MacBook Air 15-inch vs 13-inch MacBook Air M2: in contrast


15-inch MacBook Air [left], 13-inch MacBook Air [right]

Apple has launched a brand new mannequin of MacBook Air at WWDC 2023, with a 15-inch MacBook Air now a bigger choice for customers. Here is how the specs differ from the present 13-inch mannequin.

WWDC is usually the venue of recent Mac launches, and for 2023, that concerned supersizing the MacBook Air. Whereas Apple has supplied a 13-inch MacBook Air for fairly a while, it now has a 15-inch model in its catalog.

It is clearly larger than its stablemate, and has a bigger display too, however Apple has included a couple of different alterations to the compact pocket book.

Larger’s often higher, however within the realm of skinny and lightweight notebooks, that is not all the time the case. Even for notebooks from the identical producer.

Specs

Specs 13-inch MacBook Air (2022, M2) 15-inch MacBook Air (2023, M2)
Beginning Value $1,099
Greatest M2 MacBook Air 13-inch costs
$1,299
Greatest M2 MacBook Air 15-inch costs
Dimensions (inches) 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 13.40 x 9.35 x 0.45
Weight (kilos) 2.7 3.3
Show 13.6-inch Liquid Retina,
Large Colour (P3),
True Tone
15.3-inch Liquid Retina,
Large Colour (P3),
True Tone
Decision 2,560 x 1,664 2,880 x 1,864
Brightness 500 nits 500 nits
Processor Apple M2 Apple M2
Graphics 8-core GPU,
10-core GPU
10-core GPU
Reminiscence 8GB,
16GB,
24GB
8GB,
16GB,
24GB
Storage 256GB,
512GB,
1TB,
2TB
256GB,
512GB,
1TB,
2TB
Battery 52.6Wh lithium-polymer,
As much as 15 hours internet, 18 hours video
66.5Wh lithium-polymer,
As much as 15 hours internet, 18 hours video
Networking 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth 5.3
802.11ax Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth 5.3
Contact ID Sure Sure
Digital camera 1080p FaceTime HD 1080p FaceTime HD
Audio 4-speaker sound system,
Three-mic array with directional beamforming,
Headphone jack with high-impedance headphone assist,
Dolby Atmos assist with Spatial Audio
Six-speaker sound system,
Three-mic array with directional beamforming,
Headphone jack with high-impedance headphone assist,
Dolby Atmos assist with Spatial Audio
Ports Two Thunderbolt/USB 4,
3.5mm headphone,
MagSafe 3
Two Thunderbolt/USB 4,
3.5mm headphone,
MagSafe 3

15-inch M2 MacBook Air vs 13-inch M2 MacBook Air – Bodily Dimensions

Apple refreshed the 2022 MacBook Air with a serious redesign, one which introduced it in keeping with the stylings of the MacBook Professional household. This meant saying goodbye to the signature wedge, in favor of a flatter look.

The 13-inch MacBook Air is 11.97 inches broad and eight.48 inches deep, with a uniform 0.44 inches of thickness throughout the board.

As usual, the 15-inch MacBook Air is very thin for a notebook.

As traditional, the 15-inch MacBook Air may be very skinny for a pocket book.

At 2.7 kilos, the 13-inch MacBook Air is lighter than the 2020 mannequin and its MacBook Professional counterparts.

Sharing the styling of the 13-inch mannequin, the 15-inch MacBook Air is 13.4 inches broad and 9.35 inches deep, which clearly is greater than its 13-inch stablemate. At 0.45 inches skinny, it is marginally thicker, however solely simply.

15-inch M2 MacBook Air vs 13-inch M2 MacBook Air – Show

As a part of the improve from the previous model to the fashionable, the 13-inch MacBook Air makes use of a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina show, full with an IPS LED-backlit panel. This consists of the “dreaded” notch in the course of the highest edge, which homes the webcam, although we actually needs to be getting used to the aesthetic by now.

The 2022 MacBook Air has a decision of two,560 by 1,664, giving it a pixel density of 225 pixels per inch.

The 15-inch screen is bigger and higher resolution, but has a comparable pixel density to the 13-inch MacBook Air

The 15-inch display is greater and better decision, however has a comparable pixel density to the 13-inch MacBook Air

As for show applied sciences, the 13-inch mannequin has Large Colour (P3) assist and True Tone, in addition to a brightness of 500 nits.

