Here's the Thing about the M3 Macbook Air...

Marques Brownlee・2 minutes read

The new MacBook Air update introduces the M3 chip for improved performance, especially in graphics, and offers noticeable enhancements in applications and rendering. Despite the performance improvements, the higher pricing for upgrades above the base model may make the M2 or M1 models a more cost-effective option for users engaging in basic tasks.

Insights

  • The new MacBook Air update introduces an anodization for a slightly more fingerprint-resistant look, but it is not significantly effective, prompting users to consider a Dbrand skin for better fingerprint concealment.
  • The M3 chip in the updated MacBook Air offers enhanced performance, particularly in graphics with ray tracing capabilities, and addresses storage speed concerns from the previous model, making it a more capable machine for tasks like video editing and gaming, although the increased pricing for upgrades may impact overall recommendation.

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Recent questions

  • What are the key updates in the new MacBook Air?

    The new MacBook Air update features a new anodization on the exterior for a slightly more fingerprint-resistant look and the introduction of the M3 chip.

  • Does the new anodization on the MacBook Air reduce fingerprints significantly?

    The anodization on the MacBook Air's exterior does not significantly reduce fingerprints, making a skin from Dbrand a better option for hiding fingerprints effectively.

  • What are the performance improvements of the M3 chip in the MacBook Air?

    The M3 chip, part of Apple's third-generation Apple silicon, offers improved performance, especially in graphics, and introduces ray tracing for noticeable enhancements in applications and rendering.

  • How does the base storage on the M3 MacBook Air compare to the M2 model?

    The base storage on the M3 MacBook Air has seen significant improvements compared to the M2 model, addressing concerns about slower storage speeds.

  • Is the new MacBook Air worth the upgrade over the M2 model?

    Despite the performance improvements of the M3 chip, the new MacBook Air is not as easy to recommend due to the lowered price of the M2 model by $100 and the discontinuation of the M1 model.

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Summary

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New MacBook Air Update: M3 Chip Upgrade

  • The new MacBook Air update includes a new anodization on the outside for a slightly more fingerprint-resistant look and the introduction of the M3 chip.
  • The anodization on the MacBook Air's exterior does not significantly reduce fingerprints, making a skin from Dbrand a better option for hiding fingerprints effectively.
  • The M3 chip, part of Apple's third-generation Apple silicon, offers improved performance, especially in graphics, and introduces ray tracing for noticeable enhancements in applications and rendering.
  • The base storage on the M3 MacBook Air has seen significant improvements compared to the M2 model, addressing concerns about slower storage speeds.
  • Despite the performance improvements of the M3 chip, the new MacBook Air is not as easy to recommend due to the lowered price of the M2 model by $100 and the discontinuation of the M1 model.
  • Apple's pricing for upgrades above the base model is significantly high, with a $200 increase for upgrading to 16GB of memory and another $200 for half a terabyte of storage.
  • For users engaging in basic tasks like web browsing, music listening, and light photo or video editing, the base M3 MacBook Air with 8GB of shared memory can suffice, but heavier tasks may require upgrades.
  • The M3 MacBook Air is a more capable machine overall, raising the minimum level of performance for Apple's lineup, making it suitable for tasks like video editing and gaming, but for lighter tasks, opting for the cheaper M2 or M1 models may be more cost-effective.
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