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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a longer battery life and can invest a bit more, the MacBook Pro 16 (2023) with its more powerful M2 Pro processor and better graphics will excel in handling intensive tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering software. However, it is heavier and has a slightly lower portability score, so it's not as convenient to carry as the MacBook Air 15 (2023). The MacBook Air, while less costly and more portable, offers a fanless design for silent operation and is sufficiently powerful for general use, but will not match the Pro in demanding applications or in fast motion scenarios such as gaming. Both laptops have high-quality displays, but the Pro has a Mini LED screen which translates to higher brightness and contrast, benefitting users doing color-critical work or seeking a visually richer experience. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
- Very good portability
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.6
7.2
2.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is only fair.
The MacBook Pro 16's superior GPU delivers better performance for 3D applications compared to the MacBook Air 15, making it a more suitable option for intensive graphics tasks. While the MacBook Air 15 offers portability and is capable for light 3D work, its screen refresh rate and overall screen quality are not as advanced as those of the MacBook Pro, which enhances the visual experience for professional or high-end 3D use.
Engineering and Design
7.6
8.4
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
2.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is more suitable for engineering and design work than the MacBook Air 15 (2023) because it features a more powerful CPU and GPU, which are critical for demanding applications, as well as a higher resolution and brighter Mini LED display that enhances visual detail and color accuracy for design tasks. However, the MacBook Air has a slightly slimmer and lighter design, which could be more appealing for those prioritizing portability, but with a slightly lower screen brightness and the use of a less advanced IPS display.
Screen Quality
7.8
9.4
15.3in
SIZE
16.2in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
487.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Air 15's screen, while offering crisp images and bright visuals suitable for everyday tasks and professional design work, may lack the high refresh rates desired for smooth 3D rendering. On the other hand, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 steps up with superior resolution and brightness levels for general use, as well as a wider color range, ensuring precise color accuracy crucial for engineering and design projects. However, both models are not optimized for 3D work due to their lower refresh rates, despite having decent resolution and panel technology.
Battery
15.0 Hours
17.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Good
15.3in
SIZE
16.2in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.7 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,599
$1,999
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,599 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) costs $1,999.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.4
8.7
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
487.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.5 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is lauded for general use due to its lightweight design, making it highly portable, coupled with a high-quality IPS screen, and equipped with an Apple M2 chip and 16 GB of RAM that ensures smooth operation for everyday tasks.
Content Creation
8.3
8.7
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both very good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.4
8.7
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both very good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Build Quality
10.0
10.0
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) both have best in class build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,599 | $1,999 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.4'' x 9.4'' x 0.45'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.3 lbs | 4.7 lbs | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Apple M2 Pro (12C) | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | M2 (8C) | M2 Pro (19C) | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 17.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 66.6 Wh | 99.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.3" | 16.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 3456 x 2234 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 501 nits | 487 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Keyboard Lighting Color | |||
Keyboard Lighting Color | White | White | |
Warranty Period | |||
Warranty Period | 1 year | 1 year | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2023
"The Apple MacBook Air 15 is boringly good. The new MacBook Air 15 is a very good, but also boring device, because apart from the larger screen and the higher price, there are no differences compared to the smaller MacBook Air M2 from last year. No new processor, no additional ports, just the usual basic hardware - but the overall package is extremely good and it simply works. Above all, the lack of fans is an aspect that should not be underestimated in everyday use. In our opinion, the Air could be a lot better, but Apple goes easy on itself here."
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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