M3 MacBook Air - My Thoughts after 6 Months..

Summary

The video discusses whether the M3 MacBook Air is worth buying now or waiting for the M4 model, expected in spring 2025. The M3 model, available at a discounted price of $850, offers great value with its efficient 3nm chip and strong battery life, but lacks features like 120Hz display and additional ports. The upcoming M4 MacBook Air is expected to have significant upgrades, including improved efficiency, more RAM, and possibly a new design. Despite these future enhancements, the M3 remains a solid choice at its current price.

Takeaways

• 💻 The M3 MacBook Air has been available for about 6 months, and it's currently on sale for $850 on Amazon, making it a great value.
• 📅 The M4 MacBook Air is expected to be released in the spring of 2025, which could influence buying decisions for those considering waiting.
• 🔋 The M3 MacBook Air has improved efficiency and battery life compared to the M2 model, thanks to the new 3-nanometer technology.
• 💪 The M3 MacBook Air is praised for its snappy performance and overall reliability, continuing the success of the M1 and M2 models.
• 🖥️ Competing laptops with Qualcomm Snapdragon X and AMD Ryzen chips have entered the market, but the M3 MacBook Air remains strong in terms of battery life and value.
• 🔌 The M4 MacBook Air is rumored to have more Thunderbolt ports and support for additional external displays, which could be a significant upgrade.
• 🚀 The M4 chip is expected to bring a 20% boost in single-core performance and a 21% boost in multi-core performance, with minimal GPU improvements.
• ⏳ The M4 MacBook Air could offer better battery life due to a new CPU configuration with more efficiency cores.
• 🎨 There's speculation that the M4 MacBook Air might introduce a new design and potentially include features like Face ID.
• 💰 While the M4 MacBook Air might come with more RAM and other upgrades, its starting price is expected to be higher, making the current M3 MacBook Air a great value at its discounted price.

Q & A

What is the current price of the M3 MacBook Air on Amazon?

The current price of the M3 MacBook Air on Amazon is $850.

What are some of the key improvements in the M3 MacBook Air compared to the M2 version?

The M3 MacBook Air has improved efficiency with the new 3-nanometer technology, better battery life, and enhanced overall performance compared to the M2 version, which had issues with efficiency.

Why might someone consider waiting for the M4 MacBook Air instead of buying the M3 version now?

Someone might consider waiting for the M4 MacBook Air because it is expected to feature significant upgrades, such as a more efficient second-generation TSMC N3E chip, potential design changes, additional Thunderbolt controllers, better support for external displays, and possibly increased base RAM from 8GB to 12GB.

When is the M4 MacBook Air expected to be released?

The M4 MacBook Air is expected to be released in the spring of 2025.

What are some of the potential downsides of waiting for the M4 MacBook Air?

Potential downsides of waiting for the M4 MacBook Air include the higher expected price at launch (around $1,199) and the fact that buyers would need to wait until at least spring 2025 to purchase it.

What are the advantages of the M3 MacBook Air over new Windows laptops with Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips or AMD Ryzen 365 and HX 370 chips?

The M3 MacBook Air offers better battery life, a more reliable experience, and a more balanced package overall compared to new Windows laptops with Qualcomm Snapdragon X or AMD Ryzen 365 and HX 370 chips.

What is the biggest downside of the M3 MacBook Air compared to the newer MacBook Pros?

The biggest downside of the M3 MacBook Air compared to the newer MacBook Pros is the lack of a 120Hz ProMotion display, which provides a smoother visual experience.

How does the potential RAM upgrade in the M4 MacBook Air impact its performance?

The potential RAM upgrade from 8GB to 12GB in the M4 MacBook Air would result in a 50% increase in base RAM, significantly improving productivity, multitasking, and performance in applications like photo editing and web browsing.

What secret changes are expected in the M4 chip that might not have been widely discussed?

The M4 chip is expected to feature four Thunderbolt controllers, an upgraded display engine, and a new CPU architecture with fewer performance cores but more efficiency cores, which will lead to better battery life.

What makes the M3 MacBook Air a good purchase despite upcoming newer models?

The M3 MacBook Air is considered a good purchase due to its current discounted price of $850, solid performance, reliability, and overall balanced feature set, making it a strong value option compared to both older and newer laptops.