Test: the 15-inch MacBook Air, like a Pro

Chapter 1: soaring performance… without overheating!

Let's start with the most impressive thing, especially for a device of this size: the temperature of the fifteen-inch MacBook Air never exceeds thirty-five degrees. And this,without the slightest fanon the horizon! You may launch Adobe Photoshop, a 2K video on YouTube and a second screen generated on an external monitor, the new MacBook Air XL does not flinch. For comparison, previously, our 15-inch MacBook Pro (2018) was unusable on our lap as soon as the slightest somewhat demanding app was opened.The 15-inch MacBook Airis light years away.

However, performance is not slow, far from it. Indeed, the M2 chip that we tested to the maximum runs silently at any time of the day, even if the computer has sometimes not been put to sleep for forty-eight hours. So, certainly, we ended up surprising two or three slowdowns very recently. But these problems only presented themselves to us in bad conditions: more than thirty degrees of ambient temperature, computer on for two days in a row and gargantuan data consumption with WhatsApp. A scenario that we clearly don't encounter every day.

Let us also point out that our 15-inch MacBook Air is only equipped with eight gigabytes of RAM... or half as much as the MacBook Pro mentioned.

Chapter 2: a very attractive semi-compact format

Now let's move on to the design. With hismultiple colorsoffered for purchase, the MacBook Air has something to appeal to all audiences. We obviously regret that the chassis is made of aluminum: it is a flimsy and crumbly material. But that's the size of all Macs today, and titanium, if it arrived on high-end computers, would probably only be reserved for MacBook Pros at the beginning anyway.

What you should remember about this fifteen-inch MacBook Air in terms of format is that the device is (really) verylight. By switching to the large size model and abandoning the iconic “feather” format of the range, one would have thought that being overweight would be damaging. However, this is not the case. Just tell yourself that when it comes to knowing how to take the laptop with us, we remember our high school years, when we had to know if an A4 notebook would fit in the backpack. Because the MacBook Air is roughly the same size. As for the thickness, it barely exceeds one centimeter and will fit all dedicated pouches without a hitch.

© iPhon.frStill on the design side, we also greatly appreciate thegiant touchpadand the very thin bezels around the screen. This is what made it possible to offer such a compact and versatile format, even if the most nomadic may prefer the 14.2-inch MacBook Air. However, it will be difficult to multitask with the latter.

Chapter 3: our mixed opinion on the operating system (macOS)

As you probably know, the fifteen-inch MacBook Air M2 is equipped with the proprietary operating systemmacOS Ventura(natively). The update to macOS Sonoma is however available to all users, but we have not yet installed it for stability reasons. It must be said that new versions of Apple's operating system are often riddled with bugs, and this is perhaps one of the major disadvantages of the solution in question.

Despite everything, the macOS interface, revised since macOS Big Sur, is now much cleaner than previously. The result is a more than fluid daily experience, icons and menus having been designed for everyone. So, certainly, a lot oflimitationsremain quite restrictive, such as blocking the installation of unknown sources. But the MacBook Air is primarily aimed at the general public, who are not always very alert to the associated risks in terms of cybersecurity. The problem is that this blocking is present on all versions of macOS, including those fitted to MacBook Pros. But this is yet another subject, which we will not discuss here.

Otherwise, concretely, you should know that the version of macOS present on the fifteen-inch MacBook Air M2 is ultimately not that different from the others. There are many welcome apps for office automation with Pages or Keynote, even if it is not uncommon to find them completelyobsoletecompared to tools that allow online collaboration such as those of Google Workspace. The Safari browser, for its part, is still far from coming close to matching the competition in terms of design. We will therefore prefer Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, even if many of their features have finally arrived on Apple's proprietary alternative. Finally, note that the ergonomics remain glaringly nonsense with the impossibility of closing Finder, a “cross” icon which does not really close apps and menus that are often hidden and therefore difficult to access.

Chapter 4: a glaring lack of connections

Now let's move on to the subject that is perhaps the hottest on the fifteen-inch MacBook Air: that of the sockets. Among these, we find the MagSafe plug for charging (on the left) and a 3.5 millimeter jack on the right edge. Add to this two universal USB-C ports… and that’s it. Nothing surprising for those accustomed to Apple devices, but still: wouldn't we be taken for hams? At more than 1,500 euros per beast, it would be time to make an effort. Especially sincethere is clearly room for more cards, on the side of the computer.

The USB-C ports are also installed only on the left and although it is possible to power the Mac through this, it is therefore impossible to plug in a cable on the right. Suffice it to say that it is sometimes necessary to move your desk to work properly: not very practical.

