13-inch vs 15-inch MacBook Air: How to Choose

We may earn compensation from reviewed products. Learn about our editorial policies.

Need-To-Knows

• There are very few differences between the two sizes beyond the display
• 15-inch version is noticeably heavier than the 13-inch
• Think hard; do you really need a bigger display?

---

I’ve always had a bit of a MacBook problem.

Seriously. I’ve flip-flopped between the Pro and Air, the 13-inch and 15-inch versions, more times than I care to admit, and the latest MacBook Air M4 release has only intensified the dilemma. But after a telling trip to Brooklyn (and some soul-searching in the form of lugging unnecessary MacBook weight through airports), I’ve finally landed on a decision I feel confident about.

If you’re debating between the 13-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air, let me help you make sense of it, because I’ve made all the mistakes already. I’ve bought the big ones, I’ve travelled with them, I’ve tried to justify the extra screen, and I’ve learned the hard way what really matters in day-to-day laptop use.

The Specs: Basically the Same

Aspect	13-inch MacBook Air (2022)	15-inch MacBook Air (2023)
Base Price	$999 / £1,099 (Apple), $849/ £929.97 /(Amazon)	$1,299 / £1,399 (Apple), $849.50 / £989 (Amazon)
CPU/GPU	M2, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU (START)	M2, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU (START)
Memory	8GB Unified Memory	8GB Unified Memory
Storage	256GB SSD (Upgradeable to 2TB)	256GB SSD (Upgradeable to 2TB)
Display	13.6-inch, 2560×1664 pixels	15.3-inch, 2880×1864 pixels
Battery Life	18 hours	18 hours
Weight	2.7 pounds	3.3 pounds
Speakers	4 speakers	6 speakers (force-cancelling)
Power Adapter	30W single-port USB-C	35W dual-port USB-C
Other Features	MagSafe, Thunderbolt ports, 1080p FaceTime camera, Touch ID, notch	MagSafe, Thunderbolt ports, 1080p FaceTime camera, Touch ID, notch
Use Case	Better for portability, lighter and more compact for travel	Better for users who need a larger display or more screen real estate

Let’s get the boring-but-important bit out of the way. On paper, the 13-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs are virtually indistinguishable. They both come equipped with Apple’s latest M4 chip, offer identical storage and unified memory configurations, and claim the same impressive battery life, 18 hours, which, in real-world use, is just about attainable depending on what you’re doing.

Guide: M4 vs M3 vs M2 chip

You’ll find the same number of Thunderbolt ports, the same MagSafe connector, the same 1080p FaceTime camera, and yes, the same slightly irritating notch at the top of the display. Even the performance is indistinguishable in normal use; no sneaky thermal advantage or cooling wizardry is going on with the larger chassis.

That’s why the decision between the 13- and 15-inch models hinges almost entirely on size and form factor. It’s a visual and ergonomic choice rather than a performance-based one.

The Big Question: Do You Need a Bigger Screen?

Here’s the rub. A few years ago, I was the guy who insisted that you needed the biggest display money could buy. I’d convinced myself that more screen estate equated to more productivity. I’d conditioned myself into thinking that if I was editing videos, managing multiple windows, or even just browsing the web, a larger screen was optimal.

That’s why I bought a 16-inch MacBook Pro. But over time, the drawbacks of carrying around a behemoth of a laptop became painfully clear.

That 16-inch MacBook Pro immediately felt like lugging around a paving slab. It dominated tiny café tables, left no room for a mouse, and barely fit on train tray tables. It was, if I’m being honest, massive overkill. So I downsized to a 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro and life was better (but not perfect, as you’ll see below).

Check out my full M4 MacBook Air review!

When the M4 MacBook Air came out, I fell for it again. I convinced myself it would be my ‘home’ laptop, meaning the one I left at home when I was travelling or in the studio. I wouldn’t be taking it anywhere, so I may as well get the bigger display. But inevitably, it started leaving the house. That’s what MacBooks do. They’re too good, too versatile, and too portable not to take everywhere.

And the M4 MacBook Air bridges the gap between Pro and Air like never before. It is so powerful that it meets most of my needs outside of the home too. Hence why I started taking it with me.

Now, I’ve come to a realisation. That big 15-inch screen adds little of real value when portability is on the line. Sure, it’s lovely when it’s sat on a desk, but so is a standalone monitor.

