Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Which size M2 MBA do you prefer, and why?


  • Total voters
    145
I prefer the 13 its size is perfect for carrying around!

The 15 is a beautiful screen size though just not for my needs :)
I agree.

The 13" is just so compact, yet not hindering.

I have all my apps fill up the screen, and I just use Mission Control to switch between them.

I've been close to hitting the trigger, regarding the 15" MBA, but I have my 16" M2 MBP, so there's really not much point.

But as we know, regarding Apple's ability to make us feel like we need something, their allure can sometimes (often) take precedence over rational thinking :D.
 
Last edited:
I'm using both right now. It's a tough decision. The 15" is great and I want to keep it but the 13.6 is also perfectly fine and as I goto coffee shops etc it's size feels more appropriate. When I use the 13.6 I know it fits my usage but having a spacious screen feels nice. I'm using each one for half a day pd to see which one I keep.
What colour/s did you go with?
 
I’ve loved Mac laptops since I started buying their first PowerBooks 30 years ago. Over the years I’ve owned many from the 12” Macbook to the 17” PowerBook.

Of all those computers in every size, three made a “connection” with me more strongly than the rest. The PowerBook 12” from about 2003 (underpowered, but I loved it), Macbook 12” from a few years ago, and now the MacBook Air 13”.

I do like larger displays (and the new 15” Air is tempting) but as a portable device I get such good vibes from these smaller machines. I do plug into a Studio Display for desk work, but love just grabbing the MacBook and heading off to another room in my house or out the door somewhere.

And, of all the many, many Macs I’ve owned (desktop and portable) since the 1980s, my current MacBook Air 13 is my absolute favourite. Hands down!
 
I’ve loved Mac laptops since I started buying their first PowerBooks 30 years ago. Over the years I’ve owned many from the 12” Macbook to the 17” PowerBook.

Of all those computers in every size, three made a “connection” with me more strongly than the rest. The PowerBook 12” from about 2003 (underpowered, but I loved it), Macbook 12” from a few years ago, and now the MacBook Air 13”.

I do like larger displays (and the new 15” Air is tempting) but as a portable device I get such good vibes from these smaller machines. I do plug into a Studio Display for desk work, but love just grabbing the MacBook and heading off to another room in my house or out the door somewhere.

And, of all the many, many Macs I’ve owned (desktop and portable) since the 1980s, my current MacBook Air 13 is my absolute favourite. Hands down!
Was it a first day buy for you?

What colour did you go with?

I also love my 13" M2 MBA.
 
I assume that was meant as a reply to me? I included my size as context for how I'm a big person who enjoys a relatively small laptop. Given that the discussion is about size preference, it seemed appropriate.
It certainly seemed appropriate and relevant to me. As a 5 ft 7 woman, I have been wondering if many of the youtubers who say the 15 is so light is because my perception of what's heavy is different from theirs. And that doesn't mean they're wrong. it just means they may not find the 14 inch heavy whereas I do. given the weight of the 15 is close to the 14, i can figure out that actually the 15 would possibly be heavy for me.

I think the 13 for me, is still a perfect size. I think the M2 Air is a perfect laptop actually.
 
Was it a first day buy for you?

What colour did you go with?

I also love my 13" M2 MBA.
Oddly, no. I didn’t buy it until five months after it came out. I had a MBP 16 and I couldn’t justify it. Plus, I was using an iPad Pro 12.9 as a portable device but despite being a power user on it, it just couldn’t be all I wanted it to be, so I sold it and got the Midnight MBA 13 to replace it. Well, I fell in love with it and have since sold my MBP 16.

I also discovered the MBA is more than powerful enough for all my current needs.

I’ve bought so many computers over 35 years and I have to say from this perspective I so love where things are at now with Apple and the M series chips. It finally feels like one doesn’t have to compromise all the time and removes the need to always feel like unless you spend for the most powerful machines, you’re left suffering.
 
Oddly, no. I didn’t buy it until five months after it came out. I had a MBP 16 and I couldn’t justify it. Plus, I was using an iPad Pro 12.9 as a portable device but despite being a power user on it, it just couldn’t be all I wanted it to be, so I sold it and got the Midnight MBA 13 to replace it. Well, I fell in love with it and have since sold my MBP 16.

I also discovered the MBA is more than powerful enough for all my current needs.

