Apple Unveils Next-Gen MacBook Air: M3 Chip, Dual Displays, and More

Surprisingly, Apple quietly announced the third-generation ARM-based MacBook Air. It is available for pre-orders with a starting price of $1,099. We’re sure many Apple fans are already opening their wallets, but let’s first see what the difference is. You can’t easily find what’s new on the official product page on Apple’s website, so here’s a quick comparison:

MacBook Air M2MacBook Air M3
ChipM2M3
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 6E
Microphone ModesStandardVoice Isolation and Wide Spectrum
Voice ClarityEnhanced voice clarity in audio and video calls
FinishStandardMore fingerprint-resistant finish with the Midnight color option
External Display SupportUp to 1 external displayUp to 2 external displays (when the laptop lid is closed)

Performance Comparison

Strangely, Apple likes to compare the M3 with the M1 chip on its official website, and the results are impressive. However, it’s a bit more logical to compare the performance to the previous generation (M2):

Single-coreMulti-core
Apple M33095 (+19% vs. M2 chip)11724 (+17% vs. M2 chip)
Apple M22610 (+10% vs. M1 chip)10060 (+15% vs. M1 chip)
Apple M123658731

Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 6E

The most important difference between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E is the addition of the 6 GHz frequency band in Wi-Fi 6E. This new band provides more bandwidth, less interference, and additional channels, enabling faster speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connections for devices. Wi-Fi 6E is especially beneficial in high-density environments and supports advanced applications like augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) more effectively than Wi-Fi 6.

FeatureWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 6E
Frequency Bands2.4 GHz and 5 GHz2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz
BandwidthUp to 160 MHzUp to 160 MHz (additional 1200 MHz in the 6 GHz band)
Channels14 in 5 GHz14 in 5 GHz + 59 in 6 GHz
LatencyLowLower than Wi-Fi 6
InterferenceLess than previous generationsSignificantly reduced in 6 GHz band
Use CasesHigh-definition streaming, online gaming, smart homesHigh-definition streaming, online gaming, smart homes, AR/VR, higher-density environments

MacBook Air becomes the latest Apple computer series to get the Wi-Fi 6E standard, after the latest iMac, 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pro (2023), Mac mini Mac Studio, and Mac Pro.

Apple MacBook Air 13 (Early 2024) - Specs

  • HDD/SSD
  • up to 2000GB SSD
  • M.2 Slot
  • soldered PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4  See photo
  • RAM
  • up to 24GB
  • OS
  • macOS
  • Battery
  • 52.6Wh
  • Body material
  • Aluminum
  • Dimensions
  • 304.1 x 215 x 11.3 mm (11.97" x 8.46" x 0.44")
  • Weight
  • 1.24 kg (2.7 lbs)
  • Ports and connectivity
  • 2x USB Type-C
  • 4.0, Thunderbolt 3, Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
  • Card reader
  • Ethernet LAN
  • Wi-Fi
  • 802.11ax
  • Bluetooth
  • Wi-Fi 6E
  • Audio jack
  • 3.5mm Combo Jack
  • Features
  • Fingerprint reader
  • optional
  • Web camera
  • 1080p FaceTime HD camera with Advanced image signal processor with computational video
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Microphone
  • Three-mic array with directional beamforming, Dolby Atmos
  • Speakers
  • 4x Surround Speakers with support for Spatial Audio
  • Optical drive
  • Security Lock slot

All Apple MacBook Air 13 (Early 2024) configurations

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Apple MacBook Air 15 (Early 2024) - Specs

  • HDD/SSD
  • up to 2000GB SSD
  • RAM
  • up to 24GB
  • OS
  • macOS
  • Battery
  • 66.5Wh
  • Body material
  • Aluminum
  • Dimensions
  • 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm (13.40" x 9.35" x 0.45")
  • Weight
  • 1.51 kg (3.3 lbs)
  • Ports and connectivity
  • 2x USB Type-C
  • 4.0, Thunderbolt 3, Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
  • Card reader
  • Ethernet LAN
  • Wi-Fi
  • Wi-Fi 6E
  • Bluetooth
  • 5.3
  • Audio jack
  • 3.5mm Combo Jack
  • Features
  • Fingerprint reader
  • optional
  • Web camera
  • 1080p FaceTime HD camera with Advanced image signal processor with computational video
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Microphone
  • Three-mic array with directional beamforming, Dolby Atmos
  • Speakers
  • 6x Surround Speakers with support for Spatial Audio
  • Optical drive
  • Security Lock slot

All Apple MacBook Air 15 (Early 2024) configurations

#CommissionsEarned
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