It's safe Some say the 13-inch MacBook Air may have reached the pinnacle of design. Apple's 2022 overhaul of its lightweight laptops leaves little to be desired. Packed with modern features (like MagSafe charging and a 1080p webcam) and a sleek chassis (a perfect fit for the high-end Pro lineup), it was well worth the price hike. It makes sense for Apple to keep recycling the same external builds. But it also means we're promoting what we have now. under Hood.
In this case, Apple upgraded the 13-inch MacBook Air with an M3 chip. This is the latest entry-level chipset included in Apple's latest batch of M-series processors, announced in October.
Photo: Brenda Stolyer
The company has added additional new features including: two Double your Wi-Fi speed with external display and Wi-Fi 6E. But aside from that, everything else remains the same as the previous version, including the battery life that Apple claims is up to 18 hours.
As these enhancements are repeated, the price remains the same as the previous one. Prices for the base model start at $1,099 and go up to $2,299 for the largest model. And Apple continues to sell his M2-powered MacBook Air for his $999, which is still a very capable machine.
No matter which chipset you choose, both models are lightweight and perfect for working on the go. But the addition of M3 makes this new version the most powerful MacBook Air you can buy.
proven truth
If you're not familiar with the redesign of the previous generation 13-inch MacBook Air (7/10, WIRED Recommends), you're probably not familiar with the same features in the current version. It has a square chassis rather than a wedge-shaped design, a larger and brighter 13.6-inch LCD panel (60Hz refresh rate), and a 1080p webcam built into the notch at the top of the screen. It also weighs the same at 2.7 pounds and has a four-speaker sound system and three-microphone array.
Photo: Brenda Stolyer
Photo: Brenda Stolyer
The port selection is similar, offering a MagSafe charging port, two USB 4/Thunderbolt ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. I only use my MacBook for writing, sending emails, video calls, and streaming content, so the limited ports usually don't bother me. However, it becomes noticeable when you connect two external monitors (more on that later), as the ports become zero. I would have liked at least one additional USB-C port to account for the new ability to connect to an additional monitor.
The colors are the same: Starlight, Midnight, Space Gray, and Silver. Apple sent me the Midnight version. This is the only color that comes with an anodized seal. Anodized seal is a special treatment that reduces fingerprint smudges.
Photo: Brenda Stolyer
