MacBook Air (Apple silicon)

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MacBook Air (Apple silicon)
MacBook Air.svg
Developer Apple Inc.
Product family MacBook
Type Subnotebook
Release dateNovember 17, 2020 (2020-11-17)(13-inch, M1)
Operating system macOS
System on a chip Apple M-series
Predecessor MacBook Air (Intel-based)
12-inch MacBook (indirect, fanless)
Related MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)
Website apple.com/macbook-air

The MacBook Air is a line of Mac laptops made by Apple Inc. In 2020, Apple stopped using Intel processors in the Air and switched to using their own Apple silicon M-series chips. In the current product line, the MacBook Air is Apple's entry-level laptop, situated below the performance range MacBook Pro, and is currently sold with 13-inch and 15-inch screens. [1]

Contents

Apple released the MacBook Air with the Apple M1 system on a chip in November 2020, at WWDC20. A redesigned model based on the Apple M2 chip was released in July 2022, and the first 15-inch MacBook Air was released in June 2023. [2] In March 2024, Apple introduced M3 chip-equipped MacBook Airs in both their 13- and 15-inch sizes. [3]

M1 (2020)

MacBook Air (M1, 2020) Macbook Air M1 Silver PNG.png
MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

On November 10, 2020, Apple announced an updated MacBook Air with an Apple-designed M1 system-on-a-chip (SoC), launched alongside an updated Mac Mini and 13-inch MacBook Pro as the first Macs with Apple's new line of custom ARM-based Apple silicon processors. [4] Apple released the device a week later, on November 17.

The computer uses a fanless design [5] and adds support for Wi-Fi 6, Thunderbolt 3/USB4 and Wide color (P3). [6] The M1 MacBook Air can only run one external display, compared to the previous Intel-based model which was capable of running two 4K displays. [7] The FaceTime camera remains 720p, drawing some criticism, but Apple advertises an improved image signal processor for higher quality video. [8] On March 4, 2024, the M1 MacBook Air was discontinued, with the M2 MacBook Air 13-inch replacing the M1 MacBook Air in the lineup. [9]

On March 15, 2024, Walmart announced they would continue to sell the 256 GB M1 MacBook Air under a partnership with Apple despite Apple's retail store discontinuation. [10]

Reception

The M1 MacBook Air received positive reviews, with much of the praise going to the capabilities of the M1 chip.

In his review for Engadget, Devindra Hardawar gave the MacBook Air a score of 94/100, praising the performance as "shockingly responsive" and highlighting the lack of fan noise and "excellent" keyboard and trackpad as among some of the pros. Other than that, he only lightly touched on the notebook's design and feel, citing the fact that it hadn't really changed much since the early 2020 MacBook Air. He did, however, praise the case as feeling "sturdy as ever". [11]

Writing for Wired, Julian Chokkattu bemoaned the fact that the Air only came with 2 USB-C ports, but praised the keyboard and battery life. He also lauded the fanless design, saying it was something he found himself "appreciating over and over again". [12]

The M1 MacBook Air has suffered some problems during its lifetime. Some users reported alarmingly high solid-state drive usage and wear, which drew a lot of attention, as if the drive failed, it could not be replaced by the user. Some USB-C docks also caused Apple Silicon MacBooks to stop working. [13]

During tests, the battery life of the MacBook Air was many hours short of Apple's claims, leading to some questioning the veracity of the claims. However, when the same tests were repeated with a lower brightness setting, the MacBook exceeded Apple's claims. During initial testing, the battery performance of the MacBook was so phenomenal that Apple initially presumed the slow change of the battery meter to be a bug. [14]

