How comfortable is the 15” MBA on a lap? vs. a 13” MBA?

[Saturn007]

I've been using a 2015 13” MBA for several years now. It's been acting up, so I'm seriously tempted by the new 15”. (Much farther back, my workhorse was a 15” MBP.)

I've become so used to the 13”, however, that I’m a tad concerned that the 15” might be too big. Will it be unwieldy and imbalanced on a lap when sitting on the couch?

Then, I realized something the other day — the new 15” MBA isn't really that much bigger than the vintage 13”!

Width, depth, thickness, and weight

15.3” 2023 — 13.4“ W x 9.35“ D x .45” T 3.3 lbs
13.3” 2015 — 12.8” W x 8.94“ D x .40” T 3.0 lbs

In other words, it would be only .3” wider on each side and only .41” deeper. Weight would be about 1/3 pound more.

Of course, the 15” is substantially larger in all dimensions and heavier than the current 13” MBAs.

In any case, for those of you who now have 15” MBAs, how comfortable is it when working with it on your lap, on a couch?

How does it compare to any 13” you've used before?

 

[blonko]

It's not comfortable like a 13". Screen and speakers are amazing though.

 

[Cicnod]

Night and day difference for me. So much easier to be productive on and the bigger screen is such a welcome

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

15” screen does bounce a little more given the dimensions so depending on how much/hard you type that’s the reality of big, thin, and light.

 

[Saturn007]

Oh, excellent point! I'm a touch typist and writer, so that is something more to think about…

 

[Chairman.Jobbie]

I don't know about a 'bounce' on the 15". I initially thought the MBP keyboard was more firm / gave more feedback and maybe it does but it's very close if not the same on the 15". Just my 2c.

And for me the 15" is the best on *my* lap which is where I use it 90% of the time. Hand position is 'better' compared to 14" and the width of the laptop is slightly better for me. But is all personal. I'm 5.10 and medium build. The 14" thickness / edge possibly felt on wrist if sitting with one leg up over other knee - but need to check again and not a major thing.

I'll switch back tomorrow to 14 and see what I think of the keyboard after using 15.6 since.

If you liked the previous 15 MPB (which I had) then the 15 MBA is a winner. It's much thinner and weighed nicely with same screen benefits.

 

[Iron Curtains]

I don't know about the 'bounce' on the 15". I initially thought the MBP keyboard was more firm / gave more feedback and maybe it does but it's very close if not the same on the 15". Just my 2c. And for me the 15" is the best on *my* lap which is where I use it 90% of the time. Hand position is better and the width of the laptop is slightly better imo. But is all personal.

Loving the 15 inch air, but I do much prefer the feel of the keyboard on the MacBook Pro, and yeah there is a definitely noticeable difference imo

 

[Iron Curtains]

I've been using a 2015 13” MBA for several years now. It's been acting up, so I'm seriously tempted by the new 15”. (Much farther back, my workhorse was a 15” MBP.)

I've become so used to the 13”, however, that I’m a tad concerned that the 15” might be too big. Will it be unwieldy and imbalanced on a lap when sitting on the couch?

Then, I realized something the other day — the new 15” MBA isn't really that much bigger than the vintage 13”!

Width, depth, thickness, and weight

15.3” 2023 — 13.4“ W x 9.35“ D x .45” T 3.3 lbs
13.3” 2015 — 12.8” W x 8.94“ D x .40” T 3.0 lbs

In other words, it would be only .3” wider on each side and only .41” deeper. Weight would be about 1/3 pound more.

Of course, the 15” is substantially larger in all dimensions and heavier than the current 13” MBAs.

In any case, for those of you who now have 15” MBAs, how comfortable is it when working with it on your lap, on a couch?

How does it compare to any 13” you've used before?

it is not particularly uncomfortable on the lap, but you can absolutely feel the size difference between the 15 and 13 inch air. It is quite big, not heavy or anything but the footprint is larger.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

I used to have a MBP 13" Early 2015, now it is a MBA 15. Weight is roughly the same but MBA feels even lighter.

The MBA is extremly comfortable on my lap and on the couch, in fact, it fits even better to my upper legs than the 13". (I am rather tall with 6.4.)

The screen size is marvelous.

 

[ric22]

It won't be as nice for lap use without the taper of the old MacBook Airs, as the taper helped hide the edge away from your wrists, but on a desk the difference won't be noticeable.

I'm quite tall and broad, and for reference the 16" MacBook Pro's footprint in fine on my lap. The high edge is irritating for lap/bed use, however, though I'd rarely take it away from the desk.

 

[RoadCyclistID]

Well for me, it was the 14" MPB that lost the race and the 15" won. I will at least use this one as a laptop now and I know it sounds crazy but the difference in the weight is really noticeable.

 

[Iron Curtains]

Well for me, it was the 14" MPB that lost the race and the 15" won. I will at least use this one as a laptop now and I know it sounds crazy but the difference in the weight is really noticeable.

I’m so back and forth between the two!

I personally do not feel a big weight difference between the MBP and the 15 Air. They both feel very similar to me, the MBP just feels more dense because it’s smaller and thicker.

The 13 Air is the only one that feels drastically lighter to me

 

[mr_jomo]

EXSUM: just as comfy as the 13" for me (but the additional benefits .... glorious).

Notes:
The 15" has been just as comfortable as my prior 13" (edit: M-series Air) for the 1,5 weeks I had it so far: working of a desk, with or without external monitor, on couch/lap, carrying in bag to and from work, disconneting and hitting a meeting room for a quick telco etc.

No issues with balancing, weight, handling or similar.

Keyboard feel is essentially the same, larger trackpad works flawlessly, but took 1 day before typing speed was back to normal (it is a new chassis after all).

 

[Algus]

I have no concerns using my 15'' on my lap. I am also a bigger guy though so the bulk isn't all that awkward (ie my legs are large enough to easily support the device). Compared to my M1 13'', it isn't more or less comfortable (about the same I'd say) but the extra keyboard space is nice since my arms are a bit spread out. I vastly prefer working from the larger screen.

tl;dr: 100% I think people will have different experiences with this based on their body type. A smaller person will probably find the smaller computer much more comfortable to use.

 

[Saturn007]

it is not particularly uncomfortable on the lap, but you can absolutely feel the size difference between the 15 and 13 inch air. It is quite big, not heavy or anything but the footprint is larger.

Is that in comparison to the M1, M2 MBAs (or 2019+ Intels) — or the classic 2013-2017 vintage ones?

 

[Iron Curtains]

Is that in comparison to the M1, M2 MBAs (or 2019+ Intels) — or the classic 2013-2017 vintage ones?

This is me comparing to an M1 MacBook Pro 14 inch, and the M2 13 inch MacBook Air

The 15 being bigger on my lap is something that I personally do notice. And I’m not a small person. 5 11, 205

Definitely isn’t a deal breaker for me as I’m still figuring out which I’m going to keep. But I personally do prefer how both the other two feel on my lap.

 

[Saturn007]

Ah, IC, that’s good to know. I'd be coming to it from the 2015 13” MBA, which, as I noted in the OP, is nearly as big!

The 15” is .3” larger on the sides and .41” deeper than the 2015 model, which had the larger bezels and weighed 3 pounds! So, only a bit over 1/2” wider and 3/8” deeper.

 

[kp98077]

Loving the 15 inch air, but I do much prefer the feel of the keyboard on the MacBook Pro, and yeah there is a definitely noticeable difference imo

yeah the keyboard on the pro seems way better to me.. less bounce..