Apple’s latest processor, the M2 chip, has arrived in two 2022 models of its primary laptops: the 13-inch version of the MacBook Pro and the redesigned MacBook Air. The laptops have a lot in common, but although both use the M2, the chip is slightly different and implemented in different ways in each.
So which of the two new MacBooks with the M2 offers better performance? After testing both, we’re ready to compare the numbers and give you the answer.
MacBook M2 (so far): Processor configuration and nuances
In theory, the cheapest 13-inch MacBook Pro should easily outperform the cheapest M2 MacBook Air, because the Air starts with an octa-core GPU (offering the 10-core GPU as an optional extra), and the MacBook Pro 13 only comes with a 10- the nuclear version.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
However, of the two review units we tested, neither is the base model. For the 13-inch MacBook Pro, our test system has a little extra memory and more storage, while the M2 MacBook Air also has a beefed-up 10-core GPU and the same 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage. Both test configurations retail for $1,899.
One benefit of having both models with such similar configurations is that we can safely compare them head-to-head without having to worry about memory or storage differences impacting performance.
M2 Apple MacBooks we tested
One thing that needs to be clarified, though: the cooling systems in these two laptops, which take two very different approaches. The MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro offer two packages for the same M2 chip. The biggest difference between the two new MacBook models – more important than any cosmetic differences – is how they cool that M2 chip inside. The Air sticks to passive cooling, letting natural airflow and some heatsinks do the work to keep the processor from getting too hot.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro, on the other hand, uses a pair of fans that actively draw in cool air and expel hot air. This is an important difference because active airflow can be accelerated when needed and used to maintain cooler temperatures even when the hardware wants to heat up, such as when multitasking.
Both the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air have built-in ventilation, but Apple’s design team hides it well. Instead of visible vents next to the keyboard or on the underside of the laptop, both MacBooks sport what appears to be a seamless metal shell. The vents are actually built into the hinge, tucked away out of sight but with plenty of room for air. And in the case of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, it also allows airflow for that pair of cooling fans.
Apple M2 Conflict: Fanless vs. Active Cooling MacBook Performance Comparison
For each aspect of performance, we looked at the test results of both systems, but also looked at a few other systems to add context. For the most part, we’ve compared either the M1 version of the MacBook Pro or the M1 MacBook Air, just to illustrate how the M2 has advanced over its predecessor.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
For one graphics benchmark, 3DMark, we also compared the M2 to the M1 Max desktop version of Mac Studio. This was done largely because we had the data for this relatively new benchmark, but also because it demonstrates exactly where the M2 ranks for serious graphics applications – and how much more power is available if you’re willing to use the more capable variants of the M1 like M1 Pro or M1 Max. The M2 may be much better than the M1 in terms of GPU, but it doesn’t replace those higher-end chips, by any means.
We’ll get to the 3DMark results below. First, let’s look at a trio of CPU-intensive performance benchmark tests: HandBrake 1.4, Cinebench R23, and Geekbench 5.4. Of the three, Handbrake is the test most grounded in real-world applications, as it’s a time trial converting a short 4K video clip to a smaller 1080p file. Faster times are better, and the differences here will directly translate into differences in performance and media experience.
The second test is Cinebench R23, which uses Maxon’s Cinema 4D engine to render a complex scene, to test multi-core and multi-threaded processing. This is a stress test for multi-core processors, and higher numbers equal better peak performance.
The third performance test is Primate Labs’ Geekbench Pro, which simulates a wide range of office tasks and applications ranging from PDF rendering and speech recognition to machine learning.
Outside of particularly demanding applications like media editing, you’ll see very little difference between the two systems in day-to-day use. Geekbench is one of the few benchmarks where the two M2 systems are nearly identical, coming within 17 points of each other. But the differences were noted in the Cinebench and HandBrake tests, where the extended time taken on these tests is reflected in the better performance of the actively cooled MacBook Pro.