Technical specifications

DiscontinuedCurrent
ModelM1, 2020 [15]
Initial release operating system macOS 11 Big Sur
Latest release operating system macOS 15 Sequoia
Display
Screen Size13.3 in (340 mm) (diagonal)
Backlight LED-backlit
Technology Retina display with IPS technology
Resolution2560 × 1600
Pixel Density (ppi)227
Aspect Ratio 16:10
Supported scaled resolutions
  • 1680 × 1050 (Rendered as 3360 × 2100)
  • 1440 × 900 (Rendered as 2880 × 1800, default)
  • 1280 × 800 (Rendered as 2560 × 1600, native)
  • 1024 × 640 (Rendered as 2048 × 1280)
SDR Max brightness ( cdm2)400
XDR Max brightness ( cdm2)
Color Depth8-bit (native) with millions of colors
Full sRGB Display Yes
Wide Color Display (Display P3)Yes
True Tone DisplayYes
Night ShiftYes
ProMotion DisplayNo
Fixed refresh rates60 Hz
Cooling SystemAluminum heat spreader attached on processor, no fan included
Processor
Chip Apple M1
Technology Node5 nm (N5)
CPU
Total Cores8
High-Performance Cores4 x Firestorm
Energy-Efficiency Cores4 x Icestorm
Clock Speed3.23 GHz, 2.06 GHz
Online Configuration
Cache
L1 Cache

High-Performance Cores: 192 KB L1i, 128 KB L1d
Energy-Efficiency Cores: 128 KB L1i, 64 KB L1d

Shared L2 CacheHigh-Performance Cores: 12 MB
Energy-Efficiency Cores: 4 MB
System Level Cache8 MB
GPU
NameApple G13G
GPU FamilyApple GPU Family 7
Total Cores78
EUs and ALUs28 (896)32 (1024)
Hardware-accelerated ray tracingNo
Metal SupportMetal 3
Online Configuration8-core GPU
Neural Engine16-core Neural Engine
(11 TOPS)
Unified Memory
Type128-bit LPDDR4X 2133 MHz (68.3 GB/s)
Capacity8 GB
Online Configuration16 GB
SSD
TypePCIe 4.0-based SSD
Capacity256 GB512 GB
Online Configuration512 GB (Apple only)
1 TB (Apple only)
2 TB (Apple only)
1 TB
2 TB
Keyboard and Trackpad
TypeBacklit Magic Keyboard with (Scissor-switch) mechanism and ambient light sensor
Number of keys78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO)
Arrow keys4 arrow keys in an inverted-T arrangement
Function keysYes
Touch BarNo
TrackpadForce Touch Trackpad
Secure Authentication
Touch IDYes
Audio
SpeakersStereo speakers
Force-cancelling woofersNo
Wide Stereo SoundYes
Dolby Atmos PlaybackYes
Dolby Atmos with built-in speakersNo
Spatial Audio with dynamic head trackingYes
MicrophoneThree-mic array with directional beamforming
3.5 mm JackYes
Audio output from HDMINo
Camera
Resolution720p FaceTime HD
Advanced image signal processor with computational videoYes
Connectivity
Wi-Fi (802.11)Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Maximum Wi-Fi Speed1.2 Gbit/s
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.0
HDMI PortNo
SDXC Card SlotNo
USB-C/Thunderbolt PortTwo Thunderbolt 3/USB4 USB-C ports supporting charging and DisplayPort protocols among others
Transmission SpeedUp to 40 Gbit/s transmission speed (Thunderbolt 3 or USB4)
eGPU supportNo
External Display support
Maximum display1
Max. one display combination6K at 60Hz (Thunderbolt)
Power
Battery11.4  V 49.9  W·h (4,379  mA·h) [16]
Power Adapter30 W USB-C
Optional Configuration
Charging MethodUSB-C ports
Dimensions
Height0.16 in (0.41 cm) to 0.63 in (1.6 cm)
Width11.97 in (30.4 cm)
Depth8.36 in (21.2 cm)
Weight2.8 lb (1.27 kg)
Total greenhouse gas emissions161 kg CO2e181 kg CO2e [17]
Model Details
Model numberA2337
Hardware stringsMacBookAir10,1
Part/Order number
(Space Gray, Silver, Gold in order)
MGN63, MGN93, MGND3MGN73, MGNA3, MGNE3
Timeline
Announced DateNovember 10, 2020
Released DateNovember 17, 2020
Discontinued DateMarch 4, 2024 (Apple)June 6, 2022
In Production (Walmart)
Unsupported DateSupported

M2 and M3 (2022–present)

