Someone talk me in to getting an M2 15" MacBook Air please...

[ozziegn]

I've been using my M1 13" MacBook Air since 2020 and it has been flawless. I've been itching to get the 15" version mainly because I would enjoy the bigger screen. I can get a 15" M2 MacBook Air with 512GBs of storage for roughly $750 after I trade in my current laptop. This seems like a great deal that Best Buy is currently running. Sure, there's nothing wrong with my current 13" M1 MBA but I would love to have a bigger screen and the extra 256GBs of storage. My current laptop only has 256GBs.

 

[eldho]

I love the bigger screen on my 15" M2 MacBook Air with 512GB and 16GB. I don't know if this counts as persuading you but the extra space really does make the difference for me. Happy deciding!

 

[ozziegn]

I love the bigger screen on my 15" M2 MacBook Air with 512GB and 16GB. I don't know if this counts as persuading you but the extra space really does make the difference for me. Happy deciding!

The machine I'm looking to get only has 8GB of memory which is okay with me. So many people belly ache how 8GB of memory is just not enough and I always disagree, at least for my needs. I use my laptop roughly 15 hours a day which consists of running Chrome (watching YouTube videos and web surfing all day) along with my day trading hobby which runs specific software while using the Discord app that allows me to chat all day with other day traders. My current M1 MBA with only 8GB of memory never slows down or skips a beat. Again, I'm doing this for 15 hours a day Monday - Friday.

So I'm figuring a 15" with the M2 processor can easily do the same if not better. Am I right?

 

[casperes1996]

The machine I'm looking to get only has 8GB of memory which is okay with me. So many people belly ache how 8GB of memory is just not enough and I always disagree, at least for my needs. I use my laptop roughly 15 hours a day which consists of running Chrome (watching YouTube videos and web surfing all day) along with my day trading hobby which runs specific software while using the Discord app that allows me to chat all day with other day traders. My current M1 MBA with only 8GB of memory never slows down or skips a beat. Again, I'm doing this for 15 hours a day Monday - Friday.

So I'm figuring a 15" with the M2 processor can easily do the same if not better. Am I right?

Most definitely. I mean technically speaking it will use a handful of megabytes more ram to run the bigger screen but nothing that matters at all unless you’re being pedantic about memory . Chip will be faster and if you’re not under memory pressure now you’ll be fine on the 15 too

 

[ozziegn]

Most definitely. I mean technically speaking it will use a handful of megabytes more ram to run the bigger screen but nothing that matters at all unless you’re being pedantic about memory . Chip will be faster and if you’re not under memory pressure now you’ll be fine on the 15 too

Thanks. My good ole M1 MBA has been a solid rock for my 15 hour day uses for almost three years. She has never skipped a beat. But like I said earlier, I would love to have a bigger screen even though I also use a 28" 4K external monitor with my setup. I think that Best Buy's trade-in offer of $525 is more than fair for a laptop I bought three years ago that cost me $1000 back then. I'm getting 50% of my money back which I think is pretty good. I don't think your average Windows PC laptop owner could ever say the same. The part about selling their machine three years later for half of what they originally paid.

 

[Rhyalus]

There is nothing wrong with this choice…it is an upgrade all around! If you have the money, you should do it.

On the other hand, have you gone to see one and hold it? If you are very mobile, the 15 inch is definitely bigger and heavier.

The 16gb RAM and 512gb SSD is the perfect config.

R

 

[Apple_Robert]

Now is a good time to make a purchase. What I like about the M2, besides speed, is that there are no speaker grills like the M1 has. I had the 15" for several months. I liked it but, I ultimately decided that I preferred the smaller form factor of the M2 13".

 

[ozziegn]

*Update*

I just finished setting up my new 15" M2 MBA and everything is good. Like I said earlier, I only have 8GB of memory with 512GBs of storage. Some people frown on just having 8GBs and not 16 but that's fine with me. I use my laptop roughly 15 hours Monday - Friday while running a few programs I mentioned above and my previous M1 MBA with only 8GBs of memory never choked. So my new 15" version has to be just as good if not better.

 

[eldho]

Enjoy!

 

[helloapple1]

*Update*

I just finished setting up my new 15" M2 MBA and everything is good. Like I said earlier, I only have 8GB of memory with 512GBs of storage. Some people frown on just having 8GBs and not 16 but that's fine with me. I use my laptop roughly 15 hours Monday - Friday while running a few programs I mentioned above and my previous M1 MBA with only 8GBs of memory never choked. So my new 15" version has to be just as good if not better.

Awesome! What color did you end up getting?

 

[splifingate]

I've been using my M1 13" MacBook Air since 2020 and it has been flawless. I've been itching to get the 15" version mainly because I would enjoy the bigger screen. I can get a 15" M2 MacBook Air with 512GBs of storage for roughly $750 after I trade in my current laptop. This seems like a great deal that Best Buy is currently running. Sure, there's nothing wrong with my current 13" M1 MBA but I would love to have a bigger screen and the extra 256GBs of storage. My current laptop only has 256GBs.

It sounds like it's time to step-up to a Desktop M2 . . .

