Apple recently introduced the M3 series of chips, first unveiled in October, at its “Scary Fast” event. The latest addition to the lineup is the M3-powered MacBook Air, available in both 13-inch and 15-inch sizes. One of the standout features of these new laptops is their reliance on passive cooling, offering a different performance profile compared to previous models.
Early benchmarks indicate a significant performance boost over the M2-powered Airs, with around 20% improvement in both single and multi-core CPU performance. Compared to the original M1 Air, the difference is even more pronounced, ranging from 30-40%. While Geekbench results provide insight into CPU performance, the main improvement in the M3 generation lies in the GPU, an area not covered by these tests.
Despite lacking active cooling like the MacBook Pro, the M3 MacBook Air performs admirably in short-duration tests. However, for sustained workloads, the impact of passive cooling may become more apparent. The M3 models are also available in MacBook Pro variants, offering more compute power for those who require it. The M3 MacBook Air starts at $1,100 for the 13-inch model and $1,300 for the 15-inch model, offering a compelling option for users looking for improved performance in a sleek and portable package.
