The MacRumors Show: Apple's New MacBook Air With M3!

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On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's new MacBook Air models featuring the M3 chip.

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We delve into the new machines' features, exploring upgrades such as the M3 chip, improved microphones, and more versatile external display support. We discuss the MacBook Air's ideal configurations and key buying decisions, weighing the new machines up against the MacBook Pro, and take a look at where the ‌MacBook Air‌ could be headed next amid reports of an significant upgrade to OLED display technology in the future. We also discuss the rest of Apple's rumored announcements for March, which include new OLED iPad Pro models, a new Apple Pencil, and a redesigned Magic Keyboard accessory.

The MacRumors Show is now on its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips going forward:

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about Apple's decision to cancel its long-rumored electric vehicle project.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Luke Miani, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

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Top Rated Comments

Sixteengigabytes Avatar
Sixteengigabytes
9 months ago
8GB ram though. Seems beyond stingy at this point. Not sure if it’s the increased rate of obsolescence and lack of future proofing, or the $300 to add 8GB extra ram, either way I’ll skip this generation yet again. Customers can play this game too, Apple. Make 16gb ram standard and I’ll open my wallet.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SoldOnApple Avatar
SoldOnApple
9 months ago
If the Air came with 32 or 64GB of RAM I may have considered it. I guess that's what the Pro and Max is for.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fuzzball84 Avatar
Fuzzball84
9 months ago

If the Air came with 32 or 64GB of RAM I may have considered it. I guess that's what the Pro and Max is for.
The Air is just not designed for that memory spec… you're well into the spec of Macbook Pro etc with that memory requirement.

The Air is a product for the average consumer apple sells to… and the vast majority will take the base model with 8 GB.

Its like telling people you'd consider a fiat 500, if it came with an engine you'd find in a Ferrari.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
redcarlsen Avatar
redcarlsen
9 months ago
It's funny the way they talk about a $1k+ machine as being good for people..... Whose tasks would just as easily be fulfilled by a $200 Chromebook or tablet. Lol.
30 years of exponential processing power advancement! Now you can check email and listen to music!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrewHawk Avatar
DrewHawk
9 months ago

The Air is just not designed for that memory spec… you're well into the spec of Macbook Pro etc with that memory requirement.

The Air is a product for the average consumer apple sells to… and the vast majority will take the base model with 8 GB.

Its like telling people you'd consider a fiat 500, if it came with an engine you'd find in a Ferrari.
So this is the problem with Apple's strategy. They are many of use choosing the Air for its light weight only. I want every possible spec possible while keeping it at this weight. Look at the Dell XPS 13. It's specced out like crazy with one of the best screens I have ever seen. The only thing the XPS doesn't have is a good GPU and that's because if they added it it would need a major cooling solution that would make it big and heavy.

They need to stop treating the Air as the "Mainstream budget" model and start just making it as the best ultralight on the market. I would be fine with an Air that cost more than the Pro if it was still 2.7 lbs and had an OLED etc.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SoldOnApple Avatar
SoldOnApple
9 months ago

The Air is just not designed for that memory spec… you're well into the spec of Macbook Pro etc with that memory requirement.

The Air is a product for the average consumer apple sells to… and the vast majority will take the base model with 8 GB.

Its like telling people you'd consider a fiat 500, if it came with an engine you'd find in a Ferrari.
More like I would consider a fiat 500 if it came with a larger fuel tank.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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