Apple could have just used two 256GB modules on the base model. What, they have increased the price like 200 dollars; how much would the flash chips cost more, probably just a few dollars. So, they thought it was better to save a few dollars than going through this flashgate shenanigans. Tells a lot about Apple.
Yeah, 256GB on a laptop is criminal in 2022. If Apple truly wanted to make a great product, they would start the SSD sizes at 512GB and absorb the extra cost (like $15) into their profit margin.
They are making sure there is a diff between base model here and the older version. This makes the decision easier for buyers as there will be something for everyone...including those who fault the m1 air for not being bright enough, bad camera but just want to browse and using google sheets.
Always love your video bro! I bought a M1 MBA because of you and i love it! Fast CPU, great speaker, comfort keyboard, big battery, perfect for mobility. Specially for a student like me who wants to work and study at anywhere. 💪
Walk into the Apple store with a tool box and when asked what you doing just say "Checking your NAND slots brah" 😎
I would definetly choose the m1 air. I am a student and it would really help my workflow. Especially with my programming journey.
So we have some options here. Either pay $1400 (plus tax) for a 16/256GB or a 8/512 M2, or bump up to 1600+ for a 16/512. I would say at this price there are so many other alternatives from the Windows world that could evenly match and even beat the MBA.
My own due diligent is: either you spend more to buy the best one if possible, or spend the least for the most value. That's why an M1 (definitely open box or refurbished, not at $1k) is still my best option atm. Will wait until the M3 or M4 with 4nm chip rolls out, because if I chose new design & better Oled screen, I would have gone with a Windows alternative. I'm just realistic, not Apple fan boy (although I bought everything they released last year - M1 air, pro, iphone 12, ipad air, airpods 3)
The M2 MBA still has an LCD display, if I get what you mean.
Now going with the M1 and upgrade when M3/M4 get released is a choice I didn’t think about, I’ve been wanting to pick an upgraded M2 for a while.
How about a 16/512 M1 Air?
@@sayrandriantsoa oh I know it does not have Oled, just say if I wanted an Oled I would have gone with Windows (like Asus or Dell).
Actually jumping up to 16/512 M1 air at this time point is not a good choice to be honest. The reason why I took the M1 air was because I found a good deal around $750 for an open box - 1 cycle charge one. If you could find st like what you mentioned at $1100 to $1200 max then it would be a great deal, but if buying new from Apple then nope, go for the M2. :)
This puts me in a pickle now. What should I get now, base M1 MBA or base M2 MBA? Which configuration would be the most value for money?
Very good and clear explanation of the SSD issue. It would be interesting to look at SSD performance on M1 and M2 Airs with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD.
I really appreciate how you try to explain it in layman's term like why two chips are better than one
Would you still buy the M2 MacBook Air even with the 256GB SSD?
Starting my new job on Monday and have always been an apple fan but unfortunately can not afford it at the moment. Would forever be indebted to you if I win the laptop and would love to slowly pay you back! Would be a massive help instead of always carrying around a pen and notepad!
I'd go the gift card, because I already have the MacBook Air. Kind of want a shiny new iPad, because I have a 7th gen iPad from 2019. I'm feeling the upgrade pinch, while my girlfriend's iPad Pro bought the same year is fine.
If I’d won I would use the apple gift card to buy a laptop for skool. i’m thinking the MacBook Air M2 or idk
I’m a new RUclipsr and could move from editing videos from my iPhone to a Mac! How amazing would they be!!!! Love your videos!
M1 MacBook Air because the best
I'm about to buy a M1 air 16/256 ver and kinda worried they might put the single NAND's on the M1 as well.
These won’t change
The real question now would be. If we buy now a MacBook with M1 in its base version of 256gb will have the same problem of M2 in the SSD?
That’s an excellent question
no, cause m1 have 2x 128gb ssd
@@MrEffu The inventory of M1s is not infinite, at some point they have to be remanufactured so they would be affected by the nand supply problem. Assuming it is a chip supply problem.
