The latest Macbook Air 15-Inch Review is here. I am talking about the 2023 MacBook Air with M2 chip.
Table of Contents
The 13″ MacBook Air with M1 Two Year Ago
In November 2020, Apple announced an updated MacBook Air with an Apple-designed M1 Silicon Chip. That came with a 13 inch display size. We got a unit which is Space Gray colour and two users are concurrently using that 13″ MacBook Air with M1 chip till today (me and my wife). No complaints. Nothing. Happy.
The 13″ MacBook Air with M2 One Year Ago
About 1 year ago in June 2022, Apple launched a new MacBook Air with M2 Chip. It was an exciting upgrade from the MacBook Air with M1 chip (also with a 13″ display size).
So for the MacBook Air with M2 Chip, I got it on the day of launch with the Midnight Colour because it is so dam chio (to me). But it is also a finger print magnet. So far I have hearing ZERO complaints from its user, my daughter :). She uses it for her university studies.
The MacBook Air with M2 Chip (13″ size) itself has been gaining popularity as a great option for those looking to upgrade their laptop with the latest Apple M2 silicon chip without having to spend a fortune. Or to have to buy the MacBook Pro with M2 chip as they don’t need that power.
Now in June 2023, Apple has launched its latest MacBook Air with M2 Chip but this time, it is with a 15″ display! The MacBook Air 15-inch will offer a larger display (from 13″ to 15″) and a slightly more powerful chipset, making it a great choice for users who need a laptop that can handle multiple tasks with ease.
Everyone loves a MacBook Air. Just what size is the question now.
Unboxing the MacBook Air 15-Inch
Photos of my latest 15″ MacBook Air. This time, it comes with Starlight ! Starry Starry Night…
So, here is our MacBook Air 15 inch in its box
Let’s go ahead and take the laptop out
But let’s first take a look inside the box.
We do get a colour-matching cable for the MagSafe USB-C to MagSafe Connection Cable. It is a colour matching Braided MagSafe Cable (starlight) which is really nice.
Then, as usual, we also do get some stickers and some instructions booklets which no one ever read…. but this time, we get Apple stickers which are actually matching the colour of the laptop !
And for the first time, we also get a choice of a 35 watt dual USB-C charger or you can pick up a fast charging 70 watt brick and that’s at no extra cost. It’s just your choice whichever one you want to go for. That means, you can either go for the dual ports or you can go for the one with the single port which charges at a faster rate. I chosen the latter.
Then let’s look at the star of the day. Here is our 15 inch MacBook Air and the colour I chosen was the Starlight version. Wow.. it really looks damn nice.
The back is also starlight colour
HELLO 15″ MacBook Air with M2 chip !!
Hello 1
Hello 2
Hello 3
And the Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID – US English
Photo of all three versions of MacBook Air
And here’s the happy family of 13″ MacBook Air (M1 Chip Space Gray), 13″ MacBook Air (M2 Chip Midnight) and finally the latest 15″ MacBook Air (M2 Chip Starlight).
Happy Family 🙂
MacBook Air 15-Inch Review
Let’s do a simple review of the MacBook Air 15-inch, including its features and specifications. Additionally, let’s explore the reasons why it’s a great choice for anyone looking to upgrade their laptop’s display. Furthermore, we will compare the MacBook Air 15-inch with the 16″ MacBook Pro to help you make an informed decision.
So, whether you’re a student, a professional, or a creative, this article will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about upgrading your laptop’s display.
MacBook Air 15-Inch Review : Features and Specs
The MacBook Air 15 inch boasts a larger display, more powerful M2 chipset, larger battery, and additional speakers compared to its 13 inch counterpart, making it a good choice for those seeking a laptop with superior features at a lower price point than the MacBook Pro.
MacBook Air 15-Inch Display Size
The larger 15 inch display offers a 500 nit peak brightness, thinner bezels than the M1 powered model, and a notch on the top of the display. This makes the MacBook Air 15 inch a great option for those who want a laptop with a beautiful design, larger display, and great battery life.
