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MacBook Air 13” 2015 vs. Intel MacBook Air - Specs Comparison

Here is a comparison between the specifications of the MacBook Air 13” 2015 and Intel MacBook Air, including differences in the chip, memory, storage, display, battery, ports, and more.

By Conor Banett

January 24, 2024 10:13 am

MacBook Air 13” 2015 vs. Intel MacBook Air

The MacBook Air 13” 2015 features the 15W 5th Generation Intel Broadwell dual-core Intel Core i5-5250U up to dual-core Intel Core i7-5650U with the boost speed up to 3.10 GHz. While the 2020 Intel MacBook Air features the 9W 10th Generation Intel Ice Lake dual-core Intel Core i3-1000NG4 up to quad-core Intel Core i7-1060NG7 with the boost speed up to 3.80 GHz.

If you are in the market looking for a laptop and don't know what's the difference between the 13.3″ MacBook Air 13” 2015 and the 13.3″ Intel MacBook Air (2020), we have a detailed tech specs comparison between both devices for you to check out here.

MacBook Air 13” 2015 vs. Intel MacBook Air: Specs Comparison

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MacBook Air 13” 2015

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Intel MacBook Air

Key Features

What's new

New Magic Keyboard

Featuring a new Magic Keyboard with a refined scissor mechanism that delivers 1mm of key travel and a stable key feel, as well as an Apple-designed rubber dome that stores more potential energy for a responsive key press.

Double the Storage

The 2020 models now come with double the storage of the previous generation starting at 256GB up to 512GB. It can be also configured to even more storage up to 2TB SSD.

Better Performance

It now comes with the 10th Gen Intel Ice Lake processors with Turbo Boost speed of up to 3.8GHz. The integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics also gain 80 percent than the previous generation.

More and Faster Memory

The new 2020 models come with 8GB of 3733 LPDDR4X memory and can be configured up to 16GB.

Built-in Security and Privacy

With the Apple T2 Security Chip, Apple’s own custom-designed second-generation silicon, MacBook Air checks that software loaded during the boot process has not been tampered with and provides on-the-fly data encryption for everything stored on the SSD.

A three-mic array for more clear voice capture for FaceTime calls.
The industry-best Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and multi-touch navigation.
Thunderbolt 3 ports for data transfer, charging and video output in a single connector.
Support for up to a 6K external display, a first for MacBook Air.
Advanced stereo speakers for immersive and wide stereo sound.

Availability	MacBook Air 13” 2015	Intel MacBook Air
Released	2015	2020
Release Info	Available on April 19, 2015	Announced on March 18th, 2020 Available on March 18th, 2020
Pricing	$999 Intel Core i5 5250U \| 4GB RAM \| 128GB SSD $1,199 Intel Core i5 5250U \| 4GB RAM \| 256GB SSD	$999 - Intel Core i3 \| 8GB RAM \| 256GB SSD $1,299 - Intel Core i5 \| 8GB RAM \| 512GB SSD

Display	MacBook Air 13” 2015	Intel MacBook Air
Size	13.3 Inches	13.3 Inches
Info	13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with support for millions of colors Supported resolutions: 1440 by 900 (native), 1280 by 800, 1152 by 720, and 1024 by 640 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio and 1024 by 768 and 800 by 600 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio	Retina display 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors Supported scaled resolutions: 1680 by 1050 1440 by 900 1024 by 640 16:10 aspect ratio True Tone technology

Exterior	MacBook Air 13” 2015	Intel MacBook Air
Size Comparison
Dimensions	12.8” x 8.94” x 0.11 - 0.68” (325 mm x 227 mm x 3 - 17 mm)	Width: 11.97 inches (30.41 cm) Depth: 8.36 inches (21.24 cm) Height: 0.16–0.63 inch (0.41–1.61 cm)
Weight	Starting at 2.96 pounds (1.35 kg)	Starting at 2.8 pounds (1.29 kg)
Colors	Silver	GoldSpace GraySilver
Keyboard and Trackpad	Full-size backlit keyboard with: 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverted “T” arrangement) with ambient light sensor Multi-Touch trackpad for precise cursor control; supports inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities	Backlit Magic Keyboard with: 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys in an inverted-T arrangement Ambient light sensor Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures
Ports	1 x Thunderbolt 2 port Supports data transfers up to 20 Gbps. 2 x USB 3.0 ports Supports data transfers up to 5 Gbps. 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack 1 x SDXC card reader 1 x MagSafe 2 power port	Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB‑C) ports with support for: Charging DisplayPort Thunderbolt (up to 40Gb/s) USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)

