The MacBook Air 15 is hours away from making its WWDC 2023 debut – it's practically all but confirmed at this point. With much excitement being built for the upcoming 15-inch heir to the MacBook throne I’m here to tell you that after a week at Computex in Taipei, Taiwan, save your money – and check out these three better laptops.
What we do know is that the MBA 15 will not feature the M3 chipset, so it’s really just a larger MacBook Air M2 with maybe a few more ports. Maybe Apple will release a Pro Max version of the MBA 15-inch, which could be a difference maker. Maybe, there will be an improved display, who knows? Though it likely won’t be a touch screen – even if Apple have the feature in mind.
I’m an MBP adopter and have become a bit of a sefl-confessed Apple Stan. However, the three laptops I’m about to share with you are equal to, or better than, whatever Apple is cooking up with the MacBook Air 15-inch, and here’s why.
EVO-rated laptop with a discrete GPU has arrived
We finally have a new Intel-EVO rated laptop with a discrete GPU on our hands, meaning more power and better battery life. We know this laptop comes with a very capable Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU that’s powerful and can handle gaming and dip into Apple’s coveted content creators market.
The laptop I’m talking about is the MSI Prestige 16 Studio EVO. Due to a minor slip-up, we know that it will be powered by Intel’s next Gen Meteor Lake Core i7 CPU. We also know it will bring along an Integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU, which we hope has also improved. However, the next Gen Intel CPU combined with a 4060 and somehow earning the EVO designation at the same time carries some weight – meaning Apple should be a little nervous.
We spent some time with the Prestige 16 Studio at Computex and its gorgeous 16-inch display and springy keyboard also features a veritable portapalooza, as MSI has pimped your ports and given creatives every I/O they could need, all in a lightweight form factor.
Currently, the MSI Prestige 16 Studio will be the laptop the MacBook Air 15 has to beat, and the MacBook Pro has to fight off.
Next up, an ultralight by Asus
Asus invited us into their private meeting space at Computex, allowing us to get hands-on with the ExpertBook B9. With its 2.8K dazzling display, potent Intel Core i7 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and Up to 2TB of SSD – the ExpertBook is a different breed. Not only is this thing ridiculously thin (and light enough to be held with just two fingers) but it's also 810 H Mil-Spec certified, proving its sturdiness and reliability. The ExpertBook B9 is a 14-inch laptop that directly competes with the MBA 15 and the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
I could see many business users working in today's hybrid remote environment choosing the ExpertBook over the MBA 15 based on its fantastic display, excellent port selection, and portability.
Last but certainly not least, The Lenovo Yoga 9i
I'm in the process of reviewing the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i with its two gorgeous OLED displays and more than all-day battery life. Powered by a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 EVO-rated CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage, it has all the pep you'll need to push your documents and get creative. Some consider this one-of-a-kind laptop odd, but it has been fantastic from the moment I popped it open.
From its unique styling, fresh green color, and fantastic touchscreen haptic typing experience, the Book 9i is something Apple would never attempt – but I wish they would. Lenovo got creative with it, and I have gotten a lot done with it. It truly is a portable hyper-productivity laptop thanks to its dual displays, and yes, it does come with a handy physical keyboard that allows you to use both displays to their full potential. Both OLED panels are touchscreens, and it also comes with an excellent stylus for you to use.
My review will be up shortly, but the Yoga Book 9i is a better overall laptop than a MacBook Air 15-inch for most people.
Final Thoughts
Whatever laptop you decide to buy, it's vital that you know your use case and needs before making your purchase. If you don't intend to spend hours editing videos, you probably do not need a MacBook Pro. If you’re more of a business user who pushes documents all day and gives the occasional presentation, most PC laptops will cover that and more.
I prefer a system that allows me to edit videos on the go so I don’t have to worry about being tethered to an outlet. The MacBook Pro that I use is great for that and handles all my needs. However, it costs over $5,000, and most people do not write as much, or edit the hours of video and photos, as I do.
So, think about what you will be doing and you could save yourself a great deal of money in the process. Please have a look at our best laptops page to help guide you. Also, if you’re creative, please check out our best laptops for video editing.
At the end of the day, we want you to be happy with your purchase, and get the things you desire to achieve with your laptop done. Nobody likes buyer's remorse, I know; I have an ex-wife.
