It’s hard to describe the new Apple MacBook Air as anything other than a basic 15-inch version of the MacBook Air M2 that launched last summer. On paper, the brand keeps more or less the entire spec sheet of its ultraportable. It only enlarges the screen from 13 to 15 inches and increases the volume of the battery to compensate for the increased consumption.
We tested this new MacBook Air M2 for several days. We focus on the differences to the 13-inch model, which we have already extensively tested on Frandroid.
Technical worksheet
| Model | Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 2023 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 23.76cm x 34.04cm x 1.15mm |
| definition | 2880×1864 pixels |
| display technology | LCD |
| touch screen | NO |
| Processor (CPU) | M2 |
| Graphics chip (GPU) | Apple GPU |
| Memory (RAM) | 8GB, 16GB, 24GB |
| Internal memory | 256GB, 512GB, 1024GB, 2048GB |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 |
| operating system (OS) | macOS |
| Weight | 1510 grams |
product sheet |
The MacBook Air M2 used for this test was purchased from the editors.
Design: a neat dress
We avoid repeating ourselves, but again, Apple has kept all the design codes introduced with the 13-inch model. So here we have an ultra-portable aluminum PC that’s meticulously built to give you an instant sturdiness.
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
We find the rounded edges and the very homogeneous format, in which the front is no thicker than the back of the PC. In terms of design, it is difficult to go too far, since Apple has mastered an idea of sobriety and simplicity with this computer.
It must be said that the machine is completely without ventilation. This will give you the bottom of the MacBook without any bumps. The only ventilation is done very discreetly at the hinge.
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
The transition to the 15-inch format inevitably leads to an increase in the weight of the PC, but it remains very reasonable. We’re a long way from a “pro” PC or a gaming PC, so the MacBook Air’s finesse allows it to remain ultraportable. In the backpack there is actually no difference to the transport of the 13-inch model.
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Leaving aside the question of the notch, which we’ll come back to later, we can’t really say much about the perfectly mastered design of this 15-inch MacBook Air M2.
keyboard and touchpad
Apple keeps the exact same keyboard. It’s also the model the brand uses in its even larger 16-inch MacBook Pro, so that’s no surprise. The rest of the space is reserved for the trackpad and speakers on either side.
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
We can regret that Apple doesn’t take the opportunity to enlarge certain keys, especially the arrows. However, this is an excellent quality keyboard and the typing comfort is there. The arrangement of the keys does not correspond to that of Windows QWERTY keyboards, but adjustments are possible with the Karabiner Elements software.
The trackpad is of course larger on this 15-inch MacBook Air. Its glass surface is still just as pleasant. No complaints.
connections
Apple hasn’t changed its ports. So we have two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left and a 3.5mm jack on the right. We regret that the brand still limits the connection to a single external display on its MacBook M1 and M2. Using multiple external screens is done via the Pro chips.
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
The PC also offers a MagSafe connector to magnetically charge the device without overcharging either USB-C port. It is a pity, however, that there is no USB port on the right side of the device.
An LCD screen in 2023
She’s still there and ready to taunt the user at any moment. In 2023, Apple is still forcing the unsightly notch above the screen on us. There is absolutely no justification for this design choice as even the iPhone with Face ID can do without it. Here you are content with hiding a simple RGB webcam without biometric capability. Other PC manufacturers fare better, especially at this price point.
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina screen displays a resolution of 2880 x 1864 pixels, versus 2560 x 1664 pixels for the 13.6-inch version. Therefore we keep the same pixel density on the screen.
The increase in display comfort is immediately apparent and makes it easier for the 15-inch MacBook Air to replace a work machine. This is its main strength: the MacBook Air 15″ gains ease of use without making too many compromises in terms of weight or compactness. Whether it’s for watching movies, videos, or working with text, the format Apple’s chosen is comfortable.
