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MacBook Air 15-inch (M2)
Pick the MacBook Air 15-inch (M2) only if it's cheap: the original 15-inch Air is limited to Wi-Fi 6 and a single external display.
Product images
MacBook Air 15-inch (M2), from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Pick the MacBook Air 15-inch (M2) only if it's cheap: the original 15-inch Air is limited to Wi-Fi 6 and a single external display. For that you still get a 15.3-inch, 500-nit screen, six speakers, no fan and a 66.5Wh battery rated for up to 18 hours of video. Look for a 16GB model, since 8GB ones exist; the 15-inch M3 added Wi-Fi 6E and a second display with the lid closed.
Who it is for
- Buyers who want a 15.3-inch, fanless Mac for as little as possible, ideally with 16GB of memory.
- 13-inch M2 owners who want more room: 2880 × 1864 pixels on a 15.3-inch screen, six speakers instead of four, and a bigger battery.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants two monitors. The M2 supports one external display; the 15-inch M3 can add a second with its lid closed.
- Buyers who want newer wireless. The M2 has Wi-Fi 6, the 15-inch M3 has Wi-Fi 6E, and the current 15-inch M5 gets Wi-Fi 7 from Apple's N1 chip.
- Anyone who needs an XDR screen. That means a 14-inch MacBook Pro, not an Air.
- People who carry their laptop everywhere. The 13-inch M2 weighs 2.7 pounds to this one's 3.3, though it starts with an 8-core GPU and four speakers.
What sets it apart
- The 10-core GPU is standard here, where the 13-inch M2 starts with 8 cores.
- Six speakers with force-cancelling woofers, against four in the 13-inch M2.
- A 66.5Wh battery (52.6Wh in the 13-inch), rated for up to 18 hours of Apple TV app playback and 15 hours of web browsing.
- The 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter in every box; the 13-inch M2 came with a 30W or 35W adapter, depending on the model.
- An enclosure made from 100% recycled aluminum, Apple says.
Caveats
- The 35W adapter isn't a fast charger; for that, Apple lists the 70W USB-C adapter, which you had to choose when ordering.
- The camera is 1080p FaceTime HD; there's no 12MP Center Stage camera.
Key specs
In the same order on every laptop page, so you can compare models.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chip / processor | M2: 8-core CPU (4 performance, 4 efficiency), 16-core Neural Engine, 100GB/s bandwidth | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Graphics | 10-core GPU | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specsThe base 13-inch M2 has two fewer GPU cores. |
| Memory options | 8GB or 16GB unified memory; 8GB models configurable to 16GB or 24GB, 16GB models to 24GB | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specsSoldered to the board. |
| Storage options | 256GB SSD standard; configurable to 512GB, 1TB or 2TB | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Display size | 15.3-inch diagonal Liquid Retina (actual viewable area is less; rounded top corners) | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Display type | LED-backlit IPS Liquid Retina; not touch | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Display resolution | 2880 × 1864 at 224 ppi | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Refresh rate | No ProMotion or 120Hz mode listed | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Color / HDR | 1 billion colors; wide color (P3); True Tone | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Dimensions | 0.45 × 13.40 × 9.35 in (1.15 × 34.04 × 23.76 cm) | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Weight | 3.3 pounds (1.51 kg) | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Chassis material | Aluminum unibody (fanless); 100% recycled aluminum in the enclosure | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Finishes | Silver; starlight; space gray; midnight | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Battery capacity | 66.5-watt-hour lithium-polymer | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Battery, wireless web | Up to 15 hours of wireless web | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs, footnote 12Apple's April–May 2023 tests on preproduction 15-inch M2 units (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8GB, 256GB), browsing 25 websites with the brightness 8 clicks up from the bottom. |
| Battery, video playback | Up to 18 hours of Apple TV app movie playback | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs, footnote 12 |
| Charging | 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter and USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable in every box; fast charging with the optional 70W USB-C adapter | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Ports | MagSafe 3; 3.5 mm headphone jack; two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports (charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 up to 40Gb/s, USB 4 up to 40Gb/s, USB 3.1 Gen 2 up to 10Gb/s) | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Webcam | 1080p FaceTime HD camera; advanced image signal processor with computational video | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Speakers | Six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers; Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Microphones | Three-mic array with directional beamforming | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID; 78 keys (US) or 79 (ISO), including 12 full-height function keys | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Trackpad | Force Touch trackpad | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3 | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specsThe 15-inch M3 moved to Wi-Fi 6E; the current 15-inch M5 has Wi-Fi 7 through Apple's N1 chip. |
