When is a portable computer, not a portable computer? Apple’s newest MacBook Air model raises this problem. A new, larger version of the popular thin and light series. Given the company’s emphasis on its 15- and 16-inch Pro models for business and industry, the 15-inch MacBook Air may also be its largest consumer notebook.
The business is touting it as the “lightest 15 inch laptop to date,” at 3.3 pounds; they may be right. However, as predicted, Air employs the M2 chip from the previous year (supply chain difficulties are likely to blame).
That’s a CPU with eight cores and a GPU with ten cores. The maximum amount of memory is 24GB, and the maximum storage is 2TB. Similar to the 13-inch model, it has a MagSafe charging port and two Thunderbolt/USB-C connections.
There is no fan (“silent design,” in Apple’s words) on board, and the company claims a single charge will last 18 hours.
However, the manufacturer does not intend for it to be used in the same ways as the Pro models.
The line has always struggled with a lack of screen real estate, though it is known that compromises must be made to achieve portability.
As the company’s greatest laptop, the 15-inch Air is an intriguing addition to the ever-evolving MacBook range. The design makes it surprisingly portable considering the screen size (15 inches), but this is, of course, a relative term.
The 15-inch Air can be pre-ordered now for $1,299 and will begin shipping the following week. The 13-inch model is still available but has been discounted by $100 to $1,099.