. . . may I suggest a Mac Studio?

 

[Iwavvns]

I've been using my M1 13" MacBook Air since 2020 and it has been flawless. I've been itching to get the 15" version mainly because I would enjoy the bigger screen. I can get a 15" M2 MacBook Air with 512GBs of storage for roughly $750 after I trade in my current laptop. This seems like a great deal that Best Buy is currently running. Sure, there's nothing wrong with my current 13" M1 MBA but I would love to have a bigger screen and the extra 256GBs of storage. My current laptop only has 256GBs.

You will also benefit from a brand new battery.

 

[Al Rukh]

*Update*

I just finished setting up my new 15" M2 MBA and everything is good. Like I said earlier, I only have 8GB of memory with 512GBs of storage. Some people frown on just having 8GBs and not 16 but that's fine with me. I use my laptop roughly 15 hours Monday - Friday while running a few programs I mentioned above and my previous M1 MBA with only 8GBs of memory never choked. So my new 15" version has to be just as good if not better.

Congrats! Did you end up getting the Midnight model? Show us some photos!

 

[ozziegn]

Congrats! Did you end up getting the Midnight model? Show us some photos!

I bought the silver model. I have always preferred the silver color because I like the natural color of the aluminum. This is gonna work out well for me. Going from 13" to 15" is a nice change to my old tired eyes even though I'm also using a 28" external monitor.

 

[Makisupa Policeman]

Excellent OP! You got a very good deal after trade in. I almost went the 15” MBA route, it’s a beautiful machine.

 

[leifp]

*Update*

I just finished setting up my new 15" M2 MBA and everything is good. Like I said earlier, I only have 8GB of memory with 512GBs of storage. Some people frown on just having 8GBs and not 16 but that's fine with me. I use my laptop roughly 15 hours Monday - Friday while running a few programs I mentioned above and my previous M1 MBA with only 8GBs of memory never choked. So my new 15" version has to be just as good if not better.

Glad to hear it. I am constantly amazed that people extrapolate their own wants onto the general needs of a populace. I run software to check memory pressure (because I’m too lazy to do it myself with the tools Apple supplies in macOS) and of the nine people whose IT Guy™ I am, five are well-served with 8GB RAM. Three of those would even be fine with 128GB storage. “An impossibly small amount, good for nobody!”

Anyhow, enjoy!

 

[serpico007]

I just picked one up and love it. The bigger screen is worth it.

 

[helloapple1]

I just picked one up and love it. The bigger screen is worth it.

Awesome! Enjoy it

 

[Flash1420]

I bought the silver model. I have always preferred the silver color because I like the natural color of the aluminum. This is gonna work out well for me. Going from 13" to 15" is a nice change to my old tired eyes even though I'm also using a 28" external monitor.

View attachment 2328431

Congrats on the silver color. It's the most underrated color in my opinion.

 

[dizmonk]

I just picked one up and love it. The bigger screen is worth it.

The interesting thing is that there are a lot of complainers over the Pro forum with the new M3. I know these forums tend to get more negatives than positives (esp. when there is a new product) and maybe I'm just being biased, but there seems to be fewer complaints about the 15" Air.

 

[Bacong]

i really like mine. i do think the extra dead space though, where the speaker grilles were on the m1 models, is pretty ugly all things considered on the 15. the 13" looks a little better. but the bigger screen is ****ing great. i also think the design is overall superior. i definitely thought the m1 air was a wonderfully designed computer, but the m2's sleek rectangle design is beautiful.

 

[Isamilis]

I've been using my M1 13" MacBook Air since 2020 and it has been flawless. I've been itching to get the 15" version mainly because I would enjoy the bigger screen. I can get a 15" M2 MacBook Air with 512GBs of storage for roughly $750 after I trade in my current laptop. This seems like a great deal that Best Buy is currently running. Sure, there's nothing wrong with my current 13" M1 MBA but I would love to have a bigger screen and the extra 256GBs of storage. My current laptop only has 256GBs.

I have both, and I use 15” mostly. The bigger screen means that I can read more pages in screen, also much better for watching movie. Plus, the speaker is better than 13”.
Minus side, 15” has shorter battery than 13” (even though they’re the same on paper), probably due to it affected more by brightness.

Also, don’t worry with 8gb RAM, it’s still way sufficient for typical usage (browsing, office, movies, photo management).

 

[geta]

Its a great machine, but you should consider one with 16GB RAM instead, unless you planing to keep it for 2-3 years max.

 

[aj_niner]

Wait for the MBA 15" M3 that will be out before WWDC 2024 in June.

 

[ozziegn]

I just picked one up and love it. The bigger screen is worth it.

That's great. I usually have small buyer's remorse every time I buy big ticket items like this. But in this case I have zero buyer's remorse. My new 15" MBA cost me $717 after my M1 MBA trade in and sales tax. I'll pay a measly $29/month for two years on my 24 month 0% financing with my Best Buy credit card. I normally pay cash for everything but I never pas up the chance to use other peoples money.

The bigger screen on top of what think are better speakers in my new laptop are a very sweet upgrade.