The Macbook Air is one of the most popular Apple calculators. Now he gets the biggest innovation in years – literally. The star was able to extensively test the 15-inch model.
It was one of the most famous product presentations by Apple founder Steve Jobs, who is already famous for his keynote speeches. When he brought an envelope onto the stage in 2010, the audience expected a lot – but not that he would pull out a notebook. Since then, the Macbook Air has transformed the notebook market as the first ultrabook. Now Apple is daring to do another big experiment itself and is offering a second version of its bestseller for the first time. The test shows: the extra is worth it.
Last year, Apple gave the Macbook Air its biggest makeover since it was first introduced. In the test, the new design was completely convincing thanks to numerous improvements in detail (read our detailed test here). The new model is now also based on this design – and is simply getting bigger. Instead of 13.3, it now offers a 15-inch display area. And that is an advantage in almost every application.
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Whether surfing the Internet, writing texts, viewing or editing photos or videos: all content has more space on the larger display. And literally: With a resolution of 2880 x 1864 pixels, the 15-inch model offers almost 20 percent more pixels than the smaller Macbook Air. So it can simply show more in all programs.
The content looks great thanks to the extremely sharp display, and the colors are also impressive. The display is bright enough to be used in direct sunlight. A very good performance. It may not be able to compete with the displays of the more expensive Macbook Pros and their even higher resolution and faster refresh rate, but it is one of the best on the market in its price range.
The Macbook Air 15 relies on Magsafe and two USB-Cs – that’s it
© Malte Mansholt / star
Stable lightweight
More display is usually associated with compromises. 15-inchers are usually bulkier and weigh more. This makes them less mobile. At the MacBook Air 15 All of this is true, but Apple has managed to cushion the disadvantages to such an extent that they are much more tolerable. With a height of 1.15 centimeters, it is only 0.2 millimeters thicker than the 13-inch model. Thanks to the evaporated edge of the screen, the case is hardly any larger than previous models of the Macbook Air. And: with a weight of 1.5 kilos, it is 270 grams heavier than its sibling model, but it is still very light.
However, Apple does not set a record with this: Samsung and Asus, for example, have 15-inch devices that are up to 500 grams lighter. But Apple’s achievement is that MacBook Air 15 is very stable despite the slim design. Carrying competitor models unfolded on a corner far too often feels unstable – even with smaller cases. With the Macbook, on the other hand, you never have the feeling that it can’t stand the perhaps improper handling.
The same in large
Another advantage of the larger case is the significantly larger trackpad. It just seems huge. Due to the larger surface, it not only offers plenty of space for gestures, but is also always easy to reach from the sides. However, it is not too big: Because it recognizes a hand placed on it, as is usual with Apple’s trackpads, there are no incorrect inputs despite the large surface.
Compared to the 13-inch model, the MacBook Air 15 is significantly larger
© Malte Mansholt / star
It’s a pity that Apple didn’t use the additional space for additional bonus features. Although there would have been enough space, the keyboard does not have a number pad, the keys are the same size as on the small model. Apple has also dispensed with additional connections such as additional Thunderbolt ports or even an HDMI connection. The Macbook Air 15 is above all a larger Macbook Air, not a better one.
Fast, faster, M-Chip
This is largely true on the technical side as well. Like the sibling model, Apple relies on its M2 processor, which was introduced last year. And although it is now a year old, that should still be enough for most users. In everyday tasks, it is almost impossible to get the chip to its limits. Only those who burden it with professional software or games could perhaps reach the performance limits.
Even then, the notebook remains whisper-quiet: Because it doesn’t have a fan, it calculates silently even under full load. After two hours at 100 percent, the case is slightly warm, but that’s not really annoying. And: In order to test this, special programs had to be used. That didn’t come with any other task MacBook Air 15 otherwise only close to a significant capacity utilization.
endurance runner
Despite more space for the battery, the runtime should not have increased according to Apple. In time tests, however, it was indicated that more could be possible. After an hour of full load, the battery had dropped by 25 percent, so the device should last four hours. In the test of the MacBook Air 13, it was just under 3:20 hours at full load. In everyday use, however, the notebook lasts much longer anyway. An hour of video watching only consumed 5 percent of the battery, an hour of text work devoured 8-9 percent. Even after long working days, there should still be reserves for evening entertainment.
Speaking of evening entertainment: If you watch a film or a series on your notebook, you benefit from another advantage of the larger case: Instead of four loudspeakers as in the small model, the Macbook Air 15 has six built-in speakers. This is particularly noticeable through a somewhat richer, more differentiated bass. But you shouldn’t expect too much: the sound is very good compared to notebook speakers, but it simply lacks the oomph for real sound enjoyment. Even Apple can’t work miracles out of such a thin case.
Conclusion: A real plus
With the MacBook Air 15 Apple is finally offering its entry-level notebook in a large format. The implementation is very successful, the additional space is well used. The compromises are impressively limited. It’s a pity that additional functions such as a larger keyboard or more ports are missing, it’s not a real weakness. The Macbook Air is not only an enormously successful addition to Apple’s product portfolio, but also sets new standards for 15-inch devices with its combination of weight, stability, display and performance.
Until now, if you wanted an Apple notebook with a large display, it quickly became very expensive. The Macbook Pro models in 14 and 16 inches also have significantly more horsepower under the hood, but if you don’t exhaust that, the purchase can often hardly be justified. With the MacBook Air 15 the group finally offers a much more affordable alternative. Even if the price from 1599 euros is still anything but cheap: the surcharge on the current market price of the smaller model is “only” 400 euros. The cheapest 14-inch Pro model, on the other hand, costs at least 2000 euros.
If you really want to save money, you can look at competing products with Windows. The Acer Swift 5 15 is available from around 900 euros. But it also doesn’t offer the same overall package of performance, design and ease of use.
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