M3 MacBook Air vs M2 MacBook Air: Which should you buy?
The new MacBook Air is here with an M3 chip underneath, but how does it compare to the M2 MacBook Air? Read on as we pit both MacBook Airs against each other.
Apple has quietly announced the M3 MacBook Air through a press release. The new MacBook Airs didn’t receive a grand launch event like the M3 MacBook Pro. However, they did get new features and a chipset upgrade.
The new M3 chip gives the MacBook Air wings. They are now more powerful than ever, with Apple quoting a 60% performance increase as compared to M1 MacBook Airs. This is a no-brainer when considering a two-generation leap, but what about the M2 MacBook Air? Is the difference still that significant?
The M3 MacBook Air brings some welcome upgrades on top of a new chipset. But are these upgrades big enough for you to pick the M3 MacBook Air over the M2 MacBook Air? We aim to find out.
MacBook Air M3 vs M2: Design & display
There are no changes in the M3 MacBook Air’s design. You put it side by side with the M2 MacBook Air and we doubt you’ll be able to tell the difference. The color options are also the same (Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and Space Gray) and so are the weight and dimensions.
One difference that we do want to point out is the anodization seal on the midnight color that reduces fingerprints. Everything else is the same.
The display hasn’t changed either. The 13-inch M3 MacBook Air still sports a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2,560 x 1,664-pixel resolution, 500 nits of brightness, P3 color support, and True Tone. The 15-inch model keeps its 2,880 x 1,864-pixel display with the same 500 nits brightness, P3 color support, and True Tone.
However, Apple has now added support for two external displays when the laptop’s lid is closed. The M1 and M2 MacBook Airs and even the M3 MacBook Pro can only connect a single external display. This can be one of the reasons why you’d want to get the M3 MacBook Air over any other MacBook.
MacBook Air M3 vs M2: Performance
AppleIf you had enough reading everything that’s similar between the M3 and M3 MacBook Air, performance will be a breath of fresh air. Apple introduced its new M3 chip late in 2023. While the MacBook Pros get three variants of the chip— M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Pro, the MacBook Airs get only the M3 chip.
It has an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. Apple touts big improvements when compared to M1 chip. The improvements are huge even in comparison to the M2 chip.
A benchmark on Geekbench 5, spotted by MySmartPrice, shows a 15-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip and 16GB of RAM scoring 3,157 for single-core and 12,020 for multi-core.
That’s a nice jump compared to the M2 chip in the previous MacBook Air (also with 16GB of RAM). The M2 scored 2,610 for single-core and 10,120 for multi-core. So, the M3 chip is roughly 20% faster on single-core tasks and 18% faster on multi-core tasks. This bump in performance puts it in line with the M3 MacBook Pros.
M3 chip also includes a faster and more efficient 16-core Neural Engine, which makes the new MacBook Air the “world’s best consumer laptop for AI,” according to Apple.
MacBook Air M3 vs M2: Specs
| Specifications | M3 MacBook Air | M2 MacBook Air |
| Display | 13-inch/ 15-inch | 13-inch/ 15-inch |
| Processor | M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU | M2, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU |
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD camera | 1080p FaceTime HD camera |
| Ports | Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 | Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 |
| Unified memory | Up to 24GB | Up to 24GB |
| Storage | 256GB SSD configurable to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB | 256GB SSD configurable to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $999 |
Overall, the M3 MacBook Air brings decent upgrades. You also get support for faster Wi-Fi 6E tech as well as improved microphones. “Users will sound their best with a three-mic array and enhanced voice clarity on audio and video calls,” says the company.
The battery life remains the same on the new MacBook Air and so do the I/O options, which include a MagSafe charging port, two Thunderbolt ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
MacBook Air M3 vs M2: Price
AppleThe base 13-inch M3 MacBook Air starts from $1,099 with 8 GB Unified memory and 256 GB storage, while going for the 512GB option would cost your wallet $100 more. If you want 16GB RAM, you’ll pay $1,299 for the 13-inch model with 512GB storage. The 13-inch M2 Macbook Air (256GB, 8GB RAM) starts at $999.
The 15-inch MacBook Air with an M3 chip starts at $1,299 with 8 GB Unified memory and 256 GB storage. You can grab the 512GB version for $1,499. The 15-inch M3 MacBook Air with 16 GB Unified memory, and 512GB storage will be available for $1,699.
Which MacBook Air should you get?
The M3 MacBook Air isn’t an earth-shattering upgrade over the M2 MacBook Air. We believe the latter is still the best option for most people.
It wouldn’t be a wise decision to ditch the M2 MacBook Air you already have for the M3 model unless the performance difference really matters to you. The M3 MacBook Air is for those who are coming from an older MacBook Air, such as the M1 model, or from an Intel-powered laptop.
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