An honest review.
You know, I’ve always been a Windows user because there’s so much that you can do that other OSes like ChromeOS, MacOS, and Linux can’t do. Windows just has that freedom to do whatever you want to and other OSes are pretty limited with what you can do. You can’t even open zip files and ChromeOS and in MacOS there’s not much you can really do with it compared to Windows. But recently, I decided to try out a MacBook to see if I like it or not and if I would use it as a daily driver over Windows. So I went ahead and purchased myself a 15 inch MacBook Air in the midnight color which was very beautiful when I opened it! The first problem I had with it was that none of my Windows stuff would migrate to the MacBook so instead I just set it up fresh but it was no biggie. ... MoreYou know, I’ve always been a Windows user because there’s so much that you can do that other OSes like ChromeOS, MacOS, and Linux can’t do. Windows just has that freedom to do whatever you want to and other OSes are pretty limited with what you can do. You can’t even open zip files and ChromeOS and in MacOS there’s not much you can really do with it compared to Windows. But recently, I decided to try out a MacBook to see if I like it or not and if I would use it as a daily driver over Windows. So I went ahead and purchased myself a 15 inch MacBook Air in the midnight color which was very beautiful when I opened it! The first problem I had with it was that none of my Windows stuff would migrate to the MacBook so instead I just set it up fresh but it was no biggie. Anyway I had too much stuff for it to migrate so I just decided forget it. I go ahead and personalize the MacBook to my desired settings and everything is going great so far. I download my apps, sync my accounts, install third party apps like Steam, and just explore Mac in general. Here’s the next problem and this one was big and it disappointed me. None of my Steam games worked with the Mac which made it a bust. I mean, I get it, Apple computers aren’t really meant to play games anyways but I see them run games pretty well. Final problem and this one really got me was that the device had a tiny little dent on the side of it and I noticed this on FIRST DAY of ownership! I was really saddened by that not to mention the box was all beat up and dirty and had unnecessary writing on it. So with all those problems, I was debating on whether to keep this device or not and after just 4 days of ownership, I decided to return it because it didn’t suit my lifestyle. I really wanted to like it but the limitations of the MacBook was what made me not like it so much. But hey, I decided to give this device a decent rating anyway because it was easy to set up and you can sync your Apple devices with it. Also it had Magsafe charging which I actually really liked. But all in all, this one wasn’t for me. I don’t want to make this sound bad so here are some other pluses I want to add in: the battery life was amazing, the speed was fast, and the display was crisp (but I don’t like the notch!!). I would recommend this if all you do are lightweight tasks and absolutely no gaming at all but I wouldn’t recommend this if you do want to do some gaming (which is me) and more demanding tasks. That’s what Windows is for. At least I tried it…... Show more
Johnny729
originally posted on bestbuy.com
A review after 1 month.
This is only after a month of usage, but an objective review based on that.For the pros... I love the large screen, clarity, and as someone who has used Macs for years I am loving the feel of a more mechanical keyboard from my 2017 macbook pro. For the price I am satisfied with the storage, the migration assistant made it very easy to transfer settings, documents, photos, and all the things I needed to my new machine. The actual laptop itself is very clean looking, as one would expect from Apple. It is not cumbersome to carry in a backpack for its size or weight (less than some of my textbooks), and I am (so far) quite impressed with the battery life when not connected to a charger.The cons... this is more of a personal gripe that I have to spend extra money to ... MoreThis is only after a month of usage, but an objective review based on that.For the pros... I love the large screen, clarity, and as someone who has used Macs for years I am loving the feel of a more mechanical keyboard from my 2017 macbook pro. For the price I am satisfied with the storage, the migration assistant made it very easy to transfer settings, documents, photos, and all the things I needed to my new machine. The actual laptop itself is very clean looking, as one would expect from Apple. It is not cumbersome to carry in a backpack for its size or weight (less than some of my textbooks), and I am (so far) quite impressed with the battery life when not connected to a charger.The cons... this is more of a personal gripe that I have to spend extra money to get the MS Office Suite as a student, MS Applications are the standard, its just a pain to have to save documents as PDF's and constantly add Pages and PDF's - this isn't really against the computer itself, but I hate spending that extra $150 for the license to get Office for Mac.I will reiterate that I have only had the computer for one month, but so far there is really nothing that I find about it that I dislike. Experienced Mac users will find that it works as expected and nothing has departed wildly from the norm. This is a laptop primarily used for student activities (i.e. research, writing, media applications, web surfing, etc.), and as such it is not a 'top of the line' model nor does it have all the unnecessary bells and whistles that MacBook Pro models come with that I don't ever find myself using.... Show more
Sterling
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Awesome desktop replacement.
