Planning on buying a MacBook next year

[light canyon]

Is the MacBook Air M2 still worth buying next year?
I need a cheap MacBook that is still compatible for 3 years at least. I need it for editing, slight gaming like Roblox, and productivity like Logic Pro.

[weary swallow]

It's good for those use cases

It'll last 3 years

But you can do better with the M3 or M4 Air

Define cheap

[light canyon]

Less expensive

[light canyon]

Less expensive 😬

[light canyon]

So 2026-2029?

[tropic pendant]

Try if you can to scoop an M3 or M4

They will be quite a bit better at those tasks

[light canyon]

But will the 16GB/256GB M2 Air still be worth it next year?

[tropic pendant]

Next year, no

It’s already tough to recommend now

[hollow trellis]

It's also getting even harder to recommend an M1 MacBook Air - that thing is already 5 years old and only has a couple of years left. If you're considering an M2, you may as well just get an M3

[light canyon]

So the MacBook A18 Pro (if it’s real) is more recommended than the M2 one?

[tropic pendant]

Yeah

That’s assuming it ever comes to exist of course

Also assuming it’s what the rumours are painting it to be like… very real chance it’s not

[light canyon]

I think I might just go with the Mac Mini M4 next year in August if the A18 Pro isn’t happening.

[weary swallow]

solid choice

[light canyon]

Curious, does it have a built in speaker and dolby atmos support?

[hollow trellis]

The Mac mini M4 has a built in speaker but it's really bad so you're going to want to supply your own

same with literally anything else - keyboard, monitor, mouse, webcam and mic (iPhone can do camera/mic), etc

[light canyon]

How long will the Mac Mini M4 perform?

[hollow trellis]

Can easily last 5+ years.

[light canyon]

Does it support 120hz?

[hollow trellis]

Mac mini M4 can easily support 120hz monitors, you just have to choose your own.

However, with macOS I'd strongly recommend getting at least a 4k monitor (3840x2160) or higher. macOS just doesn't look that good on 1440p or 1080p monitors now. I'd personally take a 4k60 monitor over a 1080p120 any day for macOS

[light canyon]

I can’t find a 16x10 monitor with 4k sadly
Will 2.5k resolution be enough?

[hollow trellis]

2.5k still doesn't look right on macOS. Try and find something that's at least 3840x2400. Or you know, admit defeat and get something that's 16:9 (3840x2160)

[light canyon]

Will 16:9 look good? Because the MacBook is 16:10

[hollow trellis]

16:9 would still look good considering Apple themselves sells 16:9 monitors and the iMac's built in display is 16:9

but yeah as long as it's 4K or higher you should be good

[tropic pendant]

yeah it’s fine

[hollow trellis]

Just don’t make the resolution mistake you made.

[light canyon]

What mistake?

[hollow trellis]

He bought a 1080p monitor which isn't great on macOS
I'd strongly recommend at least getting a 4K monitor

[light canyon]

I’m still looking for a portable 4k monitor

Like 16 inch or smaller

[hollow trellis]

Portable 4k monitor wouldn't have much use on a Mac mini as that isn't really portable (you still have to power it from the wall or something).

If you care about portability, you may as well get a MacBook.

[light canyon]

I know, there’s a outlet near my bed also I’ll only use it outside if I’m going to my local coffee shop which has an outlet in each table.

[light canyon]

Can I see the 1080p monitor home screen?