Apple updated its MacBook Pro lineup with the powerful M3 chip late last year, but eager fans are still waiting for the fan-favorite MacBook Air to get the same treatment. Luckily, it seems like the wait might be over soon, with rumors swirling about an Apple event focused on new iPads and Macs happening in late March.
The star of the show? Updated MacBook Air models equipped with the impressive M3 chip. Let’s dive into the details!
Familiar Design, Faster Internals
While Apple has a fresh 2-size approach to the MacBook Air (13.6-inch and 15.3-inch), don’t expect a design overhaul in 2024. The current design language – that stylish, flat MacBook Pro-inspired look – is here to stay. You’ll still get the sleek aluminum chassis, full-size Magic Keyboard, large trackpad, dual USB-C ports, Touch ID, Thunderbolt charging, and slim-bezeled display.
The current color options are crowd-pleasers: Silver, Space Gray, Starlight, and Midnight (that captivating dark blue). We might get those same options with a new special color added or perhaps a completely revamped lineup. Only time will tell!
The true focus of this update is the M3 chip. This powerhouse, built on Apple’s advanced 3-nanometer process, promises significant performance and power efficiency gains compared to the current M2 chip. It boasts 25 billion transistors (up from 20 billion in the M2), and early benchmarks paint a very promising picture:
- CPU power: Anticipate a ~17% boost in single-core operations and a ~21% improvement in multi-core tasks – perfect for handling your daily workload with ease.
- Graphics power: While the ~15% GPU improvement is solid, the real magic lies in the M3’s new architecture. Dynamic Caching optimizes memory usage for demanding apps and games, while hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading support will add visual realism and speed to your 3D modeling and gaming sessions (especially as more games adopt ray tracing in the future!).
- AV1 Decode: Video streaming enthusiasts, rejoice! The M3 chip’s media engine now supports AV1 decode, ensuring smooth, high-quality 4K and 8K playback on your favorite streaming platforms.
Other Potential Upgrades
There’s a high chance the new MacBook Airs will come with Wi-Fi 6E support, allowing them to connect to the 6GHz Wi-Fi band for lightning-fast speeds if you have a compatible router. Plus, thanks to the efficient M3 chip, expect those battery life gains that seem to come with each Apple silicon iteration.
Should You Upgrade?
- M2 MacBook Air owners: Unless you absolutely need the latest and greatest, it’s probably not worth upgrading. The M3 is faster, but the difference won’t be staggering in daily use.
- M1 MacBook Air owners: This is where the upgrade consideration gets interesting. The M3 offers performance gains, and you’d also get the sleek, redesigned chassis.
- Intel MacBook Air owners: If you’re still rocking an older Intel-based MacBook Air, the M3 upgrade will be a night-and-day difference.
When Can We Expect It?
Mark your calendars! All signs point towards a late March 2024 launch for the new M3 MacBook Airs. We might get a dedicated Apple event, so keep an eye on those rumors.