Internal Specs	MacBook Air 13” 2015	Intel MacBook Air
Processor	5th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-5250U 2 cores, 4 threads, 1.60 → 2.70 GHz, 3MB Cache, 15W 5th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-5350U 2 cores, 4 threads, 2.20 → 3.10 GHz, 4MB Cache, 15W	10th Gen Intel® Core™ i3-1000NG4 2 cores, 4 threads, 1.10 → 3.20 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 9W 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1030NG7 4 cores, 8 threads, 1.10 → 3.50 GHz, 6MB SmartCache, 10W 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1060NG7 4 cores, 8 threads, 1.20 → 3.80 GHz, 8MB SmartCache, 10W
Integrated Graphics	5th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-5250U Intel® HD Graphics 6000 48 Execution Units, 300 → 950 MHz 5th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-5350U Intel® HD Graphics 6000 48 Execution Units, 300 → 1000 MHz	10th Gen Intel® Core™ i3-1000NG4 Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 48 Execution Units, 300 → 900 MHz 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1030NG7 Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 64 Execution Units, 300 → 1050 MHz 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1060NG7 Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 64 Execution Units, 300 → 1100 MHz
Memory	4GB8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory	8GB Configurable to 16GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X onboard memory
Storage	128GB256GB Configurable to 512GB flash storage.	256GB512GB Configurable to 1TB and 2TB SSD

Connectivity	MacBook Air 13” 2015	Intel MacBook Air
Wi-Fi	802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible	802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology	Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology

Battery	MacBook Air 13” 2015	Intel MacBook Air
Size	54 Wh lithium‑polymer battery	49.9 Wh lithium‑polymer battery
Battery Life	Up to 12 hours wireless web Up to 12 hours of iTunes movie playback Up to 30 days standby time	Up to 11 hours wireless web Up to 12 hours Apple TV app movie playback Up to 30 days of standby time
Power Supply	45W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter With cable management system; MagSafe 2 power port.	30W USB‑C Power Adapter

Software	MacBook Air 13” 2015	Intel MacBook Air
OS	Shipped with macOS Sierra	Shipped with macOS Catalina
Built-in Apps	PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNotesCalendarContactsRemindersiTunesiBooksApp Store	PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSiriSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNewsStocksHomeVoice MemosNotesCalendarContactsRemindersPhoto BoothPreviewMusicPodcastsTVBooksApp StoreTime MachineFind MyQuickTime Player

Camera & Audio	MacBook Air 13” 2015	Intel MacBook Air
Camera	720p FaceTime HD camera	720p FaceTime HD camera
Audio	Stereo speakers Dual microphones Headphone port Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone	Stereo speakers Wide stereo sound Support for Dolby Atmos playback Three-mic array with directional beamforming 3.5 mm headphone jack

Misc	MacBook Air 13” 2015	Intel MacBook Air
Sensors		Touch ID sensor Ambient light sensor
Security		Touch ID sensor Apple T2 Security Chip
In the box	MacBook Air 13″ Power adapter AC wall plug Power cord	MacBook Air 30W USB‑C Power Adapter USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
Warranty	Limited Warranty and Service Your MacBook Air comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend your service and support to three years from your computer’s purchase date. Only the AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with direct telephone support from Apple technical experts and the assurance that repairs will be handled by Apple-authorized technicians using genuine Apple parts. For more information, visit Apple Support or call 800-823-2775.	Your MacBook Air comes with 90 days of complimentary technical support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase AppleCare+ to extend your coverage to three years from your AppleCare+ purchase date and add up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other repairable damage, plus applicable tax.
More	Video Support Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors Thunderbolt digital video output Native Mini DisplayPort output DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter (sold separately) VGA output using Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter (sold separately) Dual-link DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately) HDMI audio and video output using third-party Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter (sold separately)	Video Support Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and: One external 6K display with 6016-by-3384 resolution at 60Hz at millions of colors, or One external 5K display with 5120-by-2880 resolution at 60Hz at millions of colors, or Up to two external 4K displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz at millions of colors Thunderbolt 3 digital video output Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C VGA, HDMI, DVI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters (sold separately)