Skip to main content

The new M2 MacBook Air still has one glaring flaw

Promotional logo for WWDC 2023.
This story is part of our complete Apple WWDC coverage

The M2 MacBook Air was among the biggest highlights from Apple’s WWDC keynote today. Not only does it feature a brand new design, but it’s also powered by the next-gen M2 chip.

However, for all the improvements M2 is getting from M1, there is still one glaring flaw around its ports.

The M2 MacBook Air sitting on a desk with ports in view.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The M2 MacBooks will still technically be limited to support for just one external monitor with a max resolution of 6K at 60Hz. This was a major pain point for creatives and productivity-minded users when M1 first launched, and apparently, it’s a struggle that will continue with these new devices.

Recommended Videos

The higher-tier 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros support two external displays with the M1 Pro and up to four with the M1 Max. These machines also include HDMI as an option for external display support.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you are completely without options. You can still use DisplayLink adapters to use a second external display, but it is still not as user-friendly as native support.

The M2 MacBook Air showing several apps open on its display.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

That disappointing news aside (along with a few no-show announcements), WWDC was packed with loads of updates and exciting features. Most notably, MacOS Ventura’s Stage Manager feature will make multi-tasking easier on Mac, and the improved power of M2 and Metal 3 should make gaming on the Mac even better.

Of course, the MacBook Air stole the show, at least in the MacOS department. The MacBook Air is Apple’s most popular laptop, and it received a total redesign for the M2 launch. That redesign includes a squared-off chassis (akin to the new iPads and MacBook Pros), a slightly larger display, and even a notch. It is, however, more expensive than the M1 MacBook Air, which is still being sold for its entry-level price.

Caleb Clark
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Caleb Clark is a full-time writer that primarily covers consumer tech and gaming. He also writes frequently on Medium about…
Mac users are now in danger of a well-known Windows phishing attack
Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 rear view showing lid and logo.

If you're using a Mac, such as the new MacBook Air, you might have to be careful. A phishing attack that previously plagued Windows users has now made its way to macOS, and it's easy to fall for it.

This was spotted by 9to5Mac. Researchers from LayerX have been tracking a well-known phishing attack that caused a lot of grief to those who were tricked by it. Previously, the main target of these hackers was Windows, but Microsoft was able to largely eliminate it -- up to 90% of all attacks on Windows PCs are said to have been fixed thanks to new updates to Edge, Chrome, and Firefox that block scareware.

Read more
Here’s how Apple’s first foldable MacBook might win me over
The Zenbook Fold 17 open on a table.

Rumors have persisted for years now that Apple is working on a touchscreen MacBook, but I’ve never been truly convinced. For one thing, I don’t see how a touchscreen could improve my MacBook experience enough to justify the inevitable price rise. This is Apple we’re talking about, after all, and there’s just no way that a touchscreen MacBook will possibly come cheap.

As well as that, I’ve long agreed with Steve Jobs’ belief that adding a touchscreen to a regular MacBook is an ergonomic nightmare. Constantly reaching up to the display is a quick way to exhaust your arms, and paining its users isn’t really part of Apple’s playbook. The Mac operating system isn’t designed for touch either, and in any case, adding a touchscreen would result in all manner of greasy fingerprints on your monitor. It’s never seemed like a good idea to me.

Read more
The M4 MacBook Air is displaying some odd behavior we don’t understand yet
Apple MacBook Air 15 M4 front angled view showing display and keyboard.

People are getting their hands on the new M4 MacBook Air this week, which means they're posting lots of discoveries about its performance (and the blueness of the new Sky Blue color). While editing photos in Lightroom Classic, YouTuber Vadim Yuryev noticed that the CPU workload was being handled almost completely by the laptop's six efficiency cores.

https://x.com/VadimYuryev/status/1899986842998784243

Read more