Only the differences are shown. 23 specs stay the same.
+1you gain
−6you give up
MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) came out in June 2023. MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) came out in June 2022, 1 year later. Both run macOS 27 with Apple Intelligence.
Note on MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022): Last MacBook with a Touch Bar.
Screen
Liquid Retina → Retina
13.3 in screen, 2560x1600
Ports & charging
MagSafe 3 → None
Bluetooth 5.0, 67 W charger, no MagSafe 3
Battery
+2 hours
18 h → 20 h movie playback
Price check
MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) launched at $1,299
Not currently sold refurbished by Apple.
All 14 differences
PriceSame
Price check
MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) — launched at $1,299
- Used on eBay
- Refurbished on Back Market
- Apple does not currently sell this model refurbished
What your MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) sells for
- Apple Trade In estimate
- Sold listings on eBay
eBay may ask you to sign in to see sold prices.
Links open in a new tab. Prices are set by each seller and change daily.
Launch price (US)
$1,299›$1,299same
What does this mean?
The price Apple charged in the US on launch day for the lowest configuration, before tax.
This is not what the Mac costs today. More memory, storage or a faster chip cost extra. Older models drop in price over time, so check the used and refurbished links for current prices.
Screen3 changes
Screen size
15.3 in›13.3 in
What does this mean?
Screen size measured corner to corner, in inches. One inch is 2.54 cm.
A bigger screen fits two windows side by side more comfortably, but the laptop is larger and heavier. A 13-inch MacBook fits most bags; 16-inch models need a bigger one.
Resolution
2880x1864›2560x1600
What does this mean?
How many dots (pixels) make up the screen, across by down.
More pixels on the same size of screen make text and photos look sharper. macOS scales everything so text stays a comfortable size.
Display
Liquid Retina›Retina
What does this mean?
Apple's name for the screen. Retina means sharp enough that you cannot see the dots at a normal distance. Liquid Retina is Apple's name for its newer LCD screens with rounded corners. Liquid Retina XDR uses mini-LED lighting for much higher brightness and contrast.
XDR screens show HDR video and photos far brighter and with deeper blacks than Retina and Liquid Retina screens.
Screen type
LCD (same on both)
What does this mean?
LCD screens use one light behind the whole screen. Mini-LED screens use thousands of tiny lights behind the screen, each lighting a small area that can dim on its own.
Mini-LED shows deeper blacks and much brighter highlights, which you notice most in HDR films and photo editing. For documents and browsing, both look good.
120 Hz ProMotion
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
Hz (hertz) means times per second. A standard MacBook screen redraws 60 times per second (60 Hz). ProMotion goes up to 120 times per second (120 Hz) and slows down when nothing moves, to save battery.
Scrolling through pages, moving windows and animations look noticeably smoother.
Brightness (SDR)
500 nits (same on both)
What does this mean?
Nits measure brightness. This is the brightness Apple lists for everyday (SDR) content such as documents and websites, not the higher peak for HDR video.
A brighter screen is easier to read near a window or outdoors. 500 nits works well indoors. "Not published by Apple" means Apple's spec page for that model does not give a figure.
Nano-texture display option
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
Apple offers an optional nano-texture screen: the glass surface is etched with a pattern too small to see, which scatters reflected light.
Reflections from windows and lights are greatly reduced, while the picture stays clear. It costs extra, and the screen should be cleaned only with the special cloth Apple includes.
Matters most if: You work near windows, outdoors, or under bright office lights.
Camera1 loss
Camera
1080p FaceTime HD camera›720p FaceTime HD camera
What does this mean?
The camera above the screen used for video calls. 480p, 720p and 1080p describe video sharpness (more lines of detail is sharper). 12MP Center Stage is a higher-resolution wide camera.
A 1080p camera makes you look noticeably sharper in calls than a 720p one. The 12MP Center Stage camera can also follow you as you move and show your desk with Desk View.
Matters most if: You make a lot of video calls.
Center Stage
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
Center Stage uses the wide camera to keep you in frame during video calls.
If you lean back or shift in your seat, the picture follows you. When someone joins you, it widens to fit both of you.
Keyboard & input1 change
Touch Bar
No›Yes
What does this mean?
The Touch Bar was a thin touchscreen strip above the keyboard, in place of the row of function keys. Apple used it on some MacBook Pro models from 2016 to 2022.
It showed buttons that changed with the app you were using. Models without it have a row of physical function keys, including brightness and volume, that you can press without looking.
Keyboard
Magic Keyboard (same on both)
What does this mean?
The mechanism under the keys. The butterfly keyboard (MacBooks from 2015 to 2019) was very thin with little key travel. Magic Keyboard uses a scissor mechanism with more travel. "Not named by Apple" means Apple's spec page does not say which mechanism the model uses.
Magic Keyboard keys move further when pressed and feel more like a desktop keyboard. Many people found the butterfly keys too shallow, and Apple acknowledged that on some of these keyboards keys could repeat, not respond, or feel sticky.
