MacBook Air - M2 or M3

Tiny Clanger · 27 Aug 2024 at 19:57

So - Junior Clanger is off to University next month and has declared that a MacBook Air is essential for her studies... :rolleyes:

In terms of making it (at least a little) future-proof I'm thinking of going for 16Gb RAM and a 512Gb SSD - but thinking I could save a little bit on going for the M2 rather than the M3 processor. She's not going to be using it for much outside of Office 365 and streaming - so I'm thinking that the M2 will be sufficient for her needs - but is there anything I'm missing...?

Feek · 27 Aug 2024 at 20:00

Tiny Clanger said:
but is there anything I'm missing...?

Nope. An M2 will be perfectly good for that usage. Even an M1 would!

Tiny Clanger · 27 Aug 2024 at 20:02

Feek said:
Nope. An M2 will be perfectly good for that usage. Even an M1 would!

Perfect- thanks Feek!

I assume that the RAM and SSD upgrades are more sensible though?

Mesai · 27 Aug 2024 at 20:06

The M1 is still good enough even for heavy users, so an M2 will be more than enough. Could look at an M1 Pro for the better screen.

Definitely get 16GB of RAM - 8 should be a crime.

Tiny Clanger · 27 Aug 2024 at 20:26

Grand - thanks both

Cromulent · 27 Aug 2024 at 21:17

Just to add that my M1 8GB 256GB SSD MBA does everything I need it to. Mainly web browsing, music and Office 365.

Just make sure you get the student discount to save some cash rather than paying full price.

Tiny Clanger · 27 Aug 2024 at 21:18

Cromulent said:
Just make sure you get the student discount to save some cash rather than paying full price.

Will do - she wants some new airpods - so the £120 gift card will come in useful too...

atomiser · 27 Aug 2024 at 21:41

I've just snagged a 14" MacBook Pro M2 Pro (32GB, 1TB) off the Apple refurb store. Thrilled to bits with it, and saved a bundle. I'd recommend checking out the refurb store before buying brand new. This is my second purchase in relatively recent years, no issues with either. I've just lobbed the AppleCare on it, £89.99 for the year. (Replaced a Mid-2015 15" Retina MacBook Pro).

holdin09 · 2 Sep 2024 at 10:16

I have the m2 air and it is great. Battery life is amazing and will do anything anybody wants it to do apart from serious gaming but that is an apple thing not the macbook thing. One thing I will say though is the midnight colour shows finger prints very easily but is better on the m3 by the looks of it.