Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022) vs Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026)

Name: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022) vs Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026) — Comparison Review
Item: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022) vs Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026)
Rating: 7.8
Author: Billy G.

By Billy G. · Founder & Lead EditorVerified Nov 10 by Billy G.

Apple MacBook Air

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022)

Apple MacBook Air

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026)

Decision sheet: the facts that decide it

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022): 9 of 13 decision facts sourced.

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026): 9 of 13 decision facts sourced.

	Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022)	Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026)
Price today	Price not yet checked	$1,499
Processor	Apple M2 bestbuy.com	Apple M5 bestbuy.com
Memory	16 gigabytes bestbuy.com	16 gigabytes bestbuy.com
Storage	256 gigabytes bestbuy.com	512 gigabytes bestbuy.com
Screen size	13 inches bestbuy.com	15.3 inches bestbuy.com
Resolution	2560 x 1664 bestbuy.com	2880 x 1864 (Retina) bestbuy.com
Weight	2.73 pounds bestbuy.com	3.3 pounds bestbuy.com
Ports	2 bestbuy.com	2 bestbuy.com
Graphics	Apple M2 8-core bestbuy.com	Apple M5 10-core bestbuy.com
Starting MSRP	$799.00 bestbuy.com	$1,499.00 bestbuy.com

Not yet sourced — Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022): Refresh rate, Brightness, Battery, Battery life. Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026): Refresh rate, Brightness, Battery, Battery life. No manufacturer, official or retailer source we read publishes these yet; we don't estimate them.

Pick Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022) if

Lighter — 2.73 lb vs 3.3 lb (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)
Lower starting price — $799 vs $1,499 (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)

Pick Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026) if

More storage — 512 GB vs 256 GB (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)

Skip both if

Neither publishes refresh rate, brightness, battery or battery life yet.

The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022) and the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026) share the same minimalist aluminum design. And macOS environment yet diverge in scale and silicon generation. The 13-inch model relies on the older M2 chip paired with a compact 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, while the 15-inch version steps up to the newer M5 processor and a larger 15.3-inch panel that delivers additional screen real estate for multitasking and media consumption. Public specifications and aggregated user reports indicate the smaller laptop maintains a clear advantage in confirmed street pricing around $799, established real-world performance consistency, and everyday portability at 2.73 pounds, whereas detailed metrics for the 15-inch model’s refresh rate, peak brightness, battery capacity, and longevity remain unpublished ahead of broader availability. The short version: choose the 13-inch MacBook Air when a known price, vetted performance, and lighter carry weight matter more than added screen size.

Verdict: Pick the 13‑inch MacBook Air if you need a confirmed price, known performance and proven portability (13 in, 2.73 lb, $799). Neither publishes refresh rate, brightness, battery or battery life yet.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022) lists at $1,099 while Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026) lists at $1,499 — Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022) undercuts Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026) by $400 (36%).

Winner: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022)

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022): 7.8/10

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026): 6.5/10

Spec-by-spec comparison

	Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022)	Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026)
Screen size	13 inches	15.3 inches
Resolution	2560 x 1664	2880 x 1864 (Retina)
Panel	LED	—
Processor	Apple M2	Apple M5
Graphics	Apple M2 8-core	Apple M5 10-core
Memory	16 gigabytes	16 gigabytes

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022)

What works

Apple M2 processor with 8‑core CPU
16 GB unified memory for smooth multitasking
Lightweight at 2.73 lb

What doesn't

Only 2 Thunderbolt ports limit expandability
Integrated graphics limit heavy GPU workloads

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026)

What works

Potential next‑gen Apple silicon (M5) promises performance gains

What doesn't

No official price or detailed specs released yet
Unclear battery life and weight could affect portability
Lack of published memory and storage configurations

Bottom line

Our pick: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022).

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