During the fall 2023, Apple dropped some shiny new M3 laptops into its MacBook lineup. There are the flashy 14-inch and 16-inch Pros packing serious horsepower for creatives. And a sleek iMac was rocking speedy M3 desktop power in Apple Silicon. But what about the MacBook Air – when will it get the next-gen upgrade?
Well, we can likely predict an M3 overhaul based on Apple’s history and the latest Mac buzz from Leakers. Typically, Apple delivers MacBook Air updates about a year after giving the Pro and higher-end models a refresh with new chips. The Air lives on being that affordable, lightweight model.
The current M2 Air was only launched in the summer of 2022. So, following old Apple timelines, I’d expect an M3 Air to launch halfway through 2023 at the earliest. However, chip shortages and supply chain hiccups may push it to fall 2023.
Whenever the next-gen thin and light laptop arrives, you can bet on it packing a faster and more efficient M3 processor. Hopefully, there are more color options, too! Apple won’t leave the mass-appeal Air outdated and outpowered for too long compared to pricier Pros. It just requires some patience as the Apple Silicon cycle spins!
M3 MacBook Air Release date
Apple just unveiled some sleek new M3-powered MacBooks last fall, including a 15-inch MacBook Air. But fans eagerly await the next generation 13-inch Air expected to one day rock an M3 chip, too.
That latest super-slim laptop launched in the summer of 2022 packed the now-older M2 silicon. So when does Apple send the iconic Air back for a refreshed internal upgrade?
Well, reputable Apple insider Mark Gurman originally predicted a late 2023 arrival. However, his sources indicate the redesigned 13-inch and 15-inch M3 Airs have only reached early internal testing stages.
Gurman now estimates these next-gen thin and light workhorses won’t be ready to unveil until Apple’s usual busy Spring launch season, if not June’s Worldwide Developer Conference.
Of course, nothing is certain – supply hurdles or other surprise factors could shift plans earlier or later into 2024. But for now, be prepared to continue enjoying your current M1/M2 model Air for a while longer! Apple is surely cooking up impressive energy efficiencies and performance gains they feel the light laptop line deserves.
M3 MacBook Air Price
Don’t expect major price hikes when Apple drops a blazing-fast M3 chip into the 13-inch MacBook Air. Current pricing and configs will likely cost around $1,099 for the US base 8GB RAM/256GB storage model.
The bigger question is whether Apple will continue further discounting the still-capable M2 version or shelf it entirely when the M3 Air emerges. We saw the M1 Air stick around affordably once higher specs debuted. Maybe an M2 price dip to $999 could entice budget shoppers?
Meanwhile, our UK friends could see better pricing aligned with dollar conversions – so hopefully, £1,099 rather than direct translations. Apple does tweak for currency swings.
However, it shakes out. Expect the beloved 13-inch to see the standard incremental update treatment. Thinner bezels, smarter screens, revved up performance matched by marathon battery life. The classic Air silhouette will hold at least a $200 gap below the overhauled M3 Pro models.
M3 MacBook Air Specifications
On paper, the M3 chip coming to the next MacBook Air looks deceivingly familiar – 8 CPU cores, 8/10 GPU cores like past Apple Silicon. But under the hood, next-level 3nm architecture packs dense transistors that blew away our M1 Pro in testing.
Plus, unified memory support now spans 8GB to 24GB for serious multitasking power. We’d still recommend upgrading beyond the base 8GB, though – experience shows Safari and Photoshop gobble substantial RAM despite Apple’s optimizations.
And while still fanless, killer M3 efficiencies could help the new Air better sustain performance when pushed. Then there’s the likely adoption of speedy Wi-Fi 6E networking in the latest Pro laptops.
As for physical changes, at minimum, expect a refresh on those slim bezels surrounding what will surely be an eye-popping mini-LED display, if not more exotic tech. Perhaps an additional Thunderbolt port joins stalwarts like MagSafe charging, auxiliary USB-C, and the forever handy headphone jack.
The new M3 model may not seem radically transformed from prior Airs until you experience that world-class Apple Silicon response firsthand! Paired with macOS advancements, too, it should deliver that perfect balance of featherlight portability and productivity punch we’ve come to expect.
