Apple made the iOS 17 developer beta available to anyone who enrolls in the Apple Developer Program, regardless of whether they paid the $99 enrollment fee. However, developer betas can be full of bugs and glitches. If you want a more stable version of iOS 17
but don’t want to wait until the fall, you could sign up for Apple’s Beta Software Program and download that beta version when it becomes available in July.
This program allows you to test beta versions of iOS software (and not just iOS 17) before wider release. New iOS features can be fun, but we recommend downloading a beta only on something other than your primary phone, just in case the new software causes issues. Apple also provides beta testers with an app called Feedback. Testers can use it to notify Apple of any issues in the new software — that way the problem can be addressed before general release.
If you want to beta test the latest iOS software and help push it across the finish line, here’s how to sign up for Apple’s Beta Software Program.
Joining Apple’s Beta Software Program on your iPhone
Signing up for the program takes a few steps. Here’s how to sign up on your iPhone.
1. Back up whatever iPhone you plan to use beta software on. Again, we recommend using an iPhone that isn’t your main device.
Google’s experimental AI-integrated search engine is a ChatGPT-like reimagining of online search. I’ve been using it for the past few weeks, and it’s clearly the future.
Introduced at Google I/O in May, the new AI generative search engine does away with the old-school list of blue links that’s defined Google’s core search experience since the late ’90s. Instead of asking you to click on links, Google, like ChatGPT, uses a generative AI engine that summarizes information from multiple sources automatically. This upends the traditional Google search experience, one requiring that you use keywords and make visits to multiple sites to gather information and formulate an answer in your head. Instead, this new AI-driven search engine does the synthesizing for you.
It also moves Google away from the information gathering business and into the information editing business. Obviously, there isn’t a person at Google editing the AI’s responses. But Google did design the AI engine, which looks at information in a certain way and generates summaries in a certain way. It’s a new relationship Google is making with content publishers, one in which it gains more control over how people view information they search for online.
Just like with ChatGPT, it’s possible to ask follow-up questions. Unlike with ChatGPT, thankfully, links to sources are listed on the side, meaning you can look them over to verify things. This is handy as generative AI engines can make mistakes and “hallucinate,” giving incorrect or misleading answers. That’s because these AI engines aren’t interpreting information the same way we do in our brains, with context of the larger world around us. Instead, they’re simply trying to predict the best next word.
That means it’s totally up to you to make the effort to double check and to discern if information is inaccurate. If the answer sounds correct, you may not go through with all the extra clicking.
It’s likely why Google isn’t making the Search Generative Experience, or SGE, widely available to the public and hasn’t given a release date. The trial run will end in December. But you can sign up to get early access.
Google’s Search Generative Experience is a new take on online search with generative AI built-in.
CNET
Generative AI is already changing how people gather information online. When ChatGPT launched late last year, people were awestruck by its ability to respond to pretty much any question with a unique answer. It could generate poems, articles and resumes using its massive trove of text data, in seconds. It uses machine learning to simulate human conversations and has been described as autocomplete on steroids.
The novelty of ChatGPT helped it become the fastest-growing online consumer product in history, reaching an estimated 100 million users in two months. It also made Google searches look tame by comparison. Microsoft quickly upped its investment in OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, and integrated its AI tech into Bing Search, seeing a 16% increase in traffic. Google too came out with Bard, a generative AI engine meant to compete with ChatGPT. But this new Search Generative Experience isn’t simply Bard pasted on top of Google. Where Bard is meant to be more conversational, Google’s AI search just wants to give you an answer, minus all the rhetorical frills.
So here’s how it’s been going for me as I tried out Google’s AI Search.
What it’s like to actually use Google’s AI search
Street Fighter 6, Capcom’s latest entry into its storied fighting game franchise, debuted earlier this month to rave reviews. As someone who’s interested in the game, I knew there were tournament rule changes regarding certain types of controllers, but I needed a refresher. I typed “Capcom Cup stickless” into search. I didn’t type a natural-sounding sentence because that’s not how I’ve used Google search for the last 20 years. Instead, I focused on keywords hoping the relevant information would appear. Google’s AI was still able to give me a rundown of the Capcom Cup tournament rule changes regarding “leverless” controllers, including some sources on the side.
I had my answer, and in turn, GameSpot received one fewer click.