Because the identify suggests, the 15-inch MacBook Air has a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina show, once more utilizing an IPS LED-backlit panel. As soon as extra, the notch is in full impact.

It has the identical show applied sciences too, in addition to brightness. At 2,880 by 1,864, the decision of the 15-inch is greater, however solely negligibly much less pixel-dense at 224ppi.

15-inch M2 MacBook Air vs 13-inch M2 MacBook Air – Processing

The M2 included within the 13-inch MacBook Air homes an eight-core CPU with a mixture of 4 efficiency cores and 4 effectivity cores. They’re joined by Unified Reminiscence, beginning at 8GB with 16GB and 24GB choices additionally accessible.

There’s additionally the 16-core Neural Engine for coping with ML duties resembling picture processing. Rising from the M1’s lack of it totally, the M2 homes Media Engines, which gives hardware-accelerated encoding and decoding of video.

The M2 choice for the 15-inch mannequin is just about the identical CPU-wise, in addition to for the Neural Engine and Media Engine. The distinction is within the GPU.

For reference, the M2 within the 13-inch MacBook Air can handle a rating of 1,898 in single-core exams and eight,941 in multi-core exams below Geekbench.

15-inch M2 MacBook Air vs 13-inch M2 MacBook Air – Graphics and Video

The M2 chip within the 13-inch MacBook Air has two GPU choices, which begins with an 8-core GPU with a 10-core variant additionally accessible. On the time of launch, Appel mentioned the M2 GPU supplied 25% greater graphics efficiency than the M1 “on the identical energy degree.”

For the 15-inch, Apple allotted with the 8-core GPU choice, leaving you solely with the 10-core GPU variant. This does simplify issues, since we all know {that a} 10-core GPU will probably be graphically superior to the 8-core equal.

You don't have a choice in GPU, you're stuck with the upper-end core count for the 15-inch MacBook Air

You do not have a selection in GPU, you are caught with the upper-end core rely for the 15-inch MacBook Air

For reference, Geekbench’s Metallic benchmark for the 13-inch MacBook Air with the 8-core GPU reached 26,123 factors.

The video output capabilities of the 13-inch MacBook Air was for its personal inner show and one exterior show, as much as 6K in decision at 60Hz. That is unchanged for the 15-inch mannequin.

15-inch M2 MacBook Air vs 13-inch M2 MacBook Air – Digital camera

In its 2022 replace, the 13-inch MacBook Air makes use of a 1080p FaceTime HD digicam, following years of utilizing a 720p model. On the time of launch, Apple mentioned it delivered twice the low-light efficiency of its earlier digicam.

The picture was additionally given a lift by the M2’s inclusion of a picture sign processor, and Apple’s advances in computational video and images.

In a case of “if it is not broke, do not repair it,” Apple has stored with the identical setup for the 15-inch mannequin.

15-inch M2 MacBook Air vs 13-inch M2 MacBook Air – Connectivity

The MacBook Air has traditionally been comparatively bereft of bodily ports, below the expectation that customers might not essentially wish to carry a variety of stuff with a pocket book they purchased to be mild and simply transportable.

There are no port changes in the 15-inch MacBook Air from the 13-inch model.

There aren’t any port modifications within the 15-inch MacBook Air from the 13-inch mannequin.

The 2022 MacBook Air makes use of a pair of Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, although Apple did embrace MagSafe 3 charging as a part of that refresh. The addition meant customers did not need to eat one of many different few ports for charging the MacBook Air again up.

For wi-fi connectivity, the M2 13-inch MacBook Air has Wi-Fi 6 assist and Bluetooth 5.3, although it did beforehand use Bluetooth 5.0. The 15-inch mannequin matches the 13-inch right here. .

15-inch M2 MacBook Air vs 13-inch M2 MacBook Air – Battery and Charging

The 13-inch MacBook Air has a 52.6-watt-hour lithium polymer battery, which Apple claims can handle as much as 15 hours of wi-fi internet entry, or 18 hours of video.

The 15-inch MacBook Air has a bigger 66.5-watt-hour model, but it surely lasts for a similar period of time because the 13-inch.

Recharging is carried out both by way of one of many two USB-C connections or over MagSafe 3 for each fashions. The latter is healthier if customers wish to hold their data-related ports free, however there’s all the time the choice of recharging by way of dock for the single-cable life.

