Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch vs Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 256GB
Buy the 15-inch MacBook Air if you want the bigger screen and newer M3 chip; it has been seen as low as $814.95. Buy the 13-inch M2 Air if price and portability matter most; it has been seen as low as $598.89, roughly $216 less. Both are fanless Airs with 18-hour battery ratings, so the choice comes down to screen size, chip generation and budget.
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Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch
Choose the MacBook Air 15-Inch if you want a roomy 15-inch Liquid Retina screen, the newer M3 chip with a 10-core GPU and hardware ray tracing, and a 1080p webcam.
Pros
- 15-inch Liquid Retina display at 500 nits with True Tone
- M3 chip with 10-core GPU and hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- 1080p FaceTime HD camera for sharper video calls
- Up to 18 hours of battery life from a 66.5Wh battery
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
Cons
- Heavier and larger than the 13-inch Air
- Base 256GB SSD fills quickly with photos and video
- Shared memory means no dedicated graphics memory
What separates them
| Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch | Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 256GB | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 15-inch Liquid Retina, 16:10 | 13.6-inch, 2560 x 1664 |
| Chip | Apple M3, 10-core GPU, hardware ray tracing | Apple M2, 8-core GPU |
| Weight | About 3.3 lb | 2.7 lb |
| Base storage | 256GB SSD | 256GB SSD (512GB listed on the Walmart page) |
| Memory | Unified memory, configurable at purchase | 8GB, 16GB or 24GB unified memory |
| Webcam | 1080p FaceTime HD | 720p FaceTime HD |
| Ports | Two Thunderbolt/USB 4, headphone jack, MagSafe | Two Thunderbolt/USB 4, headphone jack, MagSafe |
| Price seen | $814.95 low, $1,339.00 high | $598.89 low, $694.45 high |
Price history
$1,339.00$598.89
- Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch: lowest $814.95 on Oct 28 at Walmart; $974.00 on Nov 2.
- Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 256GB: lowest $598.89 on Oct 29 at Walmart; $694.45 on Oct 30.
Prices at every store
Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch
- Macpro-laCheck price at Macpro-la
- WalmartCheck price at Walmart
- AmazonCheck price at Amazon
Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 256GB
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Specs compared
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch | Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 256GB |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | Up to 18 hours | 18 hours battery life |
| OS Version | macOS 14 Sonoma | — |
| Battery Capacity | 66.5-watt‑hour | — |
| Battery Type | Lithium-polymer | — |
| Front Camera Resolution | 1080p | — |
| Camera Features | Advanced image signal processor with computatio… | — |
| Processor Brand | Apple | — |
| Graphics Memory | Shared Memory | — |
| Number Of Processor Cores | 10-core GPU | — |
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
Questions and answers
- Which is better for a student?
- The 13-inch M2 Air. It weighs 2.7 lb, fits small desks and costs about $216 less at the lowest prices seen. Pick the 15-inch only if you read or write long documents side by side.
- Is the 15-inch worth the extra money?
- Yes if screen size and the M3 chip matter to you. You get a 15-inch 500-nit display, a 10-core GPU and a 1080p webcam for roughly $216 more at the lows.
- Which has better battery life?
- Both are rated up to 18 hours. The 15-inch packs a 66.5Wh battery to drive a larger screen, so real-world runtime is close.
- Which is more portable?
- The 13-inch M2 Air at 2.7 lb. The 15-inch is roughly 3.3 lb and takes more room in a bag.
- Do either have a touchscreen?
- No. MacBook Airs use a trackpad and keyboard; the 13-inch listing's touchscreen field is wrong.
- Which will stay fast longer?
- The 15-inch, because the M3 is a newer chip and will get macOS support longer. The M2 still handles everyday work well.
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