The rumored new 15-inch MacBook Air will reportedly feature Apple's M2 chipset, which already powers the current 13-inch MacBook Air, which we think is one of the best MacBooks ever made.
So what can we expect from a 15-inch MacBook Air beyond a larger size? Well, it will almost certainly mean a bigger battery, which should deliver unparalleled performance when it comes to efficiency thanks to the power of Apple silicon.
15-inch MacBook Air: The headlines
- What is it? A larger 15-inch version of Apple's thinnest and lightest MacBook
- When can we expect it? WWDC 2023
- Price? Likely $2-300 more than the 13-inch model
Is there a new MacBook Air coming out in 2023?
Almost certainly, reports indicate a new 15-inch MacBook Air is coming out in the second quarter of 2023, more specifically April, according to multiple reliable insiders.
15-inch MacBook Air (2023): Design
Apple actually rolled out a stunning new MacBook Air design just last year. As you can read in our 13-inch MacBook Air review, Apple added a notch, some hot new colors, and a brand new squarer chassis design. According to reports, Apple is likely to stick pretty closely to this design with the new one, so don't expect the 15-inch model to be a major design overhaul in terms of the overall shape and feel.
It makes sense that Apple would upgrade the size of the display without making too many other major changes.
15-inch MacBook Air (2023): M2 Processor
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has already claimed that the new 15-inch MacBook Air will come with two CPU options — M2 and M2 Pro. That's notable because the existing MacBook Air comes with just a single M2 configuration and one with two fewer GPU cores than the equivalent MacBook Pro at that. It's possible that the large size of the 15-inch version will enable improved cooling, giving Apple more of a chance to add an M2 Pro to the mix. A 15-inch MacBook Air with an M2 Pro could well be the best Mac for a whole host of professionals — even without that Pro tag. More recently, a February report claims the M2 chip will indeed debut in the new MacBook Air but doesn't note the M2 Pro chip.
However, an M2 Pro chip would make a lot of sense, it would give the 15-inch MacBook Air a significant advantage over the 13-inch model, with the larger chassis and increased battery life certainly adept at powering the beefier processor. The M2 15-inch MacBook Air will likely feature the same base-model M2 chip as the 13-inch one, offering 8 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores as a starting point.
This would also follow what Apple did with the new M2 Mac mini. The first Apple silicon Mac mini only received the M1 chip. The new updated version comes with both the M2 and M2 Pro versions, meaning there's more choice for everyone and more price points. It also means Apple has a much better range of products in its desktop sphere, where previously the price jump from the Mac mini and iMac up to a Mac Studio was fairly significant. The same is true of the current MacBook Air, M2 MacBook Pro, and then the jump up to the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max.
Is there a big difference between MacBook Air M1 and M2?
The M2 processor is roughly 20 percent faster than M1, and is also more efficient, so battery life is improved. The M2 also has a different, more updated design, as well as more ports thanks to its MagSafe charging.
15-inch MacBook Air (2023): Display
The new MacBook Air for 2022 features a 13.6-inch LED display with a 2560-by-1664 native resolution and 224 pixels per inch. Tweaking the display size might see a slightly different resolution or PPI, but Apple is expected to retain a similar quality display in the larger one.
While we're hearing that the new MacBook Air will come with a 15.2-inch display, don't expect anything too fancy. Display analyst Ross Young has already poured cold water on any suggestion of mini-LED technology or ProMotion, meaning this won't have the buttery-smooth scrolling of modern high-end MacBook Pros.
More recently, Young confirmed directly to iMore that 120Hz is not on the cards for the new MacBook Air. This makes a lot of sense. Adding 120Hz and a ProMotion display to any MacBook is a costly venture. Not only would a display upgrade like that massively increase the price of the MacBook Air, but it would also really impact battery life, which is really a key selling point of the MacBook Air. The 120Hz display is definitely a "Pro" feature of the MacBook lineup, and keeping it out of the MacBook Air also gives users a reason to upgrade and spend more money to get it.
15-inch MacBook Air (2023) price: How much will the 2023 MacBook Air cost?
We don't have any clear price rumors for the new MacBook Air, but you can guarantee it will cost more than the 13-inch model, which starts at $1,199. A $200 price jump seems reasonable for the extra screen real estate, with higher price tags available for higher spec configurations. If Apple pushes the price too high, it risks customers ditching the MacBook Air altogether in favor of the new MacBook Pro 2023.
For full pricing context, the M1 MacBook Air at Apple costs $999. The M2 MacBook Air base model is $1,199, or $1,499 for the 512GB model with a meatier 10-core GPU. The next step in the lineup is the M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,999.
This means Apple has a window between $1,200 and $2,000 to slot the 15-inch MacBook Air into. Apple charges an extra $500 for the larger MacBook Pro over the small one, which seems excessive when it comes to the MacBook Air. I think $200-300 is more reasonable, so would expect the 15-inch MacBook Air to start at $1,399, with perhaps a faster model at $1,599.
15-inch MacBook Air (2023): Release date rumors
Our most recent reports indicate the new 15-inch MacBook Air (2023) could arrive in April, either at a spring Apple event or possibly via a press release. Apple often releases products in the spring, as well as debuting the MacBook Air at WWDC last year. All signs point to this window and a release date sooner rather than later.
Recent reports indicate that Apple was planning to release its new Apple VR headset in April, but that this has been pushed back to WWDC. However, it is not clear if this means the event in April may still go ahead, or whether Apple has canceled it altogether, which may delay the MacBook Air.
15-inch MacBook Air (2023): Battery life
Increasing the size of the display will inevitably lead to a pretty substantial increase in battery life in the 15-inch MacBook Air. The current one is good for around 18 hours of Apple TV movie playback, or 15 hours wireless web surfing, so expect plenty of improvement over that in the new model.
15-inch MacBook Air (2023): Ports and expansion
The 13-inch MacBook brought with it MagSafe 3 charging and two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. It seems likely Apple will replicate this with the new model, although adding a couple of extra ports would be a great way to help differentiate the 15-inch model from the 13-inch model. Expect similar support for DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40Gb/s), USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s), and USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s).
Apple likely won't add a memory card slot, as this is definitely a key distinctive feature on the "Pro" models and also requires a larger chassis, making the MacBook thicker.
15-inch MacBook Air (2023): Memory
The current MacBook Air offers 8GB of unified memory, configurable to either 16GB or 24GB. We'd expect Apple to do the same with the larger version. 8GB of RAM remains the absolute bare minimum that Apple needs to offer with the MacBook, and is probably about right for most people in the market for a MacBook Air. If Apple were to add the M2 Pro chip, it could pave the way for more unified RAM in the future.
iMore's verdict
The 15-inch MacBook Air could be one of the most exciting laptops Apple has ever released, combining a larger form factor with the Air's beloved portability and battery life that would benefit even more from a larger chassis. While some might prefer a 15-inch MacBook with a bit more "oomph", I think a 15-inch MacBook Air where the only difference over the 13-inch model is the size makes the most sense, in the same way Apple offers the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, as well as the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. Not everyone at iMore is convinced, however. Bryan Wolfe believes the new 15-inch MacBook Air will need more than size to succeed.
