How does Apple’s new 15-inch MacBook Air compare to the 13-inch models?

The biggest feature of the new MacBook Air is, obviously, that it’s bigger. The new model sports a 15.3-inch notched display with a higher resolution of 2880 x 1864, putting it at 224 pixels per inch and about even with the other MacBook Air models. It shares the same M2 processor as the redesigned 13-inch MacBook Air from last year, and the physical design is nearly the spitting image of it — complete with matching colors. Where the new 15-inch model differs, aside from its size and weight, is that it comes with two additional GPU cores standard (they cost extra on the 13-inch model) and a six-speaker sound system instead of a four-speaker array.

While the new 15-inch MacBook Air is a little bigger and heavier than both 13-inch MacBook Airs, it’s only 0.01 inches thicker than its 13-inch M2 counterpart, meaning the larger laptop is quite thin for its size.

Given the 15-inch MacBook Air comes in at a competitive price of $1,299, it’s probably an easy decision if you’re shopping in this price range and want the biggest screen size available. That said, the 13-inch M2 Air’s new lower price of $1,099 means it’s still worth considering if you want the conveniences of a 1080p webcam and MagSafe charging but don’t require the larger size or want to spend as much. The 13-inch M1 MacBook Air from 2020 is also still a viable value option at $999 if you just need something that can handle everyday computing tasks, especially since it’s often discounted to as low as $799.

We’ll see just how well the new 15-inch MacBook Air performs and stacks up in real-world use when we do our full review, but in the meantime, here’s the full spec-by-spec rundown for you to compare the finer details and differences on paper. Which would you choose?