Review of Apple's greatest consumer laptop, the 15-inch MacBook Air

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Thin and light M2 Mac has fast performance, a very long battery life and one of the best screens on the market

The long-rumored 15-inch MacBook Air from Apple has finally arrived, bringing the company back into this segment of the market and enhancing what is already perhaps the best consumer laptop on the market.

The superb 13in MacBook Air starts at £1,399 ($1,299/A$2,199), which is £250 more expensive than the 15-inch model, which has had a price reduction of £100 since its release.

Due to the larger display, it competes with models like the 15-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 and the well-known Dell XPS 15. But unlike many larger competitors, the larger MacBook Air still has all of the advantages of the original 13-inch model.

The M2 chip, silent no-fan cooling technology, and ultra-thin metal body are all present. It is quick and energy-efficient, lasting up to twice as long on battery as the competitors. However, it also means that it lacks a dedicated graphics card and any of the more potent processors that are frequently included in robust 15in PCs from competitors.

Customers who want a larger screen but not gaming or workstation performance can consider the Air. The display is excellent in every way: clear, brilliant, colorful, and having a better resolution than the majority of full-HD laptops, while it does not have the pricey 4K-screen options of competitors. Compared to 13-inch laptops, there is a lot more room (15.3 inches on the diagonal) to fit many windows at once.

Websites and documents appear at nearly full width when using half the screen, simplifying split-screen work. Additionally, compared to lesser models, there is a considerable increase in working area within image and video editing software.

Onscreen, movies and TV shows both appear fantastic. The laptop’s six speakers sound much better than you’d anticipate, and it can display HDR video. It doesn’t have a tinny sound like other laptops and can easily fill a small room with music.

The Air runs the same version of macOS 13.4 Ventura as Apple’s most recent Macs; the Sonoma update is scheduled for release later this year. Ventura functions nicely on the laptop and comes with a number of helpful proximity and screen-sharing options for other Apple gadgets, such as the ability to utilize a new iPad as a second screen or to operate it remotely. Although it works incredibly well, using an iPhone as a wireless webcam is less necessary now that the FaceTime HD camera is so good.

Specifications

Screen: 15.3in LCD (2880×1864; 224 ppi) True Tone
Processor: Apple M2 with 10-core GPU
RAM: 8, 16 or 24GB
Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB SSD
Operating system: macOS 13.4 Ventura
Camera: 1080p FaceTime HD
Connectivity: wifi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, 2x USB-C/Thunderbolt 4, headphones
Dimensions: 237.6 x 340.4 x 11.5mm
Weight: 1.51kg

extraordinary battery life

There are two Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 connections, a headphone jack, and a separate MagSafe charging connector on the 15-inch Air, just like the 13-inch model. A memory card reader or a couple more ports would have been ideal, but it still functions thanks to the wide range of extension options provided by the USB-C connections.

The battery life continues to be among the best. Depending on usage, it can last up to 16 hours for office tasks like browsing and word processing in between charges. You won’t need to bring the charger to classes or work because it will still last for a solid 13 hours if you do more creative things like spend a lot of time editing photos in Affinity Photo.

Sustainability

Aluminum, cobalt, gold, steel, tin, rare earth elements, plastic, and recycled metals are all used in the construction of the MacBook Air. In its analysis, Apple breaks down the computer’s environmental impact.

In most cases, the computer can be fixed, and Apple will replace the battery for £189. The business provides free recycling and trade-in programs, even for non-Apple products.
Price

Starting at £1,399 ($1,299/A$2,199), the 15-inch MacBook Air has 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage.

A 13-inch MacBook Air starts at £1,149, a 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at £2,149, a 15-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 starts at £1,299, and a 15-inch Dell XPS starts at £1,399.

Verdict

The best-in-class 13-inch MacBook Air model is combined with a larger display for people who require more screen space in the 15-inch MacBook Air, a fantastic addition to Apple’s laptop lineup.

It doesn’t fundamentally alter the laptop’s successful formula, which is a good thing. While the quick but effective M2 chip offers plenty of power and a 16-hour battery life, the no-fan design keeps things quiet. However, anyone seeking workstation- or gaming-level power will need to search elsewhere.

The screen is among the best available. The webcam is decent, the speakers are excellent, and the microphones are excellent for accepting calls. Its excellent construction and extreme thinness make it easier to carry than many competitors without sacrificing performance.

Although not inexpensive, the 15in Air isn’t unduly pricey for a high-end laptop this size. For portability, I would choose the 13-inch model, but if you want a high-end laptop with a large screen and don’t require Windows, this is it.

Pros: include the quick M2 chip, silent operation, incredibly long battery life, fantastic 15.3-inch screen, excellent keyboard, large best-in-class trackpad, MagSafe, excellent speakers, superb mics, and webcam, as well as the use of several recyclable materials and Touch ID.

Cons: Expensive, just two USB-C connections, no SD card slot, only one external display supported, no Centre Stage camera, and no Face ID.