Apple features a 30W USB-C energy adapter with the 8-core GPU model of its 13-inch MacBook Air, however 10-core GPU variations may use the 35W Twin USB-C Port Compact Energy Adapter. A 70W adapter improve can be accessible.

The 15-inch has the 35W variant, once more with the 70W improve potential.

The 13-inch MacBook Air refresh was additionally the primary time Apple included quick charging capabilities within the mannequin, so it may stand up to 50% cost in half-hour should you used it with a extra highly effective 70-watt USB-C energy adapter.

Equally, there’s fast-charging accessible on the 15-inch MacBook Air.

15-inch M2 MacBook Air vs 13-inch M2 MacBook Air – Audio

Apple elevated the speaker rely to 4 for the 2022 13-inch MacBook Air, up from two within the earlier model. They embrace assist for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos as nicely.

The 15-inch makes use of a six-speaker system, once more with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos.

You do get six speakers instead of four if you opt for the larger MacBook Air.

You do get six audio system as an alternative of 4 should you go for the bigger MacBook Air.

For bodily connections, a headphone jack can be accessible for each fashions, however upgraded to deal with high-impedance headphones most well-liked by audiophiles.

On the microphone aspect of issues, Apple makes use of a three-mic array with each fashions, which incorporates directional beamforming to help with providers like “Hey Siri,” or extra usually, bettering name high quality.

15-inch M2 MacBook Air vs 13-inch M2 MacBook Air – Different Options

Each fashions use Contact ID for safety, with a devoted button positioned on the keyboard.

Every additionally makes use of a 78-key or 79-key backlit Magic Keyboard with 12 full-heigh perform keys and 4 keys in an inverted-T association. A Pressure Contact trackpad resides under the keyboard.

15-inch M2 MacBook Air vs 13-inch M2 MacBook Air – Storage and Pricing

The 8-core GPU model of the 13-inch MacBook Air begins with a 256GB SSD, with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB improve choices accessible. For the 10-core GPU version, it begins at 512GB as inventory with 1TB and 2TB improve choices, although you will get a 256GB configuration

The 8-core GPU 13-inch MacBook Air, together with 8GB of reminiscence and 256B of storage, begins from $1,099. Upgrading the CPU to 10-core is $100 extra.

The 15-inch MacBook Air is available in a choice of midnight, starlight, silver, and space gray finishes.

The 15-inch MacBook Air is accessible in a selection of midnight, starlight, silver, and area grey finishes.

The 15-inch MacBook Air, additionally with 8GB of reminiscence and 256GB of storage, prices $1,299.

Going from 8GB to 16GB is $200 dearer for each fashions, and 24GB is one other $200 once more.

Storage will increase begin at $200 from 256GB to 512GB throughout the board, $400 from 512GB to 1TB, and $400 from 1TB to 2TB.

Extra display, more cash

For 2 fashions throughout the identical product household, you’d anticipate there would not be that many variations between the fashions, except for the apparent. Combing by way of the specs sheets, evidently is exactly the case right here.

The 15-inch MacBook Air is bigger than the 13-inch MacBook Air, and that does convey with it some benefits. That further display dimension means there is a greater decision and extra bodily display to play with, however that is actually about it.

In virtually each different space of comparability that is primarily based on what it will probably do versus bodily traits, there’s not likely a lot distinction in any respect right here. Certain, you are not in a position to get the 15-inch MacBook Air with the 8-core GPU the entry-level 13-inch mannequin begins with, however feature-wise, they’re successfully equivalent.

For $200, we’re speaking about slightly below two inches of additional diagonal display property, in addition to a chip improve to the 10-core GPU model, and a greater 35W charger as an alternative of a 30W model. That, and a negligible further little bit of bodily dimension and weight.

If it have been simply display and bodily dimension variations alone, the $200 in all probability is not value paying for the 15-inch when the 13-inch will do exactly positive, particularly should you’re on a finances. The GPU enchancment is not a large distinction for the common person, but it surely nonetheless counts for one thing.

For many who really care about bigger screens, the additional value of the 15-inch is a small value to pay for one thing nearer to what they really need.

It will be an M2 MacBook Air no matter which you select. The choice is just about whether or not dimension actually does matter to you.

The place to purchase Apple’s MacBook Air

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Articles