Chapter 5: some regrets about the keyboard

As for the keyboard of the fifteen-inch MacBook Air, you will have the choice between several layouts adapted according to your region. We chose the QWERTY layout, unfortunately without Touch Bar like all the others. Missing for us is a shortcut dedicated to emojis and a key which, like on the Magic Keyboard in Bluetooth, allows you to redirect directly to the Launchpad.

Moreover, it is obvious that the return to scissor keys already made in 2019 islight years away from the experience offered by the butterfly keyboard format. The result is also much more discreet, and by typing loudly or quickly you do not risk waking up your partner in bed either.

Chapter 6: a monstrous battery

Regarding the battery of the fifteen-inch MacBook Air, note that it is announced with up to eighteen hours of autonomy. And hold on tight, because for once at Apple, this is actually the score obtained in real conditions. So, of course, we do not run artificial intelligence algorithms and we do not mine cryptocurrency. We also do not use the Adobe suite or any other particularly energy-intensive software. But for office automation, the M2 chip perfectly saves energy resources. Additionally, the Battery Optimization feature allows those working with the computer plugged in to maximize its lifespan.

We know that batteries are among the components that age the fastest, but even after six months, we sometimes wantone hour without falling below 95% autonomy. When we first turned on the fifteen-inch MacBook Air, we were even able to work several times for around fifty minutes without the battery percentage dropping below 100%. In the memory of a technophile, this is simply unheard of, whether on a laptop, smartphone or tablet.

Chapter 7: the screen and the notch, nothing to complain about (or almost)

The screen of the 15-inch MacBook Air is sublime, there is no denying it. You will not see the slightest pixel at the appropriate distance, that is to say an arm's length from your gaze according to ergonomists. Specialists on the subject will also tell you that the vibrancy of colors is essential for your sleep, which is good since a night mode is present on the computer to prevent you from sleeping poorly. Of course the panel is not touchscreen and in 2024, it's a real shame when we know that convertible alternatives make it possible to do without an additional tablet in transport. But the rendering is premium, with fairly thin borders around the display.

Despite everything, these could have been thinned even further and we could have benefited from a 16-inch format without gaining weight if the manufacturer took the trouble to also do away with the notch. With a TrueDepth sensor behind for face recognition, we wouldn't have flinched. But the technology is not available here, so one wonders why thisnotchis present, except of course to be able to voluntarily reduce it in the future and offer us “improvements”. A strategy already adopted on iPhone, even though Apple clearly masters the processes used to design them. Patents prove it, black and white.

Chapter 8: The sound is unrivaled, word from the pro

We will quickly test the subject, but know that the sound offered by the invisible speakers of the MacBook Air is incredibly qualitative for a laptop. The MacBook Pro M3s will perhaps do better, no doubt. But even though we are big fans of rominimal, we were not disappointed. However, for this to happen, the bass and treble must be respected to the exact frequency, which is the case. So of course the rendering is not comparable with professional equipment, but compared to other PCs, there is no picture.

The most picky, however, may regret that the speakers are not visible. It is therefore difficult to calibrate your audio installation accordingly. But the studios will necessarily opt for another model, anyway, such asthe Mac Studio, very aptly named for the occasion.

Chapter 9: finally acceptable prices

The MacBook Air M2 is available in mainland Francefrom 1,599 euros. Businesses can opt for free financing, in the Apple Store or with certain partners to list.

This price may seem very high at first glance. But when we compare it to that of competing computers today, the gap is ultimately not as big as with other Apple machines. So here we find ourselves facing, perhaps, the very first “affordable” MacBook XL. A qualifier that obviously needs to be qualified, but it is clear that the catastrophic inflation in Europe is in its favor.

Conclusion: hats off, Apple

Now is the time for conclusion.

In nearly ten years of service with Macs by our side, the fifteen-inch MacBook Air is oursthe best consumer laptop Apple has ever released. We of course recognize some drawbacks, particularly relating to the simple fact of its proprietary design. But in everyday use, the device is responsive, comprehensive and even beautiful – for the few of us who would pay attention.

The MacBook Air range is finally aimed atprofessionals, who will no longer need to pay twice the price to afford a MacBook Pro previously essential to their work. The fifteen-inch format also remains compact despite its large size, although we hope to see even better in the months to come. In addition, in terms of price, the beast is extremely well positioned. The quality-price ratio has no real equivalent on the market. With the MacBook Air M2 15″, Apple is almost flawless. If you are looking to renew an aging Mac or simply equip yourself with the best laptop on the market for less than €1600, don't hesitate!

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