By Abella Reporter 
With every iteration of the MacBook Air, Apple edges closer to perfection in the ultraportable category and with the 2024 MacBook Air M3, it may have quietly arrived.
Now powered by the M3 chip, Apple’s fanless featherweight continues to dominate the thin-and-light laptop segment, delivering power that was once reserved for Pro machines minus the weight, heat, and sticker shock.
After two weeks of real-world testing, it’s clear: the MacBook Air M3 isn’t just a student or casual user’s machine anymore. It’s a serious productivity tool in an ultra-sleek disguise.
Design: Still Gorgeous, Still Minimal
From the outside, little has changed and that’s a good thing. The M3 MacBook Air keeps the same svelte unibody aluminum chassis introduced in the M2 version. At just 11.3mm thick and under 2.8 pounds, it’s among the slimmest full-featured laptops on the market. Available in four colors Starlight, Midnight, Silver, and Space Gray Apple’s attention to industrial design continues to lead the industry.
The fanless build remains whisper-quiet under any load, with no moving parts to worry about or hear. It’s perfect for quiet workspaces, classrooms, or Zoom-heavy days.
Display: Bright, Balanced, and Beautiful
The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display delivers crisp detail, true-to-life color accuracy, and 500 nits of brightness, which holds up well even under direct lighting. While still capped at 60Hz refresh, it’s more than sufficient for everything outside high-end gaming.
Apple’s True Tone and P3 wide color gamut continue to make this screen a delight for creatives, whether you’re editing photos or streaming HDR content.
Performance: The M3 Makes a Statement
The real story here is Apple’s M3 chip the third-generation Apple Silicon built on a 3nm process. It brings faster CPU and GPU performance, better AI processing via the Neural Engine, and improved efficiency across the board.
In testing, the M3 MacBook Air handled:
- 30+ Chrome tabs
- Light to mid-level video editing in Final Cut Pro
- 4K media streaming
- Simultaneous use of productivity apps (Slack, Notion, Office Suite)
…without stutter, heat, or slowdown. And all on a machine that makes zero noise.
It’s not meant to replace the MacBook Pro for power users working in 3D rendering or professional-grade video pipelines, but for 95% of people? It’s more than enough.
Battery Life: All-Day, No Stress
Apple claims up to 18 hours of video playback, and in our mixed-use testing (writing, browsing, streaming, occasional Zoom), the laptop lasted 14–16 hours reliably. That’s a full workday and then some with no need to carry a charger on most days.
Keyboard, Trackpad & Ports: Familiar Territory
The Magic Keyboard is among the best on any laptop—responsive, tactile, and quiet. The large Force Touch trackpad remains unmatched in accuracy and comfort. Touch ID on the power button is snappy and reliable.
Port selection is minimal but efficient:
- 2 x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C
- 1 x MagSafe charging port
- 1 x headphone jack
It’s not generous, but it’s consistent with Apple’s minimalist philosophy. If you need more, a USB-C hub will be essential.
Downsides
- Still just 60Hz display, while competitors now offer 90Hz or 120Hz in the same price bracket
- Limited port selection may frustrate power users
- Base model starts with 8GB RAM sufficient for casual use, but not future-proof for heavy multitaskers
- Pricey compared to Windows rivals, starting at $1,099 USD
Verdict
The Apple MacBook Air M3 is a masterclass in refinement. It’s not trying to be revolutionary it doesn’t have to be. It builds quietly and confidently on what was already the best everyday laptop in its class.
With the addition of the M3 chip, it brings pro-level performance to a device that remains fanless, featherlight, and remarkably efficient. For students, professionals, and creative dabblers, it may be the only laptop you need.
Rating: 4.7 / 5
Best For:
Students, remote workers, casual creatives, and Apple ecosystem users looking for premium performance without Pro-level pricing.
Not Ideal For:
High-end gamers, 3D professionals, or users who need legacy ports and upgradability.