Yes, for its new design (magnificent)

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So that for change, it’s a hell of a change. After years of giving us the same machine again, Apple has finally decided to redesign the lines of its MacBook Air. And he’s gorgeous.

Available in space gray, silver, starlight (golden) and midnight (our test model), this new MacBook Air takes up the format of the latest MacBook Pro 14. Slimmer, it is also thinner (11.3 mm) and lighter (1.24 kg) than ever.

Above all, this MacBook Air M2 is more compact, in particular thanks to the reduction of the borders surrounding the screen and the integration of a notch for the webcam. Apple announces that the machine is 20% more compact than the previous generation.

It is indeed a small digest of technology that we gladly transport from an office to a meeting room without problem and which is quickly forgotten in a backpack (we even thought we had forgotten it on the train).

If the connection is still as poor (2 Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C, a 3.5 mm jack), we welcome the return of the MagSafe port, a return already made on the MacBook Pro 14 but not yet on the Air.

Other new features include Touch ID integration in the on/off button as well as the enlargement of the keys of the control line located above the keyboard. Should we specify that it is always so delicious to make our fingers dance on this piano of letters?

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Last but not least, Apple built its machine from recycled materials. The aluminum dress? Recycled. The metal frame? Recycled (an industry first). Even the magnets come from recycled materials.

This does not mean, however, that the American giant is an example to follow. With its repairability index of 6/10, the MacBook Air M2 does not have anything to bulge the shell either.

Yes, for its Liquid Retina screen

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Decidedly very inspired by the MacBook Pro 14 and 16, this MacBook Air M2 inherits a magnificent Liquid Retina screen with a diagonal of 13.6”. Using IPS technology, it displays one billion colors, a definition of 2560 x 1664 pixels (224 dpi resolution), a brightness of 500 nits and the coverage of the P3 color range. Finally, True Tone technology completes the package.

Unlike the MacBook Pro M2, the MacBook Air therefore benefits from a clear technical improvement. In addition, the screen integrates better with the overall design. The borders are thinner and the notch inaugurated on the MBP 14 and 16 makes its appearance. Some will like it, others less.

No one will therefore be surprised if we say that the screen quality is excellent. Apple is a master in the art of calibrating its panels. Whether working, watching movies and series or gaming, the screen is always comfortable. A new benchmark.

Yes, for the new super-powerful M2 chip

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The M2 chip is THE great novelty of this MacBook Air 2022 edition. By integrating its latest Apple Silicone chip into its most popular Mac, Apple promises to provide a powerful and durable machine.

Technically, the M2 chip does not mark a clear revolution compared to the M1, and that makes sense. But Apple still announces an 18% more powerful CPU for an energy consumption identical to the M1.

Our GPU with 10 cores is even more impressive. Still according to Apple, this graphics chip is 35% more efficient than that of the M1. This translates to 2.3 times more power with the same energy requirement.

In three days, we have not been able to verify the figures announced by Apple (our laboratory tests are in progress). But since it incorporates the same chip as the MacBook Pro M2, already tested by us, some benchmarks will certainly be identical.

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While waiting to have the heart net, it is clear that the new machine from Apple can do everything without ever showing the slightest sign of weakness. From the most basic uses to specific needs such as photo editing or video editing, nothing can resist it.

But then why choose a MacBook Pro M2 if the cheaper MacBook Air M2 is just as good? Great question, thanks for asking.

The answer is simple: endurance. If the MacBook Air M2 can do exactly the same things as the MacBook Pro M2, it does not keep pace over time. You can therefore edit several rushes in 4K without any problem, but in the absence of fans, the system will limit performance when the temperature reaches a certain threshold.

This shortness of breath on demanding tasks is also felt in terms of autonomy. If the MacBook Air M2 remains the reference in this area in the family of ultraportables, it doesn’t keep up as long as the MacBook Pro M2. Can we blame him? Not really, but we had to bring these nuances to those hesitating between the Air and the Pro.

And then, concretely, what does it give? For our usual use (main work machine with photo editing, writing, web browsing, communication applications, emails, etc.), the MacBook Air M2 lasted more than two days or about 15 hours of battery life. Figures that we will confirm in a more scientific way after the passage of the machine to the 01Lab lab.

No, for the price of the options (RAM, storage, etc.)

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The “standard” MacBook Air M2 is sold at 1,499 euros, a price that is quite correct if we take into account the power of the latest Apple Silicone chip and the lifespan it provides to the product.

However, this version requires, as a basic, an additional storage option, which is almost essential. The integrated 256 GB SSD is far too tight for a machine of this classeven more if you team up for a creative activity.

As always with Apple, the options will probably require the resale of some organs carefully chosen (if you have any left). A little extra storage costs from 230 to more than 400 euros. Ditto to benefit from a little more RAM or even the M2 chip with a GPU of 10 cores (and not 8 cores). Even the most powerful charger is charged extra.

Ultimately, the model at 1,499 euros will correspond to few users, if only for its too tight storage capacity. You must then add at least 230 euros for a 512 GB SSD. As in the automobile, the options make the price.