Remember MagSafe? The energy wire that magnetically caught itself to the charging port on previous MacBooks to stop it from flying off the desk when somebody tripped over the wire? Apple introduced the progressive connector again on its high-end MacBook Pro models final yr, however the function is now making its approach right down to essentially the most reasonably priced laptop computer in its lineup: the MacGuide Air. At WWDC 2022, Apple introduced this new laptop computer alongside a brand new 13-inch MacGuide Pro, each of that are powered by the additionally newly introduced second-gen M2 processor.
Both the brand new MacGuide Air 2022 and MacGuide Pro 2022 will go on sale in July. The Air prices $1,199, and the brand new Pro begins at $1,299. Apple has discontinued the older M1-powered MacGuide Pro, however you may nonetheless be capable to purchase the 2020 M1 MacBook Air for $999. Here’s the whole lot you might want to know concerning the pair.
Air Beats Pro
Quite bizarrely, the brand new (and cheaper) MacGuide Air is the fancier of the 2 new laptops. For instance, it picks up among the design modifications launched with the pricier MacGuide Pro fashions from 2021, together with thinner borders across the display screen and a notch for the webcam, making for a barely bigger 13.6-inch show versus the brand new MacGuide Pro’s 13.3-inch display screen.
Despite the bigger display screen, the Air shaves down some weight over its predecessor. It’s 2.7 kilos and merely 0.44 inches thick when totally closed, placing the “air” again in MacGuide Air as one among Apple’s lightest laptops but. For comparability, the Pro is 3 kilos and 0.61 inches thick.
That additionally means the brand new MacGuide Air can reap the benefits of an upgraded 1080p webcam for higher high quality throughout video calls, whereas the brand new MacGuide Pro is caught with the identical previous 720p digital camera. The Air additionally has a quad-speaker setup for higher audio versus the MacGuide Pro’s stereo audio system, although Apple suggests the microphones are studio high quality on the Pro whereas the Air makes use of lesser, customary mics.
Both nonetheless have the identical LCD IPS 2K-resolution display screen, and the MacGuide Air can get a smidge brighter than its predecessor, matching the MacGuide Pro’s display screen brightness of 500 nits. Speaking of shows, the MacGuide Pro stays the one Mac in Apple’s lineup with the Touch Bar show above the Magic Keyboard, a function that by no means fairly caught on. The MacGuide Air has bodily perform keys, although each have Touch ID baked in. (No, there’s nonetheless no Face ID on a Mac.)
