With a faster chip, exceptional battery life, premium touchpoints, and a price reduction, the already excellent device is further enhanced
Apple’s newest MacBook Air enhances an already impressive package by adding more power, maintaining its exceptionally long battery life, and arriving at a lower price than its predecessor. The 2024 model is equipped with Apple’s latest M3 chip, previously seen in the MacBook Pro, providing a performance boost to the company’s thinnest and lightest machine. Externally, the laptop is identical to the 2022 model.
The starting price is now £1,099 (€1,299/$1,099/A$1,799), reflecting a £150 price reduction in the UK, although it remains firmly in the premium category. It is positioned above the M2 MacBook Air, which is still available at a discounted price of £999.
Apple has chosen not to reinvent the wheel, steering clear of the often elaborate folding designs of competitors and instead focusing on refining the standard laptop form. The slim aluminum frame, 13.6-inch LCD screen, excellent keyboard, and large trackpad are all exceptional. Its four speakers, concealed in the deck, outperform most competitors, while the 1080p webcam and high-quality microphones make video calls effortless.
Powered by the M3 chip, this MacBook Air offers significantly more power and a much longer battery life compared to most compact laptops. The M3 chip is approximately 18% faster than the M2 and notably faster than Intel-based Macs or PC laptops from a few years ago.
It’s important to note that the base model comes with only 8GB of memory. While it is currently quite responsive, and macOS 14 manages memory limitations well, 8GB may prove insufficient in the long run. Upgrading to 16GB costs an additional £200 (€230/$200/A$300).
The battery consistently lasts over 16 hours of usage before needing to be recharged. This includes several hours of photo editing in Affinity Photo, extensive browsing and web app usage in Chrome, as well as regular use of Evernote and various smaller tools.
Charging the Air with the provided 30W charger and MagSafe cable took slightly over two hours to reach a full charge, reaching 50% in approximately one hour. However, if you have a 70W or higher-power adapter, the Air can fast-charge to 50% in around 30 minutes.
Specifications
Screen: 13.6-inch LCD (2560×1600; 224 ppi) with True Tone
Processor: Apple M3 with eight or 10-core GPU
RAM: 8GB, 16GB, or 24GB
Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB SSD
Operating System: macOS 14 Sonoma
Camera: 1080p FaceTime HD
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 2x USB 4, headphone jack
Dimensions: 215 x 304.1 x 11.3mm
Weight: 1.24kg
Sustainability
The MacBook Air incorporates 50% recycled materials, such as aluminum, cobalt, copper, glass, gold, steel, tin, rare earth elements, and plastic. Apple details the computer’s environmental impact in its report.
The device is typically repairable, and the battery can be replaced by Apple for £159. Repair experts at iFixit rated the machine a five out of ten for repairability. Apple provides trade-in and free recycling programs, including for non-Apple products.
Price
The Apple 13-inch MacBook Air is priced starting at £1,099 (€1,299/$1,099/A$1,799) and comes with an 8-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The 15-inch versions start at £1,299 (€1,599/$1,299/A$2,199).
For comparison, the M2 13-inch MacBook Air is priced at £999, the M3 MacBook Pro starts at £1,699, the Framework Laptop 13 starts at £1,049, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 starts at £999, and the Dell XPS starts at £1,198.99.
Verdict
The MacBook Air remains the benchmark for slim and lightweight notebooks, now offering increased performance with the M3 chip.
Its keyboard, trackpad, and chassis continue to lead the industry, coupled with a superb screen, impressive speakers, and a reliable webcam, Apple has perfected the components you use daily, resulting in a truly premium experience.
The laptop effortlessly handles daily tasks and manages more demanding workloads smoothly, although it’s advisable to consider upgrading the base 8GB of memory.
What truly distinguishes the Air is its exceptional battery life, essentially doubling the usable working time of most competitors. You’ll likely find yourself not needing to carry a charger.
If you’re in the market for a premium, everyday laptop and don’t require Windows, the MacBook Air should be a top choice, available in either 13-inch or 15-inch sizes.
