Why the Apple MacBook Air With M3 Chip Is the Best Laptop Money Can Buy
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Several months after introducing the M3 family of chips alongside the updated MacBook Pros, Apple brought the new silicon to the popular MacBook Air. The latest iteration debuted in early March with a 13- and 15-inch display.
With the latest MacBook Air, Apple followed the same update blueprint it used for the MacBook Pro lineup since giving it a thorough revamp in 2021. This means that the Air sequels have the same design and, except for a chip and connectivity upgrade, similar hardware specs as their M2-toting siblings.
The MacBook Air has deservedly been a consumer favorite and a permanent contender for the best laptop in its class, so the arrival of a new iteration with the most advanced chip in the game is a major event for tech enthusiasts and everyday consumers alike.
Given the identical looks, invisible upgrades, and the availability of the previous MacBook Air with the Apple M2 chip at a lower price, it makes sense to wonder whether the M3 iteration is a must-upgrade. What makes it better? Should you make the jump from the M2 MacBook Air you own to an M3 model?
MacBook Air with M3 chip (13-inch)
amazon.com
$1049.99
MacBook Air Laptop with M3 chip (15-inch)
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$1234.00
With these questions in mind, I spent a couple of weeks testing the new MacBook Air, paying close attention to its everyday performance and battery life. Here's a breakdown:
The M3 Chip Explained
The Apple M3 chip is the most consequential hardware upgrade the new MacBook Air offers. Apple is the first brand to utilize the industry's most advanced 3-nanometer lithography, allowing the core component to deliver welcome improvements in graphics and processing power, along with unparalleled energy efficiency.
The M3 chip has 5 billion more transistors — a hefty 25% increase — than the Apple M2 with 5-nanometer architecture, which makes the new MacBook Air more powerful without having to compromise its battery life. According to Apple, the notebook can provide up to 18 hours of screen-on time between charges.
Compared to the Apple M1 chip, the M3 is significantly more powerful across the board. The 65% bump in graphics power is particularly notable, as it makes the new iteration not only a more capable portable workstation but also a surprisingly mighty gaming rig.
Phenomenal Real-Life Performance
Unsurprisingly, the new MacBook Air is incredibly fast in real life. Opening my go-to daily apps for work (e.g., web browser, Slack, Pixelmator Pro, Apple Pages, Apple Music, etc.) was smooth and instantaneous, as was switching between them. It didn't slow down or become uncomfortably warm while running through this usage pattern, either.
In terms of transparent graphics and processing power, as well as multitasking capabilities, the latest MacBook Air will be the only laptop most consumers will need for years to come. I'd recommend spending more on a MacBook Pro only if you or the person you're shopping for has complex and demanding workflows that would benefit from having more power and an onboard cooling system.
What impressed me most about the M3-equipped MacBook Air was its ability to deliver top-tier gameplay. Its new silicon supports hardware-based ray tracing, allowing it to render more immersive visuals than an M2-equipped model. The ultra-slim notebook had no trouble powering through graphics-intensive titles like GRID Legends and Death Stranding. I played both titles with a Sony DualSense or an Xbox wireless controller for a full-on console-grade experience.
With both gaming titles mentioned above, I enjoyed detail-rich, high-resolution gameplay in complete silence, without pesky fan noise. Cooling fans are mandatory for portable computers that can run such titles, so the feat Apple accomplished is remarkable.
Amazing Battery Life, Once Again
The MacBook Air has the best mixed-use battery life in its class by a huge margin, courtesy of its energy-sipping chip and fanless design. Over a week, I began my workday by unplugging the laptop from its MagSafe charger around 8 am. After spending the day running the apps mentioned above with the screen brightness set just above 50%, I was consistently left with around half charge (give or take 2-3%).
Since the M1 chip arrived in 2020, MacBooks with Apple silicon have thoroughly revamped my expectations about laptop battery life. The latest MacBook Air is no exception. I haven't yet encountered a PC or Chromebook that can match its battery endurance.
The laptop's charging process is easy via its bundled MagSafe cable or a third-party USB-C cord. It supports original and third-party chargers with a power output of 70 watts, so there's an option to up the speed if necessary.
Other Noteworthy Upgrades
Support for a pair of external monitors in clamshell mode is another consequential upgrade the new MacBook Air brings, second only to the Apple M3 chip. The new functionality elevates the notebook's already reliable credentials as a desktop workstation, so upgraders who need such functionality but don't want to spend more on a MacBook Pro should be intrigued.
Speedier Wi-Fi 6E replaces the slightly older Wi-Fi 6 in the M3-equipped MacBook Air variants. The new notebooks delivered superb performance on my compatible home network, as expected.
Wrap-Up
The MacBook Air with the M3 chip is the best new laptop for the money and a no-brainer upgrade option, so long as you haven't recently ordered an M2-equipped model. The latter. is still an excellent product, but you should know the M3 version is better at graphics-intensive tasks and gaming.
If you or the person you want to gift it to is currently using a MacBook with older-generation Apple silicon or another type of laptop, the new MacBook Air should be on top of your upgrade list. Unless you can spend more on a MacBook Pro with more power, a fancier screen, more powerful speakers, and more abundant connectivity features, this is the MacBook to get.
If you're contemplating between the latest MacBook Air and a comparably priced PC laptop for, say, a nicer OLED display with a high refresh rate, keep in mind that none of the alternatives will match the Apple device in portability, speed, and battery life.
I'd recommend the 15-inch Air to multitaskers who need to run apps side by side, as well as anyone who needs a do-everything portable computer. The lightweight 13-inch version is more suitable for on-the-go personalities. Parents should consider either one as a great gift option for students.
Doubling the RAM and storage of every entry-level MacBook Air places its sticker in the same territory as the starter 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 chip. The M3 Pro has the same amount of storage and a much better screen but only 8 GB of RAM. I'd opt for it if multitasking isn't a priority.
The new MacBook Air is available in midnight, starlight, silver, and space gray, with the 13-inch version starting at $1,099 and the big-screen models rocking a $1,299 sticker in entry-level guise. The 2022 version with the Apple M2 silicon now starts at $999 before additional deals and discounts.
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