Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 vs Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 Comparison

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Apple MacBook Air 15 M2

15.3 inches | June 2023

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Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8

16 inches | March 2023

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Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 vs Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 Comparison Overview

Apple MacBook Air 15...

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Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8

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Apple MacBook Air 15...

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Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8

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In this review, we will be comparing MacBook Air 15 M2 and LOQ 16IRH8, two laptops from Apple and Lenovo. Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 was introduced to market in June 2023 and Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 was launched in March 2023. There is only 3 months difference between MacBook Air 15 M2 and LOQ 16IRH8 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 and Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 Key Specs

Launched in June 2023
15.3" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Apple M2
GPU: Apple M2 GPU (8-core)
8GB Ram
340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm (13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches)
Weight: 1.51 kg (3.33 lbs)

Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 Key Specs

Launched in March 2023
16.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 13420H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
359.6 x 277.59 x 21-25.9 mm (14.16 x 10.93 x 0.83-1.02 inches)
Weight: 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 was replaced by Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 vs Apple MacBook Air 15 M2
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 vs Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how MacBook Air 15 M2 and LOQ 16IRH8 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 over Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8

Weight	1.51 kg vs 2.60 kg	1.09 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~83.9% vs ~74.4%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	5.4 mm vs 7.5 mm	2.1 mm thinner bezels
Screen PPI	224 ppi vs 142 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2880 x 1864 pixels vs 1920 x 1200 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	500 nits vs 350 nits	Brighter Screen
CPU Fabrication Process	5 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	5 nm vs 8 nm	Newer Generation GPU
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Number of Microphones	3 vs 2	Better Sound capture
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5.2	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint
Number of USB-C Ports	2x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Faster USB-C connection
Thunderbolt	v3 vs No	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
Avg. MSRP Price	$1200-1600 vs $1600-2000	Lower Price (*may change depending on config, seller, location, and time)

Reasons to choose Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 over Apple MacBook Air 15 M2

Display Size	16 inches vs 15.3 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	144 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen Opening Angle	180° vs 130°	More flexible screen
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
GPU FLOPS	7.12 TFLOPS vs 3 TFLOPS	Dedicated GPU unit
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	More RAM Options
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs No	Easily increase the Storage when needed
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No

Common Strengths of Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 and Apple MacBook Air 15 M2

Launch Dates	June 2023 vs March 2023	Both laptops are recent models
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6E	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 and Apple MacBook Air 15 M2

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 vs Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 and the Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.51 kg (3.33 lbs)	2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)
Surface Area	809 cm2 (125.3 inches2)	998 cm2 (154.8 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~83.9%	~74.4%
Side Bezel Thickness	~5.4 mm	~7.5 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.10 kg/inch	0.16 kg/inch
	0.22 lbs/inch	0.352 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Silver, Gold, Gray	Gray
Cover Opening Angle	130Â°	180Â°

Comparison of the Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 and the Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 External Dimensions

Weight

MacBook Air 15 M2 weighs 1.51 kg (3.33 lbs), whereas the LOQ 16IRH8 weighs 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 1.51 kg

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 1.95 kg

Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 2.60 kg

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 2.07 kg

Thickness Comparison

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 11.50 mm

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 20.17 mm

Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 25.90 mm

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 20.35 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 is 0.10 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 is 0.16 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 vs Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Apple M2	Intel Core i5 13420H Intel Core i5 13500H Intel Core i7 13620H Intel Core i7 13700H
Base Frequency	3.5 GHz	2.1 GHz
Number of Cores	8	8
Number of Threads	8	12
Integrated GPU	Apple M2 GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (48EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	5 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1931	1702
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	8996	10952
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1586	1724
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	8690	12820

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 and Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Apple M2

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 13420H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Apple M2 GPU (8-core)	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB
Base Clock Frequency	500 MHz	1530 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1456 MHz	1740 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	95 W
Type	Integrated	Dedicated
FLOPS	3 TFLOPS	7.12 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	6 GB
Memory Type	LPDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bus	128 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	6.4 Gbps	12 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	1024	2048
TMUs	64	64
ROPs	32	40

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 has a FLOPS value of 3 TFLOPS whereas the Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 ' has a FLOPS value of 7.12 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 24GB	16GB 32GB
Memory Bus	GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	6400 MHz	5200 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	No	Yes
Memory Bus	Custom	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

The LOQ 16IRH8 provides a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, which allows for smoother multitasking and improved performance in memory-demanding tasks compared to the MacBook Air 15 M2's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Apple MacBook Air 15 (M2)	Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	66.5 Wh	60 Wh 80 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left	Left, Bottom
Charge Power	35 / 70 W	135 / 170 / 230 W
Full Charging Time	2:50 hr
Cable Length	2 meters

Moreover, the MacBook Air 15 M2 boasts a larger battery capacity of 67 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the LOQ 16IRH8's60 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 67 Wh

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 62.1 Wh

Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 60 Wh

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 74.15 Wh

STORAGE
Both laptops, the MacBook Air 15 M2 and the LOQ 16IRH8 have similar max. storage capacities of 2 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	No	Yes
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 vs Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 and Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. MacBook Air 15 M2 has a display size of 15.3".On the other hand, LOQ 16IRH8 has a larger16.0" display.The total usable screen area of the MacBook Air 15 M2 is 679cm² / 105inch² whereas the LOQ 16IRH8's total usable screen area is 742cm² / 115inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the MacBook Air 15 M2 features a higher pixel density with 224 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 224 PPI

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 144 PPI

Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 142 PPI

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 169 PPI

Refresh Rate
The LOQ 16IRH8 offers a higher refresh rate of 144 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
The MacBook Air 15 M2 offers a higher maximum brightness of 500 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 500 nits

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 319 nits

Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 350 nits

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 413 nits

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 vs Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
LOQ 16IRH8 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to MacBook Air 15 M2 (v6).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
LOQ 16IRH8 is equipped with 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. MacBook Air 15 M2 does not have USB-A ports.
Both MacBook Air 15 M2 and LOQ 16IRH8 have USB Type-C ports. MacBook Air 15 M2 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while LOQ 16IRH8 has 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
MacBook Air 15 M2 is equipped with Thunderbolt 3 port. LOQ 16IRH8 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
LOQ 16IRH8 features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. MacBook Air 15 M2 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither MacBook Air 15 M2 nor LOQ 16IRH8 has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both MacBook Air 15 M2 and LOQ 16IRH8 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.3	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	No	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 3	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	Yes
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes