Who is keeping 15" Air?

[kp98077]

There is a LOT of talk of people "preferring the 14 pro" or the 15" air is too big, or not bright enough, just trying to get an idea if anyone loves theirs? I Have one and like it, maybe not as much as my 14 MBP, but love the extra screen for documents and reading... and love the weight distraction for slipping into a bag. Have traveled with it on a place, also not an issue...
Who is returning them and not happy and what are you sticking with?
In the end the are are amazing machines!

 

[G5isAlive]

People love to complain for some reason, and a few complaining voices always drowns out a 1000 contented smiles, so I tend to put little stock even into a LOT of talk.

My personal (admittedly anecdotal) experience and preference (again personal) having owned a 16" MBP (M1 Max), a 13" M1 MBA, a 13" M2 MBA, and now a 15" M2 MBA is that the 15" M2 MBA is by FAR my favorite. I like the form factor over the original M1, MUCH prefer the screen size as compared to the 13" M2 MBA, and MUCH prefer the weight and ease of slipping it in my bag over the 16" MBP. All in all it hits the sweet spot of my 'good enough' expectations and I don't feel the need to rationalize on the price over something being a better 'value.'

My MBP 16 is now essentially my desktop machine hooked up to two separate monitors, my MBA 15 is my travel, sit around the house, computer. Both the 13" MBA's have been given away.

But again, this is my personal preference. I realize other people will prioritize differently. Choice is good.

 

[kp98077]

People love to complain for some reason, and a few complaining voices always drowns out a 1000 contented smiles, so I tend to put little stock even into a LOT of talk.

My personal (admittedly anecdotal) experience and preference (again personal) having owned a 16" MBP (M1 Max), a 13" M1 MBA, a 13" M2 MBA, and now a 15" M2 MBA is that the 15" M2 MBA is by FAR my favorite. I like the form factor over the original M1, MUCH prefer the screen size as compared to the 13" M2 MBA, and MUCH prefer the weight and ease of slipping it in my bag over the 16" MBP. All in all it hits the sweet spot of my 'good enough' expectations and I don't feel the need to rationalize on the price over something being a better 'value.'

My MBP 16 is now essentially my desktop machine hooked up to two separate monitors, my MBA 15 is my travel, sit around the house, computer. Both the 13" MBA's have been given away.

But again, this is my personal preference. I realize other people will prioritize differently. Choice is good.

Great insight! Yes the form factor is simply hard to beat...

 

[CloudsNeverDie]

I'll be returning mine because of the slow trackpad issue and the poor thermals. May try again with M3 if they fix the trackpad speed. But the old slow refresh LCD isn't great anyway, and it's overpriced and heavy for what you get once you upgrade the RAM and SSD to something sensible.

Also returned my M2 Pro 14" but only because the keyboard was faulty (arrow keys only worked if pressed dead center, and all keys too heavy). Loved it otherwise.

What's next? Not sure. Eyeing up the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 14, or may try another M2 Pro 14". Or I'll just wait for M3.

 

[cramazing]

leaning toward returning my 15 MBA, but my case might be very different than others. The 15" MBA is amazin, and if I didnt have a 16" MBP that I got from my job I prob would keep it. However, over the last few days I have been using both machine back and forth and I realize the form factor are very similar and I end up using the MBP 16 more because the screen is that better and bigger. So what I'm going to do, since my MBA is 16/512, I'm just going to get the MBP 14 base model, difference is $300 more. I'll be able to use both as I wish and if I need the bigger screen then I will just use the 16" wanted needed and the 14" can be use for on the go, on my lap/couch, or desk for personal use.

This is what Im leaning towards doing, I still have a few days before my return window closes.

 

[kp98077]

I'll be returning mine because of the slow trackpad issue and the poor thermals. May try again with M3 if they fix the trackpad speed. But the old slow refresh LCD isn't great anyway, and it's overpriced and heavy for what you get once you upgrade the RAM and SSD to something sensible.

Also returned my M2 Pro 14" but only because the keyboard was faulty (arrow keys only worked if pressed dead center, and all keys too heavy). Loved it otherwise.