Extra 2inches equal to about 25% more screen area, compared to the 13inch MBA. And it's significant.The extra size means, whatever app or work case that you had to put in full screen on a 13inch MBA, you can now have it only take up 75% of the screen, still retain the same size of that app, and still have all that breathing room on the sides for like a support app. (Like browsing web as you would full-screen on a 13inch, but still have room for a side bar to place the mini-music player that displays lyrics, and then a post-it, or calendar app, right below that)The speakers also sound significantly fuller and better than the 13 inch.The 15 incher is also significantly thinner and lighter than the 14inch Pro (and much more so than the 16inch Pro).The best ... MoreExtra 2inches equal to about 25% more screen area, compared to the 13inch MBA. And it's significant.The extra size means, whatever app or work case that you had to put in full screen on a 13inch MBA, you can now have it only take up 75% of the screen, still retain the same size of that app, and still have all that breathing room on the sides for like a support app. (Like browsing web as you would full-screen on a 13inch, but still have room for a side bar to place the mini-music player that displays lyrics, and then a post-it, or calendar app, right below that)The speakers also sound significantly fuller and better than the 13 inch.The 15 incher is also significantly thinner and lighter than the 14inch Pro (and much more so than the 16inch Pro).The best feature of this for me personally, and it's not something that Apple ever advertised, is that the screen uses DC - direct current. Meaning it's going to be the most flicker-free, easy on the eyes screen in Apple's line-up.The Macbook Pro with MiniLED, uses PWM with really low frequency, that results in flickering. This induces severe eye strain and headaches to people who are sensitive to it. The effect varies from person to person, so some would be fine, some would feel more tired after using the Mini LED, and others cannot tolerate for more than 5 minutes (like me).The Macbook Air (15 and 13 both)'s screen is just one of the best Apple has ever put out, in terms of eye-comfort. (compared to Intel macbook Pros, iMacs, Studio Display, iPhone screen, etc etc)I wish the basic config had 16GB RAM and 512 storage. The 14-inch MBP with 16 512 can be found on sale all the time for $1200-ish. It's hard to justify paying $1400+ for this Air to have the same RAM and Storage, when the MBP gives so much more. Fans (active cooling to allow more power), brighter screen, better speakers, etc etc.The Air just remains so so basic, even when you trim up to the $1800 levels. You only get a bit more RAM and storage, but same processing power and same Air experience. It's not like you can get a M2 Pro or M2 Max chip on it, because it's fan-less it can never sustain those powerful CPUs.But still, for everything casual to moderately productive work, this base Air can handle with ease. It'll look good and perform great on the desk or on the go.... Show more
Rann
originally posted on bestbuy.com
For those thinking of upgrading from pre M-series
Previously i had the mid 2017 macbook air and could not decide if the upgrade to the new M2 air would be worth it or not, after buying it i can say for certian that it is.Lets start with the graphics, i didnt expect a huge difference here since the graphics on the older macs arent terrible but there is a massive difference. Not only is the resolution itself very much noticeably better but the color saturation/variety is on a different level.There are also several (for lack of a better word) "quality of life" additions that add up and make a huge difference. The fingerprint scanner is SO nice. It may not make a difference to most people but being able to immediately unlock my laptop without haveing to type in a code everytime is very convenient. Another are the ... MorePreviously i had the mid 2017 macbook air and could not decide if the upgrade to the new M2 air would be worth it or not, after buying it i can say for certian that it is.Lets start with the graphics, i didnt expect a huge difference here since the graphics on the older macs arent terrible but there is a massive difference. Not only is the resolution itself very much noticeably better but the color saturation/variety is on a different level.There are also several (for lack of a better word) "quality of life" additions that add up and make a huge difference. The fingerprint scanner is SO nice. It may not make a difference to most people but being able to immediately unlock my laptop without haveing to type in a code everytime is very convenient. Another are the battery life and storage. The battery life is a lot better, im sure a lot of that is because the battery on my previous laptop has worn down over time but the M2 battery life beats it even when it was new. The significantly higher storage is a huge help too and if youre like me only downloading documents/powerpoints/movies then the storage it has is more than enough.Lastly, the speed of this macbook vs the previous ones is very noticable as well. For normal daily use its perfect, I can have hulu playing while i have a chess game going and 5 chrome tabs open doing research in all of them and it wont have a hickup even once... Show more
Braxton
originally posted on bestbuy.com
My Vote For Best Laptop Made Thus Far
I try not to be an Apple fanboy, but if I'm honest I hardly use my Microsoft Surface 3 laptop, or any of my many other Windows laptops. You could say I resisted Apple until the first Air. That laptop changed my Outlook, not to mention all the other MS Office programs (i.e. injection of lame computer humor). The original Air was so good this one is my fourth. While the 13" M1 Air was fantastic, this M2 15" Air is a revelation. It's the best screen I've had on any laptop I have ever owned or used. The keyboard has what I'd have to say are meaningful improvements and the travel is not the least of those. This keyboard doesn't flex and has that solid feel with proper feedback. The battery life? Well, I've never ran out even into the tenth hour that this machine was on ... MoreI try not to be an Apple fanboy, but if I'm honest I hardly use my Microsoft Surface 3 laptop, or any of my many other Windows laptops. You could say I resisted Apple until the first Air. That laptop changed my Outlook, not to mention all the other MS Office programs (i.e. injection of lame computer humor). The original Air was so good this one is my fourth. While the 13" M1 Air was fantastic, this M2 15" Air is a revelation. It's the best screen I've had on any laptop I have ever owned or used. The keyboard has what I'd have to say are meaningful improvements and the travel is not the least of those. This keyboard doesn't flex and has that solid feel with proper feedback. The battery life? Well, I've never ran out even into the tenth hour that this machine was on at work. Here is where the difference, and pleasant surprise, is like discovering something valuable on Oak Island (lame humor insertion). My Microsoft Surface 3 Laptop won't even last enough hours to equal its version. Oh yes, it lasts less than 3-hours whenever I'm forced to use it. The newest Surface is either the four, or perhaps 5, and I'm quite sure it costs almost as much as the Apple equivalent Air model...why punish yourself with Windows and Microsoft's half*** attempts at making a Windows laptop as good as an Apple laptop?This is the clear winner in well powered and high-functionality portable laptops for home or business. Only gamers, those who do intense graphic arts, photo editing, or CAD heavy design should pass. For the rest of us this is the machine to own, and enjoy. Even Dell's vaulted XPS models (I've owned 2 and been let down twice) just got the boot as far as I'm concerned.... Show more
JohnW
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Outstanding!
This is such an outstanding computer!First, this computer has a large, beautiful display. It multitasks very well with easy visibly and a large trackpad for navigation. The display is plenty bright for any need I have thrown at it.The biometrics on this computer work quickly and flawlessly. I loved the M1 Air biometrics, but this seems to be even quicker and I love the full-sized buttons available on the M2 Air models (regardless of size).The sound is plenty loud, crisp, and clear enough. I love that the speakers are actually hidden and I find no fault in sound due to this design.Connectivity is so quick. I am able to open something on my phone and have my AirPods connect easily. Then, I can open something on my computer and my AirPods will seamlessly ... MoreThis is such an outstanding computer!First, this computer has a large, beautiful display. It multitasks very well with easy visibly and a large trackpad for navigation. The display is plenty bright for any need I have thrown at it.The biometrics on this computer work quickly and flawlessly. I loved the M1 Air biometrics, but this seems to be even quicker and I love the full-sized buttons available on the M2 Air models (regardless of size).The sound is plenty loud, crisp, and clear enough. I love that the speakers are actually hidden and I find no fault in sound due to this design.Connectivity is so quick. I am able to open something on my phone and have my AirPods connect easily. Then, I can open something on my computer and my AirPods will seamlessly connect to what is playing there with no work or thought needing to be done on my end.This is such a big computer that is also so light. It is easy to hold, light to carry, and yet it is such a large and beautiful screen making this an absolute beast on the go with portability size, and power.No matter what I throw at this, the battery is able to outlast my needs. I am not a huge power user, but I do watch videos, multitask with various browsers, work with documents frequently, have a video open running in the background, and email running simultaneously at most times while using. This computer has no issue keeping up with anything (even with it being the base 8gb RAM model) even when multiple tabs are also open in Safari and Chrome during additional multitasking.Mac OS Sonoma has made this computer even faster and more versatile with multiple user profiles being enabled, widgets available to be added to the Home Screen, and a vast number of other quality of life improvements.The keyboard is on of my favorites. It is very tactile with minimal travel, so someone like me, who is light-handed while typing, has an easy time typing effortlessly and quickly.While I often use this computer for multitasking with multiple windows and tabs open, a video in the background, and an email or something similar being worked on, I also find that I use this for occasional video and photo editing machine. For someone who does not do this often or professionally, I find this process to be quick and effortless and my computer hasn't even gotten warm while doing these activities (keep in mind, I do light work with both so I am unsure how heavy usage would work in these areas). I haven't experienced any throttling with the workload I throw at it. Years ago, I used to buy Pro MacBooks that struggled with the work that I am throwing at this base-model Air, which handles it all and then some without breaking a sweat.The camera and mic system work very well with my needs. I do Facetime for personal reasons and attend Teams meetings professionally and have had no issue in quality or performance.I can keep going, but overall, if you are a person who likes or is interested in an Apple computer, and you are also someone who has a similar load between personal and professional use.(light photo and video editing, working with documents, streaming content, all while having multiple tabs open simultaneously), I say look no further. This computer at its base spec is so powerful that it handles these with ease and it is so lightweight that it can be taken anywhere without breaking your back or a sweat, and it is so efficient that it will last you days without even needing to pack your charger. Buy this computer!... Show more
karat
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Perhaps the Perfect Laptop
This computer is excellent! I picked it up from the store, and it was in perfect condition. The packaging is well-designed, with tissue paper to protect the screen from cosmetic issues. Setting up the computer took less than five minutes, consisting of logging in with my Apple ID and selecting preferences from a few screens. Everything about this computer exudes quality, from the thoughtfulness and simplicity of the design to the premium materials and manufacturing tolerances to the clarity and ease of use of the software. Unlike a Windows PC or laptop, there are no advertisements or purchase prompts in the software, and it defers to your selected preferences rather than constantly recommending you make changes. This particular model, the MacBook Air, runs so ... MoreThis computer is excellent! I picked it up from the store, and it was in perfect condition. The packaging is well-designed, with tissue paper to protect the screen from cosmetic issues. Setting up the computer took less than five minutes, consisting of logging in with my Apple ID and selecting preferences from a few screens. Everything about this computer exudes quality, from the thoughtfulness and simplicity of the design to the premium materials and manufacturing tolerances to the clarity and ease of use of the software. Unlike a Windows PC or laptop, there are no advertisements or purchase prompts in the software, and it defers to your selected preferences rather than constantly recommending you make changes. This particular model, the MacBook Air, runs so efficiently that it does not require fans to keep the electronics cool; it is blissfully and impressively silent, even when performing incredibly processor-intensive tasks. I recommend it highly for anything except for gaming. The screen is large and deliciously sharp; the colors are clear, accurate, and bright; the speakers sound amazing, which, as far as I'm concerned, must be witchcraft, as they are completely hidden. This particular color (Midnight) seems to be very prone to showing fingerprints, so definitely consider a different color or a skin or case of some kind if that is undesirable to you. Overall, this computer is practically perfect as a portable laptop, and I couldn't recommend it enough to anyone, especially if you're looking for something to run creative software on (music, photo, or video editing). Bravo, Apple!... Show more
WalkerG
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Plenty of Power
I'll star by saying we're fans of Macs in this house already, however my wife was still using a PC. She has the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro though so she had been considering switching to a Mac for sometime. Her less than two year old Samsung PC was already not holding a charge longer than an hour, so she started to expedite the search. She began looking at MacBook Pros, which are considerably more expensive than the Airs. I decided to do some comparisons to see if the MacBook Air would meet her needs.Oh, for sure it does. This thing is essentially a MacBook Pro now, just minus a few features. For every day computing, light gameplay, photo software needs the Air can handle all without issues. The harddrive is smaller than it should be, but that is easily ... MoreI'll star by saying we're fans of Macs in this house already, however my wife was still using a PC. She has the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro though so she had been considering switching to a Mac for sometime. Her less than two year old Samsung PC was already not holding a charge longer than an hour, so she started to expedite the search. She began looking at MacBook Pros, which are considerably more expensive than the Airs. I decided to do some comparisons to see if the MacBook Air would meet her needs.Oh, for sure it does. This thing is essentially a MacBook Pro now, just minus a few features. For every day computing, light gameplay, photo software needs the Air can handle all without issues. The harddrive is smaller than it should be, but that is easily taken care of with a USB-C external solid state. I mean, we back up everything to external drives anyway.She's had the computer for a couple weeks now and loves it. The design is gorgeous. The Air no longer goes to that weird thin point at the front, but has a flat look like most laptops. The color options are great, we went with midnight so it would standout from the other MacBooks in the house. She's adjusted to it quickly, and enjoys the programs that came onboard. She even was able to use some of her Steam games on the machine. Battery life is exceptional, and hopefully will hold up longer than her PC's battery did.Recommend if you are looking for a more affordable option to the MacBook Pro. Especially if you don't need that extra power.... Show more