15-inch MacBook Air M2 with the new design Macbook Air 15 inch - 2 (blurred).jpg
15-inch MacBook Air M2 with the new design

On June 6, 2022, at WWDC 2022, Apple announced an updated MacBook Air based on the M2 system on a chip. [18] It incorporates several design elements from the M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pro models, such as a flat, slab-shaped design, full-sized function keys, and a Liquid Retina display with rounded corners and a notch for a 1080p webcam. It includes two combination Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 ports and adds MagSafe charging. [19] Along with retaining the Space Gray and Silver color options, the Gold color option has been discontinued and replaced by Starlight (a color mixture between natural silver and champagne gold) in addition to a new Midnight color option (a color mixture between dark blue and dark gray).

The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air started shipping on July 15, 2022. A 15-inch version was announced at Apple's WWDC event on June 5, 2023. Apart from the larger screen, the hardware specs are mostly identical to the other M2 Air models. Preorders for the new model began on June 6, 2023, with deliveries and retail availability beginning the following week on June 12. On the same date, the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air received a price cut from $1199 to $1099. [20]

On March 4, 2024, Apple announced a refreshed M3 MacBook Air in both 13-inch and 15-inch sizes. This model retains the same design as the M2 MacBook Air, but adds support for two external displays when the lid is closed. On the same date, the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air received a price cut from $1099 to $999 and the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air was discontinued. [21]

Reception

The M2 MacBook Air was generally well received. Several reviewers praised the new design, as well as the improved display, performance, and webcam. [22] Dan Seifert of The Verge described it as "a success on virtually every level". [23] The price increase over the M1 model was noted, with most concluding that the M1 model was a better value.

Due to a lack of active cooling, the M2 can overheat on high workloads, leading to thermal throttling issues. [24]

In the 256 GB model of the M2 MacBook Air, there was only one NAND chip present. This resulted in a slower SSD, with read speeds 40 to 50% slower and write speeds 15 to 30% slower than the 256 GB M1 model. [25]

Technical specifications

DiscontinuedCurrent
Model13-inch, M2, 2022 [26] 15-inch, M2, 2023 [27] 13-inch, M3, 2024 [28] 15-inch, M3, 2024 [29]
Initial release operating system macOS 12 Monterey macOS 13 Ventura macOS 14 Sonoma
Latest release operating system macOS 14 Sonoma
Display
Screen Size13.6 in (350 mm) (diagonal)15.3 in (390 mm) (diagonal)13.6 in (350 mm) (diagonal)15.3 in (390 mm) (diagonal)
Backlight LED-backlit
Technology Liquid Retina Display with IPS technology
Resolution2560 × 16642880 × 18642560 × 16642880 × 1864
Pixel Density (ppi)224
Aspect Ratio 9:5.85
16:10 without menu bar
9:5.825
16:10 without menu bar
9:5.85
16:10 without menu bar
9:5.825
16:10 without menu bar
Supported scaled resolutions
  • 1710 × 1112 (Rendered as 3420 × 2224)
  • 1470 × 956 (Rendered as 2940 × 1912, default)
  • 1280 × 832 (Rendered as 2560 × 1664, native)
  • 1024 × 666 (Rendered as 2048 × 1332)
  • 1920 × 1243 (Rendered as 3840 × 2486)
  • 1710 × 1107 (Rendered as 3420 × 2214, default)
  • 1440 × 932 (Rendered as 2880 × 1864, native)
  • 1280 × 828 (Rendered as 2560 × 1656)
  • 1024 × 663 (Rendered as 2048 × 1326)
  • 1710 × 1112 (Rendered as 3420 × 2224)
  • 1470 × 956 (Rendered as 2940 × 1912, default)
  • 1280 × 832 (Rendered as 2560 × 1664, native)
  • 1024 × 666 (Rendered as 2048 × 1332)
  • 1920 × 1243 (Rendered as 3840 × 2486)
  • 1710 × 1107 (Rendered as 3420 × 2214, default)
  • 1440 × 932 (Rendered as 2880 × 1864, native)
  • 1280 × 828 (Rendered as 2560 × 1656)
  • 1024 × 663 (Rendered as 2048 × 1326)
SDR Max brightness ( cdm2)500
XDR Max brightness ( cdm2)
Color Depth10-bit (FRC) with 1 billion colors
Full sRGB Display Yes
Wide Color Display (Display P3)Yes
True Tone DisplayYes
Night ShiftYes
ProMotion DisplayNo
Fixed refresh rates60 Hz
Cooling SystemAluminum heat spreader attached on processor, no fan included
Processor
Chip Apple M2 Apple M3
Technology Node5 nm (N5P)3 nm (N3B)
CPU
Total Cores8
High-Performance Cores4 x Avalanche4 x Coll-P
Energy-Efficiency Cores4 x Blizzard4 x Coll-E
Clock Speed3.49 GHz, 2.42 GHz4.05 GHz, 2.75 GHz
Online Configuration
Cache
L1 Cache

