A University Students Perspective: M3 MacBook Air One Week Later!

Summary

The video script reviews the new M3 MacBook Air, praising its performance and everyday usability while criticizing its base storage of 256GB as insufficient for creators. The M3 chip offers a snappy experience, but struggles with 4K 60 video editing and multitasking in Google Chrome. The design remains premium with reduced smudges, and the laptop supports dual external monitor outputs. The keyboard and display are satisfactory, with good battery life, but the M3 MacBook Air is in a tough position against the M3 MacBook Pro for power users and the M2 MacBook Air for budget-conscious buyers.

Takeaways

• 💻 The M3 MacBook Air is praised as an excellent laptop by the reviewer after using it as their primary computer for two weeks.
• 📦 The base model of the M3 MacBook Air is priced at $10.99 USD, offering an 8-core M3 processor, 8 GB of unified memory, and 256 GB of storage.
• 🚫 The reviewer finds the 256 GB storage capacity to be insufficient for a laptop in 2024, especially for creatives and heavy users.
• 🔧 Upgrading to 512 GB of storage would cost an additional $200, which the reviewer believes should be the base storage for a laptop at this price point.
• 🚀 The M3 chip offers fast performance, making everyday tasks like video calling, Google Docs, and general productivity feel snappy.
• 🎥 For content creation, particularly video editing, the base model struggles with handling 4K 60 footage smoothly, which disappoints the reviewer.
• 🌐 The 8 GB RAM shows limitations when multiple tabs are open in Google Chrome, suggesting that 16 GB would be more appropriate for heavy multitasking.
• 🖥 The design remains the same as the M2 MacBook Air, but Apple has made improvements to reduce smudges and fingerprint marks.
• 🔗 The M3 MacBook Air can support two external monitors, an upgrade from the M2 model which only supports one.
• ⌨ The keyboard is still considered good for typing, and the 13-inch display with a notch offers good brightness and visibility.
• 🔋 The battery life is consistent with other MacBook Air models, providing up to 18 hours of use without needing to be plugged in.

Q & A

What is the base model of the new M3 MacBook Air used in the video?

The base model of the new M3 MacBook Air used in the video comes with an 8-core M3 processor, 8 GB of unified memory, and 256 GB of storage.

How does the reviewer feel about the price of the base model M3 MacBook Air?

The reviewer appreciates that Apple has kept the price the same as the previous model, but finds the 256 GB storage for a $10.99 USD laptop, especially from Apple, to be insufficient in 2024.

What are the reviewer's thoughts on the performance of the M3 chip in everyday tasks?

The reviewer finds the M3 MacBook Air to be fast and snappy in everyday tasks such as video calling, using Google Docs, and general productivity, attributing this to the updated M3 chip.

How does the M3 MacBook Air perform in video editing tasks?

The reviewer experienced difficulties editing 4K 60 footage from a Sony fx30 on the base model due to the limitations of the 8 GB RAM, which caused the timeline to stutter and made editing challenging.

What issue did the reviewer encounter when using Google Chrome with many tabs open?

The reviewer found that with many tabs open, the 8 GB RAM in the base model started to show its limitations, causing the system to become rough and highlighting the need for 16 GB of RAM.

What design change did Apple make to the M3 MacBook Air that the reviewer appreciates?

Apple made a change to reduce smudges and fingerprint marks on the laptop, which the reviewer is happy about, especially for those who prefer the midnight color.

What is the M3 MacBook Air's capability regarding external monitor support?

The M3 MacBook Air can support two external monitors, an improvement over the M2 MacBook Air which supports only one.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the keyboard and display of the M3 MacBook Air?

The reviewer is pleased with the keyboard, having written scripts and Instagram reels with it, and appreciates the brightness of the 13-inch display with a notch, which houses the 1080p webcam.

How does the M3 MacBook Air compare to the M1 and M2 models in terms of battery life?

The M3 MacBook Air's battery life is on par with the M1 and M2 models, offering an 18-hour battery life without needing to be plugged in, which the reviewer continues to appreciate.

What is the reviewer's recommendation regarding the purchase of the M3 MacBook Air?