Still, I had follow-up questions. I own a Hit Box, a fighting game controller without the traditional arcade stick. It uses buttons for movement, much like when using the WASD keys on a keyboard. I needed to know if my $200 controller would be tournament legal and, if not, what could be done about it. So I asked.
Google’s AI Search in the Search Generative Experience, used to look up information about the Capcom Cup.
CNET
Google’s generative AI said the Hit Box would be legal for the 2023 season but didn’t state why. I had to go to the source, in this case DashFight, to learn that a firmware update made the controller rule compliant. While Google gave the correct answer, it wasn’t a very satisfying one. Of course, these are early days, and answers will likely improve as Google issues updates.
I’ve also been feeding Google questions regarding The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I, like many others, got stuck on the “pinball” shrine, a puzzle room with a not-so-clear answer. Google’s generative AI did a great job of breaking down how to beat the shrine, step by step, but didn’t include any accompanying pictures or GIFs, which would have made understanding it easier. It shows some of the limitations of a generative text AI. In these instances, having sources on the side was handy as many sites embedded plenty of imagery into their articles.
Maybe in the future, Google’s AI could integrate these images into search directly, likely to the chagrin of the sites it’s taking images from. But it shows the uneasiness of using Google’s AI search. It’s obviously parroting content from other sites and suggesting you give them a click but not enforcing it. Many sites sell ads based on the traffic coming in. If traffic starts to wane, then advertisers may consider putting their dollars elsewhere.
The melding of generative AI makes some Google searches faster, but that’s only assuming the answer is either satisfying or accurate. I’ve found some searches to be light on information, requiring additional research. Still, it’s hard not to see this as a major disruption to the online ad-driven search economy. Right now, Google search is the main way many websites gather traffic. If I’m already clicking on websites less, then that could spell trouble for the sites creating the content feeding Google.
But at the end of the day, people want information that’s easy to read quickly. And people will ultimately choose the service with the least amount of friction.
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.
Apple’s iOS 17 plans to overhaul the Messages app, bringing some of the best features we’ve already seen on WhatsApp, Signal, Google Messages and other rivals to iMessage. And in a move that takes the Messages app forward, Apple is also bringing a new Check In feature — to help alert friends or family when you get home — which could very well be the next feature we see get copied back by other texting apps.
Even if some of these new-to-Messages features are already familiar for someone who juggles multiple texting apps and group chats, wider adoption will only make communicating on phones better, regardless of your preferred chat app. On top of that, some of iOS 17’s new features will indirectly assist you when texting in a non-Apple chat app — such as the updates to autocorrect keyboards that’ll contextually recognize if swearing is a regular part of how you speak.
It’s worth noting that while these iOS 17 improvements are certainly welcome, there are definitely a few areas Apple could still improve for a better universal chatting experience. Chief among them are the infamous green bubble-blue bubble conflicts. So far Apple hasn’t announced any SMS conversation improvements, but there are features that are also on other messaging services and apps that are worth taking a closer look at.
iOS 17 comes with a new location sharing tool called Check In.
Apple
Check In is the new Messages feature that should get copied
Apple’s upcoming Check In feature takes a very common request and makes it easier to honor. There’ve been many times after a gathering with friends or family when we’ve asked each other to text after getting home. It’s so common in my life it’s practically part of the goodbye ritual, just to get assurance that everyone’s arrived safely by subway or car. Despite that, it’s also very common to forget to send that text.
Apple’s Check In could fix that problem. Though CNET has yet to test the feature, theoretically it could be turned on right as friends or family ask for that “made it home” message. Then it could automatically send the ping when I’ve walked through my door. That way, if the hour’s late or I’m just too tired from the journey, the status update still goes out.
Check In builds on a location-sharing tool for friends and family members that Apple has had in Messages for years, and the new feature makes that tool far more automated. Check In takes things a step further by allowing for notifications when a delay could be holding up someone. For friends and family who want that kind of safety check, it could be an additional tool that helps loved ones look out for each other.
There are currently other ways to set up a similar ping, using navigation apps like Google Maps, but the version Apple previewed during WWDC shows an easy way to get these notifications directly in the Messages app. Hopefully other chat apps find their own ways to mimic this idea, whether it’s through integration with a maps service or through improvements to an already-existing location sharing feature.
The Catch Up arrow in iOS 17 shows where you left off in a group chat.
Apple
Catch Up will make group chats much easier to follow
Apple’s Catch Up feature for group chats caught my eye when it was revealed. An arrow indicates where you left off in a busy group chat that carried on while you were away from your phone.