What's next? Not sure. Eyeing up the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 14, or may try another M2 Pro 14". Or I'll just wait for M3.

M2 14 is nice. Surprised to hear if trackpad issues. I certainly haven’t had any

 

[kp98077]

I'll be returning mine because of the slow trackpad issue and the poor thermals. May try again with M3 if they fix the trackpad speed. But the old slow refresh LCD isn't great anyway, and it's overpriced and heavy for what you get once you upgrade the RAM and SSD to something sensible.

Also returned my M2 Pro 14" but only because the keyboard was faulty (arrow keys only worked if pressed dead center, and all keys too heavy). Loved it otherwise.

What's next? Not sure. Eyeing up the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 14, or may try another M2 Pro 14". Or I'll just wait for M3.

I'll be returning mine because of the slow trackpad issue and the poor thermals. May try again with M3 if they fix the trackpad speed. But the old slow refresh LCD isn't great anyway, and it's overpriced and heavy for what you get once you upgrade the RAM and SSD to something sensible.

Also returned my M2 Pro 14" but only because the keyboard was faulty (arrow keys only worked if pressed dead center, and all keys too heavy). Loved it otherwise.

What's next? Not sure. Eyeing up the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 14, or may try another M2 Pro 14". Or I'll just wait for M3.

I'll be returning mine because of the slow trackpad issue and the poor thermals. May try again with M3 if they fix the trackpad speed. But the old slow refresh LCD isn't great anyway, and it's overpriced and heavy for what you get once you upgrade the RAM and SSD to something sensible.

Also returned my M2 Pro 14" but only because the keyboard was faulty (arrow keys only worked if pressed dead center, and all keys too heavy). Loved it otherwise.

What's next? Not sure. Eyeing up the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 14, or may try another M2 Pro 14". Or I'll just wait for M3.

did you have the base?

 

[CloudsNeverDie]

did you have the base?

16GB / 1TB on both...

 

[kp98077]

16GB / 1TB on both...

oh wow.. the nice one!!

 

[tweaknmod]

My MBP 16 is now essentially my desktop machine hooked up to two separate monitors, my MBA 15 is my travel, sit around the house, computer. Both the 13" MBA's have been given away.

Hello - I would like to be your new friend. 😜

 

[helloapple1]

People love to complain for some reason, and a few complaining voices always drowns out a 1000 contented smiles, so I tend to put little stock even into a LOT of talk.

My personal (admittedly anecdotal) experience and preference (again personal) having owned a 16" MBP (M1 Max), a 13" M1 MBA, a 13" M2 MBA, and now a 15" M2 MBA is that the 15" M2 MBA is by FAR my favorite. I like the form factor over the original M1, MUCH prefer the screen size as compared to the 13" M2 MBA, and MUCH prefer the weight and ease of slipping it in my bag over the 16" MBP. All in all it hits the sweet spot of my 'good enough' expectations and I don't feel the need to rationalize on the price over something being a better 'value.'

My MBP 16 is now essentially my desktop machine hooked up to two separate monitors, my MBA 15 is my travel, sit around the house, computer. Both the 13" MBA's have been given away.

But again, this is my personal preference. I realize other people will prioritize differently. Choice is good.

Well put. Thank you for sharing.

 

[dawnrazor]

I have a 13” MBP from 2019… it’s fine… but it is noticeable a heck of a lot slower than silicon laptops and the battery isn’t great, but it just keeps going … I’ll probably upgrade in the next 18 months depending on how the year goes… definitely will wait until the M3s are out….

Now here’s the thing, the choice I have is huge - 5 different size mac laptops currently to choose from with a variety of different chips and specs and for my use case I’d be getting a 13” MBA every day of the week and twice on Sunday…

 

[toobravetosave]

I cant imagine settling for the screen on the 15 air when the 14pro exists

 

[kp98077]

I cant imagine settling for the screen on the 15 air when the 14pro exists

Kinda wished there was a 15 pro - perfect size, for me the 16 was way too large to take anywhere...

 

[cramazing]

if only Apple would give us an option to upgrade to the Pro screen, I would do it

 

[toobravetosave]

Kinda wished there was a 15 pro - perfect size, for me the 16 was way too large to take anywhere...

