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Updated January 10, 2024·
Considering your options between the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023), opting for the MacBook Air may save you money while still providing you with a large screen, a lightweight design, and adequate performance for everyday tasks with its fanless operation ensuring silent use. On the other hand, the MacBook Pro is a more powerful option suitable for engineering, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks due to its faster processor, better GPU, and increased memory and storage which comes at a higher price point. However, the Pro's increased weight and shorter battery life compared to the Air could be less ideal if portability and all-day battery are key priorities for you. Both laptops have high-quality keyboards, screens, and are built well without the option for intensive gaming. 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)
- The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Excellent overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.9
8.5
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
489.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
13.5 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.5
7.0
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.2/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) offers a more powerful GPU and a high-refresh-rate Mini LED display, making it better suited for 3D tasks than the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023), which has a less powerful GPU and a standard refresh rate IPS display. While both have high screen quality, these differences in GPU and screen refresh rate significantly impact their 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
7.6
8.4
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is well-suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful graphics processor and double the RAM compared to the MacBook Air 15 (2023), which helps with resource-intensive tasks. Although both have high-quality screens, the MacBook Pro's Mini LED display provides better contrast and can refresh faster, making it more suitable for tasks that benefit from high-detail visuals and responsive displays, such as design work or 3D modeling.
Content Creation
8.0
8.5
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both very good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
7.8
9.2
15.3in
SIZE
14.2in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
489.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a superior screen offering sharper images and better visibility in bright environments due to its higher resolution and brightness compared to the MacBook Air 15. For engineering and design tasks, the MacBook Pro 14 provides wider color ranges, resulting in more accurate color representation which is critical for detailed work. However, for 3D applications, both laptops lack high refresh rates, making them less ideal for smooth rendering of fast-moving visuals which are crucial for an optimal 3D experience.
Battery
15.0 Hours
13.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 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.
Cost
$1,299
$1,700
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) costs $1,700.
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Key similarities
Software Development
8.1
8.4
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both very good for software development.
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
14.2in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) 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 14 (2023) both have best in class build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,299 | $1,700 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.4'' x 9.4'' x 0.45'' | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.3 lbs | 3.5 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.4" | 12.31" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 8.71" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Apple M2 Pro (10C) | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 13.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 66.6 Wh | 69.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.3" | 14.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 3024 x 1964 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 501 nits | 489 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 4 | |
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 14 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
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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Why trust us
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
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
167,895
Recommendations made
36,378
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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