The MacBook Air is the world ’s bestselling laptop computer , allot to Apple . That was true before the M3 , and it ’ll likely be reliable a year from now .
On one hand , that means the inclusion of the M3 chip is easygoing to overlook or drop a line off . And with theM2 MacBook Airselling for just $ 100 less ( it ’s discounted even more at some retailer ) , the M3 needs to prove itself . Some people will probably still be good off save their money and buying the M2 MacBook Air , but the way the M3 supercharges this laptop ’s GPU performance is downright telling — ensuring that it remain one of thebest laptopsyou can buy .
Review update: December 10, 2024
My review of the M3 MacBook Air earlier issue on March 19 , 2024 , just as the laptop computer was originally being found and a couple of workweek after it was annunciate on March 4 , 2024 . Since then , Apple announce a moderately major change to how the machine was being sell , specifically around contour . Both the M3 MacBook Air and M2 MacBook Air would now start at 16 GB of RAM , in both the 13 - in and 15 - inch sizes .
This change was herald on October 30 , 2024 , alongside the acquittance of theM4 MacBook Pro , iMac , and Mac miniskirt . Interestingly , Apple made this change without increasing the price of the MacBook Air . It still protrude at $ 1,099 , despite Apple having given it a $ 200 upgrade in unified memory . The change hail afterreceiving feedback around the 8 GB starting configurationof 2023’sM3 MacBook Pro , as well as the rollout ofApple Intelligence . 2024 also saw Windows laptop adopt 16 GB of RAM as a starting configuration in a big elbow room , with Microsoft requiring it to qualify as aCopilot+ PC .
irrespective of the reason , it ’s bully news for MacBook Air buyer . It only sweetens the deal on what is already a antic laptop computer and insure the relevance of the gimmick for many months . While third - party retail merchant have made the modification loosely , be measured that you do n’t unexpectedly buy an 8 GB version unless it ’s gravely discounted . They ’re still floating around , so step carefully .
The other thing to be aware of is time onwhen to buy a Macand the rumors around theM4 MacBook Air . With theM4 chipMac rollout having begun , you may expect the faster scrap to number to the MacBook Air relatively soon , with some rumors propose it could be fairly early in 2025 . At the very least , you should anticipate it to launch by March of 2025 , mark a full twelvemonth since the launch of the M3 MacBook Air .
That being said , the twist is on sales event everywhere you count , so I still strongly advocate picking one up if it beseem your needs .
Specs and pricing
The 13 - column inch M3 MacBook Air starts at $ 1,099 , replacing the place of its predecessor in the lineup , the M2 MacBook Air . Apple is still trade the M2 , however , for $ 100 less at $ 999 .
This starting configuration now come with 16 GB of RAM , 256 GB of memory board , and an 8 - core GPU . Apple charges $ 100 to go from 8 GPU cores to 10 GPU cores , which is only available on the 13 - inch good example . The 15 - in MacBook Air starts at $ 1,299 , and come up with the 10 - nub GPU , a well as the same 16 GB of RAM .
Both sizes can be maxed out at 24 GB of random access memory and 2 TB of computer storage , with the cost rise well over $ 2,000 .
That being said , the starting configurations are currently being sell for well under the retail price , discounted by as much as $ 200 .
Design
The MacBook Air is a stunning laptop . It remains the most utmost lesson of the Apple Silicon era , thanks to a design that is fragile in a style that just was n’t possible in the past . At 0.44 inches duncical , it rest the tenuous clamshell laptop of this variety that ’s ever been made . It ’s also the most hefty laptop without a unmarried fan .
So yes , the MacBook Air ’s title asthinnest laptopis impressive , but permit ’s be fair : the remainder between 0.44 inch and 0.5 inches is hardly noticeable unless you have two automobile side by side . Windows laptop like theAsus Zenbook S 13and Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 come fairly tight to matching the MacBook Air ’s compact nature .
