Apple's (AAPL) MacBook Air is one of the best laptops on the market. From stylish design to powerful performance to long-lasting battery life, it's hard to beat what Apple has to offer. But not if you're looking for a Windows laptop.
But if you're an Apple fan or interested in switching to a different model, the MacBook Air is generally the best choice. That's no different with the company's latest 15-inch product. After using the 2024 MacBook Air 15-inch for a few days, I can say it's better than ever. However, there is still one troubling drawback. That is, there is no connection port on the right side.
The latest Air lineup, which launches on March 8, features a processor enhancement from Apple's M2 processor to the new M3. The smaller 13-inch model starts at $1,099, and the 15-inch model starts at $1,299.
Both are available in midnight color and feature the same anodized seal to help reduce fingerprint smudges. This is something I wish my 2023 15-inch Midnight MacBook Air had as well. I know it's not a big deal, but if he's going to spend over $1,000 on something he touches every day, he'd want to keep it as clean as the day he bought it.
My review unit had Apple's 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU M3 chip, 16 GB of memory, and 512 GB of storage, and was priced at $1,699. If you're looking to buy a 15-inch Air, that's exactly the configuration we recommend buying. The 16 GB of memory gives you enough performance for extended use, and the 512 GB of storage is enough for photos and videos as well as a few games here and there.
However, if you want to go all out, you can increase the memory to 24GB and storage to 2TB for $2,499. So for the same price, you can get a 16-inch MacBook Pro with the more powerful M3 Pro chip, 18GB of memory, and 512GB of storage.
If you want to do basic photo and video editing or light gaming, stick with the Air. However, if you're interested in doing intensive photo and video work, gaming, or working with 3D modeling software, the Pro is the way to go.
In terms of overall performance, Apple says the latest Air outperforms last year's model, offering 20% more CPU performance than the M2 Air and 35% more performance than the M1-equipped model. The graphics have also been improved, and the M3 Air outperforms his M2 and M1 models with 20% and 65% better performance, respectively.
I'm writing this review on an Air with an M3 and I didn't see any slowdowns or issues. Apps open quickly, jump to life when you open the lid, and run the game “Baldur's Gate 3” relatively well on low to medium graphics settings. It doesn't look as good as, say, a dedicated gaming desktop or console, but if you want to throw fireballs at goblins on the go, the Air will do the trick.
The latest MacBook Air now also supports two external displays when the lid is closed. So if you want to use the Air almost as a computing box and work with a separate screen and a Bluetooth keyboard and Bluetooth mouse, you can do that. Once you disconnect the Air from your setup, it's easy to get started.
Battery life is as great as you'd expect from an Air powered by Apple's chips. The company says he was able to get 18 hours of battery life from the Air while playing his 1080p videos via iTunes. I've used this review unit to write, browse the web, check out a few video games, and more, and the battery never touched the red line.
Of course, I kept charging it every time I sat down at my makeshift workstation in the kitchen/living room/dining room area of my apartment, but when I took it to another room to try it out, the need to bring the charger with me I didn't feel it. with me.
One thing that stands out about the M3-powered MacBook Air is that Apple is positioning it as an AI machine. The company calls the Air “the world's best AI-enabled consumer laptop” thanks to the M3's built-in neural engine. It's important to note that the M3's Neural Engine isn't an entirely new development, as Apple has been putting Neural Engines in its chips for quite some time.
By highlighting that, Apple is not only telling the world that it has been developing AI-enabled laptops, desktops, and smartphones for years, but also that Windows laptops are powered by Microsoft (MSFT) Copilot and AI-enabled chips. We are just beginning to embrace AI through . Intel (INTC), AMD (AMD), and Qualcomm (QCOM) have launched or are scheduled to launch this year.
My only real criticism of the MacBook Air is that it only has two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left side. It seems like a small complaint, but having a round USB-C connector and a compatible port on only one side can make cable management difficult, especially if you're used to having a connector on the right side of your system. there is. For example, I had to readjust my home setup to be comfortable using my review unit.
Overall, Apple's latest MacBook Air builds on the success of previous products and continues to stand as one of the best laptops you can buy. If you already have an Air with an M1 or M2, there's no harm in sticking with that unit for a little while longer. However, if you're still using an Intel-based Air, it's time to ditch that dinosaur and buy an Air with one of Apple's chips.
It's worth remembering that Apple continues to offer last year's 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip at a starting price of $999. Although it doesn't have the smooth paint job to reduce fingerprints or the ability to use two external monitors, it's still a great laptop.
However, if you want to buy an M3-powered MacBook Air, you won't be disappointed.
daniel howley I'm the technology editor at Yahoo Finance. He has been covering the technology industry since his 2011. You can follow him on Twitter. @Daniel Howley.
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