MacBook comparison
MacBook Air M1 vs MacBook Air M2
Compare MacBook Air M1 vs MacBook Air M2 side by side: chip, memory, storage, display, ports, launch price and how each fits in Apple history.
MacBook Air (M1)The third great architecture leap, and the most decisive.
MacBook Air (M2)The Air’s first redesign in years: the tapered wedge gone in favour of a uniform-thin slab, with MagSafe charging restored and a brighter, bigger display.At a glance
Released 2 years apart — the MacBook Air (M2) is the newer model. 10 of 13 specs differ.
Going from the MacBook Air (M1) to the MacBook Air (M2), the chip changes from the Apple M1 (8-core) to the Apple M2 (8-core), the display grows from 13.3″ to 13.6″, and it gets lighter, 1.29 kg to 1.24 kg. Launch price rises from $999 to $1,199.
- ChipApple M1 (8-core)Apple M2 (8-core)
- Display13.3″13.6″
- Weight1.29 kg1.24 kg
- Launch price$999$1,199
Unchanged memory, storage.
Specs side by side
| Spec | MacBook Air (M1) | MacBook Air (M2) |
|---|---|---|
| Release | November 17, 2020 | July 15, 2022 |
| Launch price | $999 | $1,199 |
| Price today | $1,209 | $1,283 |
| Chip | Apple M1 (8-core) · 3.20 GHz | Apple M2 (8-core) · 3.49 GHz |
| Graphics | Apple 7/8-core GPU | Apple 8/10-core GPU |
| CPU coresSame | 8 | 8 |
| MemorySame | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| StorageSame | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| Display | 13.3" Retina, 2560×1600 | 13.6" Liquid Retina, 2560×1664 |
| Weight | 1.29 kg | 1.24 kg |
| Dimensions | Tapered wedge, fanless | Flat unibody with notch |
| Ports | 2× Thunderbolt / USB 4 | 2× Thunderbolt, MagSafe 3 |
| Operating system | macOS 11 Big Sur | macOS 12 Monterey |
Highlighted cells win clear more-is-better specs (memory, storage, lighter weight). Historical pricing uses approximate US CPI; clock speeds are not full real-world performance.
Why each matters
First Mac with Apple Silicon, and the first fanless Mac that could outrun machines with fans.
Dropped the long-running wedge for a flat slab, and brought MagSafe and a notch to the Air.
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Last updated: 2026-08-18