MacBook Air 13” 2014 vs. MacBook 12” 2015: Full specs comparison

The following is a comprehensive comparison of the MacBook Air 13” 2014 and MacBook 12” 2015 specifications, including details on CPU, memory, storage, battery life, display quality, and other features.

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MacBook Air 13” 2014 image

MacBook Air 13” 2014

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MacBook 12” 2015

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MacBook Air 13” 2014 Pros

Reasons that MacBook Air 13” 2014 is better than MacBook 12” 2015.

Slightly faster CPU performance

Intel Core i7-4650U inside MacBook Air 13” 2014 has a 8% better multi-core CPU performance score than the Intel Core M-5Y71 (1.3 GHz) inside MacBook 12” 2015.

Geekbench 5 multi-core score
MacBook Air 13” 2014 - Intel Core i7-4650U
1,236
MacBook Air 13” 2014 - Intel Core i5-4260U
1,183
MacBook 12” 2015 - Intel Core M-5Y71 (1.3 GHz)
1,139
MacBook 12” 2015 - Intel Core M-5Y51 (1.2 GHz)
1,109
MacBook 12” 2015 - Intel Core M-5Y31 (1.1 GHz)
1,034
10% larger display

MacBook Air 13” 2014 has a 13.3-inch screen size 10% larger than the 12-inch MacBook 12” 2015.

Display size
MacBook Air 13” 2014
13.3-inch
MacBook 12” 2015
12-inch

MacBook 12” 2015 Pros

Reasons that MacBook 12” 2015 is better than MacBook Air 13” 2014.

Newer manufacturing

2015 vs. 2014

About 32% lighter

MacBook 12” 2015 weighed 2.03 pounds, 32% lighter than the 2.96 pounds MacBook Air 13” 2014.

WeightMacBook Air 13” 2014MacBook 12” 2015
Pound
2.96 lbs.
2.03 lbs.
Kilogram
1.34 kg
0.92 kg

Key Similars

Similar characteristics share between MacBook Air 13” 2014 and MacBook 12” 2015.

Supports the same maximum memory size of up to 8GB

Both laptops supports up to 8GB of system memory.

Max system memory size
MacBook Air 13” 2014
8 GB
MacBook 12” 2015
8 GB
Uses the same memory type and speed

Both laptops supports the same 1600MHz LPDDR3 RAM.

Memory type and speed
MacBook Air 13” 2014 - LPDDR3
1,600 MHz
MacBook 12” 2015 - LPDDR3
1,600 MHz

Prices

Here are the latest price updates and offers for both devices.

MacBook Air 13” 2014 Price
Apple MacBook Air 13.3-Inch Laptop MD760LL/B, 1.4 GHz Intel i5 Dual Core Processor (Renewed)
 Apple MacBook Air 13.3-Inch Laptop MD760LL/B, 1.4 GHz Intel i5 Dual Core Processor (Renewed)
By Apple
$219.00
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Early 2015 Apple MacBook Air with 1.6GHz Core i5 (13 Inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) Silver (Renewed)
 Early 2015 Apple MacBook Air with 1.6GHz Core i5 (13 Inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) Silver (Renewed)
By Apple
$259.98
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Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera, Touch ID; Starlight
 Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera, Touch ID; Starlight
By Apple
$1,249.99
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MacBook 12” 2015 Price
Apple MacBook 12in Laptop w/ Retina Display 1.2GHz Core M, (MJY42LL/A), 8GB Memory, 512GB Solid State Drive, Space Gray (Space Gray)(Renewed)
 Apple MacBook 12in Laptop w/ Retina Display 1.2GHz Core M, (MJY42LL/A), 8GB Memory, 512GB Solid State Drive, Space Gray (Space Gray)(Renewed)
By Apple
$396.00
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2015 Apple MacBook Pro with intel I7 (15-inch, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)- Silver (Renewed)
 2015 Apple MacBook Pro with intel I7 (15-inch, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)- Silver (Renewed)
By Apple
$336.96
See at Amazon
Apple Macbook Retina Display 12 Inch Core M-5Y31 1.1GHz 8GB RAM 256GB SSD (Renewed)
 Apple Macbook Retina Display 12 Inch Core M-5Y31 1.1GHz 8GB RAM 256GB SSD (Renewed)
By Apple
$319.68
See at Amazon

Specs Comparison

Availability

MacBook Air 13” 2014MacBook 12” 2015
Released20142015
Release Date
  • Available on April 30, 2014
  • Announced on March 9, 2015
  • Available on March 10, 2015
Pricing
  • $999
    Intel Core i5 4260U | 4GB RAM | 128GB SSD
  • $1,199
    Intel Core i5 4260U | 4GB RAM | 256GB SSD
  • $1,299
    Intel Core M-5Y31 | 8GB RAM | 256GB SSD
  • $1,599
    Intel Core M-5Y51 | 8GB RAM | 512GB SSD
Generations-

Exterior

MacBook Air 13” 2014MacBook 12” 2015
Dimensions12.8” x 8.94” x 0.11 - 0.68” (325 mm x 227 mm x 3 - 17 mm)11.04” x 7.74” x 0.14 - 0.52” (280.5 mm x 196.5 mm x 3.5 - 13.1 mm)
WeightStarting at 2.96 pounds (1.35 kg)Starting at 2.03 pounds (920 g)
Colors
Silver
Silver Space Gray Gold
Keyboard and TrackpadFull-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
Full-size backlit keyboard with:
  • 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) individual LED backlit keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys with 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