This is a feature that’s quite common in other chat apps, and I didn’t realize Apple lacked it until the company pointed it out. The unread label in WhatsApp, for instance, helps me when I check in with a neighbor group chat I have for my apartment building within that app. This is a group chat I don’t participate in actively — and I often mute it — but on days when I do want to check it, a label for unread messages helps me with finding the last part of the conversation I looked at.
Currently there’s an unread filter in the iPhone’s Messages app, but the Catch Up arrow should make it clearer what messages you missed. The adoption of Catch Up in iOS 17 could be an indirect sign that Apple is bridging the gap between iMessage group chats and an SMS/MMS chat that includes other types of phones. Though we’ll have to wait for iOS 17’s release this fall to confirm, a simple indicator that helps with organizing any conversation only serves to help when chatting with friends or family.
You’ll see transcriptions of audio messages in iOS 17.
Apple; screenshot by CNET
Audio message transcription brings a great Pixel feature to the iPhone
Google’s Pixel phones have included various audio transcription features for years, with the Pixel 7 series adding the ability to transcribe any audio message that’s received within the Google Messages app. Now Apple plans to bring the feature across its iPhone line using iOS 17.
New audio messages received in the Messages app will be transcribed automatically, and that’s a boon for accessibility. For someone who prefers to do audio messages, the gist will immediately be available for the receiver, and at times that transcription could be more than enough.
Until the transcription feature gets adopted into more services though, anyone who frequently sends audio messages should please remember to be patient while waiting for others to get a chance to listen.
Apple is adding a swipe-to-reply feature to its Messages app.
Apple
Swipe to reply fits right (or left) in
I’ve been using Signal a lot lately, and like Telegram it offers the ability to quickly reply to messages with a swipe. It’s faster then pressing and holding on a message, and then tapping a corresponding option.
Swipe to reply could streamline the menu of options that pop up when you press and hold on a message. Apple’s Messages app already includes shortcuts for emoji reactions, reply, copy, Translate and a “More…” option for selecting multiple texts. By moving this into a swipe action, Apple could eventually decide to tack additional features onto this menu, or simplify the menu down to basics.
In an unrelated organizational move, Apple moved iMessage apps from a row above the keyboard in the Messages app to a list that pops up when you tap a plus-sign icon. It shows that Apple is trying to declutter where it can, and make replies faster.
Apple says voice typing is improving in iOS 17.
Apple; screenshot by CNET
iMessage improvements (hopefully) still to come
While we wait for iOS 17’s final version, which comes out this fall, there’s the possibility that even more Messages features will be added as Apple continues development. For instance, the XDA Developers websites says the iOS 17 developer beta keeps a number of iMessage features available for group chats with Android phones. Should this indeed make it into a public release, it could be a relief for iPhone users who still want to use threaded replies and message edits. XDA’s report notes, however, that non-iPhone participants might not see any of these Messages changes.
We’ll ultimately have to sit tight for iOS 17’s official release to see whether all these iMessage features announced at WWDC make it, or whether some get pushed to a later release. For instance, iOS 15’s SharePlay missed the September launch of that year’s operating system but arrived a month later. But the fact that these Messages improvements are in the pipeline shows that substantial improvements to iPhone texting are on the way.
While many of the latest Apple devices allow you to copy text directly from an image, you’ll have to actually download or screenshot the picture first, which can lead to a lot of clutter. If you’d rather skip the extra step and keep things organized, you’ll want the TextSniper app for Mac. And right now, you can get a lifetime subscription for just $4, which saves you 50% compared to the usual price. There’s no set expiration for this StackSocial offer, so you’ll want to get signed up sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out.
TextSniper is one of the best text recognition services out there at the moment. It allows you to extract the text from just about anything on your screen, including images, PDF documents and even videos, and copy and paste them using custom keyboard shortcuts. It even has its own text-to-speech function, and it’s compatible with multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, German, Italian and more. Plus, it can be used to instantly scan QR codes and barcodes, and it can be used without an internet connection. This deal scores you lifetime access to TextSniper for one device, which has to be running MacOS 10.15 Catalina or later. Just be sure to redeem your code within 30 days of the purchase.
Updates are coming to Apple’s Messages, but you’ll have to wait to get your hands on them (unless you’re in the company’s developer program). Apple revealed its iOS 17 software update on June 5, but it won’t arrive until the fall. The iOS 17 update makes some major changes to Messages, adding abilities like turning pictures into stickers, transcribing voice memos, keeping your friends and family notified on your way home and more.
