15-inch MacBook Air review: Apple’s best laptop, but bigger

Price When Reviewed

$1,499

Best Prices Today: Apple 15-inch MacE-book Air (M2, 512GB SSD, 2023)

$1499

Last summer time once I reviewed the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air, I wrote, “For most of us, the new M2 MacBook Air is all the laptop we’ll ever need.” Well it’s a 12 months later, and Apple has given those that choose bigger laptops what they need: the identical factor, solely larger.

This may very well be a shamelessly quick evaluate. It could be completely correct to say this laptop computer is strictly just like the 13-inch MacE-book Air launched final 12 months, solely with a much bigger show (and thus chassis) and higher audio system. That’s it! Review over!

But critically, when you have some concept of the 13-inch M2 MacE-book Air, what to anticipate right here. The M2 is not model new, however continues to be a fully glorious processor for on a regular basis computing in a thin-and-light laptop computer. The show is vivid sharp and colourful, however lacks ProMovement or HDR. The ports are the identical. Battery life is great. Even the value is cheap (for Apple), beginning at $1,299/£1,399. (Our evaluate configuration has 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, which places the value at $1,699/£1,799.)

This evaluate initially appeared on Macworld.com.

What’s totally different

It’s most likely finest, and best, to explain what’s totally different from the year-old 13-inch mannequin I like a lot. It’s a brief record.

The show is now 15.3 inches, up from 13.6 inches. That means a better pixel rely (2880 x 1864), however the pixels per inch is about the identical.

It weights 0.6 kilos extra. Of course. However, it has the identical thickness because the 13-inch mannequin and doesn’t really feel a lot heavier as a result of the load is distributed over a bigger physique. Also, the trackpad is bigger, which inserts properly with the bigger show.

Foundry

The battery is larger at 66.5 watt-hours. Our video rundown check, through which we performed a downloaded film on a loop with the show set to 150 nits, lasted about 8 % longer–a complete of just about precisely 19 hours. In observe, with the show somewhat brighter and blended informal use, the additional battery kind of offsets the drain from the larger show. That means battery life is identical because the 13-inch mannequin, which is an effective factor.

There’s a brand new six-speaker audio system (the 13-inch mannequin has a four-speaker system). That’s two pairs of force-canceling woofers and one pair of tweets. It positively sound higher, and spectacular for such a skinny laptop computer, however there’s nonetheless a definite lack of bass. This isn’t your new dorm room get together sound system.

The worth is increased, in fact. It begins at $1,299, which looks as if a $200 worth premium over the 13-inch M2 MacE-book Air (now beginning at $1,099 after a worth lower), however that’s not fairly the case. The 13-inch entry stage mannequin has a model of the M2 with an 8-core GPU, and to get the complete 10-core GPU is one other $100. The 15-inch MacE-book Air all the time has the 10-core GPU, so it’s actually a $100 worth distinction. And underneath the previous pricing, it prices the identical because the comparable 13.6-inch mannequin.

What’s the identical

Everything else is simply as it’s on the 13-inch MacE-book Air. The M2 delivers…properly…M2-like efficiency. It’s not a brand-new chip anymore, and it performs about the identical right here because it does within the 13-inch mannequin and the Mac mini. Small variations in efficiency could be attributed to slight modifications in OS variations or testing software program, however you’re not going to note a few % right here or there.

It needs to be famous that the 256GB SSD choice on the 13-inch M2 MacE-book Air delivers half the storage efficiency as all different capacities resulting from its use of a single NAND chip. We have been unable to check the 256GB choice on the brand new 15-inch Air, but it surely stands to motive that it’s true with the 15-inch mannequin as properly.

The show appears the identical. It’s simply as vivid (as much as 500 nits), identical P3 broad colour, and we’re nonetheless upset that there’s no HDR or ProMovement, not less than one among which belongs in a laptop computer costing this a lot within the 12 months 2023.

The webcam, hiding behind a large notch that we are able to’t assist however really feel is a giant waste of house, is identical improved 1080p webcam launched final 12 months. It’s not a humiliation, however not glorious. It ought to be glorious.

Foundry

Ports are nonetheless two Thunderbolt/USB-4 on the left, along with a separate MagSafe charging port. An extended headphone jack sits on the precise.

The keyboard is similar, with a full perform row, no Touch Bar, and a pleasant large Touch ID sensor. The further house isn’t sufficient for a full 10-key quantity pad, alas. Wireless options are the identical: Wi-Fi 6 (not 6e) and Bluetooth 5.3.

Foundry

A pleasant choice, however we’re prepared for the subsequent technology

It’s nice that Apple is providing a 15-inch choice for the MacE-book Air. Some folks simply love large laptops, and also you shouldn’t must spend $2,499 on a 16-inch MacE-book Pro to get a giant Mac laptop computer.

We can’t fault Apple for sticking to what works with this mannequin, regardless of popping out a 12 months after the 13-inch mannequin. It’s the identical laptop computer, with a much bigger show. That’s not dangerous. The 13-inch M2 MacE-book Pro is a nice general-purpose laptop computer for most individuals.

But it’s a 12 months later, and we are able to’t assist however be troubled for extra. Naturally we’re curious to see what an M3 has to supply, however there are different modifications we’d make. At this worth, the show ought to go above 60Hz or on the very least assist variable refresh charges. Or, it ought to provide HDR. The webcam needs to be higher. I can’t assist however really feel that the large notch deserves a full FaceID setup behind it.

If you need a large Mac laptop computer, you lastly have an choice that gained’t value you anyplace near the value of a 16-inch MacE-book Pro. That’s nice information. And the year-old M2 nonetheless holds its personal on this thin-and-light, general-use class. Now, what’s subsequent?