M2 MacBook Air 2022 review | It’s a NON-ISSUE! | Mark Ellis Reviews

This video is sponsored by 1Password.

I’ve spent a week with the M2 MacBook Air, and, as always, my thoughts since the original first impressions video have matured quite a bit. So, in my full M2 MacBook Air review, you’ll find out whether the base model with the 256GB SSD is worth it. Because that’s the exact one I chose myself!

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WHAT IS THIS CHANNEL ALL ABOUT?
I have zero interest in deep spec dives or long-winded comparisons. I review laptops, smartphones, tablets, headphones and the latest tech based on real experience. I'll tell you how it'll make you feel, whether or not it's worth your time (and money) and help you find the tech you need to get stuff done.

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I'm a UK-based freelance marketer and broke free of a regular job many years ago. Watch my videos to find the tech you need, without the jargon.

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CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
01:08 - 1Password
02:25 - Bye bye, wedge
04:09 - How I’m using it
04:57 - Real world performance
05:46 - The screen and battery
07:13 - The big issue

[MarkEllisReviews]

Hands up if you've got the base model M2 MacBook Air. If so... how are you finding it?

[ReelEmN]

I bought the M2 base model in midnight as well. Have been using Safari, mail, messages, facetime, Intellij, Zoom, Spotify, Photos, Notes, Postman, Iterm, Sublime, Word, and slack...nonstop. I haven't closed a single program nor a single tab in Safari. This little machine is still chugging alone and zipping through everything I throw at it. It looks great, is super lightweight, has all day battery life, and doesn't have a 15 year old design. All this fuss from a bunch of people that don't actually use one of these machines as a daily driver is nonsense. I'm a software developer and I have no problem getting this thing to churn out some good work.

[dreamsofgrandeur]

I also have the base model in midnight, and I have to agree: this thing is absolutely fantastic. Maybe that's just because I don't mind the fingerprints much. So far, I haven't managed to do anything on it that it couldn't do with ease. Now, mind you, I have an M1 mini that I use for more "pro" stuff. I don't if it's worth the price, especially considering the extra RAM or storage you could get on the M1 Air for the same price. But the M2 might have a little bit longer lifetime--remember, the M1 came out nearly two years ago now. Either one you get, whatever model you get, you are getting one of the best laptops ever made.

[Jrintercept]

I really appreciate you!! I bought a base model M2 Air, basically that’s all I could afford, but watching all of the videos it makes me feel that I should have upgraded in which I couldn’t afford! I’m only doing the basic on a computer word, excel, email, zoom and web. It was encouraging hearing you say I have a fantastic computer for those basic things. Thank you very much!!

[techlightgamer]

Thanks for the honest review, this reminded an important factor when buying stuffs: What's the actual requirements? Just like buying a car, we always concern the top speed, horse power, etc., but in reality, most of the time we are driving in the city and seldom push the car to its limit. As a daily driver, base model M2/M1 Macbook Air are actually very good cars.

[samiliorian]

Bought a base M2 midnight MacBook Air, then returned it because the color just kept looking dirty...replaced for M2 MacBook Air in silver and am 100% happy! Performance-wise, it does everything I need it to do really fast, and this is coming from a designer who using apps like Figma, Photoshop etc.

[vwood]

Kudos Mark! Thank you for really excellent, honest and helpful reviews. By resisting the click bait theatre, it probably takes you longer to grow your channel. But we (subscribers) recognize & and appreciate the quality of your work, and will continue to rely on your channel over the long term.

[samko]

Mate, honestly - your reviews are so refreshing! Thanks for a great video, concise and well thought out. I don't generally buy into all the review video hype but just wanted to say you're great at what you do. I ordered the 8core/16gb/512 in Midnight and it turned up yesterday and I'm so happy with it! (mind you i'm upgrading from a 2013 MBA!) Not fussed about the fingerprint marks, can wipe down easily with a cloth. The battery is fantastic and it seems to just get through normal user stuff with absolute ease. I'm so fatigued from the *you know who* clickbait reviews talking about power-using these devices and them throttling - seems to have just created this negative space in which people think this machine won't hold up at all in a real environment. the base model is going to be absolutely fine for like 98% of people no doubt!!

[brachiator]

I appreciate the defined real world use case with the M2. I would also like to know if the typing experience is still comfortable with the non-wedge case, and if there is any difference in the feel of keyboarding. Good to know that battery life is great.

