in 2020, by Apple MacBook entered a new era. The company announced that it has moved stay away from Intel chips it’s been in use since 2006 and it launched the first Macs with M1 designed by Apple. Cut to 2022 and the company added four more chips to the lineup: M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra — two of which power the latest MacBook Pro — and chip M2 as a successor to the M1.
Just like Apple’s iPhone, these chips run on ARM architecture and make the company bigger control its hardware and software. They make its laptop more powerful and more energy efficient, which means vastly improved performance and battery life. Plus, you get other perks, such as the ability to run original mobile apps for iOS. However, choosing a MacBook has now become more difficult. Apple no longer sells Intel-supported models, but you can find one at a third-party retailer with just a few more years of support. Is it worth buying one? Or should you use Apple silicon? Here’s what we think you should spend your hard earned money on.
Update June 2022: We’ve added information about the new 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro along with the latest M2 chip.
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Is it a good time to buy?
It depends. If you’re a power user looking for a powerful MacBook, now’s a great time to get a 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro, as Apple just released them last fall. However, most people don’t need that much power. The cheaper M1-powered MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2020 are still good to buy. But the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is now Available for pre-order while refresh MacBook Air will go on sale starting July.
Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
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Apple’s latest MacBook Air included a ton of upgrades both internally and externally — this explains the price increase. Starting with the design, the company has officially removed the wedge form factor that characterizes a boxier chassis. It also comes in two new colors – midnight and starlight – in addition to the traditional space gray and silver color options. The screen is also bigger and brighter and comes with an updated webcam. Measuring in at 13.6 inches (up from 13.3 inches on its predecessor), the Liquid Retina panel has thinner bezels, 500 nits screen brightness, and a notch housing the 1080p sensor.
Apple didn’t add additional ports, but the MacBook Air received the same MagSafe treatment as the high-end MacBook Pro models. You can now attach the magnetic power cable to the laptop to charge — freeing up both Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. MacBooks also support fast charging if you purchase a 67-watt USB-C power adapter. Apple claims it can power a MacBook up to 57% in just 30 minutes.
