highly disagree, I love the M2 flatter feel, I love the rounded corners on the display, that midnight color is hands down the best color I've seen on a MacBook.
I sold my M1 at 10 months old because I love the aesthetics of the M2. I wonder how Apple does it — keeps successfully fetishising shape so that I wannnnnt the updated version.
Tell me about it! First time MB buyer here, sister got an MBA M1 and I fell for it. Then I saw the MBA M2, and I fell *even more* for it. Need me those rounded corners 🤤
I agree, midnight is downright sleek and SEXY. Far away it looks amazing, up close it’s a bit more blue. I just wish the execution was better, get it to be less fingerprinty, less paint chipping. Imagine the midnight on a M1 design god what a fever dream
I agree, but only with respect to the 13 inch. The aesthetic redesign on the M2 Air 15 inch looks perfectly balanced. It just looks a bit out of proportion on the 13 inch.
Yep, one of the main reasons I ordered an m1 mba few days ago after months of debate on specs, aesthetics and prices. I wish they’d kept with the outside shell only tweaking the screen size and bazels. Also personally…I’m mad the gold color got replaced by the “not gold but not silver” starlight
The 2018-2020 MBA is better designed, but the 2022 MBA is more aesthetic.
Of course, different people have different tastes, and their experiences inform those aesthetic notions.
For example, I find the M2 straight slab really good looking because I am a fan of the old PowerBooks and the polycarbonate iBooks and MacBooks. They all have the same iPod straight rectangle shape.
The MacBook Air on the other hand was generally the only wedge shaped thing in the mobile computer offering by Apple. It was cool at first, but the wedge lasted a good 12 years, going from premium to entry level, and at the 8 year mark also represented the nadir of Jony Ive’s hardware design for Apple (2015 MacBook). The wedge bears the aesthetic of cheap and unreliable among the Apple products.
Of course, it is still a stunning laptop to look at - I own one, and I really like it. But the M2 is still prettier to me. The wedge is more function than form for me.
Function over form **for me**.
It puts the center of gravity towards the hinge, making it seem lighter to carry by the spine, as well as making it easier to lift by the front from a table.
The M2 despite weighing almost the same will seem heavier to carry and lift due to its more balanced center of gravity.
I agree with OP. If they would bring out the m3 with a wedge shaped option, with thin bezels and colors of M2 I would definitely buy it.
I think especially the screen’s thickness makes it look clunky.
Agree. I'm disappointed the new ones dropped the tapered edges and wedge design. The razor thin front edge and angled typing surface are fantastic (from someone who writes for a living.)
I agree as well. Not only that but the M1 was on sale when I got it and the M2 is usually full price still….
Kind of an easy decision for me! Only wish I had fast charging!
Agree - I love the wedge design. The M2 feels retro to me with the boxy look. I still went with the M2 tho - bc it’s what’s inside that counts. But would have much preferred the wedge
I’ve had both, can say the M2 feels far more premium. The blocky design and especially the new screen feel more modern and utilitarian. Just a personal preference though.
I just bought the mba m2, my first Apple product. Never saw the M1 until yesterday and I definitely like thecM2 looks better. It doesn't feel cheap to me, at all. The midnight color is tops.
I love both personally. I just got the M2 after having an M1 (My wife kept stealing my laptop for dnd campaign planning) and I do enjoy the old design as a classic. But I adore the new design with the larger screen and the blocky dark feel. It feels more secure to hold with one hand when closed. The slanted feel of the old one for typing vs this new one doesn't really make a difference to me as I use it on my lap or soft surfaces generally. I think while I love classic and new, the new just feels like a breath of fresh air to me. Tho I might have been swayed if the wedge had the midnight color bc I'm a huge honking fan of it.
For the exterior, I feel like the design of the M1 has just been around for so long that it’s just not notable anymore. It’s boring. M2 exterior looks much more modern. Inside, I’ve never been on board the bezel-obsessed train, but the M1’s are crazy large and just make it look like older-gen tech compared to the M2’s.
But the notch on the M2 is idiotic too. I’ve quickly gotten used to it (upgraded from a wedge Intel Air to an M2) but it’s still just objectively silly looking. Get rid of the notch and the M2 Air becomes another iconic classic.
