Side by side
MacBook Air 13 vs MacBook Air 15
Quick verdict
Both have the same M4 chip and battery life. Choose the 13-inch for portability; choose the 15-inch for a bigger screen, better speakers and the 10-core GPU as standard.
| Criterion | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Portability | MacBook Air 13 | About 1.24 kg vs 1.51 kg |
| Screen | MacBook Air 15 | 15.3 vs 13.6 inches |
| Speakers | MacBook Air 15 | Six speakers vs four |
| Graphics | MacBook Air 15 | 10-core GPU as standard |
| Battery life | Tie | Up to 18 hours each |
| Price | MacBook Air 13 | Cheaper |
At a glance
| Feature | MacBook Air 13 | MacBook Air 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 13.6-inch Liquid Retina | 15.3-inch Liquid Retina |
| Chip | M4 (8-core GPU in base model) | M4 (10-core GPU) |
| Memory | 16 GB from base | 16 GB from base |
| Weight | About 1.24 kg | About 1.51 kg |
| Speakers | Four | Six |
| Battery | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| External displays | Up to two | Up to two |
Swipe sideways to see both columns.
Which one should you buy?
Mister Magelo’s verdict
Take the 13-inch if you carry your laptop every day, to university, on trains or when travelling. Take the 15-inch if it mostly stays on a desk or sofa and you want more space for split-screen work, photo editing or films. Performance and battery are practically the same.
Independent recommendation · Retailers can’t pay for rankingChoose MacBook Air 13 if…
- you carry it every day
- you want the lowest price
- you use an external monitor at home
Choose MacBook Air 15 if…
- you work with two windows side by side
- you watch a lot of films on the laptop
- you want better built-in speakers
Questions and answers
Is the MacBook Air 15 faster than the 13?
Only slightly in graphics: the 15-inch always has the 10-core GPU, the cheapest 13-inch has 8 GPU cores. CPU and battery life are the same.
Is 16 GB enough in a MacBook Air?
Yes, for most people. It handles office work, browsing, coding and photo editing comfortably.