Fortunately , the MacBook Air has a lot more than just thinness on its side . It ’s also passing well - build , which can sometimes be a concern when equipment get this tenuous . Weall remember # flexgatefrom 2019 , right ? Well , permit ’s just say many laptops this thin ( including older MacBooks ) have clamber to stay perfectly set under press . Not so with the current MacBook Air . It ’s as rich as laptop computer get .
The Midnight Black color is slap-up to see come to the MacBook Air .
Now , none of that is new with the M3 MacBook Air . This innovation has been in use since the M2 MacBook Air come in out in 2022 .
The one novel exterior element on the M3 MacBook Air is a new color option , Midnight . Something very similar launched on the M3 MacBook Pros last yr , and I ’m felicitous to see it also available on the two MacBook Air sizing . It ’s a great colouring material , even if I still prefer Space Gray in person . Apple enounce its supposed to turn away fingermark salutary than other colouring options , but in my prolonged time with theSpace Black MacBook Pro , I ca n’t say it looks much cleaner in the longsighted run .
Nothing is raw here in respect to the keyboard and trackpad . They ’re both excellent , as always , offer exceptional typewriting and incredibly accurate trailing . Apple ’s oversize haptic feedback trackpads were the first in the business , and though they ’re becoming more common , Apple ’s still might be the honorable .
Ports
One of the most concerning limitations of the MacBook Air is the turn and mixed bag of ports it tender . It ’s not that throttle you to only Thunderbolt 3 via USB - C is uncommon these days . All sorting of laptop computer have follow Apple down that way of life . But with the MacBook Air , it comes with some significant restrictions on external presentation .
In the past times , the M2 MacBook Air could only support one outside presentation , regardless of the firmness of purpose and refresh rate . There are ways to get around this , but it require a dock and some supererogatory software to jump the hurdle . Apple ’s never really explain this limit , but we assume it has to do with circumscribed bandwidth of the foot M3 , as it also use to the M3 MacBook Pro .
With the M3 MacBook Air , though , this cause marginally serious . The M3 model ( whether 13 - inch or 15 - in ) can now officially fend for two external 5 K monitors ( at 60Hz ) , but there ’s a catch . The lid of the MacBook Air ask to be closed . So , the system can still really only hold two video display , as the moment you start the laptop computer , one of the outside monitors will turn off .
It ’s a nice improvement over the M2 , and for some people , it may really solve the problem . If you ’ve always wanted to power a double - monitor workstation apparatus with just a MacBook Air , this will do the antic . If you actually need to use your MacBook Airwiththose two displays , though , you ’ll still have to opt for anM3 Pro or Max MacBook Pro . It ’s one sphere where Windows laptops have a serious advantage over the MacBook Air .
Beyond the two Thunderbolt 3 presentation , you also have a MagSafe 3 charging port on the left side and a headphone jack on the right . It ’s a little frustrating to have all your power admission only the left . Adding one more USB - C would have go a longsighted way .
Beyond ports , the MacBook Air M3 gets updated to Wi - Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 , the latest wireless connection standard .
Display
The 13.6 - inch screen on the M3 MacBook Air I brush up is exactly what you ’d expect it to be . For an entry - level MacBook , it ’s fantastic . super sharp , with a resolve of 2560 x 1664 and pixel density of 224 ppi ( pel per inch ) .
No , it does n’t have the regalia of local dimming zone and faster refresh pace of the MacBook Pro . Of of course not . But for a laptop of this price , the MacBook Air ’s show is enough colorful , with wad of contrast and good enough color accuracy . More than that , Apple is always good about pushing the brightness of these LED screens to the max . My examination with my colorimeter on this one maxed out at 495 nits at full brightness . Color reporting is quite good too , hitting 87 % of AdobeRGB and 99 % of DCI - P3 .
I should say , however , that OLED displays are becoming increasingly usual in this price range . It ’s not the nonremittal , but fellowship like Asus are really moving things forwards , throwing OLEDs even onlaptops under $ 1,000 , like theZenbook 14 . These OLED silver screen have much better contrast , plain , but also better color reporting and much honorable accuracy .
