Harness the formidable capabilities of the M2 chip while enjoying the portability of a MacBook Air, all enhanced by the stunning 15-inch display, perfect for boosting productivity.
Important keys
- The Apple MacBook Air M2 15-inch laptop stands as a compelling choice for mobile professionals, thanks to its potent performance and featherweight design.
- It boasts a captivating liquid retina display that elevates your visual experience.
- Remarkably, this laptop achieves an impressive battery life, extending up to a remarkable 18 hours. It perfectly marries size and power, as the spacious screen offers a comfortable workspace without compromising its ease of portability.
The Apple MacBook Air, powered by the M2 chip, addresses a long-standing desire among Mac enthusiasts with its striking 15.3-inch display. This generous screen, combined with the Air’s slender build, positions it as an exceptional choice for mobile professionals.
Key Highlights of the 15-Inch MacBook Air M2
Apple has finally introduced the M2 chip alongside a generous display that remains lightweight, making it the ultimate travel companion. The new 15-inch MacBook Air ticks all the right boxes, offering both robust performance and a more budget-friendly price point compared to the MacBook Pro.
The M2 chip delivers its signature processing power, just as it does in the 13-inch MacBook Air. However, the key distinction here is the option to acquire a more cost-effective laptop that suits your requirements, all while retaining the M2’s processing prowess and not being confined to a 13-inch screen. In my view, it’s a blend of the best features, which is why I eagerly embraced it as my daily driver.
In addition to the M2 chip, the 2023 Apple MacBook Air boasts a vivid and luminous liquid retina display. A top-notch large screen, combined with a lightweight build and an affordable price point, is something that has been absent from Apple’s lineup for quite some time. In the past, consumers had to make a choice between screen size and weight or opt for the pricier MacBook Pro.
The 15-inch MacBook Air seamlessly addresses these concerns, emerging as one of the finest laptops for individuals who work while on the move without compromising screen size for portability.
If you have a preferred monitor for your home office setup, the MacBook Air can easily connect to it in Clamshell mode.
This version of the MacBook Air is equipped with two Thunderbolt/USB4 ports, in addition to its MagSafe 3 charging port. While I find the limited number of Thunderbolt ports sufficient, those with a multitude of accessories might consider purchasing an adapter for additional port options.
It also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a practical feature for those who often forget to charge their Bluetooth headphones, especially during travel. This feature also caters to users who wish to utilize audio recording equipment with the MacBook Air.
The inclusion of a 1080p FaceTime HD camera is ideal for work-related meetings or video calls with friends and family. I’ve noticed a significant improvement in clarity compared to the 720p camera on my previous MacBook Air. Moreover, the 15-inch display allows for better camera angles. Thanks to the elevated camera position relative to the desk surface, I haven’t felt the need to prop the laptop up on books to achieve a more flattering camera angle for video calls, as I did with my 13-inch MacBook Air.
Battery Performance and Charging Capability
The revival of the MagSafe charging port in this iteration of the MacBook Air is a welcome sight, and I’m delighted to have it back, along with the convenience of the green light indicator signaling a full charge.
I also find the swift charging times and the magnetic connector to be quite convenient, as it eliminates the need to fumble around for the port. Since I have a tendency to trip over cords, the MagSafe port provides added assurance that my laptop won’t end up on the floor.
Charging the laptop from a completely depleted battery took just over two hours, which is commendable.
Beyond its functionality, the design of the 2023 MacBook Air’s power cord is impressive. Similar to the desktop iMac, it features a color-coordinated cord. Opting for the Midnight color, my charging cable matches seamlessly. Furthermore, it’s encased in a durable woven fabric material that withstands wear and tear better than traditional Apple cables.
The stated battery life for this 2023 MacBook Air is up to 18 hours, a claim that I have indeed found to be accurate. I have complete confidence in the laptop’s battery life, to the extent that I often leave my charging cable and adapter at home when heading into the office for the day. In my experience, it remains dependable regardless of the tasks I tackle.
The only drawback in the battery system is that the charging block still comes in white. Someday, I hope to see a coordinated AC adaptor to match.
Aesthetic and Visual Appeal
The MacBook Air has long been recognized for its compact, lightweight, and elegant design, and these characteristics remain intact in the 15-inch model introduced in 2023. As someone who frequently travels with my laptop, the ability for it to fit comfortably inside a backpack without adding excessive weight is a top priority when selecting a laptop.
The 15-inch variant maintains its sleek, slender profile and surprisingly light build, considering its larger display size. While I thoroughly appreciate the expanded screen real estate, I did have to switch to a more traditional laptop-sized bag when transitioning from my previous 2020 13-inch Air. There’s no denying that this laptop boasts a wider footprint, but in my opinion, it’s a justifiable trade-off, especially considering its continued lightweight nature.
The user experience with the larger screen is truly remarkable, allowing for effortless split-screen multitasking.
I must confess that I was initially thrilled when I came across the new Apple Midnight color, as I assumed it was a deep black shade. Given my inclination toward darker hues, I ultimately opted for Midnight, even though I later realized it leans more towards a deep blue hue.
Operating Capability
The Apple MacBook Air M2 certainly lives up to the expectations with its impressive performance, especially when considering the lightweight nature of the device.
We initiated our evaluation with GeekBench 6, using the Dell Precision 3460 equipped with an Intel i7-12700 processor as the baseline, which scores at 2,500. Therefore, any score above 2,500 is considered a superior performance, and vice versa.
From the displayed results, it’s evident that the MacBook Air M2 surpasses the 2,500 benchmark, registering scores of 2594 for single core, 9765 for multi-core, and 28222 for OpenCL (GPU).
The CPU and GPU benchmark tests yielded the following outcomes:
In overall terms, I am highly satisfied with the performance of my MacBook Air. Compared to the 2020 MacBook Air with the M1 chip that I previously used, there’s a significant improvement, as it scored only 2330. According to the GeekBench benchmarks posted, the 15-inch MacBook Air was surpassed in performance only by a MacBook Pro.
Considering the price point difference of about $1000 between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air delivers robust functionality and speed, making it an excellent value proposition.
A 3DMark benchmark test also produced respectable results, with the demanding 3DMark Wild Life Extreme averaging 38.7 FPS and an overall score of 6467, as depicted in the image above. As anticipated, the scores surpass those of prior MacBook Air models but fall below the MacBook Pro series when compared to similar Apple devices tested with 3DMark.
Thus far, I have extensively utilized my laptop and have yet to encounter any issues. I tend to push devices to their limits, and the MacBook Air has proven to be resilient and dependable.
It Attracts Fingerprints Easily
My primary concern with the 2023 Apple MacBook Air M2 in Midnight is purely cosmetic. The dark hue and material used for the laptop’s casing make it prone to rapid dirt and fingerprint accumulation. Regardless of how clean my hands may be, handling the laptop results in an abundance of visible fingerprints, as clearly shown in the image above.
Even after thorough cleaning attempts, restoring it to its pristine, out-of-the-box appearance remains elusive. This issue is most pronounced on the laptop’s top surface but also extends to areas near and on the trackpad and keyboard. Regrettably, I have yet to discover a solution other than regularly wiping it down with a soft cloth after each use, which only mitigates the problem rather than fully resolving it.
Based on my research, it appears that this issue is predominantly associated with the Midnight color variant. If this is a concern for you, it may be advisable to consider a different color option.