This machine delivers the same sleek design and portability, with a mightier M3 processor. But is it worth the upgrade?
The Good | The Not So Good |
Impressive everyday performance. Vibrant display. Reliable battery longevity. Featherweight design. Accommodates two external displays. Equipped with Wi-Fi 6E. Midnight hue with fingerprint-resistant anodized finish. | Limited port selection. Base memory capacity needs a boost. Dual external display functionality is restricted to when the Air is shut. |
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip
It’s fair to say that the 13-inch MacBook Air may have peaked in design. Apple's revamp of its lightweight laptop in 2022 left little room for improvement. It introduced contemporary features such as MagSafe charging and a 1080p webcam, along with a sleek chassis that seamlessly integrated it into the premium Pro lineup, justifying the price hike. While it's logical for Apple to stick with the same external design, the focus now shifts to enhancing its internal components.
In this instance, Apple has upgraded the 13-inch MacBook Air with an M3 chip. Unveiled in October, it represents the latest addition to Apple's lineup of entry-level chipsets in its recent batch of M-series processors.
The company has introduced a couple of fresh features, including the ability to support two external displays and Wi-Fi 6E for doubled Wi-Fi speeds. However, aside from these additions, everything else remains unchanged from the previous version—including the battery life, which Apple claims can last up to 18 hours.
Despite these incremental improvements, the pricing remains consistent with its predecessor. The base model starts at $1,099, while the fully equipped model will set you back $1,699. Additionally, Apple continues to offer the M2-powered MacBook Air for $999, which still offers commendable performance.
Irrespective of the chipset you opt for, both models retain their lightweight design and are perfect for productivity on the move. Nevertheless, with the inclusion of the M3 chip, this new iteration now stands as the most potent MacBook Air available.
Proven and Reliable
If you haven't acquainted yourself with the redesign of the previous-generation 13-inch MacBook Air (rated 7/10, ProductPulse Recommends), you're unlikely to find the same features in the current version either. It boasts a square chassis instead of the previous wedge design, a larger and brighter 13.6-inch LCD panel with a 60-Hz refresh rate, and a 1080p webcam discreetly positioned within the notch atop the screen. Moreover, it maintains the same weight at 2.7 pounds and includes a four-speaker sound system alongside a three-microphone array.
The port selection remains unchanged as well, featuring a MagSafe charging port, two USB 4/Thunderbolt ports, and a 3.5-mm headphone jack. Ordinarily, the limited ports wouldn't be a concern for me, as I primarily use the MacBook for tasks such as writing, emailing, video calls, and content streaming. However, the limitation becomes apparent when connecting to two external monitors (more details on this later) since all ports are occupied. It would have been preferable to have at least one additional USB-C port to accommodate the newfound capability of connecting to an extra monitor.
The available color options are consistent as well: Starlight, Midnight, Space Gray, and Silver. I received the Midnight variant from Apple. Notably, Midnight is the only color option that comes with an anodization seal—a special treatment intended to reduce fingerprint smudges.
Apple debuted this feature last year with the M3 Pro and M3 Max-powered 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models in Space Black. It's essential to emphasize that the keyword here is "reduce," meaning it doesn't offer complete protection against smudges. In my experience, it does a reasonably good job. While occasional prints are still visible, particularly in sunlight, I find myself reaching for the microfiber cloth less frequently compared to the Starlight color option. However, it's worth noting that dust is more noticeable on such a dark shade.
Internal Innovations
To delve into the distinctive features of the MacBook Air, we must turn our attention inward. Unlike the MacBook Pro, where you can select from various M3 chips, the 13-inch MacBook Air offers only the base M3. This chipset is crafted using a 3-nanometer process technology, a step ahead of the M1 and M2, which employ 5-nanometer processes. This upgrade yields significant enhancements in core CPU functions, graphics rendering, and machine intelligence. Notable features include ray tracing and mesh shading for graphics-intensive applications and games, along with dynamic caching, which optimizes memory allocation for tasks, ensuring efficient utilization.
Each configuration is furnished with an 8-core CPU, with the option to choose between an 8-core or 10-core GPU. Opting for the 8-core CPU and GPU grants 8 GB of unified memory and 256 GB of storage, while the 10-core model offers 8 GB of memory and 512 GB of storage. Further customization allows for upgrades up to 24 GB of unified memory and 2 TB of storage for an additional fee. Notably, selecting 16 GB of memory or more and 512 GB of storage or higher automatically upgrades to the 10-core GPU. The MacBook Air provided by Apple for review boasts an 8-core CPU, a 10-core GPU, 16 GB of memory, and 512 GB of storage.
Performance is exceptionally smooth for everyday tasks. Even with around 60 tabs open in Google Chrome across three windows and multiple background apps such as Slack, iMessage, Spotify, and Telegram, the device exhibited no signs of slowdown. Moreover, it remained comfortably warm to the touch.
To test its limits, I opened an additional 10 tabs. While the MacBook showed some strain, it didn't reach the point of freezing or necessitate closing tabs or force-quitting apps. This can be attributed to the increased RAM. As with previous models, I continue to recommend upgrading to 16 GB of RAM if feasible. Apple should consider phasing out the 8 GB memory option and elevating the base model accordingly.
One particularly welcomed change is the ability to utilize two external displays, with support for one display at up to 6K resolution and another at up to 5K resolution, both at 60 Hz. Unlike M1 and M2 Macs, which only support a single monitor, this feature significantly enhances productivity.
Both iterations of the MacBook Air are equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, offering download speeds twice as fast as the M2-powered Air. However, to leverage this capability, a Wi-Fi 6E router is required. Additionally, while battery life remains at a claimed 15 hours of wireless web browsing, real-world performance showed slight improvement over the M2-powered model, requiring less frequent charging during the workday.
The base MacBook Air includes a 30-watt power adapter, with the option to upgrade to a dual 35-watt or 70-watt USB-C power adapter for an additional $20. The latter enables fast charging of up to 50% in half an hour. Customers opting for higher storage capacities can choose between the 35-watt or 70-watt charger at no extra cost.
Purchase Only if Necessary
The 13-inch MacBook Air stands as an impressive machine, boasting all the beloved features of its predecessor along with Apple's swiftest entry-level chip, the M3. However, this doesn't imply a mandatory purchase. I'd advise considering it solely if you're upgrading from an older Intel model or an M1, seeking to harness the exclusive capabilities of the M3 for handling moderately demanding tasks like coding, basic photo and video editing, and light gaming.
For those whose needs align with everyday tasks such as web browsing, email correspondence, and spreadsheet use, the M2-powered 13-inch MacBook Air offers ample power. Given its relatively recent release, it remains highly efficient. Additionally, while Apple introduced a new 15-inch version with the M3 chip, boasting identical features to its smaller counterpart but with a larger display, the M2 model (rated 8/10, WIRED Recommends) debuted less than a year ago, making it a more prudent choice, particularly when it's discounted.
Having transitioned from an M2 version to testing the M3 MacBook Air, I struggled to discern any notable difference (Apple also claims the M3 is only 20 percent faster than the M2). Moreover, the M2 model presents a more budget-friendly option. Apple has slashed its price by $100, bringing it down to $999.
While its predecessor was a clear winner due to its comprehensive overhaul both internally and externally, the decision to invest in the M3-powered 13-inch MacBook Air is more nuanced. I recommend it primarily for users upgrading from much older laptops who also seek the latest chip for discernible performance enhancements. Otherwise, the now more affordable M2 MacBook Air remains a dependable choice.
Macbook Air 13-Inch M3 (2024)
Macbook Air 13-Inch M2 (2022)
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