I still think the MacBook Air silver screen is competitory , but it ’s no longer the obvious leader in the category . For object lesson , a Delta - E of 1.24 is still good enough for what you ’d need this laptop computer for , it ’s just not as exact as some of the OLED alternative out there . None of this has changed from the previous theoretical account , of course .
Performance
Like each stride up in Apple Silicon so far , the M3 does n’t provide a huge jump ahead in CPU carrying into action . The M3 is 13 % faster in single - core functioning and 10 % in multi - centre , as test in Cinebench R24 . This is , as you would guess , plausibly not deserving upgrading for nearly anyone . That ’s specially truthful since this is a MacBook Air we ’re talking about , not a MacBook Pro . Those that actually intend to push the MacBook Air beyond some office apps , multitasking , and web browsing , however , may not find a noticeable remainder in CPU public presentation .
I should say , however , a 13 % jumping in undivided - burden execution is pretty telling compared to received gen - over - gen Intel chips . When you ’re already in the lead , another 13 % leap does n’t injure . These are already at the top of their class in single - core performance , and with the M3 , they get slightly faster , and are still well ahead of the competition from Intel or AMD . As look in both Geekbench 6 and Cinebench R24 , the MacBook Air M3 is more in agate line with its competitors in term of multi - core performance rather than out in the lead .
Simpler job like video encoding in Handbrake allow for laptops with participating cooling to whizz along past the M3 MacBook Air . But just check out that musical score in the Pugetbench Premiere Pro bench mark , which test the laptop in all sort of video recording redaction job . The fact that the M3 MacBook Air overreach the XPS 14 — even with its distinct RTX 4050 — is seriously impressive .
A large rationality is due to the improved GPU , which is really the star of the show . With the 10 - core unit I reviewed , the M3 is a whopping 43 % faster than the M2 in nontextual matter , as test in the Cinebench R24 GPU tryout . Much of this is thanks toDynamic Caching , a memory efficiency engineering science first introduced by Apple with the M3 . The result is dramatically enhanced GPU performance that make the M3 stronger in all sorts of undertaking , including picture redaction , 3D modeling , and gambling .
Many of this laptop computer ’s unmediated competition rely on Intel ’s integrated Arc graphic , and irrespective of how much those have improved this year , the M3 remains in the tether .
I did a deeper dive into whether or not theM3 makes the MacBook Air a moderately capable gaming laptop . On the whole , I would n’t say that it does . However , do not grease one’s palms this laptop computer for the design of playact games . However , if you do want to paddle here and there , the M3 MacBook Air can squash out some decent frame of reference charge per unit in even the previous crop of flagship games on the Mac .
I hear playingBaldur ’s Gate 3,Resident Evil 4 , andDeath Stranding Director ’s Cut . All three required some time spent in the setting — tweak resolution , toggling computer graphic preferences , and judge all the upscaling modes to strike a suitable balance wheel between carrying out and visuals . I ’m happy to report that it ’s possible to get 40 frames per 2d ( fps ) to 50 fps in these games without recur to make the plot look like a complete mess .
And that ’s a first for the MacBook Air . Never before has a passively cool organization this thin been able to play games at this level . Remember : play ( or doing anything ) on the MacBook Air is completely silent . Not a peep from the sports fan . And while surface temperatures can certainly elevate during heavier project , they never get uncomfortably hot , even around the keyboard and medal remainder .
Battery life
It ’s no enigma that MacBooks have a killer upper hand over Windows laptops in the battery life department . It ’s just not close , and I have to say that in intimately every laptop followup I do these days , but it ’d be prejudicious to not consider that fact when choose your next laptop . The M3 MacBook Air does n’t change that in any way , still lasting for over 19 and half hours in our light web browsing trial . Now , evidently , using the laptop for actual workplace will drop that by a few hours at least , but remember — this laptop ’s competitors only last for around 7 or 8 time of day on mean in this same test .
