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Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2) vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M1)
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2) ($580) vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M1) ($249) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right ultraportable laptop.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2) | Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M1) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $580 | $249 |
| Weight | 1240g | 1290g |
| Chip | M2 | M1 |
| Display | 13.6" Liquid Retina | 13.3" Retina |
| Ports | MagSafe 3, 2x Thunderbolt, headphone | 2x Thunderbolt, headphone |
| Cooling | Fanless | Fanless |
| Battery | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| Weight | 1240g (Apple published) | 1290g (Apple published) |
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2)
- Completely silent, there is no fan
- 1240g and 11.3mm thin
- MagSafe 3 returned, so a tripped cable does not take the Mac with it
- Cheapest modern Apple silicon laptop
- Base model has a 256GB SSD that reads slower than the 512
- 8GB base memory is tight in 2026
- Throttles under sustained load
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M1)
- Extraordinary value at this price
- Fanless and silent
- Battery life still excellent
- Fast enough for real work in 2026
- Wedge shape is thicker at the back than modern Airs
- Only two ports and no MagSafe
- 8GB base memory
- 1290g, heavier than an M2 Air
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M1) is the better value at $249. If weight matters most, Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2) carries lighter at 1240g. Both are part of our curated ultraportable laptop index — tap through to check current pricing.
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