Our Verdict
With the M2 MacBook Air fashions sharing so many options and parts, it’s principally a case of what display screen dimension do you like. Want more room for video enhancing or comparable actions? The 15-inch is for you. Want a extra compact design? It’s the 13-inch mannequin. If solely all selections have been this straightforward.
Value When Reviewed
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 2022): $1,099 (WAS $1,199)
Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 2023): From $1,299
Finest Costs Right this moment: Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
$1,095.76
$1099.00
$1099.00
$1099.00
MacBook Air (2022) 13.3-inch – Apple M2 8-core and 8-core GPU – 8GB RAM – SSD 256GB
$970.88
MacBook Air (2022) 13.3-inch – Apple M2 8-core and 10-core GPU – 8GB RAM – SSD 256GB
$1049.00
MacBook Air (2022) 13.3-inch – Apple M2 8-core and 8-core GPU – 8GB RAM – SSD 256GB
$1049.00
The MacBook Air is one in all Apple’s most enduring merchandise. Ever since Steve Jobs pulled the primary one out of an envelope throughout the Macworld keynote presentation in 2008, it’s been some of the fashionable laptops on the earth. So, what are the choices for these seeking to decide one up fifteen years after the primary Air debuted?
There are presently three MacBook Air fashions. One is an older MacBook Air that launched in 2020 and options an M1 chip. There are additionally two M2-powered MacBook Air fashions, one in all which has a 13-inch show and the opposite a 15-inch show. These are the fashions we’re evaluating right here. Discover out which one you can purchase.
13-inch vs 15-inch MacBook Air: Design and Dimensions
Apple gave its Air lineup a facelift in 2022, transferring away from the wedge form that had been the hallmark of the design for years. The trendy Air stays slimline and lightweight, however the chassis is extra of an ordinary rectangular structure today. Presumably, this offers more room inside for bigger batteries and different parts, however it nonetheless seems like a MacBook, if perhaps extra of a squashed Professional than your traditional Air.
Each of the M2 MacBook Air fashions can be found in a alternative of 4 colours: Midnight (black), Starlight (gold), Area Grey and Silver. (The older M1 mannequin is barely obtainable in Silver, Gold and Area Grey.
The scale of the 2 fashions are as such:
The weights of the 13-inch and 15-inch fashions respectively tip the scales at 2.7lbs/1.24 kg and three.3lbs /1.51 kg.
You’ll discover the identical full-size backlit keyboards on every system. There’s additionally a devoted Contact ID sensor constructed right into a key of its personal, permitting you to unlock the system or affirm funds on-line.
The Power Contact trackpads are additionally the identical by way of performance, supporting the multi-touch gestures which are applied so effectively in macOS. The 15-inch mannequin does make use of its additional girth by squeezing in a bigger pad, however each are equally correct and responsive.
13-inch vs 15-inch MacBook Air: Shows
Dominic Preston / Foundry
Clearly, the primary space of distinction with regards to the design is the scale of the shows. One mannequin has a show that measures 13.6 inches diagonally and the opposite has a show that measures 15.3 inches diagonally. (The older 13-inch MacBook Air has a smaller 13.3-inch show).
Each fashions are geared up with Liquid Retina panels that attain 500 nits of brightness and have Huge Shade (P3) and True Tone capabilities. So, it’s purely the scale and relative resolutions that make them totally different. There’s a 13.6in panel operating at 2560 x 1664 or 15.3in at 2880 x 1864.
Every additionally has the considerably divisive notch that Apple appears to assume is a good suggestion, that are residence to the 1080p FaceTime digicam and picture sign processor for issues like Heart Stage.
13-inch vs 15-inch MacBook Air: Audio system, Microphones and Cameras
One space of development the place the 2 fashions diverge is within the audio stakes. Whereas the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 boasts a quad-speaker system that helps extensive stereo, spatial audio and Dolby Atmos, the 15-inch Air bests this by having a six-speaker setup with force-cancelling woofers for much more immersive sounds.
Parity is restored as soon as extra if you get to the microphones, as Apple equips each with a three-mic array with directional beamforming to choose up what you’re saying.
You’ll additionally discover an equivalent 1080p FaceTime digicam constructed into the notch on the high of the display screen. Regardless of being hidden within the iPhone-like notch, this digicam doesn’t embrace any Face ID capabilities, however it’s considerably higher than the 720p FaceTime digicam discovered within the older MacBook Air.
13-inch vs 15-inch MacBook Air: Ports and Connectivity
The MacBook Air has by no means been overburdened with ports, and the present choices sport matching twin Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack alongside a MagSafe charging port. (That is one up on the older M1 MacBook Air that solely presents two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, so you’d solely have one spare whereas charging). It’s nonetheless a sparse lineup, so if you’d like extra you’ll want to have a look at the MacBook Execs as an alternative or spend money on a docking station for your Mac.