| Operating system | macOS; Apple's current spec page names macOS Sequoia, and Apple Intelligence runs on M1 and later | Apple Newsroom, 5 June 2023; Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| External display support | One external display up to 6K@60; no lid-closed second-display mode listed | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Security / biometrics | Touch ID | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| Cooling | Fanless | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| US launch price | $1,299 at launch on 5 June 2023 (education $1,199) | Apple Newsroom, 5 June 2023 |
| Price band | Older 15-inch ultraportable | Based on Apple's $1,299 launch price |
| Announced | 5 June 2023 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Orders from 5 June 2023; in stores from Tuesday, 13 June 2023; an older model by 2026 | Apple Newsroom, 5 June 2023 |
MacBook Air 15-inch (M2) extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| 13-inch M2 | MacBook Air 13-inch (M2): 52.6Wh battery (66.5Wh here), four speakers, 8-core GPU to start, 30W or 35W adapter depending on the model | Apple 13-inch M2 tech specs |
| 15-inch M3 (next model) | MacBook Air 15-inch (M3): Wi-Fi 6E, and a second external display with the lid closed | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| In the box | 15-inch MacBook Air; 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter; USB-C to MagSafe 3 (2 m) | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
Apple introduced the 15-inch MacBook Air with this model on 5 June 2023, at $1,299, and stores had it from 13 June 2023. Next to the 13-inch M2 it shares the chip family but adds a 15.3-inch screen, two more speakers, a bigger battery and a 10-core GPU in every configuration.
What later 15-inch Airs changed
- The 15-inch M3 moved to Wi-Fi 6E and can run a second external display with its lid closed.
- The 15-inch M5, Apple’s current 15-inch Air, uses Apple’s N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7.
If you’re shopping used, those are the two things to weigh against a lower price for the M2: a second monitor and faster Wi-Fi.
15-inch or 13-inch M2
| Spec | MacBook Air 15-inch (M2) | MacBook Air 13-inch (M2) |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | 10-core | 8-core to start |
| Speakers | Six, with force-cancelling woofers | Four |
| Battery | 66.5Wh | 52.6Wh |
| Adapter in the box | 35W Dual USB-C Compact | 30W or 35W, by model |
| Weight | 3.3 pounds | 2.7 pounds |
The 15-inch is the better fit if the laptop mostly stays in one place; the 13-inch M2 is the one to carry.
Screen, battery and ports
The screen is a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina panel, 2880 × 1864 at 224 ppi, with 500 nits, P3 wide color and True Tone. Apple promises up to 18 hours of Apple TV app movies or 15 hours of wireless web from the 66.5Wh battery, based on tests it ran in April and May 2023.
There are two USB-C ports, both handling Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 at up to 40Gb/s, DisplayPort and charging, plus MagSafe 3 and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The six speakers play Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, and the keyboard has Touch ID and full-height function keys.
Price
The 15-inch M2 launched at $1,299 in the US, or $1,199 with education pricing. Three years on, it turns up as older, refurbished or education stock, and prices vary between sellers, so check a few before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Apple Newsroom — Apple introduces the 15-inch MacBook Air — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — Identify your MacBook Air model — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Does every 15-inch M2 have 16GB of memory?
No. Apple sold 8GB and 16GB versions, either configurable to 24GB when ordered, and the memory can't be added to later. Apple's battery ratings come from an 8GB, 256GB model.
Does the 15-inch M2 support a second monitor?
No. It supports one external display at up to 6K and 60Hz. The 15-inch M3 can drive a second one with its lid closed.
Is it worth upgrading from a 15-inch M2 to the M3?
Not for most owners. The M3 adds Wi-Fi 6E and a lid-closed second display, so it's worth it only if you need one of those. The current 15-inch M5 goes further, with Wi-Fi 7 through Apple's N1 chip.
Which macOS does the 15-inch M2 run?
Apple's spec page for it now names macOS Sequoia, and it can use Apple Intelligence, which Apple supports on M1 and later Macs.
Official product page: MacBook Air 15-inch (M2). Tech specs: MacBook Air 15-inch (M2) specs.