When MacBook Air M2 started shipping on July 15, 2022, the notable difference of the hardware was almost, everything. The hardware body got a refresh with new colour options, the iconic wedge shape is gone now, the notch on the screen and the return of the MagSafe port. But considering this is almost a two-year-old device release, I'll be brief and show you how I find this Mac device interesting.
This MacBook was considered one of the best-selling laptops in 2022 and got a bigger version of the 15-inch launch in June 2023. Currently, it's still on sale worldwide and has potential users in the laptop market right now, even with the MacBook with M3 just released a month ago.
My aim in composing this review is to grasp the essence of the MacBook and macOS from a PC user's standpoint. I am also eager to discover how individuals utilize these Macs. With the provision of a silver M2 unit by Breezy from Computer Mart Kenya, I got to see the setup process and the easy walkthrough of the navigation of macOS Sonoma.
Setting Up
 |
| Setting up TouchID during the setup process. |
The setup was swift, and within minutes, I was navigating the desktop. I then familiarized myself with using Finder, mastering command shortcuts, and closing background programs. It was intriguing to learn that apps continue to run in the background and must be manually terminated in the Activity Monitor.
Understanding the Design and Specs
| Holding a 13-inch MacBook Air with one hand. |
The laptop's design is aesthetically pleasing, and the aluminium body has a premium feel, although it does attract fingerprints. The backlit Magic Keyboard offers a natural quiet typing experience, and the touchpad is generously sized, which is appreciated for swipes, gestured controls, taps, and clicks, and handles palm rejection too.
 |
| At the side: MagSafe port and Thunderbolt ports. |
Looking at the design, the laptop has an interesting hidden speaker appearance - it is integrated between the keyboard and the display for a cleaner unified look. And yet delivers great Spatial Audio output.
And in terms of the inner and outer specs, it's pretty solid.
SPECS SHEET:
- Display: 13.6 in diagonally, with a native resolution of 2560 x 1664 and 224 pixels per inch
- Brightness: 500 nits
- Colour: Support for 1 billion colours
- Battery: 52.6-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
- Charging: MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, and two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
- RAM: 8 GB, configurable to 16 GB or 24 GB
- Storage: 256 GB, configurable to 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB
- Processor: 8-core CPU
- GPU: 8-core GPU
- Camera: FaceTime Full HD 1080p camera
- Keyboard: Backlit Magic Keyboard
- Trackpad: Force Touch Trackpad
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0
- Thunderbolt: Thunderbolt 3
Performance
The MacBook I reviewed was the base model of 8GB of unified memory (8GB RAM) and with internal storage of 256GB. In my opinion, the base model is for those who are not heavy users, like students for example who rely on the Apple ecosystem or those who are starting out in the software development and product design or business journey.
According to the benchmarks test by GeekBench, The MacBook Air (2022) with an Apple M2 processor scores 2,578 for single-core performance and 9,653 for multi-core performance in the Geekbench 6 CPU Benchmark. These scores are the average of 15,750 user results uploaded to the Geekbench Browser.
The Mac User Experience
As I had mentioned before, familiarizing myself with MacOS Sonoma takes a certain few minutes. Navigating the entire Operating System is another task. This is considered probably a nightmare for Windows users when they switch to the Macintosh experience.
The interface: macOS has a sleek, minimalist interface compared to the more cluttered look of Windows. The dock replaces the taskbar, and windows have rounded corners. Initially, finding your way around might take some adjustment, but the intuitive gestures and layout make navigation efficient once you get used to it.
System Integration: One of the highlights of using a Mac is the seamless integration between hardware and software. Features like Handoff, Continuity Camera, and Universal Clipboard allow for effortless collaboration between Mac and iOS devices. This integration can enhance productivity and workflow for users with Apple devices.
Software Ecosystem: While many popular applications are available on both platforms, there are some differences. Mac users often rely on alternatives or equivalents for software not natively supported on macOS. The Mac App Store offers a convenient way to discover and install apps, similar to the Microsoft Store on Windows. (Just to be clear, there is no Spotify app in the Mac App Store)
File Management: macOS follows a different file management system compared to Windows. Finder replaces File Explorer, and while the basic principles are similar, there are some nuances to learn, such as the use of .dmg files for software installation and the absence of drive letters.
Customization: macOS offers a fair degree of customization, but not to the extent of Windows. Users can personalize their desktop backgrounds, adjust system preferences, and organize apps in Launchpad and the dock. However, the level of customization is more limited compared to Windows.
Who's the MacBook Air for?
If you switched to MacOS, what is one thing you miss about Windows? Have you adjusted to the Macintosh world? Let us know in the comments and share your experience and if you are planning to switch to a Mac.
Credits to Breezy from Computer Mart Kenya for providing the MacBook Air M2 for review in the office. Finally, the assignment is complete.
You can purchase the MacBook Air M2 at KES 165,000
