Apple 13.3" Silver Review

This 2015 MacBook Air is a reliable ultrabook trapped in the past. It's super portable and runs macOS, but the 4GB of RAM and dual-core CPU are painfully slow for modern use. Only consider it if your budget is under $250 and your computing needs are extremely basic.

This is a 2015 MacBook Air, refurbished and certified by Apple. It's a classic ultrabook design that's incredibly thin, light, and reliable, which is why it scores in the 93rd percentile for reliability in our database. But let's be real: the core specs are a decade old. You're getting a dual-core Intel i5 from 2015, only 4GB of RAM, and a low-resolution screen.

If you need a basic, portable machine for web browsing, email, and documents, and your budget is extremely tight, this could be a consideration. It runs macOS, which is still supported on this model for basic security updates, and the solid-state drive makes it feel snappier than an old hard drive laptop. Just know exactly what you're buying.

Performance is exactly what you'd expect from a 9-year-old ultrabook. The dual-core Intel i5-5250U lands in the 24th percentile for CPU power, so it's slow by modern standards. It'll handle a few browser tabs and a word processor, but don't expect to multitask heavily—the 4GB of RAM (which scores in the 0th percentile) will choke fast. The Intel HD Graphics 6000 is fine for video playback, but its high percentile ranking is more about reliability than gaming power; it scores an 8.6/100 for gaming. The 256GB SSD is the saving grace, making boot times and app launches feel decent.

At around $220, the value proposition is narrow. You're paying for the Apple brand, the portable form factor, and a working machine with macOS. Compared to a new budget Windows laptop at twice the price, you get worse specs but arguably better build quality and OS polish. It's only worth the money if your needs are minimal and your budget is absolute. For anything more than the basics, you'll outgrow it immediately.

Don't compare this to modern MacBooks or even the listed competitors like the ASUS ProArt or Lenovo Legion—those are in a different universe. A fairer comparison is a used Chromebook or a budget Windows laptop from the last few years. A modern $400 Windows laptop will have a better screen, more RAM, and a faster CPU. The MacBook Air's advantage is macOS and its ultra-portable design. If you're locked into the Apple ecosystem for light tasks, this is a cheap entry point. If not, almost any other option offers more for your money.

Skip this if you need to do any real work. Students, professionals, or anyone who uses Zoom, Slack, and a browser simultaneously should look elsewhere. The 4GB RAM wall is real and frustrating. Also, if screen quality matters to you, the low-resolution 1440x900 display feels very dated.

Buy this only if you need a dead-simple, ultra-portable Mac for the absolute basics—checking email, writing documents, and browsing a handful of tabs—and you cannot spend more than $250. It's for someone who values the MacBook Air's iconic design and macOS over performance. For anyone else, especially students or anyone needing to run more than two apps at once, the 4GB of RAM is a deal-breaker.