This is the best review of the different specs, etc. and the irony is I disagree with the recommendation of the 14 M3 Pro over the 15" Air with 16/512. I know it's only $100 difference - and my head kept saying go the M3 Pro - but I spent a long time in the store comparing the 13" Air, 15" Air and 14" Pro. The size of the 15" screen is so much bigger than the 14" - whereas the 13" Air is similar in size to the 14". (The actual sizes are 13.6", 14.2" and 15.3"). The size real-estate is a lot more than you think when you really see them side by side. For me the 15" just looks and feels so much better than the 14".. .more modern, better battery, quiet, much bigger display and lighter. The Pro just looks like an older gen machine. I know the Pro chip with 18g ram is better, but the Air with 16 gigs will do 95% of what the pro will do and would be imperceptible to me.
I get it, and if that is the most important feature then it makes sense. I think the pro is silent for any regular use or even moderate use and is also modern looking. I find the extra features of the display and speakers plus the performance to be worth it over the display. But everyone has their priorities. Thanks for checking it out.
This! It‘s so often overlooked. The actual standard scaled resolution of the 15 Air is much closer to the 16 Pro and that of the 14 Pro closer to the 13 inch models. It‘s a much bigger difference than the small number (14 to 15) might suggest. In daily usage that makes much more of a difference to me than the slightly better speakers and brighter screen in hdr contexts.
I bought this EXACT laptop. Starlight with 16Gb/512Gb for $1529 with the Veteran discount. Couldn't be more pleased with it. Being in my 50s now, the screen real estate is the biggest factor in a laptop. I use my Windows gaming desktop or my wife's Apple Studio (22) for intense computing. This Air does everything i personally need in a laptop better than anything else I've ever used. Extremely satisfied with it.
You're the first reviewer I've seen that actually talks about the trackpad size and the distance of the keyboard from the front of the laptop. That's one of my biggest concerns about getting a 15" Air. Especially as someone who enjoys the 13" form. But that screen size is very tempting...
I bought the 2024 Macbook Air 15 inch 24 GB / 1 TB model here in Norway for $1163 after rebates and company tax deduction. I wanted a thin laptop without a noisy fan and a large screen and decent performance for everyday tasks. I don't like the chubby 14 inch with smaller screen, noisy fans and not really more performance unless you buy the expensive M3 Pro/Max cpus. 16 inch is way too bulky. I went for space gray since I don't like fingerprints. In the shop, the new midnight variant still had fingerprints all over. If you buy any Mac with atleast 16 GB / 512 GB, you will be just fine in most cases I believe.
Hi, how is your Macbook Air doing? did you notice any overheat while using it in your daily tasks, as reports say? How about dual screens, have you attached it to external screens so far and noticed any heating or drop in performance? Thanks
@@Slimbk13 6 months late to the party, but the MacBook Air can support 2 external monitors if the lid of the laptop is closed. I use the MacBook Air M3 at work and I had to buy one of these for myself. I'm pretty satisfied with it besides the Air not having extra lightning ports like my personal MacBook Pro 13inch had but it's not a deal breaker for me...
My friend has a nice well specced 16 inch MBP. The problem is, he finds it heavy to bring around. The MBA would be less powerful than his 16 inch but I believe it's exactly what he should have gotten. The reason to get the Air is really weight considerations :)
Jerry you are so right on the 16gbs of memory, I had the M1 MacBook Air 8gbs and 256gbs and yes for simple tasks of classes and vernal work the computer was amazing with great battery life but when you worked it harder or more tabs per bigger excel files you started to see the bottle neck. M2 MacBook Air 16gb and 512gb has been simply amazing zero bottle necks and it seems over all the speed is better than my M1 air. But yes Apple no more 8gb of ram really?
The dilemma that I have is choosing between the 15 inch air with 16gb ram and 512 gb ssd and the MacBook Pro 14 inch with 18 gb ram is that the price difference here in Sweden actually is 400 dollars between the two. So your case for the small price difference doesn’t really apply here.
@@bertrusmcfly7958 from what I’ve seen in tests the jump from 16 to 24 doesn’t really get you that much. The only use case is maybe from stitch big panorama photos together. Think “art is right” did some tests of that. 16 gb seems to be the sweet spot for most users. Going 24gb on the air is a maybe not the right thing to do because it’s bumps the price up. At that point going for the MacBook Pro with 18gb and better performance overall might be better. But that’s just my thoughts on it.
how will you use your macbook? I like using my AIR on my bed and other places where having a fan would hurt long term as it would get clogged up. That is the main reason to buy the air. If not then PRO 14" would be better for you
Forget the inflated claims and sponsored content! This review is an excellent example of honest product evaluation. In a world full of misleading information, this reviewer sets it apart with his uncompromising honesty and actual consumer concern. A thorough, unbiased analysis of the product's strengths and weaknesses is a priceless aid for prospective buyers. It's a breath of fresh air that cuts through the hype around APPLE and offers an extremely frank perspective. Love it!
