Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2024, M3) Review
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Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
.✅ Significant Performance Boost – The M3 processor delivers substantial enhancements in speed and efficiency.
✅ Expanded Display Capabilities – Now supports dual external monitors for improved multitasking.
✅ Sleek and Lightweight Design – Maintains a thin profile without compromising portability
✅Consistent Competitive Pricing – Offers the same budget-friendly cost as its predecessor.
❌ Cons
❌ Unchanged Design – Retains the same exterior look without any modifications.
❌Limited Connectivity Options – Lacks sufficient ports considering its size.
❌ Display Restriction – Requires the lid to be closed to utilize dual external monitors.
Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2024, M3) Specs
| Class | Desktop Replacement |
| Processor | Apple M3 |
| RAM (as Tested) | 16 GB |
Boot Drive Type | SSD |
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Screen Size | 15.3 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 2880 by 1864 |
| Touch Screen | ❌ |
Panel Technology | IPS |
| Variable Refresh Support | None |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
Graphics Processor | Apple M3 (10-core) |
| Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth |
Dimensions (HWD) | 0.45 by 13.4 by 9.4 inches |
Weight | 3.3 lbs |
Operating System | Apple macOS |
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 17:11 |
Less than a year after the debut of the first 15-inchApple MacBook Air, its successor arrives in an evolving laptop market, facing fresh competition from Intel-powered desktop replacements. Now equipped with Apple’s latest M3 processor, the 2024 MacBook Air 15-Inch (starting at $1,299; $1,699 as tested) delivers undeniable improvements, expanding the laptop’s capabilities and solidifying its position as an Editors’ Choice contender.
Intel’s Core Ultra (“Meteor Lake”) chips are making a strong case in similarly configured, often more affordable alternatives to the 15-inch Air. However, Apple’s winning combination of design and performance ensures the latest model remains just as compelling as its predecessor. While owners of the first 15-inch Air need not feel left behind, the new model is an excellent choice for digital creatives, students, and professionals yet to embrace the larger Air experience.
(For more insights, check out our review of the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air, which debuts alongside this refreshed 15-inch model.)
Configurations and Design: Apple Focuses Inward on Silicon
With the M3 15-inch MacBook Air, Apple’s primary focus is upgrading its silicon while leaving most other aspects untouched. Given the efficiency and elegance of the current MacBook Air design, this isn’t necessarily a drawback. However, the 15-inch model could have capitalized on its larger footprint by incorporating additional features, such as an SD card slot or extra connectivity options missing from the first-generation version.
Additionally, for those who find it distracting, Apple has yet to address the webcam notch on the 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, a missed opportunity for refinemen
The M3 15-inch MacBook Air retains the exact same design as its predecessor—Apple hasn’t altered the chassis in any way, aside from upgrading the processor. Essentially, it’s the 2023 model with a more powerful chip under the hood. For a more in-depth look at the 15-inch Air’s design, check out our review of the Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2023).
related thihttps://rayfelreviews.com/2024/04/06/i-notice-increasing-reluctance-on-the-part-of-marketing/s article
That said, this is my first hands-on experience with the 15-inch MacBook Air, so I’ll be sharing my fresh impressions of its size and usability belowWrite about this product (product description, pros/cWhen it comes to customization options, the 15-inch MacBook Air (M3) remains largely unchanged from its predecessor. The base model still starts at $1,299, now featuring Apple’s M3 chip with an eight-core CPU and 10-core GPU, along with 8GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD.
The review unit I received is a step up, offering 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, bringing the price to $1,699. There’s also a mid-tier option available for $1,499, which doubles the storage to 512GB but keeps the 8GB RAM configurationons, price, experience, etc.) (Paragraph)
You can also customize your 15-inch MacBook Air during checkout, with memory and storage upgrades available. For memory, 16GB will set you back $200, while 24GB is a pricier $400. Storage upgrades start at $200 for 512GB, and can go as high as $800 for a 2TB SSD.
In total, a fully upgraded 15-inch MacBook Air will cost $2,499. At this price, it’s worth considering whether a MacBook Pro might better meet your needs, given the additional power and features it offers at a similar price point.
Using the 2024 Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch: Bigger and Better, But Somehow Not Bulkier
Right out of the box, I was pleasantly surprised by how thin and lightweight the new 15-inch MacBook Air felt, almost like a slim binder. Other manufacturers, like LG with the Gram Pro 17, have come close to this experience, but the MacBook Air stands out for its sturdiness and solid construction, which feels more
premium in comparison.
After using the 15-inch MacBook Air for a few days, I can say that the larger screen makes a lot of sense, especially with its impressive 15.3-inch display housed in a laptop that’s just 13.4 inches wide. Carrying it around feels similar to the 14-inch MacBook Pro, striking a balance between size and internal hardware.
However, the FaceTime camera notch is more noticeable on the bigger screen, especially when watching full-screen videos or playing games. Without Face ID hardware, surely there’s a better way to handle this? A tech enthusiast can dream! That said, I do appreciate the upgrade to a 1080p webcam.
Regardless of the notch, the display is stunning, with great contrast, high brightness, and a sharp resolution. Watching videos on this MacBook Air is more immersive than with any other model I’ve tested before. The added screen space also makes multitasking more efficient without needing an external monitor.
On a related note, thanks to the M3 chip, the new MacBook Air models can support two external displays via their Thunderbolt 4 ports. However, this requires the laptop to be closed while running both displays—a limitation that’s not present on MacBook Pro models with the M3 Pro or M3 Max chips.
The design of the 15-inch MacBook Air remains largely unchanged, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing given its positive reception in the past. The keyboard and touchpad continue to provide a pleasurable experience, with well-balanced backlighting on the keys that’s both bright and even. The Touch ID power button is quick and easy to use, enhancing the overall user experience.
However, given the media-editing capabilities of the device (which we’ll explore further in the testing section below), this would have been the perfect moment to make a minor design adjustment. Specifically, including an SD card slot could have been a useful addition. After all, a USB-C port is a bit bulkier than an SD card slot, so this tweak wouldn’t have been much of a stretch.
Testing the 2024 Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch: Apple’s Big-Screen Midranger Swims Upstream
Before diving into the benchmark data and performance comparisons, it’s important to note that due to time constraints, we haven’t been able to conduct formal display testing yet. As soon as we can access the proper tools, we’ll complete this analysis and share the results with you.
In the meantime, there’s plenty of benchmark data to explore, and we’ve compared the 15-inch MacBook Air against other Apple MacBooks and some of the latest desktop replacement laptops from Dell and MSI. For this comparison, we’re looking at a few models to assess generational improvements and how they stack up in terms of power.
We’ve selected the first-ever 15-inch MacBook (featuring the M2 chip; $1,699 as tested), as well as the 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the M3 Pro chip ($1,999 as tested), which is also an Editors’ Choice award winner. This will provide insight into how the new 15-inch MacBook Air compares with both its predecessor and a more powerful model from the same lineup.
To broaden the scope, we’ve also looked at two premium laptops from other brands: the Dell XPS 16 ($3,399 as tested), which boasts one of Intel’s new Core Ultra processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics while introducing a larger 16-inch display, and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo ($1,449 as tested), which also features Intel’s latest chips designed for productivity. Both models offer strong performance, making them worthy competitors in this space.