Another reason to buy M1 MBA
That’s assuming Apple is not producing the m1 computers now with the same restriction. If they have 128gb ssd’s laying around why would they put them in m1 instead of m2? Food for thought
@@kobebryant3399 That's exactly what I've been curious about too because so far I haven't seen any RUclips channel checking for that
same, I would like someone to actually find out if new m1 airs have the same issue
I recently bought a MBAm1 with 16gb and 512gb configuration and i wonder if the ssd problem is only with the base version like it happens with the MBPm2
I think when a company brings out a new product like this they put more into it in the first year to gain market acceptance. Then, in the second generation they will find ways to adjust for profit and hope no one notices. I think it's a lot like shrinkflation, where price increases are accomplished through delivering less product.
Thank you for this video, it clarifies everything. Before I got the M1 MacBook Air, there was a lot of noise regarding the SSD Swap issue, however I went ahead and bought it after your video on the issue, never been happier. Keep up the good work!
I think apple made the m1 much more powerful than even they anticipated. That messed up their M2 upgrade path. This is a path correction that will make sense again with M3.
I bet it will be. Still satisfy with my M1 air, same as my ip 12 pro. They are good enough for everything I need.
@@plasticdope my 2020 8/8 MacBook Air 16GB ram and 512SSD is the single best laptop purchase I've ever made. It's 2 years old and trades blows with the m2. So it's still highly relevant even through the m2's lifecycle.
I disagree. Their greed leading to them using a single NAND chip has caused this issue. It is a greed problem
@@AvocadoAtrocity I have almost the same device specs and I was just saying the same earlier today. I’ve never been more happy with a laptop than I am with this one.
@@jordanbell2244 it's basically been "new" for 2 entire years so far. 🤣
Great video
I just got a new Mac yesterday. I have been holding out as a software developer with my MBP13 2018. I was seriously considering the MBA, and gave no thought to the M2 MBP13 (which should not exist). Once you upgrade the storage of the MBA which also fixes the storage speed problem, and the RAM to something usable you are just too close to the MBP14 price. So I just got a MBP14.
they do that on purpose that they can claim 20% faster on M3 MacBook air when they put it back 2 chips
Hahaha "we upgraded the M3 SSD just for our customers! That will be an extra $400 per MacBook thanks".
I’m glad you really get in there and tell it like it is… I’ve seen other videos where they really gloss over anything remotely negative and just put the M2 on a high pedestal and creating FOMO. I like that this video allows us to make informed decisions.
I preordered the Air with 512SSD and 16GB. I was eager to get one since I have a speced out M1 iMac and have been super impressed with it. However when I ordered my Air I had no idea about the ssd issue with the 256GB model. Good thing I always get at least 512SSD and 16GB on my macs by default but a majority of consumers are just going to get the baseline model and expect it to be better. Apple really needs to disclose this issue on their website. They market the M2 as a being far superior to the M1 when in reality in order to see that better performance you have to upgrade the ssd and you really should be upgrading the RAM too. This was a big miss by Apple and is arguably unethical
Glad I’m getting the 16/512 also.
Macbook has been really a dream-item to me for a long time... If I have chance to win the 1000$ giftcard, definitely I will pay a bit more to try the 16gb Ram/225gb air M2. Hope the write/read speed will not be the problem to me.
It is what it is. For those who don't want a drop in SSD speeds, they will spend $1,399 to upgrade to the 512GB. I think the smart spend is to spec up the M1 MBA with both 16GB of RAM and 512GB for the same price if you need thin and light performance. I would skip the M2 MBA entirely and jump to the 14" instead if I want a speed bump from the M1 MBA.