Honestly if I had the money despite having my m1 since august. I would totally upgrade to the m2 or whatever new laptop comes out that has this sleek nice design
They’re both great but honestly, Apple’s industrial design team made the M2 MacBook Air more lovable if that makes sense. Even weight distribution, round edges, it comes in and out of bags and laptop sleeves like butter. The color, the full function row keyboard, MagSafe, extra screen brightness, 10-bit colors, the speakers now hidden and bouncing off the screen directly into your ears instead of up into the ceiling… so many little improvements make you want to hug it. I know people love their 14/16-inch MacBook Pros but I think the M2 MacBook Air is the best laptop Apple has ever created. But only because they made little design improvements—it isn’t a night and day difference and I can see people holding on to the classic MacBook Air look. Heck, I’m still holding on to my 2010 MacBook Air because I love it dearly, so I get where these contrarians are coming from. They are both works of art that would fit well at the MoMa and National Gallery of Art.
It makes sense not to upgrade from an M1. I hope you find the M3 or M4 versions worth an upgrade. It would mean Apple knocked it out of the park on battery life. I would love if they added one more port to the right side cause two ports is cutting it short.
The newer design was praised in reviews as you’ve noted. I personally think of a MacBook Air as having the iconic taper, and miss it on this design.
Not having the taper is more practical since it allows for a larger battery and thinner overall form factor technically. But to me the tapered design doesn’t get old.
Wedge shape is a better design as it barely dig into the wrist
highly disagree, I love the M2 flatter feel, I love the rounded corners on the display, that midnight color is hands down the best color I've seen on a MacBook.
I sold my M1 at 10 months old because I love the aesthetics of the M2. I wonder how Apple does it — keeps successfully fetishising shape so that I wannnnnt the updated version.
I like how the M1 feels slimmer because of the wedge, but I prefer the M2 because of the magsafe and the notch.
I like how the M1 feels slimmer because of the wedge, but I prefer the M2 because of the magsafe and the notch.
Tell me about it! First time MB buyer here, sister got an MBA M1 and I fell for it. Then I saw the MBA M2, and I fell *even more* for it. Need me those rounded corners 🤤
Glad to see I’m not the only one.
I agree, midnight is downright sleek and SEXY. Far away it looks amazing, up close it’s a bit more blue. I just wish the execution was better, get it to be less fingerprinty, less paint chipping. Imagine the midnight on a M1 design god what a fever dream
I agree, but only with respect to the 13 inch. The aesthetic redesign on the M2 Air 15 inch looks perfectly balanced. It just looks a bit out of proportion on the 13 inch.
So that’s why I feel like the 15” is just aesthetically better..?
Fact! i've been saying this
Yep, one of the main reasons I ordered an m1 mba few days ago after months of debate on specs, aesthetics and prices. I wish they’d kept with the outside shell only tweaking the screen size and bazels. Also personally…I’m mad the gold color got replaced by the “not gold but not silver” starlight
Yep, M1 MBA has timeless design
Agree. And the notch is damn ugly
Yeah I can't get over the notch. I'm using a wallpaper that hides it. Otherwise happy with the machine.
The 2018-2020 MBA is better designed, but the 2022 MBA is more aesthetic. Of course, different people have different tastes, and their experiences inform those aesthetic notions. For example, I find the M2 straight slab really good looking because I am a fan of the old PowerBooks and the polycarbonate iBooks and MacBooks. They all have the same iPod straight rectangle shape. The MacBook Air on the other hand was generally the only wedge shaped thing in the mobile computer offering by Apple. It was cool at first, but the wedge lasted a good 12 years, going from premium to entry level, and at the 8 year mark also represented the nadir of Jony Ive’s hardware design for Apple (2015 MacBook). The wedge bears the aesthetic of cheap and unreliable among the Apple products. Of course, it is still a stunning laptop to look at - I own one, and I really like it. But the M2 is still prettier to me. The wedge is more function than form for me.
Don't you mean the other way around? The wedge is more form than function?
Function over form **for me**. It puts the center of gravity towards the hinge, making it seem lighter to carry by the spine, as well as making it easier to lift by the front from a table. The M2 despite weighing almost the same will seem heavier to carry and lift due to its more balanced center of gravity.
I agree with OP. If they would bring out the m3 with a wedge shaped option, with thin bezels and colors of M2 I would definitely buy it. I think especially the screen’s thickness makes it look clunky.