I agree, my 16 is pretty much a desktop. The 13 air was just too small and the 14 pro refurbished was an amazing deal so the 15 air was not really an option.

 

[CloudsNeverDie]

Kinda wished there was a 15 pro - perfect size, for me the 16 was way too large to take anywhere...

Same here. Still using my late-2013 MacBook Pro Retina... 15". Great little machine. Perfect size. The 14" feels a little cramped. The 16" is too big and heavy.

 

[Tenashus1]

14" M2 Pro offered more for me than the cost of an upgraded 15" MBA. Also, the 15" screen was just too big for my tastes.

 

[ryannel2003]

I've had mine since launch day and I love it. Definitely my favorite MacBook I've ever owned and I've had nearly all of them since 2006. Beautiful large screen, good speakers, great trackpad and keyboard, and super lightweight and slim it's exactly what I've wanted for years.

 

[kp98077]

I've had mine since launch day and I love it. Definitely my favorite MacBook I've ever owned and I've had nearly all of them since 2006. Beautiful large screen, good speakers, great trackpad and keyboard, and super lightweight and slim it's exactly what I've wanted for years.

great! have you noticed any yellowish screen issues or varying screen dimming?

 

[Sowelu]

Absolutely keeping mine - it's one of the best MacBook's I've ever owned, and I've had many over the decades. Every time I open it, it reminds me of my PowerBook G4 Titanium for some odd reason. Maybe since that was my first larger widescreen MacBook back in the day, and the impression stayed with me. My 16" Pro had a great, large display, but its bulk didn't give me that thin and light vibe (believe it or not, the TiBook was considered very thin in those days).

The display size, the thinness, the easy to pick-up-and-go weight on the 15" Air is really everything I wanted in my 16" Pro, but without everything I didn't need, like the bulk, weight, and excessive power that I never utilized. I primarily use it as my work from home Mac, and the larger display with the extra desktop real estate and larger text has been a pleasure.

The display is stunning (on par with the M2 13", just larger) and screen dimming on all Air's I own (one 15" and two 13" M2s) have a variance in display dimming once past the halfway mark (the dimming is slightly more aggressive from this point down). I am thinking this is either hard coded within the display panel itself, or deliberate by design for reasons unknown.

My 15" Air's display does not have any yellowing, but variations in temperature and quality can vary from one display to the next with mass produced parts even within the same model line, but I don't think there have been any reports of anything wrong with the 15" Air's display. No light bleeding on mine either.

 

[teralpar]

I absolutely LOVE my MBA 15"! I traded in my M1 MBA 13" and for me the 15" is perfect for my day-to-day usage. However, I did return the first MBA 15" I had purchased after having for about a week only because it only had 256gb; because of the form factor and screen size I know I'll be keeping this for at least 4-5 years, so I opted for the 16gb/1TB.

The 14" MBP was tempting, but for me the screen size is just too close to the 13".

 

[erkanasu]

i have given up on trying to debate which ones are better, and decided to just buy them all and enjoy this season of late 30s lol

we have m1 13, m2 15 air, m1 pro 14, m1 max 16, and iPad pro lol

we don't have kids so I guess this is how we are spending our money lol

 

[kp98077]

i have given up on trying to debate which ones are better, and decided to just buy them all and enjoy this season of late 30s lol

we have m1 13, m2 15 air, m1 pro 14, m1 max 16, and iPad pro lol

we don't have kids so I guess this is how we are spending our money lol

LOL.. lucky you!

 

[kp98077]

I absolutely LOVE my MBA 15"! I traded in my M1 MBA 13" and for me the 15" is perfect for my day-to-day usage. However, I did return the first MBA 15" I had purchased after having for about a week only because it only had 256gb; because of the form factor and screen size I know I'll be keeping this for at least 4-5 years, so I opted for the 16gb/1TB.

The 14" MBP was tempting, but for me the screen size is just too close to the 13".

the more I use the 15 air the more I like it for the modern form factor basically. Sure its not perfect, but not bad.. I had guest over and most were looking at the 15 MBA 🤣