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Updated January 10, 2024·
The MacBook Air 15 (2023) generally offers a larger screen, more storage, and better battery life, which is ideal for those who prioritize media consumption and longer usage times away from power sources. However, if your work involves more intensive tasks like video editing or software development, the MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a more powerful processor and better thermal management, which translates to improved performance for demanding applications. The Pro model also is more suitable if you prefer a more portable and slightly more affordable device, as it is lighter and often priced lower than newer models. Keep in mind, none are particularly suited for intensive gaming or upgradeable after purchase. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
- Best in class battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.8
7.6
15.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for AI, software development, and content creation.
For general use, both the MacBook Air and Pro have high-resolution displays that are bright and clear with panel types that render crisp text and vibrant colors, making them excellent choices. For engineering and design tasks, these MacBooks offer wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color representation which is crucial for professionals in these fields. However, both models fall short for 3D purposes due to their standard refresh rates, as higher rates are preferred for smoother rendering and better 3D visual experiences.
Battery
15.0 Hours
20.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.7
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
20.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) excels in general use with a large, high-quality screen, a powerful M2 processor, and a sleek design, making it highly portable with a solid battery life; however, it may come at a higher price point. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) provides a smaller screen size but offers great portability and an impressive battery life along with a reliable M1 processor, suitable for everyday tasks without stretching the budget.
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.3
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Air 15 (2023) may not provide the smoothest experience for 3D applications due to its GPU limitations and standard screen refresh rate, but offers a decent CPU and good screen quality. Conversely, the MacBook Pro 13 (2020), while older and typically less powerful, has similar GPU constraints and standard refresh rate, which affects its capability to handle demanding 3D tasks effectively.
Engineering and Design
7.6
7.3
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is better suited for engineering and design due to its newer and more powerful M2 chip and larger, higher resolution screen which are very important for these tasks, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with its M1 chip and a smaller display still offers sufficient power and screen quality for engineering, but with the benefit of longer battery life and slightly greater portability, both have quiet operation, high-quality keyboards and speakers, enhancing the design experience.
Content Creation
8.0
7.8
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.1
7.8
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) to be very good for software development, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
15.3in
SIZE
13.3in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
10.0
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) both have best in class build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$1,249
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) costs $1,249.
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How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) | Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,299 | $1,249 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | October 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.4'' x 9.4'' x 0.45'' | 12'' x 8.4'' x 0.61'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.3 lbs | 3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.4" | 11.97" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 8.36" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Apple M1 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 20 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 66.6 Wh | 58.2 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.3" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 501 nits | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 3 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2023
"The Apple MacBook Air 15 is boringly good. The new MacBook Air 15 is a very good, but also boring device, because apart from the larger screen and the higher price, there are no differences compared to the smaller MacBook Air M2 from last year. No new processor, no additional ports, just the usual basic hardware - but the overall package is extremely good and it simply works. Above all, the lack of fans is an aspect that should not be underestimated in everyday use. In our opinion, the Air could be a lot better, but Apple goes easy on itself here."
Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2022
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
167,595
Recommendations made
36,313
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
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