New M3 MacBook Air arrives with faster Wi-Fi and better performance

Four months after Apple debuted the M3 chip, it is now making an appearance in updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models.

The New MacBook Air lineup doesn’t come with a design refresh. However, the internal spec boosts are notable.

A new feature also allows the M3 MacBook Air to use two external displays when the lid is closed in “Clamshell” mode. Previously, it could only drive the internal display and one external display.

Apple has implemented the M3 processor in both the 13-inch and 15-inch models. Furthermore, it’s got faster Wi-Fi 6E, all incorporated into the same design.

Other specs include a 13.6- or 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display with up to 500 nits of brightness, and support for 1 billion colors. The M3 processors on the 13-inch and 15-inch model have an 8-core CPU, and while the 13-inch has an 8-core GPU to start with, both sizes can also ship with 10-core GPUs.

RAM stays at 8GB with 16GB and 24GB options. Storage starts at 256GB with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacity upgrades available.

The 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 starts at $1,099 and $999 for education for an 8-core 8-GPU confirguration. The 15inch MacBook Air with M3 starts at $1,299 and $1,199 for education. Both are available in midnight, starlight, silver, and space gray.

The 13-inch MacBook Air with M2, available in midnight, starlight, silver, and space gray, remains in the lineup. It now starts at $999 and $899 for education customers.

Preorders start on Monday. Availability begins on March 8.