[bamdadmasoudi]

Hey Mark
Just wanted to drop a line and let you know that your videos are awesome 👏🏻 The main reason for me to love your content is that I get your answer to almost all my questions all the time, and that shows how much you put yourself in your audience’s shoes, and that’s lovely ❤️❤️ keep making videos mate, we all enjoy them

[jp]

Thanks for bringing a level-headed, practical use approach to your reviews.

Despite giving it up, I come from a gaming background, I’m a hardware snob. I have loved the last couple of iterations of the MBA but was concerned about the SSD throttling and you’ve put that concern to rest. My use case is purely browsing and general light use. You’ve convinced me that the base M2A seems like a good mix of performance, portability and battery life. I think I’ll be taking the plunge soon.

[clementlequan]

Oh gosh finally à reviews I was waiting for !! I’m a simple user too (heavierstuff i do is watching 4K Netflix haha) I got lost very deep into tech reviews about slow ssd and throttling, so deep i was so scared of having a super slow base m2 but thanks to you, you brought me back to the surface ! I will get the base model next month and space grey ☺️

[MarkJThompson]

At last, a sensible review, can't believe you don't run cinebench back to back all day long :)... here have a subscription

[TheAthavanleon]

Hi Mark - Thank you, I loved your video format on how you did you M1 MacBook Air.. if you can do that for the M2 ( Shows your work day and first hand type of apps you use and etc) would be quite good - Because of that video I got the M1 MacBook Air a years ago... Please keep that format alive - Its very relatable to common users.

[heitorlipsky]

I have to agree with most comments. Your a down to earth review from the prospective of the final and normal user, it is adding a lot more value than beating to death benchmark numbers (and bombastic headings). Each user has his/her own reasons to buy a model or generation of laptop vs another. Money is surely a heavy one. Logically if you try to weigh your decision based on “cost per computing benefit” and cannot afford to invest $200-400 more the air M1 is a natural (and likely the unique) choice. Not wrong either.
I do not buy a new laptop every year or two. So, it does not sounds correct, since I can afford the additional cost, to buy a laptop that even if is still great like the M1 air, has a design and components that are about two years old. Other than not equally satisfying, it will definitely make some meaningful difference in use in or after 2024, to have an equipment that was launched in 2020 vs 2022. Great and honest review.
Note - I got the midnight too (still waiting on my). It was a choice of aesthetic versus practically. It is a hard maintenance baby for sure, but also by mile long the best looking one by blending better the keyboard color to the chassis. Don’t we clean our cars? So I can keep mine new midnight air looking nice too!

[maxit]

Hey my friends, I’m an IT student so, I do some codes like machine learning tasks on my laptop.
I have a little weird question, which one should I choose?
1. Macbook air m2 16gb 512gb

2. Macbook air m1 base model
+
iPad air5 m1 base model

3. (A little bit pricier combo):
MacBook air m2 base model
+
iPad air5 m1 base model

[Leslie_U]

Thank you for an honest review. Btw your voice makes me calm!

[marg]

Great review! Thanks for the helpful info! Question - where did you get the MacBook background? Those pictures look sick!

[vwood]

I traded my base model M1 Air, for a Starlight M2, with 16 gigs ram, and a 1 TB ssd. It’s terrific!! I used my 14” 2008 MacBook Pro for 10 years, and I expect the M2 will last many years as well. The base model M1 was a great laptop! However, it was frustrating to manage photographs and graphic art from external ssds, especially with one port tied up with charging.

My advice is that people should assess their typical usage carefully before buying 256 g of internal storage. If I’d gotten more storage on the M1, I wouldn’t have lost money trading it in. The M1 was great for photo editing and graphic work, and that was working from external Samsung ssds. Reviewers saying the M2 can’t manage photo editing, Lightroom, etc, aren’t being straight with their viewers. Shame on them.

[Hanneblack]

I have the M2 base in Starlight. I am enjoying it so far, I upgraded from the 2017 MacBook Pro, so there has been quite a few innovations since that release over 5 years ago. My reasoning for getting this M2 configuration is that it feels similar in size and style to my previous MacBook Pro 2017, I didn't want a bigger one like the Pro 14 & 16. The starlight color is great and sometimes I forget that it's not silver, something different, but still familiar. Overall its a great for day to day tasks and the perfect size for on the go.