As expected, Apple today unveiled the next generation of MacBook Air with the M3 chip. Unlike the last generation with the M2, the company is updating both the 13-inch and 15-inch sizes with the M3 chip together.
Apple says the M3 MacBook Air is up to 60 percent faster than the M1 model. The new MacBook Air also includes support for two external displays when the lid is closed, and WiFi speeds that are twice as fast as the previous generation with the M2 chip thanks to WiFi 6E support.
The M3 MacBook Air comes in four colors – Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver. Apple says the Midnight finish now features a “breakthrough anodization seal” that limits the appearance of fingerprints much like the Space Black finish of the M3 MacBook Pro.
The 3-nanometer M3 chip on the new MacBook Air includes an 8-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU, in addition to up to 24GB of unified memory. The GPU also supports hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing, and the AV1 decoder provides a more efficient video streaming experience with supported codecs. The new 16-core Neural Engine makes the new MacBook Air the “world’s best consumer laptop for AI.” The laptops also feature an improved three-microphone array for enhanced voice clarity on calls.
MacBook Air is our most popular and loved Mac, with more customers choosing it over any other laptop. And today it gets even better with the M3 chip and new capabilities. From college students pursuing their degrees, to business users who need powerful productivity, or anyone who simply wants the unmatched combination of performance, portability, and industry-leading battery life, all in a fanless design, the new MacBook Air continues to be the world’s best thin and light laptop.
Greg Joswiak – Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing
The M3 MacBook Air is available for customers to pre-order today and will be available for purchase and delivery from Friday, March 8. The 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,099, whereas the 15-inch model will retail at $1,299. Apple also says that the previous-generation 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip is available for customers starting at $999.