Display

MacBook Air 13” 2014MacBook 12” 2015
Size13.3 Inches12 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
  • 12-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology
  • 2304-by-1440 resolution at 226 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
  • 16:10 aspect ratio
  • Supported scaled resolutions:
    • 1440 by 900
    • 1280 by 800
    • 1024 by 640

Ports

MacBook Air 13” 2014MacBook 12” 2015
  • 1 x Thunderbolt ports
    Supports data transfers up to 10 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
One USB Type-C port with support for:
  • Charging
  • USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps)
  • Native DisplayPort 1.2 video output
  • VGA output using USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (sold separately)
  • HDMI video output using USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (sold separately)

Internal Specs

MacBook Air 13” 2014MacBook 12” 2015
Processor
  1. 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-4260U
    2 cores, 4 threads, 1.40 → 2.70 GHz, 3MB SmartCache, 15W
  2. 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-4650U
    2 cores, 4 threads, 1.70 → 3.30 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 15W
  1. 5th Gen Intel® Core™ M-5Y31
    2 cores, 4 threads, 1.10 → 2.40 GHz, 4MB Cache, 6W
  2. 5th Gen Intel® Core™ M-5Y51
    2 cores, 4 threads, 1.20 → 2.60 GHz, 4MB Cache, 6W
  3. 5th Gen Intel® Core™ M-5Y71
    2 cores, 4 threads, 1.30 → 2.90 GHz, 4MB Cache, 6W
Integrated Graphics
  1. 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-4260U
    Intel® HD Graphics 5000
    40 Execution Units, 200 → 1000 MHz
  2. 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-4650U
    Intel® HD Graphics 5000
    40 Execution Units, 200 → 1100 MHz
  1. 5th Gen Intel® Core™ M-5Y31
    Intel® HD Graphics 5300
    24 Execution Units, 300 → 850 MHz
  2. 5th Gen Intel® Core™ M-5Y51
    Intel® HD Graphics 5300
    24 Execution Units, 300 → 900 MHz
  3. 5th Gen Intel® Core™ M-5Y71
    Intel® HD Graphics 5300
    24 Execution Units, 300 → 900 MHz
Memory
4GB
Configurable to 8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
8GB
1600MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
Storage
128GB 256GB
Configurable to 512GB flash storage.
256GB 512GB
PCIe-based onboard flash storage.

Connectivity

MacBook Air 13” 2014MacBook 12” 2015
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
BluetoothBluetooth 4.0 wireless technologyBluetooth 4.0 wireless technology

Battery

MacBook Air 13” 2014MacBook 12” 2015
Size54 Wh lithium‑polymer battery39.5 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 9 hours of wireless web
  • Up to 10 hours of iTunes movie playback
  • Up to 30 days of standby time
Power Supply45W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter
With cable management system; MagSafe 2 power port.
29W USB-C Power Adapter

Software

MacBook Air 13” 2014MacBook 12” 2015
OSShipped with OSX MavericksShipped with OS X Yosemite
Built-in Apps
iPhoto iMovie GarageBand Pages Numbers Keynote Maps iBooks Safari Mail FaceTime Messages Calendar Contacts Reminders Time Machine Photo Booth iTunes Game Center Preview Notes Mac App Store
Photos iMovie GarageBand Pages Numbers Keynote Safari Mail Messages FaceTime Calendar Notes App Store iTunes iBooks Maps Contacts Reminders

Camera & Audio

MacBook Air 13” 2014MacBook 12” 2015
Camera720p FaceTime HD camera480p FaceTime HD camera
Audio
  • Stereo speakers
  • Dual microphones
  • Headphone port
  • Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone
  • Stereo speakers
  • Dual microphones
  • 3.5 mm headphone jack
    • Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone

Misc

MacBook Air 13” 2014MacBook 12” 2015
In the box
  • MacBook Air 13″
  • Power adapter
  • AC wall plug
  • Power cord
  • MacBook
  • 29W USB-C Power Adapter
  • USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
WarrantyLimited Warranty and ServiceYour 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.Limited Warranty and ServiceYour MacBook 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 800-823-2275. 
MoreVideo 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
  • Intel HD Graphics 5300
  • Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 3840 by 2160 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors

Key Features

MacBook Air 13” 2014MacBook 12” 2015
At Glance
Released in Early
2014
16:10 WXGA+
13.3”
900p 60Hz
Weight
2.96 lb
1.34 kg
Up to
Intel Core i7-4650U
2C/4T, 1.70 → 3.30 GHz
Geekbench 5
632
Single Core
Geekbench 5
1,236
Multi-Core
With integrated
Intel® HD Graphics 5000
40 Execution Units, 200 → 1100 MHz
Up to
8GB
1600 MHz LPDDR3
Released in Early
2015
16:10 QHD
12”
1440p 60Hz
Weight
2.03 lb
0.92 kg
Up to
Intel Core M-5Y71 (1.3 GHz)
2C/4T, 1.30 → 2.90 GHz
Geekbench 5
598
Single Core
Geekbench 5
1,139
Multi-Core
With integrated
Intel® HD Graphics 5300
24 Execution Units, 300 → 900 MHz
8GB
1600 MHz LPDDR3

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