News about the iOS 17 Messages update came during the keynote address at the Worldwide Developers Conference at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. Apple traditionally uses the annual event to give developers a preview of updates to its desktop and mobile software, and sometimes it introduces new hardware too. At the conference the company unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro.
With the update to Messages in iOS 17, people will be able to take their photos and turn them into stickers they use in text conversations, alongside standard emoji, which can also be used as stickers. People can customize their stickers with effects — like shiny, puffy, comic and outline — and keep them in a new drawer in the keyboard for streamlined access, Apple said in a press release. Stickers will be available systemwide, including in third-party apps.
To make a photo into a sticker, you’ll touch and hold an object in a photo. Then you can style your object with various effects, outline it or create animated Live Stickers with Live Photos. To use the sticker in Messages, you’ll add them in the bubble from the Tapback menu.
Watch this: Apple Reveals iOS 17
16:43
Search in Messages, Check In and more
Also coming is a refined search feature. People will be able to apply additional filters to their Messages search to more quickly find the exact conversation they’re looking for. Plus, when you’ve received lots of texts in a group chat, you’ll be able to use the catch-up arrow to locate where the conversation left off last.
iOS 17 Messages will also transcribe voice memos you receive, if you don’t have the time to listen to them. Apple also announced a new feature that will let you keep track of your friends by viewing their location in your text conversation.
Apple’s Check In feature through iOS 17.
Screenshot by CNET
Another new location sharing feature is Check In. If you want to keep a friend or family member updated on your journey home, for example, you’ll be able to use Check In, which notifies the person of your whereabouts and lets them know if you’re having trouble getting home. “If they are not making progress toward their destination, useful information will be temporarily shared with the selected contact, such as the device’s location, battery level, and cell service status,” Apple said in the press release. Check In will be end-to-end encrypted, so only you and the person you’re sharing this information with is privy to your location.
The iOS 17 updates don’t stop at Messages. Apple also introduced Live Voicemail, which will give people the ability to see the message a person is leaving you as it is being recorded. This could help with deciphering between important calls that unknown numbers leave and spam.
The iOS 17 update for FaceTime includes audio and video messages, so people can leave their friends and families a FaceTime voicemail of sorts.
Also, if people want to share a contact with one another, they can use the new feature NameDrop. By bringing two iPhones or one iPhone and one Apple Watch close together, contact information can be transferred from one device to the next.
We have seen some better Apple Watch Ultra deals on specific configurations, such as the yellow Ocean Band model hitting $702 recently, but today’s savings across the board give you a chance to nab your preferred model at a discount. There’s no set expiration for these deals, but discounts on the latest Apple devices rarely last for long. We’d recommend getting your order in soon if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.
There are several great smartwatch options in Apple’s current lineup, but the Ultra is CNET’s best smartwatch pick. It comes with a large, 49mm case, a tough titanium construction, an Action button for quickly launching apps and workouts, and a dual-frequency GPS that offers improved tracking accuracy. Voice calls get a boost with this watch as well, as there are extra microphones included in the build. And unlike other models, this Apple Watch includes LTE connectivity by default.
As for the screen, it’s not just a bigger size that you’ll notice. The screen is brighter, too. The always-on retina OLED display is twice as bright as the Apple Watch Series 8. It also has the best battery life of any Apple Watch on the market.
While this watch is designed with athletes in mind, coming with a ton of sensors and safety features, there are plenty of upgrades that make this watch a compelling choice for the average person, too.
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Even with the announcement of Apple’s new augmented reality headset, anticipation (and rumors) haven’t dampened for the fall release of Apple’s next iPhone, presumably called the iPhone 15. Those rumors, plus last year’s EU ruling mandating USB-C charging on phones sold within Europe, might mean a number of departures from Apple’s traditional design. Will the iPhone 15 have a USB-C port? Will Apple increase iPhone prices in 2023? Will it even be called the “iPhone 15”? No one outside of Apple knows for sure, but these reports will certainly feed our curiosity until Apple throws the next iPhone event (probably in September). Here are some of the biggest and most credible rumors we’ve seen so far, to paint a picture of what we may see from the iPhone 15.
iPhone 15: Wireless charging upgrade
According to a May report by ChargerLab, a power specialist website with a steady track record, all iPhone 15 models will support 15W wireless charging using the Qi2 open standard. If this turns out to be true, it’ll mean the iPhone 15 could open up a whole new world of wireless charging devices that can replenish the device at its full speed. Apple had previously limited open wireless charging standards to 7.5W, leaving the full 15W charge speed for Apple MagSafe licensed accessories.
