Our Verdict
The 15-inch MacBook Air is the proper laptop computer for many who need a big show, compact construct, and sufficient energy for basic day-to-day computing. In order for you extra energy for issues like video modifying and high-end gaming, nevertheless, then it’s the Professional all the way in which.
Value When Reviewed
Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 256 GB, 2023): $1,299
Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional (M2 Professional, 2023): From $1,999 | Mannequin reviewed $2,499
Greatest Costs Right this moment: Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 256 GB, 2023)
$1,234.00
$1249
$1299
$1299
$1299
The MacBook Air has at all times been a svelte and compact machine that’s light-weight and simple to hold round. And now it’s acquired an enormous display too: Apple has launched a MacBook Air with a 15-inch display that’s simply as skinny and light-weight because the 13-inch mannequin and really bigger than the more-powerful 14-inch MacBook Professional. So which must you purchase?
We’ll break down all of the specifics right here. You can even learn our article evaluating the 13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Professional in addition to our finest MacBook information.
15-inch MacBook Air vs 14-inch Professional: Value
Probably the most vital components of any shopping for choice is how a lot you need to spend. That’s why the 16-inch MacBook Professional has been overlooked of this comparability, as you would virtually get two 15-inch MacBook Airs for a similar cash, which places Apple’s largest laptop computer in a distinct league.
However with a $1,999 beginning worth, the 14-inch MacBook Professional is a bit nearer in worth to the 15-inch Air, so let’s take a look at how the present fashions line up:
- 15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 8GB/256GB) – $1,299/£1,399/€1,599
- 15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 8GB/512GB) – $1,499/£1,599/€1,829
- 14-inch MacBook Professional (M2 Professional, 16GB/512GB) – $1,999/£2,149/€2,399
- 14-inch MacBook Professional (M2 Professional, 16GB/1TB) – $2,499/£2,699/€2,999
- 14-inch MacBook Professional (M2 Max, 32GB/1TB) – $3,099/£3,349/€3,699
As you possibly can see, there’s nonetheless fairly a disparity within the costs, however the Professional fashions do include at the least double the reminiscence and storage because the respective Air (which will increase the value of the AIr to $1,699/£1,799), plus a sooner M2 Professional chip.
Apple additionally sells a 13-inch MacBook Professional, which has the identical M2 chip because the 15-inch MacBook Air for $1,299, however with an older design (that features the Contact Bar), we advocate the Air or 14-inch Professional.
Apple
15-inch MacBook Air vs 14-inch MacBook Professional: Design and specs
Apple up to date the design of the MacBook Air when it launched the 13-inch MacBook Air (M2) in July 2022, retiring the tapered chassis it used since Steve Jobs launched the Air to the world by pulling it out of an inter-office envelope. The design is similar to the Professional mannequin
- 15-inch MacBook Air: 0.45in x 13.40in x 9.35in, 3.3lbs; 1.15cm x 34.04cm x 23.76cm, 1.51kg
- 14-inch MacBook Professional: 0.61in x 12.31in x 8.71in, 3.5lbs; 1.55cm x 31.26cm x 22.12cm, 1.60kg
Even with a smaller display, the Professional is a bit chunkier and heavier because of the followers wanted for warmth dissipation, whereas the Air is, unsurprisingly, wider and taller, because of the larger show.
Apple
The thicker MacBook Professional options extra ports. Apple matches the MacBook Air with two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, a MagSafe charging port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the Professional, you get an extra Thunderbolt 4/USB-C (bringing the entire to a few), plus MagSafe, HDMI, SDXC ports, and a headphone jack.
Each fashions have a Contact ID sensor constructed into the keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD cameras, and six-speaker arrays (the 13-inch Air solely has a four-speaker sound system). The sound on the MacBook Professional is described by Apple as “Excessive Constancy”, by which we assume Apple is indicating it’s superior to the Air. Connectivity is by way of Bluetooth 5.3 and whereas the Air helps Wi-Fi 6, the Professional suggestions the stability with Wi-Fi 6E.
15-inch MacBook Air vs 14-inch MacBook Professional: Show
The 15-inch MacBook Air has a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina show, whereas the Professional comes with a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR panel. The display on the Air is a bit larger, nevertheless it’s not so good as the display on the MacBook Professional.
The Air’s show runs at a decision of two,880 x 1,864 with a prime refresh price of 60Hz. Its most brightness is 500 nits, which is half of the Professional’s 1,000 nits in regular use or a 3rd if you happen to’re operating HDR content material at a max of 1,600 nits. That is achieved by the Professional show incorporating mini-LEDs moderately than the Air’s commonplace LCD display.
Maybe the most important distinction although is that the Professional options ProMotion, which means that the refresh price tops out at 120Hz, once more double that of the Air. This helps preserve scrolling and animations easy and crisp. Both show can be nice for on a regular basis use and lengthy hours of labor, however the Professional undoubtedly has the sting on the subject of options.
Foundry
15-inch MacBook Air vs 14-inch MacBook Professional: Efficiency and battery
The brand new 15-inch MacBook Air options the identical M2 chip within the 13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Professional, whereas the 14-inch MacBook Professional comes with both the M2 Professional or the M2 Max. Nonetheless, whereas the bottom mannequin of the 13-inch Air has an 8-core GPU, the 15-inch MacBook Air has a full 10-core GPU in addition to an 8-core CPU.
Because the title suggests, the baseline M2 Professional brings extra energy, with a 10-core CPU and a 16-core or 19-core GPU. You can even improve to the M2 Max chip with a 12-core CPU and 30-core or 38-core GPU.
Apple
The usual M2 is a really succesful chip, which might deal with most stuff you’ll throw at it, together with mild photograph and video modifying. But when these are your fundamental supposed makes use of on your MacBook then we predict the additional energy within the Professional or Max chip can be the higher resolution. In any other case, the M2 can be greater than ample for a number of years to return.
You don’t have to contemplate battery life on this race, as Apple states that each are able to 18 hours of use from a single cost, which ought to get you thru even the busiest of working days.
15-inch MacBook Air vs 14-inch MacBook Professional: Verdict
The truth that each gadgets have related appears and sizes makes it simpler to resolve which one to get, because it all comes down to cost, display measurement, and energy. Should you’re out there for an on a regular basis laptop computer for writing paperwork, creating displays, engaged on spreadsheets, some mild gaming, and loads of streaming video, the 15-inch MacBook Air is a improbable selection. In comparison with the MacBook Professional, you get a barely lighter laptop computer with a bigger show at a a lot cheaper price.
Those that require the brightest, smoothest show, additional ports, and much more energy will inevitably discover the siren tune of the 14-inch MacBook Professional too laborious to withstand. It’s a manufacturing powerhouse constructed for video modifying, code creation, and gaming, that’s in a position to deal with all the intense calls for of these actions. It’s referred to as a Professional for a purpose.
Most individuals who want a MacBook Professional most likely aren’t studying this text—they know who they’re. However for the remainder of us, the 15-inch MacBook AIr is Apple’s finest worth in a laptop computer and the one one to purchase.