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MacBook Air 15" owners -- any quality issues?

superamit

superamit

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 9, 2011
36
32
Brooklyn, NY
I've been waiting for a 15" MBA for years, super excited to finally have the opportunity to have one!

I typically try to wait a few months after a new product release to let production issues settle out, but I haven't seen much in the way of complaints or issues with the MBA 15. Am I missing anything? Itching to hit that order button!
 
There's none that I have noticed, or any reported online. It's a very well built machine.
 
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No issues so far! I’ve owned a laptop since the white MacBook days but I’m loving this one. It does everything that I want it to do and it’s so fast. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
 
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superamit said:
I've been waiting for a 15" MBA for years, super excited to finally have the opportunity to have one!

I typically try to wait a few months after a new product release to let production issues settle out, but I haven't seen much in the way of complaints or issues with the MBA 15. Am I missing anything? Itching to hit that order button!
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It's solid.

I think Apple even fixed this design issue from the 14" and 16" Pro:

I haven't seen any marks on the display of my 15" Air now. My 14" still shows the marks as soon as there's slight pressure on the lid. It's astounding to me how Apple made the 15" Air thinner and yet it doesn't run into that issue of having too little clearance between the display and keyboard/trackpad deck.
 
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bill-p said:
It's solid.

I think Apple even fixed this design issue from the 14" and 16" Pro:

I haven't seen any marks on the display of my 15" Air now. My 14" still shows the marks as soon as there's slight pressure on the lid. It's astounding to me how Apple made the 15" Air thinner and yet it doesn't run into that issue of having too little clearance between the display and keyboard/trackpad deck.
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I think I saw some pics in internet already with those marks on MBA15, I guess with enough pressure the thinner enclosure of the MBA will still press the buttons agains the screen...

Since my 2016 MBP where the keyboard scratched the screen (and luckily Apple replaced the screen for free even after my warranty was over) I always buy Radtech ScreenSavrz keyboard cover... It's thin (so you can completely close the lid) and works great to wipe any smudges from the macbook now and then. I just throw it in the washing machine with other clothes every 2-3 weeks, still looks like new even after a few years. Can only recommend it
 
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fwiw I just swapped my 15 for another one. The one I had had a small dark patch in the bottom left corner of the screen. I went store to compare and it wasn't on others so swapped. This was the reason I swapped it.

I also noticed a slightly softer keyboard and 3 battery cycles upon opening on the one I returned. This new one I have seems good. It's only been a few hours but the keyboard seems better - but other one wasn't bad - and the screen doesn't have any issues that I'm aware of. It does have 2 battery cycles though.
 
ice29 said:
I think I saw some pics in internet already with those marks on MBA15, I guess with enough pressure the thinner enclosure of the MBA will still press the buttons agains the screen...

Since my 2016 MBP where the keyboard scratched the screen (and luckily Apple replaced the screen for free even after my warranty was over) I always buy Radtech ScreenSavrz keyboard cover... It's thin (so you can completely close the lid) and works great to wipe any smudges from the macbook now and then. I just throw it in the washing machine with other clothes every 2-3 weeks, still looks like new even after a few years. Can only recommend it
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I just put one of those "silks" that come with a new HP laptop between the screen and keyboard when transporting in a backpack.. Depending on how much other stuff is in the backpack and weight, that can press any screen into the keyboard of any laptop almost.. my work M1-Pro got a little "tick" in the screen somehow before I started doing that
 
My 15" MBA M2 feels solid. I've had it for full couple days now. It's much heavier than I thought it'd be. So far no issues. Also That whole Fingerprint issue with the Midnight color. Either they addressed it with some coating or those people have some seriously dirty hands. So far I haven't seen any heavy fingerprints at all on mine.
 
Algus said:
but of all the Apple laptops I've owned going back to the iBook G4, the 15'' Air is probably one of my favorite designs. It manages to feel both solid and light.
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Like you, we had iBook G4s in the house. I used it the other day to check on its security and was immediately struck by how heavy it is — and awkward in the lap. (No wonder, I generally used mine on a desk.).

So, I looked up the specs.

Model. Width. Depth. Height. Weight.

15.3” MBA 2023 13.4 x 9.35 x .45 inches 3.3 lbs​
​
14” iBook 2004 12.7 x 10.2 x 1.35 inches 5.9 lbs (!)​

The Comparison

15” MBA vs. 14” iBook — The new MBA is .7” wider (or.35” on a side more). But it extends almost an inch less and is an inch thinner. It also weighs over 2 1/2 pounds less than the 14”!​
 
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superamit said:
Starlight! Lusted over that midnight but ultimately decided I didn't want to bother cleaning it all the time.
Starlight basically just looked Silver in the store, but I'm hopeful it will have a bit more character in person.
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I got the same color. My past two Macs were space grey. I wanted to try something different this time :)
 
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