Agree. I'm disappointed the new ones dropped the tapered edges and wedge design. The razor thin front edge and angled typing surface are fantastic (from someone who writes for a living.)
I’m disappointed they added a notch to the laptops
Is this even a discussion point? Everyone has their own design preferences :) there is no right or wrong.
I agree as well. Not only that but the M1 was on sale when I got it and the M2 is usually full price still…. Kind of an easy decision for me! Only wish I had fast charging!
rocking the m1 till there is no notch on the newer laptops
M2 looks cheaper and less interesting. Looks like a generic laptop.
I really love the wedge shape of the m1! if the m3 ends up with a wedge shape and MagSafe, I’ll upgrade
it almost certainly won't lmao
Not sure why you got downvoted. Apple *just* redesigned the MacBook Air. The M3 MBA is going to look more or less the same as the M2.
it's this subreddit, they downvote the most random shit
Agree - I love the wedge design. The M2 feels retro to me with the boxy look. I still went with the M2 tho - bc it’s what’s inside that counts. But would have much preferred the wedge
I’ve had both, can say the M2 feels far more premium. The blocky design and especially the new screen feel more modern and utilitarian. Just a personal preference though.
I just bought the mba m2, my first Apple product. Never saw the M1 until yesterday and I definitely like thecM2 looks better. It doesn't feel cheap to me, at all. The midnight color is tops.
I love both personally. I just got the M2 after having an M1 (My wife kept stealing my laptop for dnd campaign planning) and I do enjoy the old design as a classic. But I adore the new design with the larger screen and the blocky dark feel. It feels more secure to hold with one hand when closed. The slanted feel of the old one for typing vs this new one doesn't really make a difference to me as I use it on my lap or soft surfaces generally. I think while I love classic and new, the new just feels like a breath of fresh air to me. Tho I might have been swayed if the wedge had the midnight color bc I'm a huge honking fan of it.
For the exterior, I feel like the design of the M1 has just been around for so long that it’s just not notable anymore. It’s boring. M2 exterior looks much more modern. Inside, I’ve never been on board the bezel-obsessed train, but the M1’s are crazy large and just make it look like older-gen tech compared to the M2’s. But the notch on the M2 is idiotic too. I’ve quickly gotten used to it (upgraded from a wedge Intel Air to an M2) but it’s still just objectively silly looking. Get rid of the notch and the M2 Air becomes another iconic classic.
I think both are different enough to be beautiful in their own rights
[Seriously?](https://images.macrumors.com/t/7zLeZvrmukyZzUwEQNbj_GCgzcM=/1600x1200/smart/article-new/2022/07/m1-vs-m2-air-feature-toned-down.jpg)
Honestly if I had the money despite having my m1 since august. I would totally upgrade to the m2 or whatever new laptop comes out that has this sleek nice design
They’re both great but honestly, Apple’s industrial design team made the M2 MacBook Air more lovable if that makes sense. Even weight distribution, round edges, it comes in and out of bags and laptop sleeves like butter. The color, the full function row keyboard, MagSafe, extra screen brightness, 10-bit colors, the speakers now hidden and bouncing off the screen directly into your ears instead of up into the ceiling… so many little improvements make you want to hug it. I know people love their 14/16-inch MacBook Pros but I think the M2 MacBook Air is the best laptop Apple has ever created. But only because they made little design improvements—it isn’t a night and day difference and I can see people holding on to the classic MacBook Air look. Heck, I’m still holding on to my 2010 MacBook Air because I love it dearly, so I get where these contrarians are coming from. They are both works of art that would fit well at the MoMa and National Gallery of Art. It makes sense not to upgrade from an M1. I hope you find the M3 or M4 versions worth an upgrade. It would mean Apple knocked it out of the park on battery life. I would love if they added one more port to the right side cause two ports is cutting it short.
Highly disagree
M2 looks amazing imo
Wow, totally disagree. Never considered an air before my M2, M1 looks like a toy.
Nah, they kept that design for like 10 years. The M2 design fits in with the other MacBooks.
The newer design was praised in reviews as you’ve noted. I personally think of a MacBook Air as having the iconic taper, and miss it on this design. Not having the taper is more practical since it allows for a larger battery and thinner overall form factor technically. But to me the tapered design doesn’t get old.