The reviewer finds it difficult to recommend the M3 MacBook Air due to its price and the availability of better value alternatives like the M3 MacBook Pro for more power or the M2 MacBook Air for less cost.

Outlines

00:00

💻 MacBook Air M3: A Week of Everyday Use

This paragraph reviews the M3 MacBook Air, focusing on its performance as a daily driver for tasks like email, video editing, and admin work. The reviewer appreciates the laptop's speed and workflow efficiency due to the M3 chip, but criticizes the base model's 256GB storage as insufficient for its price point, especially for content creators. The summary also touches on the laptop's inability to smoothly handle 4K 60 video editing and its struggles with Google Chrome when multiple tabs are open, highlighting the need for higher RAM.

05:01

🔄 MacBook Air M3: Design, Display, and Decisions

The second paragraph delves into the design and functionality of the M3 MacBook Air, noting the lack of significant changes from the M2 model but appreciating the reduced smudges and fingerprint marks. It discusses the laptop's ability to support two external monitors, the need for an external keyboard and mouse when doing so, and the quality of the keyboard and display. The paragraph also covers the 1080p webcam, speaker quality, and the impressive battery life that can last through a full workday or more without needing to be plugged in. The reviewer concludes by questioning the M3 MacBook Air's value proposition, suggesting that potential buyers might find better options in the M3 MacBook Pro for more power or the M2 MacBook Air for a lower price.

Keywords

💡M3 MacBook Air

The M3 MacBook Air refers to a specific model of Apple's laptop that has been updated with a new M3 chip. It is central to the video's theme as the reviewer discusses their experience using this laptop as their primary device for two weeks. The script mentions the laptop's performance, design, and value for money, highlighting both its strengths and areas for improvement.

💡Unified Memory

Unified memory is a type of memory architecture used in Apple's M-series chips, where the CPU and GPU share the same memory pool. This concept is relevant in the video as the reviewer mentions the 8 GB of unified memory in the base model of the M3 MacBook Air, which affects the laptop's multitasking capabilities and is a point of contention regarding its suitability for content creation.

💡Storage

Storage in the context of the video refers to the physical space on the laptop's hard drive designated for saving files and applications. The reviewer criticizes the 256 GB base storage of the M3 MacBook Air, considering it insufficient for users who engage in activities like video editing, where larger files are common. The script also discusses the cost implications of upgrading to a 512 GB storage option.

💡Content Creation

Content creation is a broad term that encompasses the process of generating various forms of digital content, such as videos, graphics, and written material. The video script evaluates the M3 MacBook Air as a tool for content creation, particularly video editing, and finds that the base model struggles with handling high-resolution files smoothly.

💡4K Video Editing

4K video editing involves working with video files that have a resolution of 4,000 pixels or approximately 4K. The video script uses this term to describe the reviewer's daily activities and to assess the M3 MacBook Air's performance in handling high-resolution video files, noting that the base model's specifications are not adequate for smooth editing.

💡Google Chrome

Google Chrome is a popular web browser that the reviewer mentions in the context of the M3 MacBook Air's performance when multiple tabs are open. The script indicates that with 8 GB of RAM, the laptop struggles to maintain smooth operation when running many active tabs, suggesting that 16 GB of RAM would be more suitable for heavy browsing sessions.

💡External Monitors

External monitors are additional displays that can be connected to a laptop to extend its screen real estate. The video script mentions that the M3 MacBook Air can support two external monitors, an improvement over the M2 model, which only supports one. This feature is particularly beneficial for users who need to manage multiple projects or prefer a multi-display setup.

💡Battery Life

Battery life refers to the amount of time a device can operate on a single charge. The video script praises the M3 MacBook Air for its battery life, stating that it can easily last through a full day of work or even multiple days without needing to be plugged in, which is a significant advantage for users who value portability and reliability.

💡M3 Chip

The M3 chip is the latest processor from Apple, featured in the M3 MacBook Air. The script discusses the performance improvements of the M3 chip over its predecessors, the M1 and M2, particularly noting its speed and efficiency in everyday tasks. However, it also points out that for certain high-demand tasks like 4K video editing, the base model's chip may not perform as expected.

