Apple has launched the all-new MacBook Air with M3 chip. Whereas retaining the identical fashionable, slim design of the M2 MacBook Air, the newest iteration comes with plenty of enhancements along with the extra highly effective Apple Silicon. Right here’s how the M3 MacBook Air vs M2 evaluate.
Background
The 13″ MacBook Air received a giant redesign in the summertime of 2022 with the M2 chip, a bigger 13.6-inch show, flat-edged chassis, new midnight shade, upgraded webcam, and way more.
Then the 15″ MacBook Air arrived in summer time of 2023 with the good options of its smaller sibling however with just a few enhancements.
Now to start out 2024, each the 13 and 15″ MacBook Air have been up to date on the identical time with the M3 chip. Let’s dig into what’s new and improved!
M3 MacBook Air vs M2 MacBook Air
TL;DR
- Sooner and extra succesful M3 chip
- Assist for as much as 2 exterior shows (with MacBook Air lid closed)
- Sooner wi-fi connectivty with Wi-Fi 6E
- New 3-mic array with Voice Isolation and Broad Spectrum microphone modes,
and Enhanced voice readability in audio and video calls - New Anodization seal for the midnight end to cut back fingerprints
Learn on under for the nitty gritty particulars 😁.
CPU, GPU, Reminiscence, extra
Right here’s how the primary specs evaluate:
| 13″ M3 MBA | 13″ M2 MBA | 15″ M3 MBA | 15″ M2 MBA | |
| CPU | M3 – 8-core | M2 – 8-core | M3 – 8-core | M2 – 8-core |
| Storage | As much as 2TB | As much as 2TB | As much as 2TB | As much as 2TB |
| RAM | 8, 16, or 24GB | 8, 16, or 24GB | 8, 16, or 24GB | 8, 16, or 24GB |
| Graphics | As much as 10-core | As much as 10-core | 10-core | 10-core |
| Neural engine | 16-core | 16-core | 16-core | 16-core |
| FaceTime digicam | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Audio system | 4-speaker system with large sound | 4-speaker system with large sound | 6-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers, large sound | 6-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers, large sound |
| Mics | 3-mic array with Voice Isolation and Broad Spectrum microphone modes, Enhanced voice readability in audio and video calls |
3-mic array | 3-mic array with Voice Isolation and Broad Spectrum microphone modes, Enhanced voice readability in audio and video calls |
3-mic array |
| Thermal administration | Fanless | Fanless | Fanless | Fanless |
Apple says the M3 MacBook Air is “as much as 60 % sooner than the mannequin with M1 and as much as 13x sooner than the quickest Intel-based MacBook Air.”
And as detailed in the course of the M3 MacBook Professional launch, the M3 chip has effectivity cores as much as 30% sooner than the M2 household, and as much as 50% sooner than the M1 household.
For efficiency cores, the M3 household is 15 and 30% sooner than M2 and M1, respectively.
Plus Apple says rendering on M3 is as much as 1.8x sooner than M2 and as much as 2.5x sooner than M1.
Apple additionally beforehand highlighted that the M3 chips symbolize the “Largest leap ahead in graphics structure” with Dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and hardware-accelerated mesh shading.
Forward of Apple AI information which may be unveiled later this 12 months, the corporate the M3 MacBook Air is “the world’s finest client laptop computer for AI“.
Show
Specs stay the identical for the shows of each the 13 and 15″ M3 MacBook Air laptops vs the M2 fashions:
| 13″ M3 MBA | 13″ M2 MBA | 15″ M3 MBA | 15″ M2 MBA | |
| Precise display screen measurement | 13.6-inch | 13.6-inch | 15.3-inch | 15.3-inch |
| Decision | 2560 x 1664 | 2560 x 1664 | 2880 x 1864 | 2880 x 1864 |
| Side Ratio | 16:10 + notch | 16:10 + notch | 16:10 + notch | 16:10 + notch |
| PPI | 224 | 224 | 224 | 224 |
| Nits (brightness) | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Liquid Retina Show | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| ProMotion (as much as 120Hz) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| True Tone | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| P3 large shade | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
MacBook Air I/O
A notable limitation for all the MacBook Air fashions up till now has been assist for just one exterior show as much as 6K at 60Hz.
