Laptops get lighter and lighter as technology advances and parts get smaller. The MacBook Air is known for its minimal weight; it’s even in the name, MacBook Air, giving the impression that it is as light as air.
So, how much does the new M2 MacBook Air weigh? It weighs only 2.7 pounds, slightly lighter than the 2.8-pound M1 MacBook Air.
My name is Eric, and I had my first portable computer in the late 1980s. It probably weighed closer to 27 pounds than 2.7 pounds. It’s incredible how thin and light laptops such as the MacBook Air have gotten.
I have given you the weight of the latest M2 MacBook Air above, but if you keep reading, I will discuss the good and bad implications of a lightweight laptop. I will also compare what the MacBook Pro weighs and how some other PC laptops compare.
Contents
The Good
As you probably already know, lightweight devices such as the MacBook Air have many benefits. The obvious one is that they are easy to carry around, making them great for those on the go.
The weight makes them easy to transport when traveling and moving around inside your own space. In an office, you can easily take it to a meeting or a colleague’s desk, and around your house, it is no problem to move from your home office to the couch in your family room.
Mobility is the main benefit, but it also helps with durability. A lightweight laptop may seem flimsy and easy to break, but if you drop it, there is less weight and force on impact, making it less susceptible to damage when dropping or jostling around.
The decrease in weight also means that components are continuing to get smaller and smaller, making the laptop lighter and allowing more hardware inside the unit, therefore packing a more powerful punch from a smaller, easier-to-transport system.
The Bad
Having a lightweight laptop does not have many negatives, but there are a few. While the less weight may help with drops or jostling around, it may lack durability when it comes to being hit by something or someone or being smashed by another heavy object.
The thin profile helps reduce its weight but can also make the MacBook Air harder to grip and hold on to since there is less surface area to grab. The air-like weight may make you forget that you have the laptop in your bag. Not knowing it is there, you may throw the bag around, causing damage to the laptop.
Finally, a lightweight laptop means there will be limitations on your screen size. To make it small and portable, the screen needs to be smaller. You’re not going to get a 16-inch display if you’re looking to have a featherweight laptop. Most of them in this class have a 13-inch or smaller display.
These negatives are unlikely in most cases, and it is hard to come up with many bad things caused by weight, but there are a few things to consider. All in all, the weight of the MacBook Air is a great benefit to almost anyone.
The MacBook Pro
Mac users often like to compare the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. As we already know, the Pro will be a more powerful computer with a few more features, but how do they compare in weight?
Well, there is not a whole lot of difference. The new 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro weighs about 3 pounds even. It is not that much more than the MacBook Air. It is only about 0.3 pounds or about 4.8 ounces more. Not that much when it comes down to it.
The 14-inch and 16-inch M2 Pros are a bit heavier due to the larger screen size. The 14 weighs in at about 3.6 pounds and the 16 is over a pound more, at 4.8 pounds.
Other Laptops
You’re probably wondering how the M2 MacBook Air’s weight compares to other laptops on the market. The M2 MacBook Air is very light and the most lightweight laptop made by Apple, but it is not the lightest of all laptops. There are some PC laptops out there that weigh less.
Since technology changes so quickly and new products are coming out on the market all the time, it is hard to say which laptop is currently the lightest, but I do know that Asus has one that is 2.4 lbs, Acer has one that is 2.3, and HP has one that is only 2.2 lbs.
Clearly, these devices are continuing to decrease in size. I’m sure the MacBook Air will also continue with this trend.
FAQ
Below are a few common questions about the MacBook Air’s weight.
How much did the M1 MacBook Air Weigh?
The M1 MacBook Air is a very light system as well. Almost as light as the M2. The M1 weighed only 2.8 pounds. So the MacBook Air lost about 0.1 pounds in the new M2 version.
Does laptop weight really matter?
It can, but in the end, it comes down to personal preference. If you are constantly on the go, take your MacBook with you on the plane, or like to be very mobile when you work, it can make a difference, but for some, they may not even notice the slight change.
What’s more important, processing power or weight?
In my opinion, processing power will always be a more important factor than weight, especially when it is only a few tenths of a pound. But this will depend on how you use your system. The system’s weight might be a more critical factor if you only use it for word processing, internet searching, or other low-processing power apps.
Conclusion
The MacBook Air is a very lightweight system, weighing only 2.7 pounds. It may not be the lightest laptop available, but it is Apple’s lightest laptop, and along with its thin profile, it is easy to transport and carry around.
As usual, let me know if you have any questions or comments. I would love to hear from you.