Once more, Apple retains issues easy with regards to how the MacBook Airs talk wirelessly. Each include Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 (the latter of which was a recent upgrade for each fashions). Solely the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional, Mac Studio and Mac mini supply the newer WiFi 6E.
Dominic Preston / Foundry
13-inch vs 15-inch MacBook Air: Specs, Efficiency and Value
The place the exteriors of the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air have some simply identifiable variations, a lot of the internals stay constant.
That is even if the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 was launched a yr earlier than the 15-inch mannequin. The 15-inch MacBook Air is newer, however the chip is basically the identical.
There are two normal configurations for every mannequin and equivalent build-to-order choices if you wish to improve both reminiscence or storage.
| Mannequin | CPU | GPU | Unified Reminiscence | Storage | U.S. Value | U.Okay. Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-inch MacBook Air | 8 | 8 | 8GB | 256GB | $1,099 | £1,149 |
| 13-inch MacBook Air | 8 | 10 | 8GB | 512GB | $1,399 | £1,449 |
| 13-inch MacBook Air BTO choices | – | – | 16GB & 24GB | 1TB & 2TB | ||
| 15-inch MacBook Air | 8 | 10 | 8GB | 256GB | $1,299 | £1,399 |
| 15-inch MacBook Air | 8 | 10 | 8GB | 512GB | $1,499 | £1,599 |
| 15-inch MacBook Air BTO choices | – | – | 16GB & 24GB | 1TB & 2TB |
At first look, the chipsets on these fashions look the identical, with each that includes Apple’s personal M2 silicon. Nevertheless, you’ll discover that solely the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 presents an choice for an 8-core GPU. It’s not potential to scale back the value of the 15-inch MacBook AIr by switching to this much less highly effective chip.
To get the 10-core GPU you’ve gotten two selections. Both purchase the $1,399/£1,449 13-inch MacBook Professional with 512GB storage, or the $1,299/£1,399 15-inch MacBook Professional with 256GB storage. On this case, the 15-inch MacBook Air does appear to be probably the most cost-effective choice, saving $100/£50, however do observe that there’s a larger distinction between these storage choices than you may notice. In assessments the smaller 256GB SSD has been found to be slower than the 512GB SSD, in order that is likely to be a consider your resolution (though if the sort of purposes you utilize don’t have to incessantly entry inner storage it shouldn’t matter).
When you use pay for iCloud storage the additional storage could also be much less necessary and the 15-inch MacBook Air the extra enticing choice, though you could possibly improve the chip within the entry-level 13-inch to the 10-core GPU for a further $100/£100 bringing the value to $1,199/£1,249.
Given that each spec is offered on every machine (except for the 8-core GPU choice, which is barely on the 13-inch MacBook Air) the selection right here is admittedly about whether or not you need 512GB or if 256GB can be enough in your wants.
In order for you the larger display screen on an equivalently specced machine it basically prices you $100/£50 extra, which is a very whole lot.
Apple
13-inch vs 15-inch MacBook Air: Battery Life
To maintain the theme going, you gained’t discover any noticeable variations within the battery lifetime of both system. Sure, the 15-inch Air does include a bigger cell (66.5 watt-hours versus the 52.6 watt-hours within the 13-inch Air) however they every ship as much as 18 hours of playback or 15 hours of net browsing, in accordance with Apple, earlier than you’ll have to plug them in once more. Apple features a 30w charger within the baseline 13-inch Air field, whereas the 15-inch is lavished with a 35w charger as an alternative. Each assist as much as 70w quick charging, however you’ll want to purchase that charger individually.
We ran our personal battery assessments, which contain operating iMovie with the show at 150 nits, and nonetheless discovered the battery life to be comparable regardless of the larger battery within the 15-inch.
MacBook Air (M2) 13in vs MacBook Air (M2) 15in: Which one ought to I purchase?
Apple has made the selection between the 2 present fashions fairly straightforward. Apart from a barely higher GPU and two additional audio system within the 15-inch Air, each are just about the identical. So, it actually comes down as to if you need the larger display screen and additional girth of the 15-inch variant or the smaller, extra compact body and show of the 13-inch Air. You’ll be getting an awesome laptop computer both means, which ought to proceed the superb fame of the MacBook Air for years to come back.
Made your resolution? You could find one of the best costs proper now under, or seek the advice of our round-up of the best MacBook Air deals for costs on the opposite fashions.
15-inch MacBook Air, from $1,299/£1,399
$1234
$1,249.99
$1299
$1299
$1299
13-inch MacBook Air, from $1,099/£1,149
$1234
$1,249.99
$1299
$1299
$1299