This has modified with the M3 MacBook Air fashions providing assist for two exterior shows when the laptop computer is closed.
One other enhancements is Wi-Fi 6E with the brand new M3 laptops.
| | 13″ M3 MBA | 13″ M2 MBA | 15″ M3 MBA | 15″ M2 MBA |
| Magic Keyboard | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Contact ID | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| USB-C 4/Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Headphone jack | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| HDMI | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| SDXC card reader | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| MagSafe charging | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Exterior show assist | 2 exterior shows with as much as 6K at 60Hz for 1 and 5K at 60Hz for the 2nd when MacBook Air lid is closed | 1 exterior show with as much as 6K at 60Hz | 2 exterior shows with as much as 6K at 60Hz for 1 and 5K at 60Hz for the 2nd when MacBook Air lid is closed | 1 exterior show with as much as 6K at 60Hz |
Dimension, weight, and end
Dimensions stay the identical between the M3 and M2 MacBook Air fashions.
At 11.5 mm (0.45 inch), the 15″ MacBook Air is barely thicker than the 13″ mannequin which is available in at 11.3 mm (0.44 inch).
One fascinating replace, Apple is now utilizing a brand new anodization seal on the midnight mannequin that ought to assist cut back fingerprints:
| 13″ M3 MBA | 13″ M2 MBA | 15″ M3 MBA | 15″ M2 MBA | |
| Weight | 2.7 kilos (1.24 kg) | 2.7 kilos (1.24 kg) | 3.3 kilos (1.29 kg) | 3.3 kilos (1.29 kg) |
| Thickness | 0.44 in. (1.13 cm) | 0.44 in. (1.13 cm) | 0.45 in. (1.15 cm) | 0.45 in. (1.15 cm) |
| Width | 11.97 in. (30.41 cm) | 11.97 in. (30.41 cm) | 13.40 in. (34.04 cm) | 13.40 in. (34.04 cm) |
| Depth | 8.46 in. (21.5 cm) | 8.46 in. (21.5 cm) | 9.35 in. (23.76 cm) | 9.35 in. (23.76 cm) |
| Show measurement | 13.6 in. | 13.6 in. | 15.3 in. | 15.3 in. |
| Finishes | Silver, house grey, starlight, midnight | Silver, house grey, starlight, midnight | Silver, house grey, starlight, midnight | Silver, house grey, starlight, midnight |
Battery life
Battery life stays the identical with the M3 MacBook Air fashions – a stable score of as much as 18 hours.
Each the 13 and 15″ M3 MacBook Air are rated for:
- As much as 18 hours of video playback (with the Apple TV app)
- As much as 15 hours of wi-fi net
Apple describes it as a “battery that goes all day.”
For capability, the 13-inch has a 52.6-watt‑hour lithium‑polymer battery. And the 15-inch makes use of a 66.5-watt‑hour lithium‑polymer battery.
Pricing
The brand new M3 MacBook Air fashions include the identical beginning costs because the earlier era. That’s $1,099 base for the 13″ M3 MacBook Air and $1,299 for the 15″ M3 MacBook Air.
The M2 MacBook Air stays within the lineup with a value minimize – $999 for the bottom mannequin.
Customary fashions for the MacBook Air are 256GB SSD/8GB reminiscence and 512GB SSD/8GB reminiscence, and 512GB SSD/16GB reminiscence. Fashions with 24GB reminiscence and storage as much as 2TB for the MacBook Air are customized orders.
M3 MacBook Air vs M2 conclusion
Whereas the M3 MacBook Air machines don’t include a number of modifications, the improved chip, sooner WiFi, and upgrades like assist for 2 exterior shows are welcome enhancements to what Apple says is the “world’s hottest laptop computer.”
If you happen to’re on the fence between the 13 and 15″ fashions, the primary distinction aside from the display screen sizes and bigger type issue is the 15″ Air has the upgraded 6-speaker sound system whereas the 13″ has the 4-speaker system.
You will get the M3 MacBook Air now from Apple and shortly from Amazon, Greatest Purchase, and extra.
Prime picture by 9to5Mac/Apple, all others through Apple
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