High-Performance Cores: 192 KB L1i, 128 KB L1d
Energy-Efficiency Cores: 128 KB L1i, 64 KB L1d

Shared L2 CacheHigh-Performance Cores: 16 MB
Energy-Efficiency Cores: 4 MB
System Level Cache8 MB
GPU
NameApple G14GApple G16G
GPU FamilyApple GPU Family 8Apple GPU Family 9
Total Cores810810
EUs and ALUs32 (1024)40 (1280)32 (1024)40 (1280)
Hardware-accelerated ray tracingNoYes
Metal SupportMetal 3
Online Configuration10-core GPU10-core GPU
Neural Engine16-core Neural Engine
(15.8 TOPS)
16-core Neural Engine
(18 TOPS)
Unified Memory
Type128-bit LPDDR5 3200 MHz (102.4 GB/s)
Capacity8 GB16 GB8 GB16 GB
Online Configuration16 GB
24 GB
16 GB
24 GB
24 GB16 GB
24 GB
24 GB
SSD
TypePCIe 4.0-based SSD
Capacity256 GB512 GB256 GB512 GB256 GB512 GB256 GB512 GB
Online Configuration512 GB
1 TB
2 TB
1 TB
2 TB
512 GB
1 TB
2 TB
1 TB
2 TB
1 TB
2 TB
512 GB
1 TB
2 TB
1 TB
2 TB
Keyboard and Trackpad
TypeBacklit Magic Keyboard with (Scissor-switch) mechanism and ambient light sensor
Number of keys78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO)
Arrow keys4 arrow keys in an inverted-T arrangement
Function keysWith full-height
Touch BarNo
TrackpadForce Touch Trackpad
Secure Authentication
Touch IDYes
Audio
SpeakersFour-speakersSix-speakersFour-speakersSix-speakers
Force-cancelling woofersNoYesNoYes
Wide Stereo SoundYesNo
Dolby Atmos PlaybackYes
Dolby Atmos with built-in speakersYes
Spatial Audio with dynamic head trackingYes
MicrophoneThree-mic array with directional beamformingThree-mic array with directional beamforming
Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum microphone modes
Enhanced voice clarity in audio and video calls
3.5 mm JackWith advanced support for high-impedance headphones
Audio output from HDMINo
Camera
Resolution1080p FaceTime HD
Advanced image signal processor with computational videoYes
Connectivity
Wi-Fi (802.11)Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax)Wi-Fi 6E (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Maximum Wi-Fi Speed1.2 Gbit/s2.4 Gbit/s
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.3
HDMI PortNo
SDXC Card SlotNo
USB-C/Thunderbolt PortTwo Thunderbolt 3/USB4 USB-C ports supporting charging and DisplayPort protocols among others
Transmission SpeedUp to 40 Gbit/s transmission speed (Thunderbolt 3 or USB4)
eGPU supportNo
External Display support
Maximum display11
2 (with laptop lid closed)
Max. one display combination6K at 60Hz (Thunderbolt)
Max. two displays combination6K at 60Hz (Thunderbolt) + 5K at 60Hz (Thunderbolt) with laptop lid closed
Power
Battery52.6  W·h 66.5  W·h 52.6  W·h 66.5  W·h
Power Adapter30 W USB-C 35 W Dual USB-C 30 W USB-C 35 W Dual USB-C
Optional Configuration35 W Dual USB-C
70 W USB-C
70 W USB-C 35 W Dual USB-C
70 W USB-C
70 W USB-C
Charging MethodMagSafe 3 or USB-C ports
Dimensions
Height0.44 in (1.1 cm)0.45 in (1.1 cm)0.44 in (1.1 cm)0.45 in (1.1 cm)
Width11.97 in (30.4 cm)13.40 in (34.0 cm)11.97 in (30.4 cm)13.40 in (34.0 cm)
Depth8.46 in (21.5 cm)9.35 in (23.7 cm)8.46 in (21.5 cm)9.35 in (23.7 cm)
Weight2.7 lb (1.22 kg)3.3 lb (1.50 kg)2.7 lb (1.22 kg)3.3 lb (1.50 kg)
Total greenhouse gas emissions147 kg CO2e171 kg CO2e [30] 139 kg CO2e152 kg CO2e [31] 135 kg CO2e144 kg CO2e [32] 158 kg CO2e167 kg CO2e
Model Details
Model numberA2681A2941A3113A3114
Hardware stringsMac14,2Mac14,15Mac15,2Mac15,13
Part/Order number
(Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, Silver in order)
MLY33, MLY13, MLXW3, MLXY3MLY43, MLY23, MLXX3, MLY03MQKW3, MQKU3, MQKP3, MQKR3MQKX3, MQKV3, MQKQ3, MQKT3MRXV3, MRXT3, MRXN3, MRXQ3MRXW3, MRXU3, MRXP3, MRXR3MXCV3, MXCU3, MXCR3, MXCT3MRYU3, MRYR3, MRYM3, MRYP3MRYV3, MRYT3, MRYN3, MRYQ3MXD43, MXD33, MXD13, MXD23
Timeline
Announced DateJune 6, 2022June 5, 2023March 4, 2024
Released DateJuly 15, 2022June 13, 2023March 8, 2024
Discontinued DateIn ProductionMarch 4, 2024In Production
Unsupported DateSupported