Iggy
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Quintessentially Apple
An absolutely classic Apple product, aesthetically pleasing, practical, user friendly and technically adept. However, Apple's pricing is morally suspect, (thankfully John Lewis had discounted the price by £100 and provided that all important JL second year warranty). I am essentially a windows user and there are many less expensive but equally capable laptops on the market. However, having researched via YouTube and web surfing, watching hours of information covering a multitude of devices and manufacturers I chose the M2 MacBook Air for the reasons mentioned above.It links seamlessly to my other Apple devices, the 15" screen is impressive. On a daily basis as a truly portable laptop, I would probably have selected a slightly smaller screen and device, but placed ... MoreAn absolutely classic Apple product, aesthetically pleasing, practical, user friendly and technically adept. However, Apple's pricing is morally suspect, (thankfully John Lewis had discounted the price by £100 and provided that all important JL second year warranty). I am essentially a windows user and there are many less expensive but equally capable laptops on the market. However, having researched via YouTube and web surfing, watching hours of information covering a multitude of devices and manufacturers I chose the M2 MacBook Air for the reasons mentioned above.It links seamlessly to my other Apple devices, the 15" screen is impressive. On a daily basis as a truly portable laptop, I would probably have selected a slightly smaller screen and device, but placed in a protective case and carried in a small rucksack the size and weight are not an issue. I was concerned that it only has two ports, which I still see as a shortcoming. However having purchased an eight in one data hub this resolved the situation. The backlit keyboard, key travel, keypad, battery life etc. in my opinion are precise and fit for purpose. The fingerprint button is inspired. The sound emanating between the key board and screen is, to my ears, very good. Apple stores provide free training for their devices and I would recommend you take advantage of this. In conclusion, I am very happy with my purchase, I would suggest that you increase the RAM and Hard drive size, unless you use iCloud for storage.... Show more
Finn
originally posted on johnlewis.com
SEXY BEAST
Build: Trumps anything Windows laptops come up with their cheap plastic or cheap metal finishes. I’ve never had issues with cleaning this laptop and it lasts and lastsPerformance: 256GB version for most people will be overpowered to be honest…the M2 chip is a beast. For those worried about the overheating issue and slower read/write speeds: 1. If you’re using this for a professional setting where you need consistent processing performance for longer than 5-10 min with extremely taxing exports/renders/etc, then id just save up for a MacBook Pro since they have fans. For everyone else like me who uses it for emails and daily use, it’s a non issue. 2. The read write speeds are a non issue if you’re just transferring a few gigabytes of data at a time. If you’re a ... MoreBuild: Trumps anything Windows laptops come up with their cheap plastic or cheap metal finishes. I’ve never had issues with cleaning this laptop and it lasts and lastsPerformance: 256GB version for most people will be overpowered to be honest…the M2 chip is a beast. For those worried about the overheating issue and slower read/write speeds: 1. If you’re using this for a professional setting where you need consistent processing performance for longer than 5-10 min with extremely taxing exports/renders/etc, then id just save up for a MacBook Pro since they have fans. For everyone else like me who uses it for emails and daily use, it’s a non issue. 2. The read write speeds are a non issue if you’re just transferring a few gigabytes of data at a time. If you’re a professional and need to transfer hundreds/thousands of gigabytes then yeah it’ll affect your workflow. The only issue I see is that when your 8GB RAM is used up, it’ll utilize the 256GB drive as ram so it could slow down performance, but again this is more professional level of usage (of which I am not a professional content creator). Basically if you’re doing heavy rendering for a job I’d probably upgrade, but for literally everyone else it’s a beast.Battery Life: Pretty much lasts forever and gets more efficient as you use it. It’s magic, really, considering how capable this thing is. It’s something you want to reach for everyday.Design: It’s Apple. I mean what else is there to say. It’s flawless. Keyboard is tactile, lighting is even, weight is kinda incredible how light it is.Speakers: Not as bassy as the MacBook Pro, but it’s still leaps and bounds better than anything you’ll ever get on a windows laptop. They’re fantastic.Screen: Super bright, punchy yet accurate colors, Apple is also at the top of their game with their Retina displays.TLDR: If you don’t game a lot and need an insanely capable, good looking/feeling, durable device that holds its value and battery life like a champ, this is it chief. Windows laptops feel like a kids toy compared to these machines and they’re nowhere near catching up to Apple in almost every regard except for gaming and GPU processing.... Show more
KevS
originally posted on bestbuy.com