Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 was expected to arrive around October 2023, but October is already over, and it has not been launched yet. Now, it is rumored to arrive in early 2014.
It will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, the M2 MacBook Air, with a thin, light, and stylish design in a variety of colors. Apple is renowned for its supreme build quality, which ensures that laptops are sturdy and comfortable.
The laptop’s screen is expected to be sharp and bright, with a possible resolution of 2560 x 1664 pixels. It will support True Tone technology for more natural colors and deliver brilliant brightness for indoor and outdoor use.
The M3 chip inside will deliver fast performance and energy efficiency, promising an excellent user experience.
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3
- Release Date: March 2024
- Model: MXCV3LL/A
- Laptop Type: Traditional
- Series: Air
- Available on:
Key Features
| Model Name | Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 |
| Processor | Apple M3 |
| Core | 8 Cores |
| Frequency | Up to 4.05 GHz |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD |
| Graphics Card | Apple M3 GPU (10-core) |
| Display | 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display |
| Operating System (OS) | MacOS |
| Weight | 1.24 kg (2.73 lbs) |
| Battery | 52.6 Wh, Li-Polymer |
Full Specifications
Processor (CPU)
| Processor Model Name | Apple M3 |
| Processor Speed | 4.05 GHz |
| Cores | 8 (4P + 4E) |
| Threads | 8 |
| L3 cache | N/A |
| Fabrication process | 3 nm |
Video Card
| Graphics Processor | Apple M3 GPU (10-core) |
| Graphics Memory Capacity | System Shared |
| Graphic Type | Integrated |
| Memory Type | LPDDR5 |
| GPU Frequency | Base: 500 MHz Boost Clock: 1600 MHz |
| Fabrication process | 3 nm |
RAM
| Memory Capacity | 8 GB |
| Channels | 2×4 GB |
| Memory Type | LPDDR5 |
| Frequency | 6400 MHz |
| Memory Slots | N/A |
| Upgradable | No |
| Maximum RAM size | 24 GB |
Storage
| Storage Capacity | 256 GB |
| Storage Type | SSD (M2) |
| Drive Interface | PCI-E Gen 4.0 x4 |
| Channels | 1×256 GB |
| Total Slots | N/A |
| Upgradable | No |
Display
| Screen Size | 13.6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2560 x 1664 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Display Screen Type | IPS |
| Display Screen Technology | LCD with IPS |
| HDR support | Yes |
| PPI | 225 ppi |
| Pantone Validated | No |
| Response Time | 24 ms |
| Touch Input | Yes |
| Coating | Glossy (Antireflective) |
| Maximum brightness | 500 nits |
| Contrast | 1250:1 |
| sRGB color gamut | 99.9% |
| Sync technology | No |
Battery
| Capacity | 52.6 Wh |
| Full charge time | 2:30 hr |
| Battery type | Li-Po |
| Removable | No |
| Fast charging | Yes |
| USB power delivery | Yes |
| Charging connector location | Left |
| Charging power | 30 / 35 / 70 W |
| Output | N/A |
| Charger weight | 184 / 208 grams |
Frame
| The weight | 1.24 kg (2.73 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215 x 11.3 mm 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches |
| Area | 654 cm2 (101.3 inches2) |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~82% |
| Side frames | 5.6 mm |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Colors | Black, Silver, Gold, Gray |
| Transformer | No |
| Screen opening angle | 130° |
Thermal Management
| Cooling type | Active |
| Liquid metal | No |
| Evaporation chamber | No |
| Number of coolers | N/A |
| Noise level | N/A |
Sound
| Audio Chip | Apple-designed stereo audio codec |
| Audio Format | 2.2 (2 tweeters and 2 woofers) |
| Speaker Power | N/A |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| Max. volume | ~83.2 dB |
| microphones | 3 |
| Noise-canceling technology | Yes |
| Audio Recording | Standard |
Communications
| Wi-Fi version | v6E |
| Bluetooth | v5.3 |
| The fingerprint scanner | Yes |
| Optical drive | No |
| Webcam | Above the display |
| Webcam Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
IO and Ports
| USB-A | No |
| USB Type-C | 2x USB 4.0 |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 3 |
