The anticipation has ended! Just hours after much speculation, Apple revealed its long-awaited updated MacBook Air series, now equipped with the M3 chip, available in both 13-inch and 15-inch variants. Breaking from tradition, Apple opted for a press release instead of a traditional launch event to introduce its latest Mac offerings.
Pre-orders for the new M3 MacBook Air models are open today, and shipments are set to begin as soon as March 8. Explore the full specifications and availability information below.
M3 MacBook Air: Specifications and Features
The freshly released 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air boasts a sleek and lightweight design crafted from durable aluminium. Powered by the M3 processor, these new Apple laptops offer a balance of efficient performance and mobility. Apple promises top-tier performance and up to 18 hours of battery life with the new Air models.
Regarding specifications, the M3 MacBook Air features an enhanced 8-core CPU, a GPU with up to 10 cores, and 24GB of unified memory. Notably, Apple dubs the new M3 MacBook Air as the “world’s best consumer laptop for AI,” attributing this to its faster 16-core Neural Engine. These latest M3 Macs deliver up to a 60% speed boost compared to the previous M1 MacBook Air models.
A standout feature of the new M3 MacBook Air is its ability to support up to two external displays, a significant improvement over the single display capability of previous Apple Silicon Macs. It’s worth noting that this feature is only functional when the laptop lid is closed.
Now, you can create a MacBook Air workstation with two external displays, but the laptop must be in clamshell mode for this setup. When you open the lid, the screen activates, allowing access to only one active external display, similar to previous M1 and M2 Macs.
In addition to the M3 chip, the new MacBook Air includes Wi-Fi 6E support, providing Wi-Fi performance up to twice as fast. It also features Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum microphone modes, ensuring exceptional voice clarity for audio and video calls.
In terms of design, the M3 MacBook Air closely resembles the M2 model, sporting a flat-edged chassis and a slim-bezel screen with a notch housing a 1080p FaceTime camera. Additionally, it includes a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID integrated into the power button.
M3 MacBook Air: Price and Availability
The 13-inch MacBook Air featuring the M3 chip starts at $1,099, with a student price of $999. Meanwhile, the 15-inch M3 Air model begins at $1,299, with a student price of $1,199. It’s reassuring to observe Apple maintaining the same price points as the discounted previous M2 models.
The new M3 MacBook Air is available in four stunning colour choices: Midnight, Starlight, Space Grey, and Silver. Pre-orders for both the 13-inch and 15-inch models are now open on the Apple online store, with shipping slated to begin on March 8.
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