Beyond just the advantage of being able to lick away from an outlet for longer , the MacBook Air does n’t lose performance when it ’s not plug in . Running heavy applications might drain your battery faster , but it ’s not going to slack down tasks like it would on a Windows laptop .
Webcam and speakers
The MacBook Air comes with a capable 1080p webcam build into the mountain pass at the top of the concealment and fantastic set of speaker system . It ’s one of thebetter videoconferencing laptopsyou can get at this price , and it ’s not bad for see content on either . However , you should do it that this is one of the few areas where there ’s a notable difference in quality between the 13 - column inch MacBook Air and the 15 - inch MacBook Air . The 13 - inch model only has a four - speaker frame-up , while the 15 - column inch has two extra loudspeaker , match the MacBook Pro .
That does n’t imply the modest Air has hapless speaker unit — not at all . These are still stratum - leading equate to many of this laptop ’s direct competitor . They just do n’t have the full - bodied sound and racy bass that the 15 - in role model is able to produce .
MacBook Air 13-inch vs. MacBook Air 15-inch
If you ’re do on a MacBook Air , there ’s one handsome decision you ’ll have to make : size . When you equate the13 - inch MacBook Air and 15 - inch MacBook Air , you ’ll notice the difference forthwith . In fact , they feel like very different laptops due to how big of a size of it conflict there is between the two . The 15 - inch MacBook Air is a very orotund laptop computer , despite being just as slender as the 13 - inch fashion model . The size of the sieve is significantly crowing , which will be a huge benefit to some and burden to bear around for others .
I would n’t expect much more performance or battery biography with the big model , but it does have better speakers . These thing soundawesome — every bit as impressive as the 14 - column inch MacBooks Pro ’s .
That being said , I conceive the small MacBook Air is not only more affordable but a better burst for what the MacBook Air is trying to be — the ultimate laptop to travel with .
MacBook Air 15-inch vs. MacBook Pro 14-inch
With the launch of the M4 MacBook Pro , you might be tempted by the melioration that just an supernumerary $ 100 buy you . The disruption in price between theMacBook Pro 14 - inch and MacBook Air 15 - inchmakes for a very difficult buying decision . Not only does the MacBook Pro get you good performance thanks to the M4 chip , it also get you a much good screen , dispense more ports , and even a mellow - resolution webcam . The mini - lead screen on the MacBook Pro is unvanquishable and pairs great with the speakers . It ’s the ultimate laptop for keep an eye on movies and shows on .
But the vast regalia of interface also make it a far proficient body of work laptop computer . You ’re not trammel to just two covert like the MacBook Air , even with the ability to connect a 2d international display with the MacBook eyelid closed . The MacBook Pro gives you far more versatility with external monitor support . It even has a higher - solvent 12 - megapixel webcam to edulcorate the deal .
That ’s why I ’d recommend most masses pick up the M4 MacBook Pro over the M3 MacBook Air if you’re able to afford the extra $ 100 or so . You wo n’t repent it . That calculus may change slenderly once the M4 MacBook Air comes out , but justly now , it ’s the practiced purchase .
Is the MacBook Air M3 worth it?
If you ’re upgrading from the M2 , absolutely not . There ’s not nearly enough raw here to make it deserving an acclivity from the M2 MacBook Air . But if you ’re derive from theM1 MacBook Air(or an old MacBook ) , you ’ll be delighted by the M3 MacBook Air . The GPU performance is excellent , and the ability to support two monitor will be a game changer for some , even if it requires maintain the lid closed ( and therefore not using the keyboard or trackpad ) .
If you ’re considering this against many of the comparable Windows laptop in this price chain of mountains , you ’ll again incur that the M3 MacBook Air still outclass those laptops in most ways .
Put simply , the M3 MacBook Air is still one of the verybest laptop computer you’re able to corrupt , and it ’s a solid value for the cost . But if you ’re not someone who will really need the extra GPU performance , you ’re better off saving some money and getting the M2 MacBook Air .
