If the river makes noise, it’s because the water is flowing. We started the week knowing that Apple was about to launch new products and we already have at least the first two: MacBook Air updated with M3 chip. As expected, there was no event, but the company presented them through a press release.
These new computers can be booked now, although it will still take a few days for them to go on sale. They have the same essence as previous models, but with interesting new features in terms of hardware.
MacBook Air M3 (2024) data sheet
MACBOOK AIR (13″) M3 |
MACBOOK AIR (15″) M3 |
|
---|---|---|
SCREEN |
13.6-inch “Liquid Retina” PS LCD display 2650 x 1664p resolution 500 nits 60Hz refresh rate True Tone Technology |
15.3-inch “Liquid Retina” PS LCD display 2880 x 1864p resolution 500 nits 60Hz refresh rate True Tone Technology |
PROCESSOR |
Apple M3 |
Apple M3 |
RAM MEMORY |
8 GB / 16 GB / 24 GB |
8 GB / 16 GB / 24 GB |
STORAGE |
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB |
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB |
HER |
Four speakers Spatial audio Dolby Atmos Triple microphone with directional beamforming technology |
Four speakers Spatial audio Dolby Atmos Triple microphone with directional beamforming technology |
CAMERA |
1.080p HD |
1.080p HD |
CONNECTIVITY |
A MagSafe 2.0 connector Two USB 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports A 3.5mm headphone jack |
A MagSafe 2.0 connector Two USB 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports A 3.5mm headphone jack |
AUTONOMY |
Until 6 p.m. |
Until 6 p.m. |
SOFTWARE |
macOS 14.4 Sonoma |
macOS 14.4 Sonoma |
COLORS |
Midnight / Gold / Space Gray / Silver |
Midnight / Gold / Space Gray / Silver |
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT |
Alto: 1.13 centimeters Ancho: 30.41 centimeters Down: 21.5 centimeters Weight: 1.24 kilograms |
Alto: 1.15 centimeters Ancho: 34.04 centimeters Down: 23.76 centimeters Weight: 1.51 kilograms |
PRECIO |
From 1,299 dollars |
From 1,599 dollars |
Lightweight design, although identical to the previous generation
If we put a MacBook Air M3 and a MacBook Air M2 side by side, don’t try to find differences because they don’t have any. The 13 and 15 inch models They share aesthetics with the previous generationwhich had already been renewed.
As it stands, we find 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch IPS panels with notch and identical FullHD resolutions, as well as a refresh rate of 60 Hz which, as is the case on the iPhone, 120 Hz seems to be reserved only for “Pro”.
The design idea is that these computers represent slimming at its bestthus leaving a body that, when the laptop is closed, barely exceeds 1.13 millimeters in the 13-inch model and 1.15 in the 15-inch model.
The keyboard mechanism also doesn’t change and is recognizable as a Magic Keyboard, leaving the highly controversial butterfly keyboards that caused so many problems as a thing of the (very past) past. Yet, The fingerprint sensor remains on the upper right key to act as Touch ID when requested by the system (to make payments or simply unlock the device).
“The MacBook Air remains the world’s best consumer laptop for AI”
The news is inside, starting with the M3 chip that we’ve already seen debut in November with the M3 iMac and M3 MacBook Pro. This is a SoC which, according to Apple in its presentation, is 15% faster than M2 and up to 60% faster than M1. It has 25 billion transistors, an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU.
And the phrase we underline in reference to artificial intelligence It is taken from the same Apple press release, it is a real statement of intent and partly a reference to the 16-core neural engine it has. It’s also a possible nod to what’s coming in macOS 15, in line with Cook’s comments about Apple’s future in AI.
Regarding unified memory, there is options up to 24 GB, although they still start at 8GB (and with the option of an intermediate 16GB). Something new is coming storage from 256 GB, something that many users have been asking to increase for years and ultimately it didn’t happen. Likewise, there are also 512GB options, as well as 1 and 2TB (and if you pay the extra, of course).
The battery is once again one of the strong points
Regarding the battery, Apple is faithful to its custom of not specifying the capacity, although it provides this data regarding autonomy in specific uses for both devices:
- Until 3 p.m. in web browsing.
- Until 6 p.m. in video playback in the ‘Apple TV’ application.
It is precisely with regard to batteries that Apple offers up to three types of power adapters. On the one hand, a 30 W for the basic models with an 8-core CPU and GPU, while those that already have a 10-core GPU give the possibility of obtaining at the same price a model with two USB -C of 35 W. ports or a 70W with a single port (the latter is the only option on the most advanced models).
Price and availability of the new MacBook Air M3 (2024)
These new MacBook Air M3 can be booked from today via the Apple website. Of course, his official departure will not take place until this date. Friday March 8this will be the time when the first buyers will start receiving them and they will also be available in stores.
13-inch MacBook Air M3 – from 1,299 dollars
- M3 chip with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU
- 8 GB of memory
- 16 GB of memory +230 dollars
- 24 GB of memory +460 dollars
- 256 GB of storage
- 1 TB of storage +230 dollars
- 2 TB of storage +690 dollars
- 30W power adapter
- Final Cut Pro +349.99 dollars
- Pro Logic +229.99 dollars
13-inch MacBook Air M3 – from 1,529 dollars
- M3 chip with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU
- 8 GB of memory
- 16 GB of memory +230 dollars
- 24 GB of memory +460 dollars
- 512 GB of storage
- 1 TB of storage +230 dollars
- 2 TB of storage +690 dollars
- Power adapter with two 35W USB-C ports or 70W USB-C power adapter
- Final Cut Pro +349.99 dollars
- Pro Logic +229.99 dollars
MacBook Air M3 15 inches – from 1,599 dollars
- M3 chip with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU
- 8 GB of memory
- 16 GB of memory +230 dollars
- 24 GB of memory +460 dollars
- 256 GB of storage
- 1 TB of storage +230 dollars
- 2 TB of storage +690 dollars
- 30W power adapter
- Final Cut Pro +349.99 dollars
- Pro Logic +229.99 dollars
13-inch MacBook Air M3 – from 1,829 dollars
- M3 chip with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU
- 8 GB of memory
- 16 GB of memory +230 dollars
- 24 GB of memory +460 dollars
- 512 GB of storage
- 1 TB of storage +230 dollars
- 2 TB of storage +690 dollars
- Power adapter with two 35W USB-C ports or 70W USB-C power adapter
- Final Cut Pro +349.99 dollars
- Pro Logic +229.99 dollars
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