However, the competition got off to a good start with the switch to Oled and is clearly ahead of Apple when it comes to the quality of the display. Of course, the Apple brand has gone for an excellent LCD screen, but it’s still an LCD screen.
Using our colorimetric probe with Calman software, we measured the excellent performance expected from the screen. The panel chosen by Apple fully covers DCI-P3 and sRGB with flawless color accuracy. The average DeltaE is 1.14 with a maximum of 2.67, which is good considering that below 3 the eye no longer makes a difference. At 1256:1, the contrasts are on the level of a good LCD. The maximum brightness is 488 cd/m².
webcam and audio
Apple’s 1080p camera is good enough for video calls, but it won’t work wonders either. On the other hand, the installed microphone system makes it possible to easily conduct group meetings where several speakers sit in front of the MacBook. The ambient noise suppression through the microphones is not as good as in an Nvidia broadcast system, but it is quite successful for an Apple-native system with an ARM chip. The people you are talking to will still hear some of the ambient noise.
Anyway, the webcam is working fine
The speaker system is another strong point of this 15-inch model. Apple has integrated six speakers into its device, four under the screen and two on the left and right of the keyboard. We’re still dealing with a laptop PC, of course, but the sound quality is there. We watch a movie or listen to music without complaining. Apple really nailed using the extra volume from the enlargement to make the speakers vibrate better.
macOS Ventura
Pending the release of Sonoma and the focus on video games, this MacBook Air will offer macOS Ventura. Three years after the move to Apple Silicon began, there are few software products that aren’t optimized for the company’s new chips. The great advantage of macOS is the number of pre-installed applications for a family audience. Between Apple TV, Apple Plan, Apple Music or the Office suite, there’s enough to manage your entire digital life without leaving the ecosystem.
The Apple ecosystem is the other obvious strength of this software environment. You can automatically find text messages from your iPhone, move the trackpad cursor, and take control of an iPad without configuration. File or photo transfer is easy with AirDrop. Even the initial setup of the machine is very easy if you are coming from a Mac.
Everything is not perfect yet. For example, we want the MacBook to act as an AirPlay target to continue watching a video we started on our iPad or iPhone. Likewise, it is not possible to connect multiple Bluetooth headsets or AirPods at the same time to enjoy a video together.
Performance
The Apple M2 chip is a performance marvel. Together with 8 GB of unified memory and storage of 256 or 512 GB, it can cope with most tasks.
With an Apple M2 chip, you can do web or office work, play video games with low power consumption, or edit photos. The first limitation will usually be memory size or amount of RAM rather than chip performance. For more demanding needs like video editing, 3D creation or demanding 3D video games, it will show its limitations.
In Cinebench R23, the M2 achieves 1602 points in single-core and 7853 in multi-core. The biggest advantage of the M2 is that it works without ventilation and therefore without noise. The downside is that performance can be limited due to heat build-up for demanding tasks that take a bit of time, like rendering a video montage. The MacBook Air, on the other hand, maintains its level of performance on battery power or under load. This is a real strength of Apple devices over the Windows ecosystem.
The 15-inch MacBook Air M2 is compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6. Apple does without Wi-Fi 6E in this new reference.
autonomy and burden
This 15-inch MacBook Air M2’s battery has a capacity of 66.5 Wh. It makes it easy to keep a workday away from an outlet without asking too many questions. The battery is larger than the 13-inch model, but the gain only makes up for the increased screen consumption. LCD obliges, the more impressive the backlight is on a 15 inch, the more consumed.
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
The good news comes from the included charger. Apple offers the 35W dual-port USB-C charger as standard. This allows you to charge your smartphone and PC from a single socket. It’s an excellent idea that we’ve already seen at Microsoft with the Surface, and it was time to see how manufacturers are taking inspiration from it. This is especially useful on the train or at the airport when you only have one outlet available.
price and availability
The 15-inch MacBook Air M2 is marketed by Apple from 1599 euros, which is 300 euros more than the 13-inch model.
Where to buy
Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 2023 at the best price?