| HDMI | No |
| Display port | No |
| VGA | No |
| Audio port (3.5mm) | Yes |
| Ethernet (RJ45) | No |
| SD card reader | No |
| Separate charging port | Yes |
Keyboard and Touchpad
| Key type | Island |
| Numeric block | No |
| Backlight | Yes |
| Key travel | 1 mm |
| Keyboard Type | Magic Keyboard |
| Keyboard Layout | macOS QWERTY |
| The size | N/A |
| Surface | Glass |
| Windows Precision | No |
Benchmarks
CPU Performance
| Geekbench 15 (Single-Core) | 3,060 |
| Geekbench 15 (Multi-Core) | 12,200 |
| Cinebench R23 (Single-Core) | 1,780 |
| Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core) | 9,200 |
GPU Performance
| Geekbench 6 (Metal Score) | 47,000–48,000 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme | 9,200–9,500 |
| GFXBench Aztec Ruins (High Offscreen) | 34–36 fps |
Storage Performance
| Blackmagic Disk Speed (Read) | 2,900–3,200 MB/s |
| Blackmagic Disk Speed (Write) | 2,700–3,000 MB/s |
Real-World Tasks
| Xcode Compile Time | 155–160 s |
| Lightroom Classic (500 RAW export) | 17–18 min |
| Lightroom Export | 45–50 fps |
| HandBrake (4K → 1080p) | 445 s (7m 25s) |
| Final Cut Pro (10 min 4K) | 12m 30s |
AI Performance
| Apple Neural Engine (16-core NPU) | 18 TOPS |
| ML Compute Benchmark | 1.0× |
Thermals
| Avg Load Temp | 68–72 °C |
| Peak Temp (Stress Test) | 85–88 °C |
Battery Life
| Productivity / Web Browsing | 17–18 hours |
| Video Playback (1080p, HDR Off) | 18–19 hours |
| Gaming (Metal Native, High Load) | 7.5–8 hours |
| Office / Light Tasks | 11–12 hours |
Pros and Cons
| Pros | |
| Cons |
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3: Release Date
It was believed that Apple would release the MacBook Air M3 in October 2023, but October has already ended, and Apple has not given its exact official launch date. Now, it is being speculated that it will arrive in early 2024.
Previously, it was expected to arrive in October 2023, but now it is more likely to launch in early 2024, as Apple often announces its new products in this month.
The old MacBook Air with the M2 chip was due to arrive on June 6, 2023, but June has already passed, so the MacBook M3 will most likely arrive in 2024.
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3: Price
Determining the exact price of the Apple MacBook M3 Air will be challenging as it will vary depending on various factors and speculations. But still, let us tell you that the starting price of the M3 MacBook Air can be around $1,299.
The price of the M3 MacBook Air in the US can start at $1,199, which is almost the same as the M2 MacBook Air.
If Apple releases a smaller model, its price could drop to $1,099 or $999.
The actual price of the Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 has not been officially released yet, and we will have to wait for official confirmation.
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Apple MacBook Air 13 M3: Design and Build Quality
The Apple MacBook M3 Air is expected to continue the design and build quality established by its predecessors, such as the M2 MacBook Air. The M3 MacBook Air is likely to retain the design introduced with the M2 model, differing from the slimmer design of the previous MacBook Air.
The design is expected to be sleek, extremely thin, and light, making it one of the thinnest and lightest laptops. It is likely to come in the same four color options as the M2 model: Midnight, Silver, Space Gray, and Starlight.
Apple is known for its industry-leading build quality, and the MacBook Air line is no exception.
The Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 is expected to include high-quality materials, which will ensure durability and a premium feel. The keyboard is likely to provide a comfortable typing experience, and the laptop’s hinge mechanism will be sturdy.
The trackpad will continue to use haptic feedback to simulate clicks, reducing the risk of trackpad problems. Convenience and ease of use will be prioritized in the overall build, which will include a well-balanced weight distribution and effortless one-finger lid opening.
