If you’ve been looking for gaming laptops online, you’ll often encounter some articles or some threads that say MacBook Airs aren’t recommended for gaming. While it’s partly true for older MacBook versions, the recent M-series chips, specifically the M2 and the new M3, have changed the game for MacBook Air’s gaming capabilities.
So if you’re a new owner of MacBook Air and wondering if you can use this sleek and portable device for gaming, we’ve got the answer for you.
So, Can You Use a MacBook Air for Gaming?
Yes, you can use MacBook Air for gaming. Generally, MacBook Pro models are better when it comes to gaming and other more demanding applications. However, it doesn’t mean that MacBook Air models aren’t capable of providing a fun and smooth gaming experience. But of course, when playing an online game, a fast and stable internet connection like Dish Network Internet is also required. There are specific factors to be considered, but in general, MacBook Air with M-series chips are highly capable of handling most online and offline games.
Factors to Consider Before Using Your MacBook Air for Gaming
We’ve read countless online threads about this topic and tried using our MacBook Air M2 2022 for gaming to determine if it’s really capable for gaming. Honestly, it is, but it’s not the type you’ll consider as a gaming device. It’s not specifically built for gaming, but it has a gaming feature that optimizes the device whenever you’re playing a game. Here’s what you need to consider before using your MacBook Air to play games:
- Thermal Throttling
Unlike gaming laptops that often utilize cooling systems with fans, the MacBook Air relies on passive cooling. This means it doesn’t have any internal fans to dissipate heat. While this makes the MacBook Air incredibly quiet during everyday tasks, extended gaming sessions can actually result in thermal throttling.
Thermal throttling is a safety mechanism that automatically reduces the performance of the MacBook Air to prevent it from overheating. This can result in slower frame rates or even stuttering during your gameplay. Lags or delays are also dependent on internet connection, so you seriously need to have reliable wireless providers when gaming. To avoid this from happening, you might need to take breaks during long gaming sessions or consider using a cooling pad to help dissipate heat.
- Prioritization of Portability
The MacBook Air is designed for ultimate portability. It’s incredibly thin and light, which made it the perfect companion for students, professionals, and anyone who needs a powerful device they can easily carry around. This focus on portability, however, means it sacrifices some raw processing power compared to bulkier gaming laptops. While the M-series chips are impressive, they might not be able to achieve the highest frame rates or graphics settings on the most demanding games.
There’s no doubt that Macbook Air excels at everyday tasks and being your go-to device wherever you are, but for graphically demanding games, a laptop with more horsepower might be a better fit. And again,
- Limited Game Library
When we were trying out our MacBook Air for gaming, we noticed that there are some games that are not available on specific platforms so we found it slightly limiting. For example, we were trying to download Overcooked 2 via Epic Games but it wasn’t available. But upon checking on Steam, it is, but then we encountered some issues as well before being able to successfully install it.
Just keep in mind though that when downloading and installing games, you should have a high-speed internet connection. If you’re planning to take gaming a bit more seriously, it’s best to make sure your internet is in top performance. If not, it’s time to look for better plans and promos like HughesNet deals where you can get fast and reasonably priced internet plans.
Final Thoughts
You can use MacBook Air for gaming but don’t expect it to run like a dedicated gaming laptop. You still need to be aware of its limitations because after all, it’s not a laptop developed for gaming. Nonetheless, it’s still one of the best laptops out there, especially for everyday tasks.
