Apple’s M2, which will be available in the second half of 2022, will be the direct successor to the M1 featured in the MacBook Air and other models. According to multiple rumors, the new Apple Silicon will be found in the 2022 MacBook Air, which will sport a massive overhaul, but the chipset powering the portable laptop will only be modestly quicker, according to one reporter.
Even though the M2’s specific CPU and GPU combination is unknown, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims that the impending custom hardware will only provide a little performance gain over the M1. Some readers may interpret that as a cryptic phrase, but according to a recent report, the M2 would include an 8-core CPU, much like the M1. TSMC’s 5nm technology, which is expected to be used to mass-produce the future chipset, may provide significant enhancements.
The M1 in the Mac mini, for example, idles at 7 watts and consumes 39 watts at full load. The M2 could use less power while executing the same activity, and Gurman has hinted that GPU performance may improve as well, given that the M2 is claimed to have up to a 10-core GPU. Consumers on the M1 were limited to an 8-core GPU, so Apple’s forthcoming SoC could feature a significant upgrade.
The 2022 MacBook Air will have one of the most significant redesigns, with a notch at the top, a mini-LED display, and a new palette of colors. A MagSafe connector, as well as one Thunderbolt 4 port on each side, may be included in the next model. Unfortunately, we don’t expect these Thunderbolt 4 ports to support eGPUs, as Apple left that feature out of the MacBook Air lineup for 2021.
Because the M2 is slated to be released in the second half of 2022, the next MacBook Air will not be accessible until the third quarter of the same year, according to a prior report, with mass manufacturing of this model beginning around that time. If you already own an M1 MacBook Air, there’s little reason to upgrade unless you want to see the 2022 MacBook Air’s aesthetic improvement.