💡Value for Money

Value for money is a concept that assesses whether the price of a product is justified by its features and performance. The video script debates the value of the M3 MacBook Air, especially when considering the need to upgrade its specifications to meet certain user needs, which may make other options like the M3 MacBook Pro or the M2 MacBook Air more appealing.

💡Productivity

Productivity in the context of the video refers to the efficiency and effectiveness with which the M3 MacBook Air can be used to complete tasks. The reviewer notes that the laptop feels snappy and responsive during everyday activities like video calling, using Google Docs, and general workflow management, which are indicative of its ability to enhance productivity.

Highlights

The M3 MacBook Air is an excellent laptop with a new chip and offers a pleasant user experience.

The base model of M3 MacBook Air is priced at $10.99 USD, maintaining the same pricing strategy as before.

For the price, the M3 MacBook Air comes with an 8-core M3 processor, 8GB of unified memory, and 256GB of storage.

The 256GB storage is considered insufficient for a 2024 laptop, especially from Apple, and particularly for creators.

Upgrading to 512GB storage costs an additional $200, which is a significant increase.

The M3 chip provides fast performance and a snappy workflow in everyday tasks.

The base model struggles with editing 4K 60 videos due to hardware limitations.

Upgrading to higher specs like 16GB or 24GB of RAM can improve video editing capabilities.

The M3 MacBook Air does not perform well with Google Chrome when many tabs are open, indicating the need for more RAM.

The design of the M3 MacBook Air remains the same as the M2 model, maintaining a premium feel.

Apple has improved the laptop's resistance to smudges and fingerprint marks.

The M3 MacBook Air supports external display output to two monitors instead of one.

Using the laptop's trackpad or touch ID disables one external display, requiring an external keyboard or mouse.

The keyboard is praised for its quality, suitable for writing scripts and social media posts.

The display is bright and clear, even on the hottest winter days, with a 13-inch size and a notch housing the 1080p camera.

The speakers are on par with the M2 MacBook Air, offering good sound quality with a decent bass.

The battery life is impressive, lasting up to 18 hours and allowing for full power usage without being plugged in.

The M3 MacBook Air is in a difficult position as its value proposition is overshadowed by the M3 MacBook Pro and M2 MacBook Air.

The M2 MacBook Air offers similar features at a lower price, making the M3 model less recommendable.

