Poll: *** The official 2024 MacBook Air 13" and 15" thread (it has the M3 chip, WiFi 6E and everything!) ***

[Feek]

Some people have been waiting for this..

You can order now for delivery on Friday.

Apple unveils the new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air with the powerful M3 chip

Apple today announced the new MacBook Air with the powerful M3 chip, taking its power-efficient performance and portability to a new level.

www.apple.com

MacBook Air 13-inch and MacBook Air 15-inch

MacBook Air 13- and 15-inch laptops, now with the superfast M3 chip, perfect for AI. Lightweight, with all-day battery life and Liquid Retina display.

www.apple.com

 

[Stu999]

No real need for me to upgrade from M2 but I'm sure these will continue to be successful

 

[rp2000]

Finally, dual external monitors for the M3 Air models. The only caveat is you have to use the laptop in clamshell mode, which is fine for me. If I have 2 large screens a 13 inch one adds very little.


rp2000

 

[HACO]

£1500 for a model with 8GB of ram. No thanks!

 

[malachi]

£1500 for a model with 8GB of ram. No thanks!

What was the price before?

 

[HACO]

What was the price before?

Around the same, give or take £100 or so. Poor value too.

 

[oweneades]

Huh, the 13.6" model is £1500 for 16GB memory and 512GB storage yet the 15" is £200 more.. Apple...

The 15" with that spec is getting very close to what I paid for my 14" Pro with M3 Pro chip. Maybe if you absolutely need the bigger screen?

The inclusion of running a second screen with the laptop closed is interesting as in theory that should be possible on the M1 and M2 as well - limit of two screens, one being the laptops screen. What is also odd is that the M3 MacBook Pro also has the one external screen limit despite the same M3 chip.. Maybe something else going one but from the outside all a bit odd.

Saying all that it does make the M2 Air cheaper which is perfect as my wife has been eyeing one up for a while.

 

[Stu999]

@oweneades - they’re changing that about the Pros.

The M3 MacBook Pro is getting multi-display support, just like the Air

Apple M3 MacBook Pro laptops are getting multi-display support, so the computer will be able to drive two screens when the lid is closed. This is also a marquee feature found with the newly-announced M3 MacBook Air line.

www.engadget.com

 

[oweneades]

@oweneades - they’re changing that about the Pros.

The M3 MacBook Pro is getting multi-display support, just like the Air

Apple M3 MacBook Pro laptops are getting multi-display support, so the computer will be able to drive two screens when the lid is closed. This is also a marquee feature found with the newly-announced M3 MacBook Air line.

www.engadget.com

Well that at least makes sense although would be helpful for Apple to actually confirm it directly rather than through a seperate source.

Maybe they will sneak in a similar update as a "surprise" to at least M2 models as well.... I doubt it of course...

 

[Stu999]

Review:

MacBook Air 13-inch and 15-inch review (2024): Excellent yet unsurprising

Apple's latest MacBook Air takes everything we loved about the M2 redesign -- a sleeker and lighter case -- and adds more power thanks to an M3 chip.

www.engadget.com

 

[robfosters]

I can never decide what colour I want

 

[Raikko7]

Ordered a Midnight base model yesterday via a friend who works at Apple so got a bit of discount, due to be delivered between the 21st - 25th March as I chose the 35w Dual Adapter. Very excited, coming from an 2020 Intel Air it should be a great upgrade.

 

[robfosters]

Ordered 15inch base model in midnight for delivery tomorrow. Never had a Mac before, just iPads and phones. Hope I like it.

 

[uvarvu]

I'll be very surprised if it doesn't put you off Windows.

 

[robfosters]

I'll be very surprised if it doesn't put you off Windows.

I’m not keen on windows as it is

 

[Andrew Moore]

Pricing what at a spec with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is too close to the base m3 Macbook pro with 16GB of RAM which has the more useful ports and superior screen for what then is a reasonable value proposition at £300 (relatively of course). Its a shame Apple still price RAM and SSD upgrades as they do.

 

[9 Stone Elvis]

Pricing what at a spec with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is too close to the base m3 Macbook pro with 16GB of RAM which has the more useful ports and superior screen for what then is a reasonable value proposition at £300 (relatively of course). Its a shame Apple still price RAM and SSD upgrades as they do.

Think that's their entire model though. You start on one ladder and by the time you add in what you think you "need" your are so close to the next level that before you know it......

Seems to work to be fair, I think more people do that than are put off buying altogether.

 

[9 Stone Elvis]

I still think that for the average person on the street the base model of this is absolutely outstanding. I bought a base M2 and it does everything I could want it to do and has everything other than the dual monitor issue. They are fantastic machines IMO.

Once you start getting into more advanced usage then there are decisions to be made, and that applies for people who frequent computer forums I suppose!!!

 

[oweneades]

One major benefit from the M3 Air being launched. Nice price drop on the M2 Air to £900 so my wife, who has been eying up an Air for a while now, is very happy with the saving.

 

[Feek]

One major benefit from the M3 Air being launched. Nice price drop on the M2 Air to £900 so my wife, who has been eying up an Air for a while now, is very happy with the saving.

That’s a good point. I’d still pay the extra £200 to take it to 16Gb but it’s a cracking price for the M2 MBA.