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The 2024 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 is a 2.7-pound, fanless laptop with a 13.6-inch display, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, and Apple-rated battery life of up to 18 hours of video playback. Its most consequential limitation is display support: you can use one external display with the laptop open, or two only with the lid closed. Memory and storage are configured at purchase, so choose them for the work you expect to keep doing rather than assuming they can be expanded later.
What this MacBook Air is
This review covers the 2024 13-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip, model A3113. Apple lists an 8-core CPU, made up of four performance cores and four efficiency cores, an 8-core or 10-core GPU depending on configuration, a 16-core Neural Engine, and 100GB/s memory bandwidth. Those specifications describe the hardware, not a measured performance result. Apple’s launch announcement claimed the M3 model was up to 60 percent faster than M1 and up to 13 times faster than the fastest Intel MacBook Air; those are Apple’s launch comparisons, not independent findings for a particular workload.
The design is fanless, according to Apple’s March 2024 announcement. That means there is no fan noise from the laptop, but the available specifications do not establish how sustained workloads affect performance or surface temperature.
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At 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg), and measuring 0.44 by 11.97 by 8.46 inches, it is built for carrying rather than replacing a desk-bound workstation. The 13.6-inch screen gives you more room than a very small ultraportable, while still keeping the system compact. Apple offers silver, starlight, space gray, and midnight finishes.
#1 Best Overall
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
Its battery has a listed capacity of 52.6 watt-hours. Apple rates it for up to 18 hours of Apple TV app movie playback or up to 15 hours of wireless web use. These are manufacturer test results, not a promise of all-day runtime under every workload. Apple says the tests used preproduction 13-inch M3 systems with an 8-core GPU, 8GB of memory, and a 256GB SSD; its playback test used HD 1080p content at a specified display-brightness setting. Video playback and web browsing are not interchangeable with demanding creative work, video calls, or sustained high-brightness use.
How good is the display?
The built-in screen is a 13.6-inch diagonal LED-backlit IPS Liquid Retina display with a native resolution of 2560 by 1664 pixels at 224 pixels per inch. Apple specifies 500 nits of brightness, P3 wide color, True Tone, and support for one billion colors. Those are published specifications; no independent brightness, color-accuracy, or viewing-angle measurements are established here.
Rank #2
- LEAN. MEAN. M3 MACHINE — With a powerful 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, the blazing-fast MacBook Air with M3 chip is a superportable laptop that sails through work and play.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. It draws on your personal context while setting a brand-new standard for privacy in AI. Coming in beta this fall.
- PORTABLE DESIGN — Lightweight and under half an inch thin, so you can take MacBook Air anywhere you go.
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Amazing, all-day battery life so you can leave the power adapter at home.
- A BRILLIANT DISPLAY — The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display supports 1 billion colors.
Can it run two external monitors?
Yes, but only with the laptop lid closed. With the built-in display open, the M3 model supports one external display up to 6K resolution at 60Hz while also running its internal screen. Close the lid and it can support a second external display up to 5K at 60Hz. If your workflow depends on two monitors while using the laptop screen as well, this is not the right arrangement.
The laptop has two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. Apple lists support for charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 up to 40Gb/s, and USB 4 up to 40Gb/s. It also has MagSafe 3 and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Because the built-in port count is limited, a dock or hub may be useful if your desk setup needs more connections, but it is not required for every setup.
Rank #3
- LEAN. MEAN. M3 MACHINE — The blazing-fast MacBook Air with the M3 chip is a superportable laptop that sails through work and play.
- PORTABLE DESIGN — Lightweight and under half an inch thin, so you can take MacBook Air anywhere you go.
- GET MORE DONE FASTER — The powerful 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU of the Apple M3 chip keep things running smoothly.
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Amazing, all-day battery life so you can leave the power adapter at home.
- A BRILLIANT DISPLAY — The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display supports 1 billion colors.
Which memory and storage configuration should you choose?
Apple lists 8GB or 16GB of unified memory, configurable up to 24GB, and SSD storage starting at 256GB with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB options. Since these are purchase-time configurations, consider the applications and local files you expect to use over the laptop’s useful life.
- Memory: 8GB is the entry configuration. If you routinely keep many applications and browser tabs open, or use memory-intensive creative tools, consider 16GB or 24GB rather than relying on the base amount.
- Storage: 256GB is the starting capacity. Choose 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB if your photo libraries, media projects, applications, or offline files need more room on the computer.
- GPU: The chip is available with an 8-core or 10-core GPU. Apple’s listed power-adapter pairing differs by configuration, so check the specification for the exact build rather than assuming every unit includes the same adapter.
These are configuration trade-offs, not claims that a particular memory or storage option is necessary for every buyer. The right choice depends on the size of your workload and how much of it must stay on the laptop.
Rank #4
- LEAN. MEAN. M3 MACHINE — The blazing-fast MacBook Air with the M3 chip is a superportable laptop that sails through work and play.
- PORTABLE DESIGN — Lightweight and under half an inch thin, so you can take MacBook Air anywhere you go.
- GET MORE DONE FASTER — The powerful 8-core CPU 8-core GPU of the Apple M3 chip keep things running smoothly.
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Amazing, all-day battery life so you can leave the power adapter at home.
- A BRILLIANT DISPLAY — The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display supports 1 billion colors.
Charging and what comes in the box
Apple lists a 30W USB-C power adapter for the 8-core GPU configuration and a 35W dual USB-C compact adapter for the 10-core GPU/512GB configuration; some other builds can also be configured with the latter. A 70W USB-C adapter supports fast charging. The box includes a USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable. Check the configuration details when ordering because the included adapter varies by build.
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The 13-inch M3 Air is a sensible fit if you want a light, fanless Mac laptop, value a sharp 13.6-inch display, and can work within its two-port layout and external-monitor rules. It is less suitable if two external monitors must run while the laptop remains open, or if your workload requires more sustained performance than the available evidence can establish. Apple announced a U.S. starting price of $1,099 in March 2024; that is historical launch pricing, not a current price or a guide to value in 2026. Compare the actual configuration and seller price available to you before deciding.
Apple’s specifications and launch announcement are available in its technical specifications and March 2024 announcement.
Quick Recap
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