15-inch MacBook Air vs 16-inch Intel MacBook Pro: A perfect upgrade?

The 15-inch MacBook Air arrived with a range of impressive features and performance at an affordable price. But is it a good replacement for those with a 16-inch Intel MacBook Pro or earlier? Follow along for a detailed comparison of the 15-inch MacBook Air vs 16-inch Intel MacBook Pro.
Table of contents

15-inch MacBook Air vs 16-inch Intel MacBook Pro
CPU, GPU, RAM, neural engine
Displays
I/O
Size, weight, and finish
Battery life
15-inch MacBook Air vs 16-inch Intel MBP pricing
15-inch MacBook Air vs 16-inch Intel MacBook Pro wrap-up

The MacBook Air got a notable upgrade in 2022 with M2 chip, an all-new design, larger 13.6-inch display, flat-edged chassis, new midnight color, an upgraded webcam, and much more. However, that’s still quite a bit less screen real estate than the 15 or 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Then at WWDC 2023, Apple launched the anticipated 15-inch MacBook Air. We’ve previously covered how the latest M2 Pro/Max MacBook Pro compares to the new 15-inch MacBook Air:

MacBook Pro vs Air: Here’s how the latest M2 laptops compare

But what about those considering the jump from the 16-inch Intel MacBook Pro – or earlier 15-inch Intel MacBook Pro models, is the 15-inch Air a good upgrade? Let’s dive in!