My Brooklyn Realisation

Everything changed for me on a press trip to Brooklyn with Samsung (you can check out my Galaxy Z Fold7 review here!). Surrounded by fellow YouTubers and tech press, I couldn’t help but notice the laptops everyone had chosen to bring. And it wasn’t the MacBook Pro. It wasn’t the flashy, maxed-out beasts I assumed would be standard fare. It was MacBook Airs. Specifically, the 13-inch variant.

Read my M4 MacBook Pro review here!

Pete Matheson had one. Daniel from Zone of Tech had one. All these seasoned creators, who could easily justify more powerful machines than me, had opted for the smallest, lightest MacBook Air.

Meanwhile, I was schlepping around my 14-inch M3 Max MacBook Pro, a laptop with more power than I’d ever use on a press trip. It’s specced to the hilt, with 64GB of RAM and enough GPU grunt to embarrass most Windows desktops. And what did I use it for? Email. Slack. A bit of writing in Notes.

I’d purchased the M3 Max because I thought I’d be doing more production stuff with it than I am. Much of that work is now taken on by my editor Niall. So that moment of clarity hit hard. I’d over-specced, over-packed, and overestimated my needs. Again.

The Portability Factor

If there’s one word that sums up what matters most in a MacBook, it’s portability. Because that’s what these laptops are designed for. It used to be ‘will I get enough power?’ or ‘what model might overheat?’. But no, the M4 chipset makes the MacBook Air suitable for 95% of people’s needs.

Need help? Read our handy MacBook Pro buying guide!

Despite what Apple says about them being desktop replacements, the whole point of a MacBook is that it can travel with you. And when it does, the size and weight matter far more than you think.

The 13-inch MacBook Air weighs in at just 1.22kg (2.7lbs). It slides into any bag. It fits on every table. It’s so light, you forget it’s there. The 15-inch, while still technically an “Air”, feels noticeably bulkier. It tips the scales at 1.5kg (3.3lbs), and while that might not sound like a huge difference on paper, your shoulder will disagree after a day of carrying it around.

Nearest competitor? Huawei MateBook 14 review

It’s just more cumbersome too. It’s wider, obviously, to accommodate the bigger display meaning it fills your backpack out more. You also need to consider where you’ll be using it. Train tables, café counters, aeroplane trays, they’re not made for sprawling laptops. The 13-inch Air is a dream in those scenarios.

But What If You Never Leave the House?

There’s a caveat to all this. If your MacBook will genuinely live on your desk 90% of the time, then yes, the 15-inch model makes a bit more sense. That extra screen real estate can be genuinely useful if you’re splitting the screen between apps or watching lots of video.

However, even in that scenario, I’d be tempted to suggest something else entirely: why not get an M4 Mac mini and an external display? You’ll get far more bang for your buck and avoid the portability compromises entirely. Because if you are buying a laptop, I’d bet good money it’ll leave the house more often than you expect.

Samsung’s take: Samsung Book5 Pro review

And for those moments, you could try an iPad combined with a portable keyboard, like the excellent Logitech Flip Folio.

Let’s Talk Differences (There Aren’t Many)

Aside from the obvious size disparity, there are a couple of hardware tweaks on the 15-inch model. You get six speakers instead of four. You also get a 35W dual-port USB-C charger compared to the 30W single-port with the 13-inch. That’s it.

There’s no performance benefit. No secret sauce under the hood. No improved thermals or sustained power advantage. In fact, in some prolonged use scenarios, the 15-inch chassis could even introduce thermal throttling if it tries to push things too far passively.

How to restart a frozen MacBook

These laptops are designed to be thin, light, and cool, so don’t expect Pro-level performance just because one is physically bigger.

The Conclusion I’m Relieved To Have Reached

For years, I’ve been drawn to bigger, better, faster Macs. I’ve made the mistake of assuming that more screen and more power automatically equates to more productivity.

But the MacBook Air M4 13-inch has shown me otherwise.

It’s the perfect blend of portability and power. It’s everything you need in a laptop and nothing you don’t. I’m quite confident to claim that it is the best laptop in the world right now.

It took me long enough, but I’m ready to say it: I’m going all in on the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air. It’s the laptop I’ll be transitioning to full-time. The 15-inch Air will be retired, the over-specced MacBook Pro will stay on the shelf when I’m away, and I’ll enjoy the freedom that comes from not carrying more than I need.

If you’re on the fence, take it from someone who’s tried them all: the 13-inch is the smart choice for almost everyone. Unless you genuinely need the extra screen space and rarely plan to take it outside, the smaller Air wins every time.

Trust me, you’ll thank yourself the next time you fit your laptop on that annoyingly tiny train table.