The MacBook Air now features an M3 upgrade
Experience heightened performance with the MacBook Air's latest M3 upgrade, delivering advanced capabilities and efficiency.
Apple has unveiled two new MacBook Air models equipped with M3 processors. According to Apple, these 13- and 15-inch laptops deliver performance improvements of "up to 60 percent" compared to the M1 MacBook Air and boast a battery life of up to 18 hours. Both devices are available for pre-order starting today and will begin shipping on Friday, March 8th.
The 13-inch MacBook Air is priced at $1,099, while the 15-inch model comes in at $1,299. Both models feature a Liquid Retina display with a brightness of up to 500 nits and support for up to two external displays when closed. Additionally, they include an enhanced Wi-Fi 6E for support in the 6GHz band, leading to faster download speeds. The M3 MacBook Air versions are equipped with MagSafe charging and two Thunderbolt ports. The 13-inch M2 variant of the laptop will remain available at a reduced price of $999.Equipped with the M3 chip, these laptops present an enhanced 16-core Neural Engine, capable of running optimized AI models, along with an integrated GPU supporting mesh shading and ray tracing, as stated by Apple. The latest MacBooks come with a 1080p FaceTime camera, three microphones, and compatibility with spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. Notably, both devices have a thickness of less than half an inch.The entry-level 13-inch MacBooks will be supplied with a 30W USB-C power adapter, while most upgraded variants offer either a 35W dual-port charger or a 70W adapter. For an additional $20, you can upgrade the 256GB storage version to include a 35W dual-port adapter or a 70W adapter. It's worth noting that the 2022 13-inch model had a 67W charger option, and based on our experience, opting for a more powerful charger was beneficial.
Both models come with 8GB of RAM, but upgrading to 16GB costs an extra $200, and 24GB comes at a cost of $400. Storage options can also be expanded, with an upgrade from the base 256GB SSD to 512GB costing $200, 1TB for $400, and 2TB for $800.
Similar to the M2 MacBook Air released in 2022, the M3 models feature a Magic Keyboard with a full-height function row and Touch ID. The new M3 MacBook Airs are available in four colors: starlight, space gray, silver, and midnight. The midnight color incorporates an anodization seal designed to reduce fingerprints, addressing a common issue with the previous midnight option prone to smudges.
