Apple to Release New MacBook Airs With M3 Chip

MartinRaymondo

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MartinRaymondo 〰️ 〰️

Apple events consistently generate anticipation and excitement as the event approaches.

It’s been almost two years since a MacBook Air refresh, except for a new 15-inch screen last year. The new MacBook Pros came out in November 2023 with the M3 chip, so the new line of MacBook Airs will have the latest technology. 

Apple states the 8-core CPU is up to 35% faster than the M1 and 20% faster than the M2. 

The M3 chip also offers Dynamic Caching, making it more efficient in speed, and you will see a boost in graphics. Most users won’t notice this difference, so I wouldn’t consider upgrading if you have an M1 or M2 MacBook Air.

My Hour-long Call to Apple

I decided to call Apple to ask questions as I was ready to purchase a Macbook. 

This would be my first Macbook, so I wanted to ensure I got the correct model. The base model MacBook Air will suffice for around 90% of the people. I asked about upgrading the 8GB RAM or the 256GB SSD; they were accommodating and honest. 

The 16GB RAM seemed a good idea to protect against longevity issues, but the Apple representative made some excellent points. 

They mentioned that the system software typically stops receiving support after around eight years, so even with more RAM, you won’t benefit from it. They also noted that I wouldn’t need the extra RAM boost since I won’t use demanding programs like heavy video editing software. 

If that were the case, I would be more inclined to buy one in the pro model lineup. 

The unified RAM enables faster performance than standard RAM.

Apple doesn’t mention the exact number, but it’s speculated that 8GB equals 12GB of typical RAM. The upgrade prices for their SSD storage are high, considering the benefits you receive. 

It’s better to stick with the base model and buy a cheaper external version instead.

When Is It Coming?

Apple hasn’t revealed any dates, but on February 27th, their site listed a few documents as “unreleased products.” 

This occurs right before an event and new product launches. These documents are training materials for their employees, assisting them with answering various customer questions, such as when preorders start and what colour options are available. 

Since there wasn’t a spring event in 2023, and it’s been two years since the last major release, it’s logical to expect something in March. 

I would guess March 11th or 18th, with a release date coming in the third or fourth week in March. 

Prices should remain the same as there was an increase in 2022. 

That’s because they revamped the appearance of the MacBook Air, ditching the tapered design, so now it looks more like the MacBook Pro. 

I’ll order my first MacBook Air base model 13 inches once they announce it. The midnight colour is a fingerprint magnet, but I can live with that. This will be a huge step from my current Acer Chromebook 15 laptop with 16GB memory and 4GB RAM. 

Now people can poke fun at me for being an Apple fanboy.