Noted Apple observer Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with TF International Securities, forecasts that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will receive a periscope-style telephoto lens. This sort of telephoto lens allows for higher optical zoom levels, with Kuo forecasting a 6x optical zoom could arrive in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The optical zoom on the iPhone 14 Pro Max is limited to 3x, which lags rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra‘s 10x optical zoom. This rumor was recently bolstered by well-known leak source and Twitter user Unknownz21, who stated that the Pro Max model will come with the special lens.
This one has been in the rumor mill for years now, but in 2023 the switch from a Lightning Port to a USB-C port could finally happen. That’s possibly due to pressure from the European Union, which has been pushing for a common charging standard for years. In 2022, the bloc managed to pass legislation requiring Apple to equip its iPhones with USB-C ports by 2024 if it wants to sell them in the EU.
The question is whether Apple will switch all iPhone models to USB-C or just those sold in the EU. Apple already modifies iPhone models regionally, as it has done with the iPhone 14: The US version has an electronic SIM, while other variants retain the SIM slot. However, there are good reasons to move all iPhones to USB-C moving forward, according to Avi Greengart, analyst at Techsponential.
“There are larger ecosystem, security, and accessory considerations with the power/data connector, so I think it is more likely that Apple moves all iPhones [globally] to USB-C in the iPhone 16 timeframe to comply with European regulations,” he told CNET in an email.
iPhone 15 design: Dynamic Island expands to all models
Apple is likely to continue selling four iPhone models with the iPhone 15 lineup. Rumors point to a generally similar design across the board, except that the iPhone 14 Pro’s shape-shifting cutout, known as Dynamic Island, is set to make its way across all models.
That rumor comes from display analyst Ross Young, who also said in a September tweet that he’s not expecting base iPhone 15 models to have a higher refresh rate like Apple’s Pro iPhones because the supply chain can’t support it.
iPhones have had Lightning ports since the iPhone 5 in 2012. Android phones typically have the slightly larger USB-C.
Stephen Shankland/CNET
iPhone 15: Solid-state buttons come to pro iPhone 15 models
Yet another Kuo prediction has been making the rounds, but this time the analyst expects Apple to differentiate further between its base and Pro models in the coming years. One way he’s expecting that to happen is by giving the iPhone 15 Pro models solid-state volume and power buttons instead of the standard keys present on today’s devices, he wrote in a tweet in October.
The solid-state buttons, which Kuo says will be similar to the home button found on the iPhone SE and iPhone 7, mimic the tactile feel of pressing a button with the help of haptic feedback. The apparent advantage of this type of button is that it also protects against water getting in.
Watch this: No Real Buttons on iPhone 15 Pro? This Rumor Has Me Worried
06:06
iPhone 15 Power: Increased RAM for pro models
According to Taiwanese research firm TrendForce, Pro models of the iPhone 15 lineup will get a bump up in RAM to 8GB from 6GB to complement the anticipated A17 Bionic chipset. Base models will continue to receive 6GB RAM, according to TrendForce. This rumor is also apparently backed up by a research report from analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities, according to a MacRumors article, which referenced Pu’s report.
Watch this: iPhone 14 and 14 Pro 3-Month Review: More to Offer
08:28
iPhone 15 price: Up, up and away?
Prices have dramatically increased since the original iPhone arrived in 2007. And that may happen again in 2023 with the iPhone 15, except not in the way you might think. The price of the regular iPhone 15 is currently expected to remain the same, according to analysts who previously spoke with CNET.
However, the upper limit of the price range could be pushed higher if rumors about a luxe iPhone 15 Ultra turn out to be true. The rumored Ultra model could potentially replace the iPhone 15 Pro Max next year, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman writes. This falls in line with predictions from Kuo, who expects Apple to differentiate further between the iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max models. However, other rumors suggest that the iPhone 15 Ultra as a step up from the iPhone 15 Pro Max. US prices currently range from $829 for the entry-level iPhone 14 model (128GB) all the way up to $1,599 for the highest-end iPhone 14 Pro Max with 1TB of storage. According to tipster Revengus, the iPhone 15 Ultra will feature a telephoto camera with a variable zoom lens, which is the camera setup rumored to feature on Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra.
