published in: Blog // published on: 29.09.2023
On July 15th Apple introduced its first portable devices equipped (MacBook Air and MacBook Pro) with the second iteration of the M-Series processor, the M2.
The MacBook Air got a complete redesign, the new chassis is slimmer, and has a flat body look. The screen got bigger, at 13.6” (instead of the previous 13.3”), with smaller bezels, got the new "notch look" introduced by the MacBook Pro 14” and 16”, and the long-awaited return of the Magsafe Charging.
The screen brightness is brighter, with 100 nits more than the last MacBook Air introduced in 2020, at 500 nits.
The Facetime camera can now record at 1080p. Speakers got a notable upgrade too. Now you have a four speakers sound system (2 tweeters and 2 woofers) with Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio support positioned below the hinge, for a cleaner look.
For the first time, the Midnight shade has been introduced and shortly after became the most sought color out of the four (Space Grey, Silver, Starlight, and Midnight). The color is truly eye catchy, but be aware, it is a fingerprint magnet, and it gets scuffed quite easily.
Paired with NEXT ONE’s Safeguard for MacBook Air M2, you can use it care free, without worrying about any smudges.
The charging brick for the base model stays at 30W, while if you opt for a more powerful variant, you will get to choose between a 2-port USB-C 35W or a 67W single-port charging brick. All laptops come with a USB-C to Magsafe braided charging cable that matches your laptop color. Port-wise, on the left side you still get two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, the newly introduced Magsafe charging port, and on the right side the 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Starting at 1199$, the laptop also features a backlight Magic Keyboard with full-size function keys with Touch ID and a Force Touch trackpad.
Now let’s talk a bit about the MacBook Pro. While the Air got some notable features and upgrades, the 13-inch Pro model sticks for a more conservative look, keeping the same design as the previous generation. Arriving in two finishes Silver and Space Grey.
FaceTime camera still records at 720p, the charging port is still via USB type C, no MagSafe charging upgrade for this one. The power adapter got upgraded from 61W to 67W USB-C.
One of the advantages of the Pro over the Air is that it has an Active cooling system that dissipates the heat better, allowing for better performance on highly demanding tasks like DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, or 4K rendering.
The M2 is based on the A15 Bionic processor, featuring over 20 billion transistors. Running at 3.49GHz, it has an 18% faster CPU, and a 35% increase in power for the GPU compared to the M1.
Since a lot of Apple fans are looking for multiport adapters or protection sleeves for their precious devices, you can take a look here for accessories that will be a great addition to your Apple laptop.