Matters most if: You type a lot.
Unlock
Touch ID (same on both)
What does this mean?
Touch ID reads your fingerprint from a key on the keyboard. Without it, you type your password.
With Touch ID you unlock the Mac, approve Apple Pay and fill in passwords with one touch instead of typing.
Ports & charging3 losses · 1 change
MagSafe 3
LoseWhat does this mean?
The sockets on the sides of the MacBook. Each row shows one port gained or lost.
Built-in HDMI and an SD card slot mean fewer adapters when you connect a TV or projector or copy photos from a camera. With fewer ports you rely more on USB-C hubs and adapters.
Matters most if: You connect displays, cameras or many accessories.
MagSafe version
MagSafe 3›None
What does this mean?
MagSafe is a charging connector that attaches with magnets. MagSafe 3 is the newest version.
If someone trips over the cable, it pops off instead of pulling the MacBook off the table. It also keeps the USB-C or Thunderbolt ports free while charging.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3›Bluetooth 5.0
What does this mean?
Bluetooth connects wireless headphones, mice, keyboards and game controllers. Newer versions have more range and use less power.
Most accessories work with any of these versions. Newer versions mainly help with range and connection stability.
Charger in the box
35 W›67 W
What does this mean?
The power of the charger Apple includes in the box, in watts (W). Higher watts can charge faster.
A bigger charger refills the battery faster, especially on larger MacBook Pro models. Any USB-C charger works, but a small one charges slowly.
Ports on both
2x Thunderbolt / USB 4 (USB-C), 3.5 mm headphone jack (same on both)
Thunderbolt version
Thunderbolt 3 (same on both)
What does this mean?
Thunderbolt is a fast connection that uses the USB-C plug (Thunderbolt 2 used an older, smaller plug). Gb/s is gigabits per second. Thunderbolt 2 goes up to 20 Gb/s, Thunderbolt 3 and 4 up to 40 Gb/s, and Thunderbolt 5 up to 120 Gb/s.
Faster Thunderbolt matters for external SSDs, docks and high-resolution displays. For charging, keyboards and mice, every version works the same.
External displays (most)
1 external display (same on both)
What does this mean?
The most separate displays you can connect at the same time, as Apple's spec page lists it. On an iMac this is on top of its own screen.
Very high resolutions or refresh rates can lower the number; Apple's spec page lists the exact combinations. More display support helps when you spread your work across several screens.
Matters most if: You want two or more monitors on your desk.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6 (same on both)
What does this mean?
Wi-Fi generations. Each new one handles more devices at once and higher speeds: Wi-Fi 5 (2014), Wi-Fi 6 (2019), Wi-Fi 6E adds a new, less crowded radio band, Wi-Fi 7 is the newest.
You only get the extra speed if your router supports the same generation. With an older router, the difference is small.
Battery1 gain · 1 loss
Battery (video)
18 hours›20 hours
What does this mean?
Apple's battery rating for watching video on a full charge, in Apple's own tests. Older models were tested playing downloaded movies, newer ones streaming video over Wi-Fi.
Real use with many apps, high brightness or heavy work drains the battery faster. Batteries also wear out, so an older MacBook today lasts less than it did when new.
Matters most if: You work away from a power outlet for long stretches.
Battery capacity
66.5 Wh›58.2 Wh
What does this mean?
Battery size in watt-hours (Wh): how much energy the battery holds.
A bigger battery helps, but how long it lasts depends even more on the chip. Apple silicon MacBooks last much longer than Intel ones with a similar battery.
Design1 loss · 2 changes
Weight
1.51 kg›1.4 kg
What does this mean?
Weight in kilograms. 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds.
A difference of 0.3 kg or more is noticeable when you carry the MacBook every day. The charger adds extra weight to your bag.
Thickness
1.15 cm›1.56 cm
What does this mean?
How thick the MacBook is when closed, in centimeters. 1 cm is about 0.4 inch. For tapered designs this is the thickest point.
Thinner MacBooks slide into bags and sleeves more easily. A few millimeters are hard to notice in daily use.
Speakers
Six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers›Stereo speakers with high dynamic range
What does this mean?
How Apple describes the MacBook's speakers on its spec page. Apple's wording varies between models. We show it exactly as Apple lists it.
Four- and six-speaker systems, especially those with force-cancelling woofers, give fuller sound with more bass for films and music without headphones.
What's new
RSS feedAdded Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio and Mac Pro
33 desktop Macs from 2017 onward, checked against Apple's tech specs pages, in one Mac section with the laptops, so you can compare a Mac mini with a MacBook Air. Specs a model does not have, such as a screen on Mac mini, show as Not applicable.
Added MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and MacBook Neo
45 Mac laptops from 2016 onward, checked against Apple's tech specs pages. Older models appear on the timeline and open for comparison once they are checked. Switch to Mac at the top of the home page.
Added every iPad since 2010
45 iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro models, checked against Apple's tech specs pages. Switch between iPhone and iPad at the top of the home page.