Although there may be differences in the size of the Apple MacBook M3 Air, we expect the build quality to remain the same across different MacBook Air models.
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3: Display
The screen resolution of the M3 MacBook Air can be 2560 x 1664 pixels, and its display size can be 13.6 inches, but some sources have revealed that the resolution of its display can be even better.
It will offer a maximum brightness of 500 nits, giving you enough brightness for indoor and outdoor use. It will also support True Tone technology, which adjusts the colors of the display based on surrounding lighting conditions for a more natural viewing experience.
The M3 MacBook Air is expected to come with a Retina display. This Retina display ensures sharp and vibrant visuals for a variety of tasks. The display will also have P3 color support, which will allow for accurate color reproduction and ease of use. A notch can be found at the top of the display, which will house a 1080p FaceTime camera.
This is just speculation, and we will get the exact details only after official confirmation from Apple.
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3: Battery Life and Charging
The M3 MacBook Air will likely have a battery with a capacity of 52.6 to 66.5 watt-hours. However, specific sizes may vary depending on the model.
The battery size of the upcoming M3 MacBook Air may remain the same as the M2 model; it will likely be more power-efficient, potentially resulting in longer battery life.
The 3nm manufacturing process can lead to 15% speed improvements and up to 30% power reductions. It will provide faster performance and longer battery life, improving the user experience.
With the improved efficiency in the M3, battery life can be even longer, allowing for extended use on a single charge.
The M3 MacBook Air is expected to have the same charging options as the existing Air models. The base model will usually include a standard 30W USB-C power adapter for charging.
Higher-end models may come with a 35W dual USB-C port compact power adapter, letting you charge two devices simultaneously.
Both models should include a USB-C to MagSafe 3 power cable for charging.
The M3 MacBook Air will offer good battery life, potentially even better than its predecessor, and a range of charging options to suit your needs.
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3: Performance
Apple MacBook is not that famous for gaming, and you will not be able to play many modern games in the upcoming M3.
It may come with a 60Hz refresh rate, but most games these days are played at 120Hz or higher.
Its powerful performance will make 8K and 4K video editing and rendering faster.
Due to advancements in M3 chip technology, we expect the Apple MacBook M3 Air to perform better than its predecessors.
Advanced Chip Technology
Rumors suggest that the M3 chip will be manufactured using the state-of-the-art 3nm manufacturing process, surpassing previous 5nm chips. Its reduced fabrication size will enable packing more transistors on the same silicon, resulting in faster performance and improved power efficiency.
Core Configuration
The M3 chip will offer higher core density. The M3 Pro chip, which could find its way into MacBook Pro models, could have up to 12 CPU cores, 18 GPU cores, and up to 36GB of memory. It can have both CPU and GPU cores better than M2 Pro.
GPU Enhancements
The M3 chip can have up to 18 GPU cores. Speculators believe that the GPU of the M3 chip will have higher clock speeds and an improved media engine, potentially contributing to enhanced graphics performance.
Storage and RAM Expectations
There is a possibility that the M3 MacBook Air may debut with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD configuration, though there is no official confirmation on the same.
Performance Boost
The performance enhancements of the M3 chip, coupled with the utilization of 3nm technology, are poised to significantly elevate performance, turning the MacBook M3 Air into a capable and efficient laptop suitable for a broad spectrum of tasks.
Final Word
The much-awaited Apple MacBook M3 Air is likely to arrive in early 2024 and will feature an attractive design and top-notch quality.
The display is expected to come alive with high resolution and True Tone technology.
The M3 chip may be manufactured using 3nm technology, allowing the laptop to achieve better battery life. This chip can deliver better performance, especially in graphics. Although the exact specifications and price are yet to be confirmed, it is expected to be a substantial upgrade over its predecessor.
The MacBook M3 Air aims to maintain Apple’s reputation for design excellence and build quality, providing users with a stylish, lightweight, and durable laptop.