I’ve bought so many computers over 35 years and I have to say from this perspective I so love where things are at now with Apple and the M series chips. It finally feels like one doesn’t have to compromise all the time and removes the need to always feel like unless you spend for the most powerful machines, you’re left suffering.
I know what you mean.

I bought my M2 MBP because I wanted a larger screen.

I spend my week between my place, and my nan's. My MBP is at my place (hardly used) and my M2 MBA is at my nan's.

I have been contemplating getting a 15" MBA, but honestly, that's just FOMO.

I love my Starlight MBA (16gb, 1tb.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hornby
Apple share holders must be laughing, another sized apple product for people to swap and change between lol
Off topic here, but yes, seriously.

I walked into a posh coffee shop the other day and there was a table of four college-age students doing a study group or something. Everyone had a MacBook and/or an iPad, and everyone had an iPhone. It hit me: there was well over $5K worth of Apple gear sitting on the table. And that's was just at the one table. Looking around the place, between all the MacBooks and stuff around, just in my head I estimated there had to be like $20K retail in Apple stuff out in use.
 
Off topic here, but yes, seriously.

I walked into a posh coffee shop the other day and there was a table of four college-age students doing a study group or something. Everyone had a MacBook and/or an iPad, and everyone had an iPhone. It hit me: there was well over $5K worth of Apple gear sitting on the table. And that's was just at the one table. Looking around the place, between all the MacBooks and stuff around, just in my head I estimated there had to be like $20K retail in Apple stuff out in use.
In South East London, we refer to that as a mugger's paradise.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: ignatius345
I know what you mean.

I bought my M2 MBP because I wanted a larger screen.

I spend my week between my place, and my nan's. My MBP is at my place (hardly used) and my M2 MBA is at my nan's.

I have been contemplating getting a 15" MBA, but honestly, that's just FOMO.

I love my Starlight MBA (16gb, 1tb.)
A question for you. Do you find yourself reaching out for that M2 MBA 13 inch more? (as a result of the convenience, portability, etc.)

I ask partly because I certainly do (with my MBA 13 inch) and to me, that makes it more worth while than the other sizes.
 
My MacBooks are at two different locations, so I only have the use of one, at any given time.

I just love the 13" MBA, though.
 
A question for you. Do you find yourself reaching out for that M2 MBA 13 inch more? (as a result of the convenience, portability, etc.)

I ask partly because I certainly do (with my MBA 13 inch) and to me, that makes it more worth while than the other sizes.
I can't answer that yet because I am awaiting my 13 inch MBA but I certainly find I am using my iPad mini 6 (and before it my 2081 12.9 inch iPad Pro in Magic Keyboard case) far more often than my 16 inch MBP because the former are more convenient sizes. I am expecting that to be the case with the 13 inch MBA. If it isn't then I will send it back.
 
What colour/s did you go with?
I’m a space grey guy. I’ve looked at the other colours and non beat the s grey. I think silver looks good on the mbp14 but that’s it - right amount of silver to black ratio. Otherwise space grey all the way.

Also I think 13.6 is all you need. I’ve been using both and the 13.6 just fits. We will see, I got 10 days.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Cockney Rebel
I’d still go for 13", simply because I use my MacBook Air with an external display 90% of the time, and whenever I do take it on the road, portability is more important for me than screen estate.

If the 13" and the 15" would be the same price, I might pick the 15", but for me there’s no point in paying extra for it. If you don’t use it with an external display very often, I would recommend the 15" though. I remember going from an 11" to a 13" MacBook Air and the difference was huge, so I suppose 13" to 15" would be a similar improvement.
 
My MacBooks are at two different locations, so I only have the use of one, at any given time.

I just love the 13" MBA, though.
I’m a space grey guy. I’ve looked at the other colours and non beat the s grey. I think silver looks good on the mbp14 but that’s it - right amount of silver to black ratio. Otherwise space grey all the way.

Also I think 13.6 is all you need. I’ve been using both and the 13.6 just fits. We will see, I got 10 days.
My 16" MBP is silver, and it looks great. Nice contrast between black and silver.

I don't think I've ever owned a space grey Apple device before?

So you're liking the 13" more than the 15"?

I'm happy with my 13" and just as someone else said in here, I need to stop watching 15" videos! :)
 
I have personal MBP 14" and M1 MBA, and a 15" Surface 4 for work (I appreciate it's not an air, but consider it a direct comparison even though it's competitor).