This shows tht Apple cares about profit first and then their customers…
Apple just want FORCE everyone to spend $200 to get a faster ssd…
People defending Apples decision confuses me like fr🤦🏽♂️
I agree. The MBP 14 continues to look like a worthy upgrade for folks who can spend a couple hundred more. Performance, ports and display are all superior. But it's still more $$$.
@@timstafford6815 in my country Macbook pro 14” has the same price as MBA M2 16/256. There is no reason to buy this greedy MBA M2 except the weight and thickness.
First and for most, I would be thrilled to have either. I currently have a mac book pro (2011) that was given to me two years ago by a friend since my mac book 2011 was useless. When fully charged, my mac book pro 2011 works for 1 hour before it dies. I am unable to download certain apps; making it a challenge for school use. I would use the apple device primarily as my school computer but also to edit photos and videos in my free time. It would be a dream to own a new apple computer that can keep up with my needs of being a student!
Wondering how the 8 GB with 512 GB performs.
I'd edit some backlogs with the (hopefully) M1 Air, so this giveaway is just awesome! The M1 Macbook Air is still relevant today despite the M2 release.
Great analysis!
the SSD speed will not affect the daily consumer that much but it's still a bummer as apple's base m2 MacBook has a price increase compared to the m1 MacBook air which is 2 years old.
I just impulse bought the base model MBA M2 from Costco because it was on sale for $999. It worked fine, and I’m sure it would have been decent for my usage, but after reviewing many videos and articles, I decided to exchange it for an upgraded version.
What I really wanted was 8c/8g/256g, but somehow the prepackaged models they sell at Costco and other big box stores like Best Buy don’t have upgradable RAM! If I wanted that configuration, I would have to pay full price!
So I ended up settling for the prepackaged 10c/8g/512g model for $1,299. Yes, that $300 seems like a substantial bit more, but with the improvement in the SSD, plus more space to boot, it should hopefully last much longer.
There’s also debate on whether the 10 core GPU makes any difference whatsoever, but I figured it was worth a shot.
Nice job!
Great video, thanks
Great review 👍
you mention to copy a large file on external SSD is aslower but you dont show the test resulst at all. There is a dude that show that is actually faster in real world. can you show the test? thanks
I was already pissed with the situation that only the biggest storage options get the mac speed, so 2TB minimum for the 14". But this thing now is NOT OK.
Should I upgrade to 512gb SSD or 16gb RAM?
I think if you’re going to be running it hard you’ll need 16gb but apparently you’ll avoid the alleged throttling with 512gb ssd. Honestly I’ve been looking at the 14” pro because of feeling required to upgrade the M2.
Love this review!
Thank you for the content and Good Luck on the 200K Subs!!
thanks for the honest review
The reality is that..as many of us were using external ssds instead of upgrading through apple..they deliberately included a problem with the base ssd..so people would need to jump up to 512
Finally, a real, honest video regarding the SSD issue, and it is shot in such a good structure. Instant subscribe for me.
Loved your video. Just the information I needed.
Thanks for the practical info.
This is the very first channel I saw which experiments and explains how the ssd issue impacts real world usage. Great Job
Great video with details thx keep up the good work
Good catch
Would you guys recommend the 8/512 or the 16/256 upgrade due to the SSD issues of the M2 Air? Thanks.
Coming from a brand like Apple, such behavior is unacceptable. Not only the M2 is more expensive than previous generation, but base model performs worse, and yes it does affect overall performance contrary to what Apple wants you to believe. I’m a huge fan, but such behavior is really really disappointing.
They know damn well what they're doing. Handicapping the 256 version to make people upgrade to the 512 in addition to the 16gb upgrade.
@@ari_california8873 Extremely disappointing either way….not the first time, but still.
MacBook Air M1 could do no wrong but the M2 model has brought the excitement screeching to a halt 😕
The M2 is literally faster in every way
Thank you for the excellent info. I found your channel a few days ago and have been binge watching the vids as I am in the market for a new Mac- our family iMac is on its last legs so looking at MacBook Air purchase. Thanks again, I look forward t your new content. 😊
I just ordered the Macbook Air M2, 16GB RAM, 256 GB Storage. I think people are making a big deal of the storage speed. Most people will not notice a difference.