Software and operating systems

The macOS operating system has been pre-installed on all Apple silicon MacBook Air computers since release, starting with version macOS Big Sur, which is the minimum required version of macOS that can and was made for Apple Silicon Macs. [33]

Supported macOS releases
OS releaseM1, 2020M2, 2022M2, 2023M3, 2024
11 Big Sur Yes check.svg
12 Monterey Yes check.svgYes check.svg
13 Ventura Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
14 Sonoma Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
15 Sequoia Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Notes:

    Timeline

    Timeline of portable Macintoshes
    Mac transition to Apple siliconiMac ProApple WatchiPadiPhoneMac ProPower Mac G5Power Mac G4Power Macintosh G3Power MacintoshCompact MacintoshMacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)iBook G4PowerBook G4PowerBook G4iBook (white)PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook 2400cPowerBook 3400cPowerBook 1400PowerBook 5300PowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 190PowerBook G4PowerBook 150PowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 160PowerBook 140PowerBook 180PowerBook 180PowerBook 160PowerBook 160PowerBook 140PowerBook 170PowerBook 140MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Intel-based)12-inch MacBookMacBook Air (Intel-based)iBook G4iBook (white)iBook ClamshellMacBook Air (Intel-based)MacBook (2006–2012)PowerBook Duo 210MacBook Air (Intel-based)MacBook (2006–2012)MacBook (2006–2012)PowerBook G4PowerBook 100Macintosh PortablePowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook DuoPowerBook DuoPowerBook DuoMacintosh PortablePowerBook DuoPowerBook DuoPowerBook Duo 230Macintosh PortableMacBook Air (Apple silicon)

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    Apple M3 is a series of ARM-based system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc., part of the Apple silicon series, as a central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) for its Mac desktops and notebooks. Released in late 2023, it is the third generation of ARM architecture intended for Apple's Mac computers after switching from Intel Core to Apple silicon, succeeding the Apple M2.

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    Further reading