I like working on the 15" due to bigger screen and moving from meeting room to meeting room walking with the laptop open and in one hand as it's light and portable and weight is well balanced (as is the 13" MBA), but I don't love the portability of it in my Purse/bag.

You'll have to buy bags with laptop pockets big enough to fit the 15" (standard laptop pocket won't work) and I ended up having to buy a sleeve to transport it which takes up a tonne of useable room in my bag (I have THE biggest purse too!). My 14" MBP tucks neatly in laptop pocket and is highly portable (and is only 10g heavier than the 15" MBA btw ;).), and my M1 MBA hands down just feels like an easy device to grab and go and does the same!

While I love working on the 15" when I'm on the go, it's an awkward size to transport and would prevent me from going up to a 15" for a personal computer if I was seeking the device for portability.
 
Last edited:
I used the drop in price of the 13 inch, plus getting it refurbished through Apple, to justify upgrading from my 2018 Mac mini. I've been using a 12.9 iPP as my "laptop" on-the-go for years and the size of the 13 inch is great for me. 95% of the time it is docked at my desk with a 34 inch monitor. The other 5 percent of my time I am traveling and have made it a hobby to pack as lightly as I can get away with, which will include the MBA when I will need to do some work (teaching via Zoom). I have been using 2 iPads (one for camera/documents/screen share and the other for drawing on a whiteboard), but now instead I'll bring the MBA and an iPad.
 
I’m curious. What’s your physical size? I’m 5’ 1” with very small hands and an equally small lap. Haven’t gotten my 13 inch M2 MBA yet but I’m thinking it will be just the right size for me. But I did comment when ordering it that the calculus might be different for someone a lot larger than I am.

The above postulate about my size is informed by having used a 12.9 inch iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard in just the same setting. Aside from the limited screen position options inherent to the MK, that arrangement worked well for me. YMMV
I’m actually pretty tall. I’m 6’6” and have fairly large hands. The 13” felt like a toy to me lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mpetrides
I'm thrilled that Apple released a larger MBA and they are going to sell a ton of them. However for me I have almost always preferred the smaller laptops.

- My first PowerBook was a 100 rather than that 140 or 170.
- I was a huge fan of the Duo, and still have my Duo 2400c as a keeps sake.
- I had a 12" iBook rather than the 14"
- I had 5 different 13" MacBook/MBP that I choose over the 15" versions.
- I went with the 14" MBP over the 16" MBP

I did however skip the 12" MacBook (the really small one) more because I hated the butterfly keyboards and felt it was underpowered. I also didn't have a MBA until the M1 version because again thought it was a bit underpowered and didn't like the screen of the 11" or the 13" until that 2018 retina. I still have the M1 MBA which I absolutely love as my "travel" system unless I really need the horsepower of my 14" MBP (which serves as dual purpose as I have a ASD and as it replace my iMac).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fravin and Hornby
I'm thrilled that Apple released a larger MBA and they are going to sell a ton of them. However for me I have almost always preferred the smaller laptops.

- My first PowerBook was a 100 rather than that 140 or 170.
- I was a huge fan of the Duo, and still have my Duo 2400c as a keeps sake.
- I had a 12" iBook rather than the 14"
- I had 5 different 13" MacBook/MBP that I choose over the 15" versions.
- I went with the 14" MBP over the 16" MBP

I did however skip the 12" MacBook (the really small one) more because I hated the butterfly keyboards and felt it was underpowered. I also didn't have a MBA until the M1 version because again thought it was a bit underpowered and didn't like the screen of the 11" or the 13" until that 2018 retina. I still have the M1 MBA which I absolutely love as my "travel" system unless I really need the horsepower of my 14" MBP (which serves as dual purpose as I have a ASD and as it replace my iMac).
I had the 140. We‘re dating ourselves. 😀
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fravin
Would really like to like the 15”. Have to see it in the flesh first. The bigger screen would allow me to more easily edit photos, edit videos, etc. But, my experience with the 13” iPad tells me that bigger is not always better. I got that 13” iPad because at the time only that model (the Pro) had a USB-C port. 3 years later I think it’s just too big. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate watching movies / youtube on it, and playing Terraforming Mars is a pleasure. The price of the 13” iPad has skyrocketed since. So I’m left with the choice of iPad Air or 10th generation.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.