How was your experience with M2 16/256 model? Ssd health?
Wow it really nice, thank you for explaining bro.
Thanks 🙏🏽
I love all your video sir. Detailed and point to point explaination ❤️
Just love ur video straight to the point ✨
Great content mate, and clearly explained.
Your channel is dope. You get right into things and have good b roll and graphics.
It seems the M1 Air is the way to go on base.
great video bro
The comparison you did is between M1 256gb and M2 256gb? Thanks for your job.
Having MacBook Air would be a great for a person who is really need to have one for something such as video edition, school or for a student. Wish you all the best. May all being be happy and safe. Keep your finger crossed.🤞
why anyone would even consider using a minimalist entry level device to do serious computing work is beyond me...
Shame on Apple, I love their computers, their ecosystem, and the iPhone, but this is really REALLY disappointing. I hope authorities around the globe charge to solve this problem for consumer safety. This is just not fair. Jobs, we really REALLY do miss you.
@Telephone Backgrounds On a Clear Day well it’s not new to know that jobs was not an Angel, but despite his mood swings and mistakes he had another take on the company, I’m sure of it
which is better macbook air m2? 16/256 or 8/512?
16
great review I’m glad you brought it to light .
Sadly M1 MBA's are getting more scarce and we've been forced to get the M2 if you want the smaller, lighter MBA. Boo. Boo Apple. Boooo.
that’s a valid point. Why do we need to sacrifice the ssd perf after paying lot of amount.
Me watching this on my M1 MacBook Air with 128 gb of storage:
What a garbage ssd lol
Thank you for this highly informative video!
Now nobody will believe that any new Apple device is better than the old one without thorough research. Nobody, any, and for several years. Damage that cannot be undone.
I have the base model and consider my self an average user. At any one time I have about 10 Safari tabs open, Numbers, Mail, Calendar, Messages and can run WoW at medium settings, all without the laptop getting more than moderately warm. If you are a power user, don't by this laptop, otherwise it will be fine for you. I love it!
Hold up. "Office workers copying Excel files will notice the slower speeds". You sure about that? How big are your Excel files?!
Thank you for pointing out this issue, I was ready to upgrade my laptop to an M2 apple air but I don’t think I will anymore… i got an iphone 13 and an ipad air 4th generation, which I am delighted with, but what apple does to cut costs or for some other reasons is deeply disappointing.
Wonder why Apple was never upfront with this? Did they think people wouldn't test and discover this?
As for the giveaway, I'd take the gift card and put it toward an iPhone 14.
They always stay silent with every controversy around them
Since the 512gb ssd seems to mitigate the problem. So rather than going for the upgraded model, if you upgrade the base model to 512 it would perform the same maybe?
I would less of an issue if it was not the only one sold in store, every other configuration are customs they are exceptions.
love this review thank you for the info
lets get you to 200k!
Thanks for the video! I heard that you mentioned higher level models are not effected? Like the 512g ssd upgrade?
Correct
@@CreatedTech thanks!
I personally am not tech savvy but for improvements to technology I hate seeing all that mother board... I want it to one day be small as the iPhone or Apple Watch and have ultimately be mainly battery and speakers... I bet that's going to happen in another 6-8 years.
I would have preferred to see in the description and introduction that the low performance are affecting only the 256GB version.
i just subscribed, nice review
As I medical student whose laptop just gave up on me I would appreciate the M1 MacBook Air. Reading from phone is very stressful. Thank you.
I found your channel quite recntly and fell in love with your sense of aesthetics. Also, the 200k is around the corner- just keep coming with such quality content.
Lastly, yes, I would love an M1 MacBook Air. Excited for the giveaway. Good luck everyone.