Apple today revealed new MacBook Air models, powered by the M3 processors introduced at the tail-end of last year. While the chipset upgrade is the biggest change, there's a change I'm personally very excited for: the new M3 MacBook Air can finally output to two external displays at once.
Only being able to use a single external display has been a limitation across Apple's entry-level M-series laptops. Devices powered by the standard M1, M2, or M3 chip could until today, only support one external monitor. Customers have needed to opt for a Pro model for a multi-monitor setup.
There is still a small caveat with the M3 MacBook Air; it can only power two 5K external monitors when the laptop itself is closed. That's my ideal desktop setup, but it's a trade-off for those wanting to keep MacBook Air while using two other monitors. This means you'll need an extra mouse and keyboard.
In terms of power, Apple claims the M3 MacBook Air models are up to 60% faster than the M1 model. They also support ray tracing, for more accurate reflections and lighting while gaming.
The M3 MacBook Air comes in 13-inch and 15-inch models. Apple says both are able to last up to 18 hours per charge. Other improvements include WiFi 6E connectivity, and a new anodization seal on the midnight model to reduce fingerprints. Otherwise, M3 models aren't too different from their M2 predecessors.
Pricing for the new MacBook Airs starts at $1,799 for a 13-inch model with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. In most cases, we'd suggest upgrading to the $2,399 configuration with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM for future-proofing.
The 15-inch M3 MacBook Air is a little bit more expensive, starting at $2,199 for a model with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. Upgrading to 512GB of storage and 16GB will set you back $2,799.
Apple is still keeping the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air as part of its product lineup, with prices starting at $1,599 for a 256GB model with 8GB of RAM.
Pre-orders for the M3 MacBook Airs are now available ahead of a March 8 release date. Apple is also expected to unveil new iPads this month.
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