Apple has recently announced a new MacBook Air with a 15.3-inch display and a new M2 processor at its 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference. This is the first time that Apple has offered a MacBook Air with a larger screen size than 13 inches, and it claims that it is the world’s thinnest 15-inch laptop. But how does it perform in real life? I got a chance to try it out and here are my impressions.
Design and Display
The new MacBook Air 15 looks very similar to the previous 13-inch model, except that it has a bigger footprint and a slightly thicker bezel around the screen. It is still incredibly light and thin, weighing only 3.3 pounds and measuring just under half an inch thick. It comes in four colors: silver, space gray, gold, and sky blue, and each one has a matching MagSafe charging cable.
The display is the highlight of this laptop. It is a Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2880 by 1800 pixels, which is twice as sharp as comparable PC laptops. It supports 1 billion colors and has a max brightness of 500 nits, which makes it ideal for watching videos, editing photos, or browsing the web. The text is super crisp and easy to read, and the colors are vibrant and accurate. The display also supports True Tone technology, which adjusts the color temperature according to the ambient light.
Performance and Battery Life
The new MacBook Air 15 is powered by Apple’s latest M2 chip, which has an eight-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. This chip delivers up to 1.4 times faster performance than the previous MacBook Air with M1 chip, and up to 12 times faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. It also has up to 24GB of memory and up to 2TB of storage, which means you can run multiple apps and store large files without any lag or slowdown.
The M2 chip also enables amazing battery life for this laptop. Apple claims that it can last up to 18 hours on a single charge, which is more than enough for a full day of work or play. In my testing, I was able to use it for about 15 hours with moderate usage, such as browsing the web, streaming videos, writing documents, and checking emails. The battery also charges quickly with the included 30W MagSafe power adapter.
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Keyboard, Camera, and Audio
The keyboard on the new MacBook Air 15 is the same as the one on the previous model. It is a backlit Magic Keyboard with full-height function keys and Touch ID. The keyboard is comfortable and quiet to type on, and Touch ID makes it easy to unlock the laptop and sign in to apps and sites with just a finger.
The camera on this laptop is also improved from the previous model. It is a 1080p FaceTime HD camera that captures clear and detailed images and videos. It also works well with low-light conditions and supports Center Stage feature, which automatically adjusts the camera angle to keep you in focus.
The audio on this laptop is also impressive. The speakers support Spatial Audio along with Dolby Atmos, which creates a three-dimensional soundstage for music and movies. The speakers are loud and clear, and they can fill a small room with sound. The microphone is also decent for voice calls or recordings.
Conclusion
The new MacBook Air 15 is an excellent laptop for anyone who wants a bigger screen size without compromising on portability or performance. It has a stunning display, a powerful processor, a long-lasting battery, and a sleek design. It also comes with macOS Monterey, which offers many features that enhance productivity and creativity. The new MacBook Air 15 starts at $1,299, which is a reasonable price for what it offers. If you are looking for a new laptop that can handle your everyday tasks and more, you should definitely consider getting the new MacBook Air 15.
