Apple's new MacBook Air 2022 has a powerful processor and a fast SSD, but due to its fanless design and lack of a discreet GPU, it's not suitable for gaming.
It has other shortcomings, including a lack of key travel and an unrefined chocolate keyboard. That could change in the 2022 model, as it could feature an improved M1 chip and an improved M2 processor.
Still, the MacBook Air isn't an ideal gaming laptop, and you'll need a dedicated graphics card or a multi-core processor to get the most out of your computer. that's it
#1. Is MacBook Air good for gaming in 2022? Let me explore the truth
Well, before saying yes or no direction to the question, I'd better give you a quick look at how the M1 Air performs in gaming as a whole.
Gaming performance on MacBook Air 2020 M1
When it comes to gaming, it's no secret that graphics are king. With that in mind, the Mac Air 2020 with the revolutionary M1 chip has an 8-core GPU that's up to 5x faster and has improved graphics performance. But, to be honest, it's more of a brag.
Let me explain.
To test the MacBook Air's gaming performance, I tested it with some of the top mac-optimized games. There are only a handful of games where I've gotten the desired results without sacrificing graphics.
Otherwise, the need to adjust graphics settings to get the game to run is somewhat mandatory. Anyway, this is how your Mac handles all the different types of games you can play on macOS.
MacBook Air performs mediocre games, maybe terrible
Here's how they get when you've tried some of the top games you can play on your Mac.
#1. For League of Legends
#2. For Civilization 6
#3. For Fortnite
Not yet fully optimized for Mac, the game runs fine on the M1 Air if the M1 Air is at the lowest settings.
You'll get high FPS around 60 or 70, but with some serious slips and slips. But the FPS won't drop below 40.
So if you're happy with the basic setup, you can definitely play the game. Seeing all of these results, it's safe to say that the Mac Air also performs very well in all AAA games.
If you're happy with the game settings (and screen resolution) too. Otherwise, it's not great for a ruthless and performance-hungry gamer.
$4. For Counter-Strike: GO
At the lowest settings, you'll feel like the game is running fine. However, when you switch to even just medium settings, no matter what resolution you're playing at, you'll start to notice FPS drops and stuttering.#5. For Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
On the lowest settings, you'll get an average frame rate close to 25. And with medium to high settings, the FPS will not exceed (or even reach) 20 (average).
Games which are run smoothly on the MacBook Air
Instead, there are some games—I'd better call them MacBook Air games—that the machine does pretty well overall.
These are Apple's favorite arcade games, namely Oceanhorn 2, Mini Motorways, Alba, and many more. These work fine on Mac Air 2020.
Besides them, if you want to play all other silicon-optimized games, you need to lower your expectations.
If you keep your settings friendly and gentle, i.e. medium (better minimum) screen resolution and gaming settings, there's no reason your Mac shouldn't be running them.
Well, we haven't come to a proper conclusion about "Is the MacBook Air good for gaming?" So let's dig a little deeper.
#2. Is the new MacBook Air M1 good for gaming?
All things considered, I can confidently say no. The M1 Mac Air does run all these mac-optimized games, but from a gamer's perspective, it's not that great overall.
So, no, this is definitely not the first choice for serious gamers. Yes, if you're not much in AAA games, then of course you can pick it up.
And you just sit down and fire up a game to relieve your work fatigue and ignore all that ray tracing, FPS, DLSS, and stuff like that.
So, let's finally take a look at the reasons why the Mac Air doesn't perform well when it comes to gaming.
#3. Why the Apple MacBook Air isn't good for high-end gaming
We all know that Macs were never known as gaming consoles. Apple is a brand for professionals, so the Mac is known as the professional's computer. So, I'm confused about whether to call them - reasons for Mac gaming incompetence, downsides, or not. Either way, that's why the MacBook Air isn't any good for real gamers.
#1. MacBook's Built-in keyboard is not a gaming keyboard
While this may not seem like a critical thing, it is important. Unlike gaming tweaked/full-size and some mechanical type keyboards, Mac's keyboards aren't meant for acute gaming. The keys here look prettier and have less key travel.
That said, the latest Macs don't have that butterfly mechanism, but a scissor mechanism keyboard. They're still not gamer stuff at all.
#2. Most games are available for x86 and x64 platforms
Another key reason why most M1 Macs aren't the best for gaming is that the number of games fully silicon-optimized is very small. Most games out there are developed for x86 (32-bit) and x64 (64-bit settings) platforms.
While many of them are now ported to Apple Silicon, they have not yet been fully optimized for the platform. And most games don't even adapt to this new setup. That's why you can't consider playing all your games on an M1 Mac.
#3. No dedicated GPU setup
For AAA games, a dedicated GPU is a must. That said, you won't find any serious (discrete) graphics settings in the MacBook Air.
Even though the M1 Air 2020 flaunts an 8-core GPU, graphics performance is up nearly 80 percent.
It's also impossible to take your eyes off the flawless Retina display, no doubt. That's why this graphics setup is elegant enough to make the visuals look truly pleasing on screen.
It's still not a game-optimized configuration - it's great for other titles, but you can't stress the game too much.
#4. Fanless Design (no cooling fan in Mac book air)
Most of the latest MacBooks, especially the M1 Mac, now feature a new fanless laptop interior. Undoubtedly, this innovation completely redefines quietness and noiselessness in use, but it's also a bit interesting.
Even though Apple says the Silicon setting is very powerful and stays ideally cool under some harsh loads, you still need to be careful with it. Of course, you can fire up the game and play to your heart's content. But once you get sadder, you start to feel that bad burn.
So you'll either have to play on very basic settings or take a break soon.
FAQs on Is MacBook Air Good for Gaming in 2022?
Is the MacBook Air has a touchscreen?
There's no touchscreen on the MacBook Air, but the touchpad is amazing enough to make you forget about it.
Is the 2022 MacBook Air worth the wait?
The MacBook Air 2022 could have an improved version of the M1 chip or even an M2 processor, taking things to the next level and making the wait worth it.
Can a MacBook Air play games?
A dedicated graphics card and multi-core processor are required to ensure the best gaming experience. Because of its 60Hz display, the MacBook Air isn't great for gaming.
Final judgment
So is MacBook air good for gaming ?. Gaming on MacBook Air won't cause any damage to your MacBook due to its powerful features. However, it can overheat if used excessively.
Although the MacBook Air has sensors that prevent damage from overheating, over-gaming can cause damage in the long run, as MacBook Air laptops are not designed for this type of usage.
Therefore, you need to take precautions to protect your MacBook Air from overheating; you can choose to use a laptop stand, place the laptop on a hard, flat surface, or lower the gaming settings.
Also, consider the type of games you install, as they can damage your MacBook Air's software. Most laptops have fans built in to cool the electronics inside the laptop while in use.
When you're using your MacBook Air for light activity, such as browsing the web or typing documents, the fans spin at low speeds because the temperature isn't too hot.