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Amazon is selling a Apple MacBook Air M3 for just 799.
Review
The combination of enhanced GPU performance, improved neural engine capabilities, and exceptional battery life makes this one of the most compelling laptops in its class. While it retains the same elegant chassis as the M2 model, the internal upgrades deliver tangible real-world benefits, particularly for users working with multiple displays, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, or AI-powered applications.
Pros
- Exceptional Performance: The M3 chip delivers 20% faster CPU and 25% faster GPU performance compared to the M2, making light work of photo editing, video rendering, and multitasking.
- Outstanding Battery Life: Consistently achieves 15-18 hours of real-world use on a single charge, easily lasting through full workdays without needing to hunt for outlets.
- Fanless Design: Completely silent operation even under heavy loads thanks to the efficient Apple Silicon architecture and excellent thermal management.
- Gorgeous Display: The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina screen offers 500 nits of brightness, P3 wide color gamut, and stunning clarity perfect for content creation and media consumption.
- Premium Build Quality: The all-aluminum unibody construction feels incredibly solid and durable while maintaining a remarkably thin 11.3mm profile and lightweight 2.7-pound weight.
- Enhanced External Display Support: Now supports up to two external displays when the laptop lid is closed, addressing a major limitation of the M2 model.
- MagSafe Charging: Dedicated magnetic charging port frees up both Thunderbolt ports for peripherals and prevents accidental damage from tripped cables.
- Excellent Keyboard and Trackpad: The Magic Keyboard offers comfortable typing with good key travel, while the large trackpad is among the best in the industry.
- Wi-Fi 6E Support: Future-proofed connectivity with support for the latest wireless standard for faster speeds and reduced congestion.
- macOS Ecosystem: Seamless integration with iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices plus access to optimized applications.
Cons
- Limited RAM Configuration: Base model starts with only 8GB of unified memory, which can feel restrictive for power users, and RAM upgrades are expensive.
- Storage Upgrade Costs: The 256GB base storage fills up quickly with modern applications, and Apple charges premium prices for SSD upgrades (adding $200 for each 256GB jump).
- Port Selection: Only two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports may require dongles or hubs for users with multiple peripherals, especially compared to Windows ultrabooks.
- No SD Card Slot: Photographers and videographers will need external card readers, adding extra accessories to carry.
- Webcam Quality: While upgraded to 1080p, the camera still produces mediocre results in low-light conditions compared to modern smartphones or dedicated webcams.
- Not Upgradeable: Memory and storage are soldered directly to the motherboard, making post-purchase upgrades impossible—you're locked into your initial configuration.
- Notch Design: The display notch houses the webcam but cuts into screen real estate and can interfere with menu bars in some applications.
- Price Premium: Starting at $1,099 (though often on sale), it's more expensive than comparable Windows laptops with similar specs.
- Limited Gaming Support: While the M3 GPU is capable, the macOS gaming library remains limited compared to Windows, and many popular titles aren't available.
- Glossy Display Only: No matte screen option available, which can be problematic in bright environments or outdoors.
Final Verdict
The MacBook Air M3 is an outstanding ultraportable laptop that successfully balances performance, portability, and battery life in a premium package. It's an excellent choice for students, professionals, and creative users who prioritize mobility without sacrificing capability. The M3 chip's performance improvements are meaningful—particularly for GPU-intensive tasks like video editing and 3D rendering—making this a genuine all-rounder that can handle professional workflows while maintaining the Air's signature silence and slimness.
However, you should carefully consider your configuration at purchase time. If you regularly work with large files, multiple applications, or professional creative software, strongly consider upgrading to at least 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, even though this pushes the price closer to $1,500. The base 8GB model is fine for web browsing, document editing, and light creative work, but it shows its limitations quickly with more demanding usage.
For most users upgrading from Intel-based Macs or older Apple Silicon models, the M3 Air represents a worthwhile investment that should remain capable and performant for 5-7 years. Windows laptop users considering a switch will find the transition smooth, though the lack of touchscreen support and different keyboard shortcuts require adjustment.
Best For
Students, mobile professionals, content creators on the go, and anyone who values portability and battery life without compromising performance.
Skip If
You need maximum RAM and storage flexibility, require extensive port selection, prioritize gaming, or need Windows-specific applications that don't run well under virtualization.
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