Transcripts

I have spent the last 2 weeks using the

cheapest version of the new M3 MacBook

Air as my only computer and in that time

how has it held up if we're completely

being honest the M3 MacBook Air is an

excellent laptop and while I did not

really expect to hate it over the last

week because let's face it this is just

a refresh with a new chip nevertheless I

enjoyed my time but also over the last

week there are a few things that haven't

exactly sat well with me which we'll

dive into very soon but for now you may

wonder what exactly I have used this for

in the past couple of days for one this

is just a base model so I didn't really

do anything crazy simple things like

attending to emails or editing videos

admin work Excel sheets basically using

this the same way students or the

working professionals will use a new

brand new Apple laptop so sit back relax

and let's get started on knowing if this

is worth your

time speaking of knowing if this is

worth your time let's start this off

with the price and what you get like I

said this is the cheapest model so this

is about $10.99 USD so apple is keeping

the price the same way which is great

don't get me wrong it might be the

cheapest but in reality there is

absolutely nothing cheap about it for

$10.99 you get an 8 core M3 processor 8

GB of unified memory and 256 gig of

storage which brings me to things that I

did not like 256 gig of storage for a

computer in 2024 is ridiculous

especially from Apple for that matter

especially a laptop that cost 1,00 USD

having 250 gigs of storage means if you

use this for a core 95 or as a Creator

you need to carry around a hard drive to

accommodate the lack of space on a

computer you realistically get around

220 225 just because the operating

system takes about 20 to 25 gig on its

own if you then said to yourself okay

let me upgrade to 512 gig it'll cost you

$200 more now I've been singing this

song since the M1 MacBook Air laptops

should have a base storage of 512 it's

just the way it should be now moving on

to something that made me happy and

disappointed at the same time is the

performance of the M3 chip now when it

comes to speed and workflow the M3

MacBook Air is really fast and I'm not

really talking about the benchmark

scores I'm talking about using it in my

everyday workflow video calling Google

Docs and just being productive

Everything feels Snappy and has to do

with the updated M3 chip compared to the

M1 and in some cases the M2 MacBook Air

it feels faster now while apple is

marketing this as a Content creation

tool that gives a lot of power if you're

into video content creating and

everything you do is within Final Cuts

or Premiere or denture resolve you might

have a hard time using the base model of

this laptop with the way different

cameras are getting sophisticated in

2024 whether it be on your mobile phone

a DSLR or mirrorless camera there are

certain specs a computer has to have to

utilize each 4K 30 or 4K 60 file and the

M3 MacBook Air does not do a great job

in that regard again this is just a Bas

model and in my experience in the last

week it struggled editing 4K 60 from my

Sony fx30 it started a lot my timeline

was not smooth so it was difficult

cutting and placing Clips where I wanted

it to be and it is safe to say that I

was very disappointed because editing

videos is what I do every day it goes

without saying that if you upgrade the

specs to say 16 GB or 24 GB of RAM it

will give you better results but with

the base model it does everything else

but edit videos the way you want it to

now also I want to add it does not do

well with Google Chrome while a lot of

tabs are open once I started opening

many tabs at the same time it began to

get rough the 8 gigs of RAM began to

show why it should be 16 gig instead

remember a lot of websites are now

basically programs that are active all

the time and take a lot of memory so if

you're buying the cheapest or the Bas

model you can't have a lot of tabs open

in the background like many other

expensive Apple laptops in apple fashion

this is just a refresh of the M2 MacBook

Air so the design is exactly the same

don't get me wrong it is still a premium

laptop it's not the heaviest so you can

definitely move this around to different

coffee shops or if you're traveling It

just fits into most backpacks now even

though this is the same design there is

one fundamental change change Apple made

and I'm really happy about it they found

a way to reduce the smudges and the

fingerprint marks on your laptop so if

you wanted to get the midnight color for

example you can go right ahead so that

is a major W another major W with the M3

MacBook Air is you can out export to two

external monitors instead of one like

the M2 MacBook Air personally exporting

to One display you know One display

right here is fine by me but there are

people who love to use two displays for

their work so managing multiple projects

coding and the likes are just easier but

there's always a butt FYI if you're

going to export to multiple displays you

need to bring along your own keyboard or

your own Mouse because if you open the

laptop to use the trackpad or touch ID

it turns off One external display why it

does that I absolutely have no idea now

if you're going to use the keyboard

itself I'm happy to say that it is still

pretty good I have written two scripts

so far with a few Instagram reals and

it's done a good job the display is also

standard from the M2 it is 13 in with a

notch I appreciate the brightness a lot

currently it is one of the hottest days

in the winter and I can perfectly see

with this display without any issues and

with the notch itself it houses its

camera it is still a 1080p webcam so

that's okay I guess the speakers are

pretty good and on par with the M2

MacBook Air I am really particular about

speakers on my laptop so I can say that

this is pretty good and it's loud enough

with good base and finally we have the

battery life which has been pretty on

par with the rest of the MacBook Air

lineup this will easily get you through

a day of work or even multiple days if

you aren't really pushing the processor

to his utmost limit also continue to

love that you don't really need to be

plugged in into a wall to get the full

power of your laptop all that power and

visibility matched with an 18-hour

battery life is what makes the M1 the M2

and now the M3 one of the best laptops

out there the fact that you can do all

this without having to worry about your

battery life is pretty amazing so now

the question is should you buy the M3

MacBook Air and I believe that is the

biggest glaring issue with this laptop

it is in a weird position because when

you start upgrading the specs to CER to

your needs you should just get an M3

MacBook Pro instead if you're looking

for power that is definitely the route

you should go if you want to spend less

money then just get the M2 MacBook Air

instead it is currently $9.99 in the

Apple Store it is honestly the same

laptop that's why it is very hard to

recommend the M3 MacBook Air especially

when there are just better value laptops

out there thank you guys for watching

this video and if you love this click

that like button and consider

subscribing to the channel my name is KJ

and I will catch you guys in the next

[Music]

one