We then ran through a few browser-based tests to see how well the M2 chip was suited to web-based use at school and work. We start with JetStream 2, which combines 64 JavaScript and WebAssembly benchmarks to measure the browser’s suitability for advanced web applications. We also use Principled Technologies’ WebXPRT 3 (a browser-based HTML and JavaScript throughput test). Last is the Basemark Web 3.0 test, which combines JavaScript calculations and low-level tests using popular JavaScript and Document Object Model frameworks and CSS functions with WebGL graphics content that exercises the GPU. All these tests give a numerical result; higher numbers are better.
In all three tests, the M2 systems offered a noticeable step up from the already good performance of the M1 chip, making the new systems a great choice over the M1 if you can afford the higher prices. Interestingly, the M2-based Air actually outperforms the M2 MacBook Pro in WebXPRT 3. However, in the other two, the active-cooled Pro outperforms the passive Air.
Which M2 MacBook has better graphics performance?
The other area of interest for the M2 chip is graphics performance. Since the M2 boasts more GPU cores than the M1, this translates into a notable improvement, which we look at in more detail in our analysis of the M2’s graphics performance.
For this comparison, we looked at 3DMark Wildlife Extreme, which runs natively on Macs and Apple’s Metal graphics API, and GFXBench, a cross-platform GPU performance benchmark.
Here the differences were great. The M2 processors in the Air and Pro may be the same silicon, but performance isn’t identical in the end, with the MacBook Pro delivering dramatically better results than the M2 Air in all three graphics tests; active cooling beats passive cooling.
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But for serious graphics users, like professional media creators, the better option is still to go for the more powerful (and more premium) Macs, like the 16-inch MacBook Pro or Mac Studio. (The M1 Max chip outperforms the M2 quite decisively.)
Finally, while it’s not just a result of the processor, Apple has definitely emphasized the power efficiency of the M2 and the longer battery life you’ll get from it. But in our battery-draining tests, which use a looped 720p video that plays until the battery drains — admittedly not a test that covers the finer points of mixed performance and hybrid core design — the M1 models delivered better battery life and with a significant difference in the case of air.
The M2 Air died first, lasting nearly 17 hours, while the M2 MacBook Pro, which has more chassis space for a larger battery (58.2 watt-hours, compared to the Air’s 52.6 watt-hours), lasted nearly 22 hours. Both are great and deliver a full day of battery life, but it’s not as impressive as the M1 generation, which wowed us with some of the longest battery times we’ve seen, even breaking the 24-hour barrier in the case of M1 Air.
Apple M2: Great everyday performance just gets better
Before we call a winner for the best M2 MacBook yet, it’s worth noting how well the M2 delivers on nearly every promise Apple made about the new chip. It offers faster, smoother processing for everyday tasks and more GPU power for tasks like video editing or playing multiple games. And the energy efficiency still delivers an impressively long battery life.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
If you’re looking to upgrade an older Intel MacBook, this is an easy win—the performance improvements alone are worth the price of admission. If you’re starting to tire of your M1 MacBook, it’s not so clear. You’ll get better performance, but you’ll sacrifice a bit of battery life.
And if you need more serious processing and graphics power for professional use or media work, then the older M1 Pro and M1 Max are still better options, for now. With a potential M2 Pro and M2 Max (or equivalent) coming sometime in the next year or two, the CPU power rankings will change. But for now, the M2 is a step up from the bottom, not a contender for the top.
Verdict: Is the Apple M2 better on the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?
When it comes to pure performance, the numbers tell the story: The 13-inch MacBook Pro (the 2022 M2 version) is the better performer when measured against the 2022 MacBook Air. The added cooling fans and larger battery translate into more -good peak performance when tasked for longer periods and longer time away from the charger.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Still, for most people, the M2 MacBook Air is the Mac laptop we recommend. The performance differences won’t be noticeable to all but the small minority of users who regularly push their CPUs to the limits, making the two systems nearly identical in day-to-day use. Plus, the MacBook Air offers a fresh new design that’s thinner and lighter and even has a better display. It’s simply the better laptop for the money, which is…
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