it is protected to say the 13-inch MacBook Air might have reached its peak in design. Apple’s overhaul of its light-weight laptop computer in 2022 left little to be desired. It packed fashionable options (like MagSafe charging and a 1080p webcam) and a glossy chassis (permitting it to suit proper in with the high-end Pro lineup) that was nicely well worth the worth enhance. It is sensible for Apple to proceed to recycle the identical exterior construct. But that additionally means it now comes right down to pushing what’s underneath the hood.

In this case, Apple upgraded the 13-inch MacBook Air with an M3 chip. Announced back in October, it is the most recent entry-level chipsets in Apple’s most up-to-date batch of M-series processors.

The firm did throw in a few further new options, together with help for two exterior shows and Wi-Fi 6E for double the Wi-Fi speeds. Aside from that, nevertheless, all else stays the identical as within the earlier model—together with battery life, which Apple claims is as much as 18 hours.

With such iterative enhancements, the value is similar as its predecessor. The base model starts at $1,099 whereas the maxed-out model will price $2,299. And Apple is constant to promote the M2-powered MacBook Air for $999, which remains to be a really succesful machine.

Regardless of the chipset you choose, each fashions stay light-weight and supreme for getting work carried out on the go. But with the inclusion of the M3, this new model is now essentially the most highly effective MacBook Air you should buy.

Tried and True

If you are not aware of the redesign on the last-generation 13-inch MacBook Air (7/10, WIRED Recommends), you then’re possible not aware about the identical options on the present model both. It has a sq. chassis as a substitute of a wedge design, a much bigger and brighter 13.6-inch LCD panel (with a 60-Hz refresh charge), and a 1080p webcam tucked into the notch on high of the display screen. It additionally retains the identical weight, coming in at 2.7 kilos, and packs a four-speaker sound system plus a three-mic array.

The port choice is similar, too—you will get a MagSafe charging port, two USB 4/Thunderbolt ports, and a 3.5-mm headphone jack. Typically, the restricted ports would not hassle me, since I solely use the MacBook for writing, sending emails, making video calls, and streaming content material. But it is noticeable when connecting it to 2 exterior displays (extra on that later) since you’re left with zero ports. I might’ve appreciated to see at the least one additional USB-C port to account for the brand new capacity to connect with an additional monitor.

It is available in the identical colours, too: Starlight, Midnight, Space Gray, and Silver. Apple despatched me the Midnight model. It’s the one coloration that comes with an anodization seal—a particular therapy that is supposed to cut back fingerprint smudges.