MacBook Air 15-Inch Chipset
In terms of performance analysis, the MacBook Air 15 inch features the M2 chipset which is more powerful than the 13 inch model. The GPU also has two more cores than the base 13 inch model, making it a good choice for those who want a laptop that can handle video editing and other tasks. Additionally, the MacBook Air 15 inch has a larger battery than the 13 inch model, which provides longer battery life.
MacBook Air 15-Inch Speaker System
The 15″ MacBook Air is a modified speaker layout to accommodate the upgraded six-speaker sound system. It sports a new six-speaker audio system with two tweeters and two force-canceling woofers. The new speakers are expected to deliver twice as much bass depth for fuller sound and spatial audio with Dolby Atmos support. On the other hand, the 13-inch model has four speakers only. I said “only” but seriously, it sounds very good too. I had to shout at my daughter sometimes for playing her “ang mo” songs from Spotify on her MacBook Air too loudly…
MacBook Air 15-inch Battery Life
It is important to note that while the 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ has a battery that is 13.9-watt-hours larger than the 13-inch model, both machines have the same 18-hour battery life. This is likely due to the increased power consumption of the larger display.
MacBook Air 15-Inch Excellent Price Point
Overall, the MacBook Air 15 inch offers superior features although at a similarly higher entry price point vs the MacBook Air 13 inch (both M2 and M1 chip)
MacBook Air 15-Inch Review : Reasons to Choose
Potential buyers may consider the MacBook Air 15 inch due to its larger display, more powerful chipset, and sleek design with thin bezels. The 15 inch display offers a larger viewing area that can enhance productivity by allowing users to view more content on the screen at once. This feature is particularly useful for those who frequently use their laptops for creative work, such as photo and video editing (with Final Cut Pro, for example).
Additionally, the MacBook Air 15 inch’s M2 chipset and dedicated GPU with two extra cores provide more power than the 13 inch model, allowing for smoother performance and better handling of demanding tasks.
However, some buyers may be hesitant to choose the MacBook Air 15 inch due to concerns about portability and its weight. While the laptop is slightly larger than the 13 inch model, it is not significantly heavier, although it still maintains a sleek and lightweight design. The weight of a 15″ inch MacBook Air is about 1.51 kg while that for the 13″ inch is 1.24 kg. It is also slightly larger (duh.. it has a 15inch screen..) at 1.15cm x 34.04cm x 23.76 cm.
The MacBook Air 15 inch is also easy to carry around and travel with, making it a good choice for those who need a laptop that is both powerful and portable.
Ultimately, the decision to choose the MacBook Air 15 inch will depend on the user’s specific needs and priorities, with a larger display and more powerful chipset being key factors for those who prioritize productivity and performance.
MacBook Air 15-Inch Review : Comparison to MacBook Pro
In terms of overall performance and features, the MacBook Air 15 inch offers a more affordable alternative to the MacBook Pro. I mean, this 15″ MacBook Air starts at $1,899 while the 14″ Pro starts at $2,899 and the 16″ Pro starts at $3,599 !!
While the MacBook Pro boasts a more powerful M2 Max chipset and a larger display, it also comes with a significantly higher price tag.
On the other hand, the MacBook Air 15 inch offers a more budget-friendly option with a still impressive M2 chipset and a 15 inch display that is larger than the 14 inch MacBook Pro.
I actually wonder whether 14″ MacBook Pro will be retiring soon 🙂
When it comes to performance differences, the MacBook Pro does have an edge with its M2 Pro chipset which has more cores and offers faster processing speeds. However, for most everyday tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and video streaming, the MacBook Air 15 inch performs just as well and can handle more demanding tasks such as video editing and graphic design with ease.
MacBook Air 15-Inch Review : Conclusion
Overall, the MacBook Air 15 inch is a great option for those who want a powerful and reliable laptop without breaking the bank.
I will say this is a great buy for those who want a bigger laptop than the 13″ laptops and also want to stay in Apple ecosystem (especially for those with Apple iPhones and Apple iPads).
