Apple’s latest unveiling brings a fresh breeze into the MacBook Air lineup with the introduction of new models powered by the impressive M3 chip, starting at $1,099. While the design remains the same as the previous M2-powered model, M3 provides a significant improvement in performance – even more so for those upgrading from an M1 model or older.
Speaking of which, the M1 model is no longer available, while the M2 version remains in the lineup with a lower $999 entry price. That’s a really good deal.
Multiple monitors
A notable upgrade with the latest MacBook Air is its enhanced external display support. Users can now connect to two external monitors, albeit only while docked in clamshell mode. This improvement broadens the MacBook Air’s versatility, though it still trails behind the capabilities once boasted by the older Intel models – those could link up to two external displays even while using the built-in display as a third.
Game mode
The new MacBook Air promises an enriched gaming experience, powered by macOS Sonoma’s Game Mode, which optimizes performance for immersive gameplay. Titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Death Stranding are set to benefit from this, ensuring gamers can experience high frame rates and reduced latency when using Bluetooth controllers. Despite the impressive thermal cooling in MacBook Air, we still wouldn’t recommend playing on a cushioned surface as seen below!
Availability
As for pricing and availability, the new M3 MacBook Air offers perhaps the value of Apple’s entire Mac range, most of which is also running M3 these days. The 13-inch model starts at $1,099, while the 15-inch version begins at $1,299, both available for order today from Apple’s website and hitting the shelves from Friday, March 8. Both are available in midnight, starlight, silver, and space grey.
For the full specifications, check out Apple’s press release.