After the release of an initial version full of praise, the MacBook Air with M2 chip offers a long-awaited expansion. It is now available with a 15-inch screen in addition to the 13-inch panel. Same recipe, same components, same colors (midnight blue, starlight, silver and space gray), same performance and resistance, the newcomer continues in the line of its “little” brother, to become the best computer of all. Apple.
But can this growing pain find its audience, with a price that also climbs to €1,599? One hundred euros more than the 13-inch ultraportable at its launch, which lowers its price to 1,299 euros. We tested it to see if expanding the bill and dimensions was useful.
Its advantages
Large format premium design
With only their measurements in outward signs of difference, the MacBook Air 15 is the larger twin of the MacBook Air 13 in every way. It looks the same as the model introduced just a year ago. A straighter, more premium design in a 100% recycled aluminum chassis that’s still just as slim (1.15cm vs. 1.13cm) and still reasonable in weight (1.51kg vs. 1.24kg ) to retain its “Air” name.
In terms of dimensions, it’s obviously overweight (34.04 x 23.76 cm), but the refined edges around the screen make everything quite small for that size. Note that the touchpad occupies a good area and we make the most of it -and in a pleasant way- for various functions when it comes to signing, annotating, turning around with the fingertips.
However, we must recognize that we will have to review the size of the bag to carry it. If the MacBook Air 13 fits in relatively any backpack, its big brother also forces you to think big. Fortunately, it’s not that much heavier, and it makes up for it compared to other competing models. In terms of colors, the Minuit (meaning by that: midnight blue) is gorgeous, but it tends to take fingerprints and scratches very quickly. It is still discreet, but if you prefer to bet on safe elegance, the “Stellar light” (white gold) is perfect, the other two more classic.
A comfortable XXL screen
The screen was already fine in the 13 inches, it’s fine in the XXL version. MacBook Air features a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina panel (LCD) with True Tone technology that adjusts the white balance to the brightness of the environment. The magnification is obviously very nice to have more details in the photos, to work in a more comfortable way showing two screens in parallel without having the impression that they are too small. You can choose to make the font size bigger or smaller without making it look weird. The color screen is just as qualitative as in the small model. The display is still of excellent quality, although it doesn’t offer brilliant maximum brightness (500 nits vs up to 1500 nits in HDR for the MacBook Pro). In full sun, reflections can more easily invite themselves.
A good screen is good. A good audio system is better to put videos or movies to good use. Apple knows this and inflates its equipment. There are now six well-distributed speakers below the keyboard at the junction with the screen (versus four for the 13-inch). This gives a very wide sound reproduction around the device quite successful and even more immersive. Additionally, MacBook Air supports Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos for compatible movies and music. Apple adds 3 microphones around the 1080p webcam instead for honest quality without making headlines.
almighty always
Apple hasn’t upgraded its laptop to more power and is turning it into what it really is: a larger version of the 13-inch MacBook Air M2. Therefore, it was already very powerful compared to last year’s competition. In terms of its price range and its target audience, it’s still just as good a year later. Using the 2022 model for a year and this one for a few days, there is no appreciable difference. And it should be for a while yet.
For those who don’t have big goals or very ambitious projects to tackle, the MacBook Air M2 is more than enough, if not beyond the necessities. Above all, it’s already largely capable of responding to 4K video editing, photo editing, or development without breaking the bank for a MacBook Pro. It’s even ready for the resource-intensive video games that are just starting to appear. on the Mac.
lasting autonomy
Of course, a bigger screen requires a bigger battery. The result is that the MacBook Air 15 boasts the same long battery life as its predecessor thanks to the work of the M2 chip. It lasts well over a hard day’s work without recharging. A 12 hour drive won’t require an emergency plug, even while watching videos or gaming (unless you’re only doing that during the ride and then the battery will start to fail, but gently). Furthermore, the newcomer is still just as quiet despite the lack of a fan. Its very significant autonomy remains one of its enormous strengths.
our reservations
Connections a bit limited and not necessarily practical.
We would have liked to see an additional USB-C port added. Admittedly, that would have made it flirt with the better-equipped MacBook Pros. But this great ultraportable is also meant to serve those who do video, music, photography, artistic creation or otherwise and who often need to connect multiple external devices. The MacBook Air 15 still has two USB-C ports on the left with (thankfully) the MagSafe port that can free up one of the two ports for charging (and a headphone jack on the right). But if your USB-C tip is a bit wide (if you have, for example, certain USB-A/USB-C adapters that are a bit protruding), you’ll quickly find all these little people too tight…
The notch that still doesn’t work
It is the good idea that allows you to completely erase the screen. It is also the perpetual question since its implementation in the MacBook Pro. Why put a notch that is reminiscent of the TrueDepth camera of the iPhone if it does not take care of its functions? Fortunately, the MacBook Air 15 has the good idea to keep the Touch ID key to quickly unlock, validate payments and other codes. But we would also like to have Windows Hello facial recognition to strengthen security and offer more options.
Conclusion
The MacBook Air 15 comes to try to seduce users who were probably forced to resort to the more expensive MacBook Pro to be able to work on larger screens (14 and 16 inches). For a price that is definitely more adjusted than usual, although it becomes the most expensive in its range, the MacBook Air 2023 is an alternative to take into account due to its size, power, autonomy and working comfort, even when transporting.
It comes with a choice of a very handy dual-port power adapter (but only 35W) or a simple and powerful 70W one. The latter will have the merit of recharging the device more quickly (50% recovered in about 45 minutes). As for storage, the basic version only has 256 GB that will fill up quickly, especially for the most creative, but it is possible to opt for a 2 TB SSD loader at 920 euros. If in the end the basic price seems more than honest, it is the prices of the options that will quickly raise the bill (up to an additional 460 euros for 24 GB of memory).
Source: BFM TV
