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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023), consider your main requirements. The MacBook Air is typically less expensive, provides silent fanless operation, and is lighter making it more portable. However, if you need higher performance, especially for demanding tasks like video editing or intensive applications, the MacBook Pro 14 has a more powerful processor and better graphics capabilities, though this comes with a higher cost. It also has a better screen refresh rate which is ideal for smoother visuals. The Pro model has marginally better battery life, but it's slightly heavier and thicker. If portability and cost are your priorities, the Air is suitable, whereas if you work with more demanding applications and need top performance, the Pro is a better fit. 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 (Late 2023).
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Excellent overall display quality
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.6
8.1
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) with its Apple M2 chip is suitable for design and engineering tasks, benefiting from good CPU and GPU performance, high screen quality with a bright IPS display, and silent operation due to its fanless design, although it has less storage than the Pro model.
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, and software development.
If you prioritize screen clarity and readability in day-to-day tasks, both MacBook Air and Pro offer high-resolution and bright screens, with the Pro's offering the highest quality among the two. When it comes to engineering and design, professionals need accurate color representation, and the MacBook Pro's screen covers broader color gamuts, making it superior for such tasks. However, if you're into 3D applications that require smooth motion, neither of these models will suit you best, as they lack high refresh rates crucial for those uses.
Battery
15.0 Hours
17.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 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
$1,649
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) costs $1,649.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
8.2
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
17.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is appreciated for general use because it offers a balance of strong CPU performance, ample RAM, high screen quality, lightweight portability, and good battery life. Meanwhile, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) also excels with a robust CPU, sufficient memory, an advanced screen with mini-LED technology for deep contrasts, and an even longer battery life, but is slightly less portable due to its increased weight and dimensions. Both laptops have high-quality storage, keyboards, speakers, and manage heat and operating noise well, making them both excellent choices for general use.
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.7
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
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 (Late 2023) and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is equipped with an M2 chip that has a 10-core GPU and a screen with a 60 Hz refresh rate, which offers fair 3D performance for casual needs. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) comes with a more powerful M3 chip also with a 10-core GPU but importantly features a higher 120 Hz refresh rate screen, contributing to its superior performance in 3D applications.
Content Creation
8.0
8.4
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both very good for content creation.
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
8.2
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 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
3.4 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 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 (Late 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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How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,299 | $1,649 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | November 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 | 3.4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.4" | 12.31" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 8.71" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Apple M3 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 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 | 17 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 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 3 | |
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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 (Late 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 (Late 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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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.
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Laptops stats compiled
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Recommendations made
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