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crymimefireworks

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 19, 2014
314
369
Does anyone have a photo or mockup showing the difference between the 15" MBA and 16" MBP screen sizes? I'm interested in seeing the difference.
 
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Fuchal

macrumors 68030
Sep 30, 2003
2,607
1,086
il_570xN.88447525-436973837.jpeg
 

mysticmanix

macrumors member
May 30, 2021
76
114
Good comparison shot from Brian Tong's video:

16 inch pro vs 15 air vs 13 M2 air

Screenshot 2023-06-12 at 1.56.34 PM.png


I'm genuinely thinking of selling my 16 for the 15 air, I forgot how much I hate how far the keyboard deck sticks out compared to smaller laptops to accommodate the larger screen
 

thadoggfather

macrumors P6
Oct 1, 2007
15,551
16,287
Good comparison shot from Brian Tong's video:

16 inch pro vs 15 air vs 13 M2 air

View attachment 2217074

I'm genuinely thinking of selling my 16 for the 15 air, I forgot how much I hate how far the keyboard deck sticks out compared to smaller laptops to accommodate the larger screen

The 15" does look like a great size out of those three imo.

The 15" Air is looking like a nice upgrade with a later gen refresh, or a deep sale / if I become weak to upgrade-itis from M1 13" Air.
 

applesith

macrumors 68030
Jun 11, 2007
2,778
1,574
Manhattan
Ugh I am really struggling on deciding to keep my M3 13 air or get the 15". I need to try it out at the Apple store this week.
 

MuckrakerJG

macrumors member
Feb 1, 2014
79
134
Has anyone reported the default scaling for the 15” Air?
Meaning the default “looks like” option in the display settings?
Just wondering how much useable space we get out of the box with no changes.
 
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Love-hate 🍏 relationship

macrumors 68030
Sep 19, 2021
2,940
3,086
Good comparison shot from Brian Tong's video:

16 inch pro vs 15 air vs 13 M2 air

View attachment 2217074

I'm genuinely thinking of selling my 16 for the 15 air, I forgot how much I hate how far the keyboard deck sticks out compared to smaller laptops to accommodate the larger screen
15 will still have a large trackpad sadly
 

IJBrekke

macrumors 6502a
Oct 24, 2009
650
756
Long Beach, CA
Has anyone reported the default scaling for the 15” Air?
Meaning the default “looks like” option in the display settings?
Just wondering how much useable space we get out of the box with no changes.
I ordered this assuming it would replicate the “looks like” scaling of the older 15” MBPs. Happy to report back on this later this week when the new Air is received.

Edit: the Ars Technica review talks about it here https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/202...-air-says-what-it-is-and-is-what-it-says/amp/
 
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kp98077

macrumors 601
Oct 26, 2010
4,151
2,655
Now the tough part is do I get a 14 Pro or an air 15" with 16 gb ram? I don't so serous programming, photography, engineering, etc. I think I am ready for light weigh!
 

Spaceboi Scaphandre

macrumors 68040
Jun 8, 2022
3,414
8,098
How the two compared in terms of image quality?

The 15 inch Macbook Air is a standard LED while the 16 inch Macbook Pro is a Mini-LED and supports HDR. The 15 inch is 60hz while the Macbook Pro is 120hz.

That's pretty much it. If you care about HDR and a higher refresh rate the 16 inch has that. Otherwise if all you want is a bigger screen the 15 inch is the way to go, especially since it's half the cost of the 16 inch.
 

hajime

macrumors 604
Jul 23, 2007
7,755
1,220
I know all these specs. I am asking for real use difference. I will go to the store to check it out.
 
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likegadgets

macrumors 6502a
Jul 22, 2008
775
340
US
If there was a 15" Air able to support 2 XDRs external monitors (directly), I would switch from my M2 MAX 16"
 

ice29

macrumors regular
Dec 9, 2016
179
137
Switzerland
I know all these specs. I am asking for real use difference. I will go to the store to check it out.
I compared them in the store today (I have 16" M1 MBP and looking to switch to a smaller/lighter device)
The display is nice, scaled resolution almost the same (probably corresponding to 15" vs 16" difference), brightness without hacks looks the same, sharpness difference is visible only when you look at the display from a few centimeters, from normal viewing distance zero chance to see that 16" is sharper.
What you will notice immediately is obviously 60 vs 120hz... everything is so much smoother on the 16", which is funny since when using a standard 4k 60hz screen (with mouse) I don't really care about it, but when I scroll a webpage with a trackpad I noticed the difference immediately haha (probably comparing to the speed of my finger moving on the trackpad...
Despite all this I will most probably order it, the size/weight difference is very noticeable. Just grabbing the laptop and running from meeting room to meeting room would be soo much comfortable with the 15" air (only thing I will surely be missing is the HDMI, back to carrying the bloody dongle again...)
 

Salty Pirate

macrumors 6502a
Oct 5, 2005
600
794
kansas city
So I went to store to play with one...

Size is so compelling. It really is the right size and weight. Huge advantage over the fat pig 16. jk.

It had 8 GB RAM, so I opened everything I could. Safari with like 20 tabs, all the microsoft, basically what was on the dock. No swap. last I opened garage band, that sent it over the edge to swap land, yet I perceived no slowdown.

Speed of the machine was awesome.

I did notice the slighest of chassis flex when I picked it up by the front corner. Also, when I opened it, it was so light that the machine slides on the table. So it takes two hands to open it.

My only issue is the screen. It seems not as bright/sharp as the MBP. This is a nit. If I did'nt have both machines side by side, I doubt I would have noticed.

The speakers are excellent. I would say 80-90% as good as the 16.

I really loved the 15 and I probably will buy it and sell/trade in my m1 pro 16.
 

ilikewhey

macrumors 68040
May 14, 2014
3,584
4,622
nyc upper east
So I went to store to play with one...

Size is so compelling. It really is the right size and weight. Huge advantage over the fat pig 16. jk.

It had 8 GB RAM, so I opened everything I could. Safari with like 20 tabs, all the microsoft, basically what was on the dock. No swap. last I opened garage band, that sent it over the edge to swap land, yet I perceived no slowdown.

Speed of the machine was awesome.

I did notice the slighest of chassis flex when I picked it up by the front corner. Also, when I opened it, it was so light that the machine slides on the table. So it takes two hands to open it.

My only issue is the screen. It seems not as bright/sharp as the MBP. This is a nit. If I did'nt have both machines side by side, I doubt I would have noticed.

The speakers are excellent. I would say 80-90% as good as the 16.

I really loved the 15 and I probably will buy it and sell/trade in my m1 pro 16.
swaps don't happen immediately, at least not with the way you are loading up the ram, swaps normally occur after leaving all these stuff open for couple of days.
 
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