Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3): A Quick Thttps://www.cnntechzone.com/wo-Minute Review
Apple has officially launched the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3), along with a 15-inch version. Be sure to check out our in-depth review of the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3). So, was it worth the wait?
Apple’s announcement was unexpected, with no event, just a press release to media outlets. Yet, it wasn’t entirely surprising.
Rumors about new MacBook Airs had been circulating. When Apple launched the M3 chip last year, it also introduced new M3-powered MacBook Pros and a new iMac. The absence of a MacBook Air in that launch was noticeable. Many of us assumed (or hoped) that an M3-powered Air would eventually appear. Thankfully, the wait wasn’t long.
Choose your new Apple MacBook Air
Starting at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,799, the latest MacBook Air addresses my main complaint about the previous M2 version: the high starting price. The M2 MacBook Air, launched in 2022, had a noticeably higher base price ($1,199 / £1,249 / AU$1,899). While it remained the best laptop due to design and performance, it didn’t offer the same value as the earlier M1 MacBook Air, which started at $999 / £999 / AU$1,599.
While the base M3 model surprises with its price, it retains 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD like its predecessor. These specs feel inadequate in 2024, especially for a laptop starting just above $1,000.
The configuration I received from Apple doubles the memory and storage to 16GB and 512GB, respectively. It also upgrades GPU cores in the M3 chip over the base model. This makes it a more well-rounded option likely to stay relevant longer. However, it comes at a significantly higher price of $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,399.
Apple’s M3 Chip: Everything We Know
Other than the switch to the M3 chip, the new MacBook Air 13-inch retains the same design as the M2 version, which is a positive as it remains one of the most attractive and portable laptops available. I prefer the 13-inch over the 15-inch model for its ease of portability.
The battery lasted over 14 hours in our tests, highlighting the 13-inch MacBook Air’s suitability for portable use.
Performance-wise, the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) excels in daily tasks like web browsing, media consumption, and content creation tasks like Adobe Photoshop and Ableton Live 11. It handles multitasking smoothly without freezing or crashing, thanks to its fan-less design.
While not a radical redesign like the M2, the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) is a solid update offering improved performance at a lower price. It’s easily recommended as the top laptop choice currently available.