According to tipster Revengus, the iPhone 15 Ultra will feature a telephoto camera with a variable zoom lens, which is the camera setup rumored to feature on Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra. Variable optical zoom (continuous zoom) cameras aren’t commonly found on smartphones for a variety of reasons including the size and design of phone cameras restricts the type of lenses that can be used.
iPhone 15: Launch and release timeline
Apple holds its annual iPhone event in September almost every year, so we’d expect the timeline to remain the same for the iPhone 15. New iPhones typically get released shortly thereafter, usually the Friday of the following week. Sometimes Apple will stagger release dates for specific models, especially when introducing a new design or size. So it’s possible that the iPhone 15 lineup will have more than one release date.
Here’s what we know:
Apple tends to hold its events on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Apple’s iPhone 14 event was held on Wednesday Sept. 7, while its iPhone 13 event was held on Tuesday, Sept. 14.
iPhone release dates are typically a week and a half after Apple’s announcements.
In general, new iPhones are released on a Friday, around the third week of September. For the iPhone 13, preorders began Sept. 17 and the phones went on sale Sept. 24.
Microsoft makes plenty of Windows laptops for those wanting to keep everything in one ecosystem. And right now, Best Buy is giving you the opportunity to save as much as $300 on one of Microsoft’s latest Surface laptops or tablets with discounts across a variety of configurations for a limited time. Both the Surface Laptop 5 and Surface Pro 9 are on sale right now with prices starting at $850.
Nab the latest model in the Surface Laptop lineup at a huge discount. Both 13.5 and 15-inch models are on sale with various configurations to choose from.
Microsoft’s newest tablet is seeing its price slashed by as much as $300 for a limited time. You can save on both Wi-Fi-only and 5G-equipped models.
In our Surface Laptop 5 review, CNET’s Lori Grunin found the machine to be a solid, if unremarkable, laptop for most folks. It provides a decent option for those not needing to spend over the odds on a flashy or super-powerful machine, while being able to handle all of the day-to-day computing needs of an average PC user.
The models on sale include both 13.5- and 15-inch variants to suit your size preference, as well as a mix of internal specifications. Cheaper models sport an Intel i5 processor, with better i7 processors available for a little more cash. RAM starts at 8GB and can be configured as high as 32GB on the larger model, with solid-state storage ranging from 256GB to 1TB.
If you’d prefer a tablet device (with optional keyboard), the Surface Pro 9 is the model for you. It’s the latest model in Microsoft’s lineup and comes equipped with a 12th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, up to 32GB of RAM and as much as 1TB in solid-state storage. Or you can go for a 5G-enabled model that swaps out the Intel processor for Microsoft’s own SQ3 chip for increased battery performance and on-the-go connectivity. All Surface Pro 9 configurations feature a vibrant 13-inch, 2,880×1,920-pixel touchscreen display.
Hello, big screen. When I opened the new MacBook Air 15-inch for the first time, it felt weirdly large. I recently bought the MacBook Air 13-inch M2 model, CNET’s pick for the best laptop overall, and I love it. It’s my do-everything computer, and it has the speed and battery life to handle whatever I take on.
No, I don’t need a MacBook Pro, and you probably don’t either. Apple’s M2 processor in the Air already exceeds the requirements of all but the most serious creative pros. And for the first time it’s now available in a roomy 15-inch laptop.
Putting a larger screen on the thinner, lighter and more affordable Air line is a no-brainer. Apple does this with iPhones, iPads and even to some extent the Apple Watch. It’s the same proposition here: pay a little more, get a bigger screen.
What the 15-inch Air doesn’t do is push the envelope further. A year after the M2 13-inch model, this is basically the same computer with a few tweaks. There’s a default 10-core GPU on the M2, which is an upgrade on the 13-inch version. There are better speakers (or at least more of them). And of course, more screen space and pixels.
Watch this: 15-Inch MacBook Air Review: Way Cheaper Than a Pro
You’re receiving price alerts for Apple MacBook Air (15-inch)
Like
Big 15.3-inch screen size
M2 processor still feels fast
Costs far less than the Pro laptops
Don’t like
Very few ports for its size
No performance boost from the 2022 13-inch Air
But the screen tech is the same (good, but not mini-LED like the Pro models), configurations are largely similar, and most notably, there are no extra ports on the Air’s larger body. That’s the biggest bummer here: two Thunderbolt USB-C type ports, a MagSafe charger and a headphone jack feels even more minimal on this long-edged machine. Why not one more port on the other side, at least? Or two?
