Is the MacBook Air M2 still worth buying in 2026?

Apple launched the MacBook Air M2 in June 2022. Four years and three generations later, it continues to be a great buy in 2026. While the MacBook Neo makes it difficult to recommend the MacBook Air M1, the story is completely different for the MacBook Air M2 because of its added features and more powerful processor make it relevant today.

This Air laptop introduced a complete redesign, following the same industrial look as the MacBook Pro 2021, while also benefiting from an improved screen, webcam, and processor. With a 13.6-inch screen, Apple promises up to 15 hours of wireless web viewing on the MacBook Air M2. The laptop has two Thunderbolt USB-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the most significant upgrade over the previous generation: a MagSafe port, which helps you avoid dropping your Mac on the floor if you trip over the cable. Originally available with 8 GB of RAM, this MacBook can be found on the second-hand market with up to 24 GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of storage. It supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, ideal for making video calls. It can connect to an external display with a resolution of up to 6K and 60Hz. Apart from all that, here’s why the MacBook Air M2 remains a solid option in 2026, and for whom it can be a perfect complement.

Given that the MacBook Neo’s processor is comparable to the M2 chip available in the MacBook Air, it’s safe to assume that this laptop will continue to see support for at least four years. While this is still a guess, since Apple hasn’t started to phase out its Apple Silicon Macs in favor of newer models, we can expect the M1 Macs to last at least seven years. MacOS 27 will no longer support Intel Macs, but not the first Apple Silicon Mac released in late 2020. So the M1 model will still receive updates at least until the end of 2027, when the next major macOS update is expected.

This long support is impressive, especially because these computers remain great for web browsing and light activities like video calls, photo editing, and paperwork. The recently released MacBook Neo, which meets the same goals, offers a new processor, but not as powerful as the M5 chip in newer, more powerful MacBooks. So it’s unlikely that Apple will drop support for this laptop in just a few years.

Yet when you consider the MacBook Air M2’s design and other features, like the MagSafe port, better webcam, display, and SSD, the M2 becomes much more attractive. Additionally, a refurbished model is in the same price range as the MacBook Neo, from $499 to $599, depending on whether customers get a student discount.

If you just want a lightweight, fast, and useful laptop, the MacBook Air M2 continues to be a solid option in 2026. Choosing a recent model, like one with the M4 chip or a MacBook Air M5, is only worth it if you want the latest laptop with improved internal specs, like more RAM, storage, and support for more external displays. Likewise, if you plan to run very complex local AI tasks, do heavy photo and video editing, or need a lot of GPU power to work on 3D graphics, upgrading to a MacBook Pro might be worth it, especially with the cooling fans that keep performance stable. On top of that, a MacBook Pro gives you more internal spec upgrades, a better display, and more ports.

However, if you’re looking for a laptop for college, for running multiple spreadsheets, for general light work, or just a computer to save all your files in one place, the MacBook Air M2 will continue to be a solid option for years to come. The worst that can happen is that Apple starts releasing new Apple Intelligence features only for laptops with more RAM, like those with a minimum of 16 GB, for example. On top of that, there’s no indication that early generations of Apple Silicon Macs will start to slow down or stop getting support for the latest macOS updates.