Which MacBook Air 15-inch model did I test?
The specifications of the MacBook Air I’m holding are as follows:
A 10-core GPU and an 8-core CPU (M2)
1TB SSD storage, 16GB RAM, and a 15.3-inch screen with a resolution of 2880 x 1864 pixels
If $1,899 is too much for you, there are various configurations available that start at $1,299 as well. Additionally, we’ve seen the price of the 15-inch MacBook Air drop thanks to certain Black Friday discounts.
What features of the 15-inch MacBook Air appeal to me?
I promise you that by the end of the day, most Windows laptops will have you tethered to an outlet. On the other hand, MacBooks don’t need to be charged again until the next day because of their power-efficient M-series CPUs.
The 15-inch MacBook Air consumes very little power.
I will discuss the precise runtime of the 15-inch MacBook Air in more detail later on, but like my 14-inch MacBook Pro, the Air is surprisingly long-lasting between charges. Slack, Google Meet, Google Docs, Gmail, a lot of tabs in Google Chrome, Asana, simple photo editing, and large file downloads make up my routine. When I’m not working, I shop on Amazon and other well-known websites before looking for amusement on Peacock, YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu.
My 15-inch MacBook Air surprised me by charging it to 100%; an hour later, it was only at 99 percent, barely moving a needle. This allows you to see just how energy-efficient the Air is.
The additional screen area is fantastic.
You voiced grievances. Apple paid attention.
The screen size of the 15-inch MacBook Air falls perfectly in the middle.Photograph by Kimberly Gedeon for Mashable
The majority of people adore the MacBook Air, but the drawback is that a Pro model would cost more if you needed a larger screen than the 13-inch models Apple was selling. Some people feel that the Pro is too strong for the tasks they perform on a regular basis.
But this year, Apple made the decision to provide the best of all worlds, giving consumers with a basic workflow a larger display with just enough power. 13-inch screens have never appealed to me since they are so little. The sweet spot is somewhere between 14 and 15 inches, and Apple hit it with the 15.3-inch panel on the Air.
A charming exhibition
With a 15.3-inch, LED-backlit display that boasts a resolution of 2,880 x 1,864 pixels, the MacBook Air is an amazing visual treat.
I was able to distinguish Bryce Dallas Howard’s faint freckles on his neck and Dua Lipa’s minuscule pores thanks to the clarity of the YouTube Argylle trailer.
loud speakers
The 15-inch MacBook Air boasts the greatest speakers I’ve ever heard, second only to my 14-inch MacBook Pro. It has force-canceling woofers and a six-speaker sound system. I played Tate McRae’s “greedy” on Spotify after starting the Hot Hits USA playlist. Because it’s so overplayed on TikTok, this song might be one of the most obnoxious ones of the year, but on the 15-inch MacBook Air, it sounds brand-new to me.
Even at maximum level, it sounds warm, clear, and sharp (and gets fairly loud).
large touchpad
The 15-inch MacBook Air has an enormous touchpad. There’s tons of room for activities, just like that one sentence in Step Brothers!
This gadget has a large touchpad.Photograph by Kimberly Gedeon for Mashable
It almost completely fills the deck. It responds quickly, which makes my jerky hand movements easier. It also achieves the ideal ratio of smoothness to resistance.
Sonoma’s macOS is sleek.
I kind of yawned when I heard that macOS Sonoma was adding new screensavers to the lock screen. dull Still, these animated backgrounds are very awesome when you play with them.
You can now select from an array of breathtaking screensavers with immersive, three-dimensional aerial views on macOS Sonoma, ranging from the striking Manhattan skyline to the rugged Icelandic cliffs.
One of my favorite things about macOS Sonoma is how simple it is to exchange passwords with a trusted group of people—like your close family—whether they are for Netflix or Amazon Prime. You won’t have to deal with the infuriating text that asks you for your Netflix password repeatedly in this manner.
And lastly, I adore that when using FaceTime and other video-conferencing apps like Zoom, you can now utilize gestures to trigger amusing animations to appear on the screen. These movements include a thumbs up and the rock-on hand signal.
What makes the 15-inch MacBook Air so “eh”?
There are times when I discover features about a laptop that I don’t love or dislike. Although the 15-inch MacBook Air’s dip into the display isn’t very attractive, I’m not too upset about it either.
Yes, that notch
Similar to iPhone owners, many MacBook users will claim you they are unaware of the notch.
Although it may detract from the stunning image, the notch is not fatal.Photograph by Kimberly Gedeon for Mashable
In terms of myself, I can say the same thing: occasionally. Occasionally, when I pause to enjoy the MacBook Air’s display, I catch sight of the notch and comment, “Gosh, what a pain in the arse.” I just move on with my day and let it go after that.
It lacks air.
The word “Air” in the MacBook Air’s name refers to its reputation for being lightweight and thin. I wouldn’t classify the MacBook Air as one of the lightest or thinnest laptops available, though, if that’s what you’re looking for. By no means is it heavy, but it’s also not light enough to be carried in one hand without quickly being tiresome.
For instance, my 15.6-inch Windows laptop, the LG SuperSlim, weighs only 2.18 pounds and is only 0.43 inches thick. The MacBook Air measures 0.45 inches thick and weighs 3.3 pounds.
Apple allegedly reached an agreement with the M2 chip.
The next-generation M3 chip was allegedly intended to be included in the 15-inch MacBook Air, but Apple reportedly dropped this plan. The M2 is “so last year,” but since it manages to squeeze out enough performance for its target market—users with routine workflows—this isn’t a huge concern.
What the 15-inch MacBook Air doesn’t have that I like
There’s one particular reason why the 15-inch MacBook Air can drive you crazy if you’re OCD like me.
There are too many fingerprints on the chassis.
The MacBook Air is superbly constructed. Its robust, long-lasting, and cool-to-the-touch recyclable aluminum chassis.
Finger prints and smudges are attracted to the M2 MacBook Air 15-inch lid.Photograph by Kimberly Gedeon for Mashable
The midnight variation, a deep, inky dark blue, is the one I have for review. But keep a microfiber cloth handy at all times since the body draws oil and fingerprints like a moth to a flame.
irritable on ports
The MacBook Air lacks legacy connections, so you’ll need to use a dongle to connect peripherals that need things like USB Type-A and HDMI. The MacBook Air can be charged using MagSafe 3, which is located on board, along with two Thunderbolt connections and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Geekbench 15-inch MacBook Air
With a multi-core score of 10,146, the M2 chip inside the 15-inch MacBook Air performed well on the processor performance benchmark Geekbench 6. This is really quite excellent. In comparison, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, which costs $1,400 more, had a less stellar score of 9,613 in our most recent review.
Get one of the Pro models if you require a laptop that can handle heavier demands (such 3D modeling). The 15-inch MacBook Air will limit your performance if you push it too hard because it does not have fans.
Life of the 15-inch MacBook Air battery
We tested the 15-inch MacBook Air’s battery life using PCMark 10 Modern Office. We launched this test using Parallels, a program that allows you to run different operating systems like Windows, because it doesn’t operate natively on macOS.
Remember that Parallels is a virtual computer that uses a lot of power, yet even with its amazing 19 hours and 4 minutes of runtime, the 15-inch MacBook Air amazed us.
