Apple announced refreshed MacBook Air laptops this morning, introducing the company’s latest M3 series processors to Apple’s most popular laptop series. The move to M3 brings increased power, faster Wi-Fi, and long-awaited support for two external displays.
Following a trend Apple started when it announced its first M3 chips last October, the tech giant is comparing the new M3-powered MacBook Air models against the original M1 notebooks, noting that the new laptop is up to 60% faster than the first Apple silicon-powered laptops. Compared to the last and most powerful Intel-powered MacBook Air, the new computers are up to 13 times faster.
Apple specifically cites performance gains across photo and video editing apps in its press release. Photomator’s Super Resolution AI upscaling feature is 40% percent faster on M3 chips than M1. Video editing in Final Cut Pro is up to 60% faster.
Concerning AI, something else Apple has spent significantly more time talking about recently, the company calls its new MacBook Air the “world’s best consumer laptop for AI.”
Thanks to the introduction of the faster and more powerful M3 chips, the new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air laptops can finally work alongside two external displays. In contrast, prior-generation devices were limited to a single external monitor. This greatly benefits photographers and videographers, as it significantly improves photo and video editing workflows.
There is a slight caveat concerning support for two external monitors. The MacBook Air must be used in clamshell mode to use a pair of separate displays, meaning it is closed, but this is still a huge benefit for some power users. Despite being Apple’s lightest and most affordable laptop, the MacBook Air is a powerful machine capable of professional editing.
The latest MacBook Air continues to offer the same ultra-thin, lightweight design of its predecessor, complete with the same Liquid Retain display. Whether using the 13.6- or 15.3-inch model, the display promises up to 500 nits of brightness and support for a billion colors.
However, much like Apple did with its latest 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro last autumn, the new-and-improved MacBook Air comes in sleek new colors, including midnight, starlight, space gray, and silver.
“MacBook Air is our most popular and loved Mac, with more customers choosing it over any other laptop. And today it gets even better with the M3 chip and new capabilities,” says Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “From college students pursuing their degrees, to business users who need powerful productivity, or anyone who simply wants the unmatched combination of performance, portability, and industry-leading battery life, all in a fanless design, the new MacBook Air continues to be the world’s best thin and light laptop.”
Pricing and Availability
The new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air is available to order now through Apple’s online store. The 13-inch model starts at $1,099, and the 15-inch version starts at $1,299. Both sizes are available in midnight, starlight, silver, and space gray colorways. The M3-powered MacBook Air will begin shipping this Friday, March 8.
Image credits: Apple
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