The 15-inch Air starts at $1,299 compared with $1,099 for the 13-inch; a $200 uptick is exactly the price bump I’d expect. This whole package is way, way less expensive than the MacBook Pro equivalents. If I were buying a larger-screened Mac laptop, I’d start here first every time. But serious 4K video editors and graphics pros will likely find the Pro worth it if they can afford it.
I wrote this review on the 15-inch Air. I appreciate the extra screen space, and it’s great to have on my desk. But I don’t regret getting the 13-inch version, either.
The Air 15 (left) next to the Air 13. Definitely bigger, but the same thickness.
Scott Stein/CNET
Design: Thin and big
This 15-inch Air feels notably thin as you use it, just because it’s a normal MacBook Air thinness over a larger footprint. But it almost makes that display seem more surprising. It’s a big thing when it sits on my lap, and I’m not used to an Air having this width.
Owners of a 16-inch MacBook Pro will just shrug, but using it on my lap does give me a “I’m on a big laptop” vibe. Except, of course, for it being silent because of its fanless design, and basically heat-free. It’s been as quiet as my 13-inch version, and I love that I don’t have to panic about venting airflows or a hot lap.
The 1080p camera is perfectly fine, just like it was on the 13-inch model. It looks good on Zooms.
Scott Stein/CNET
Apple kept a camera notch on the display, just like the 13-inch M2 Air. I’m used to it. It’s fine. Apple puts its top menu bar around the notch and it kind of makes the display feel normal. I wish the notch weren’t quite so big as it is, especially since, unlike the iPhone Pros, there’s no Face ID camera, but so be it.
These are the only ports you get, other than a headphone jack. Same as on the 13-inch model.
Scott Stein/CNET
Speakers are hidden, as opposed to lining the sides of the keyboard. That leaves a lot of extra room around the keyboard area, and below Apple has put a positively gigantic trackpad that’s as good as all the other models.
Touch ID is on the keyboard, and all the ports (MagSafe, and two Thunderbolt ports) line the left edge. The right edge has a headphone jack. But why not more ports? I’d expect at least one more on a 15-inch laptop, and it feels awfully ridiculous to have so few. At least offer a port upgrade option.
This isn’t mini LED, but it’s perfectly fine for movies and games.
Scott Stein/CNET
Screen and audio? More than good enough
The 15.3-inch display isn’t mini-LED like the Pro models, but really, I’m fine with how good it is. Apple’s Liquid Retina screens are still colorful and crisp and bright (and have ambient light color adjustment with True Tone), but they probably won’t blow you away. The new speaker upgrade on the 15-inch model is a punchier bass boost experience than the 13-inch model and delivers better audio overall, if you care about that.
A few years ago I’d have called this whole thing a Pro experience, so to me this is a pretty nice Air package overall.
I still like how bag-friendly the 13-inch one is.
Scott Stein/CNET
Price equation: Worth getting the 15 if you’re spending up for extras
It turns out that the step-up 8GB RAM/512GB storage version of the 15-inch Air is $1,499, while the 13-inch Air’s equivalent is $1,399. Only spending an extra $100 for the larger screen seems like a logical bet for anyone wanting more room to work or something easier on the eyes.
The price gap is $200 for the base model, which also isn’t huge, but I do prefer the 13-inch Air for its portability. I love its compact lap feel and good-enough screen size for my needs. But, putting it next to the 15-inch Air, it’s clear that you can put apps side-by-side more easily on the 15-inch model. My wife looked at both on a table and said she’d prefer the 15 if she were at a desk a lot doing work.
Scott Stein/CNET
But either way, these laptops are over $1,000 less than the 16-inch-screen MacBook Pro. These are the easiest way to get a great larger-screened MacBook now, and they’re worth it. One note: the 15 now has a year-old M2 processor. Apple’s M2 was only a moderate increase in performance over the breakthrough advance of the M1 before it when it arrived last summer. Will a future M3 take another leap? Maybe you shouldn’t worry. Apple’s speed gains on the M-series chips over the Intel models have been so good that they still feel fantastic.
MacBook Air 15 or 13? Take your pick, either’s fine. At this point in 2023, these MacBook Airs feel like the safest bet in Apple’s laptop lineup.