I went with the 14 M3 base Pro for $1449 BestBuy because of the fans for longer, sustained DJ sessions and the smart card and HDMI slots so it frees up my other USB Cs to avoid dongles. The speakers and screen are phenomenal too! Otherwise, I would have bought the 15” Air.
I'm with you 100% on the keycaps. My M2 Air is docked at my desk in clamshell mode about 90%+ of the time. Even with the relatively minimal use of the built in keyboard, the keys look pretty bad. I would have to disagree on the RAM issue. My Air is a base model 8GB/256GB that I've been using since launch day and it flies through everything I throw at it. There are routinely 6-7 apps open at a time and, while I don't use super heavy apps, I regularly work in Photoshop and audio editing. Unless a person knows they're going to be using more intense apps on a regular basis, 8GB of RAM actually works just fine.
when I work in M1MBA 8GB with lightroom and 100MP raw photos, there is always some waiting time, won't be as snappy as 24MP, but my 16GB Mac mini will handle it all right, so I would say, there is a RAM difference, not until you push it to some degree though. But my argument is if you are buying a new Mac now, you might want to future proof yourself a bit, and in that case, RAM is the most important thing to go for. I am still happy with my 8G MBA, and will continue to use it, but for the next machine, I think I will definitely go 16G or even 32-ish G RAM.
@@chennyye28 That’s totally understandable. If you know you’re going to push the machine harder, upgrading makes total sense. I just know from experience that the base model can handle a lot more than some people give them credit for.
@@chriscasillas for sure! 8GB is not as magical as what apple claims, but the whole apple silicon system is surely able to support a lot of people's need even in the base specs.
The configuration I've been eyeing is the one you're not recommending and I agree with you totally at it being a bad deal. But I need a larger display to upgrade from my M1 Air. So I'm holding out for retailers to offer a discount on the 16/512 model as the months roll on 🤞
Having used an M1 MBA as my everyday portable, the M3 MBA 15" keyboard is... bigger/wider ??? It's taking me some time to adjust my typing to not have mishits.
Great review.. I agree. In the last week I bought a base m3/8gb/256gb spec at best buy because it was an open box for $988. Well after a couple days I was already slightly regretting it a little.. it was fantastic but with just a few programs I was already pushing the 256gb space and I was regularly actively closing programs and making sure I didn't have too many things running. I was using Parallels/Windows 11 and new I needed as much free as possible to keep things running smoothly. Anyway.. bottom line is I returned it and sadly spent the extra $500 for the 16gb/512gb. It was annoying now but I knew if I planned on keeping this laptop for more than a year.. and maybe 4+ it would pay off bigtime. It already has. Also I traded my old M1 8gb/256gb and Best Buy gave me $525 for it which is crazy for a 3.5 year old laptop.. so I know this one will hold it's value especially being spec'd up a bit.
do you mean that you were pushing the 8gb ram space, not the 256gb space, since you were talking about closing programs, for you to fill up 256gb of disk space that quickly is quite fast.
Totally, the OS needs the best part of 6GB to wake up. It’s just wrong. But while ever the idiots but them, Apple will keep selling them and laughing as they hand over the money. 😂
Jerry, I was really close to buy the air 15 24GB 512GB, but your video totally made me realize I can get the 14 pro M4 16GB instead for slightly less even!, your 13min video future-proofed me and saved me a lot of hassle! You earned a new fan/subscriber
I have the exact same config you have, but with the M2 15" model. Silver color is the best. I got the machine for a good discount off of the refurbished store about 3 months ago. I do often find now that I wish I had a few more ports. I connect one to my USB hub, which has 2 USB-A, and then 2 USB-C ports, and then one to my external SSD. Every port in this setup is occupied. I use my iPad for Sidecar, and never feel the need for an external monitor, so the improvement in monitor support isn't that advantageous. Totally justifying my purchase right now. I am curious to see what Apple does for the M4 iteration, it seem like they are going back and forth between major updates and minor updates. Really great and comprehensive review!
I bought the 13”, M2 MBA 8/10, 16gb, 512gb back in June of ‘22, i bought my wife the 14” M3 Pro MBP, 11/14, 18gb, 1T. In actual use it is difficult to tell the difference, but the speakers are definitely better on the 14”.
Nice video! Just got my second Mac computer since the classic, 33 years ago in 1990. Went with the air 13" 16GB, $200 off list on amazon, great all around laptop, enjoying it so far.
I've had my macbook air 13" 2017 for 7yrs now, looking for an upgrade now. Need a larger screen as my eyes are getting worst and going back to school. This 15" Air is my best option at the right price point for me. It's an extra 1k in Canada to grade to 14Pro which is really not worth it for me. One of the best reviews for the 15" Air I've seen during my research! Thanks Thanks!
Yea i agree with the comments, the review is awesome, the best part is comparing price points, a lot of reviews talk about the same perspectives on performance, IO, and benchmarks etc, but price and bang for buck is important to some consumers. Most reviewers don't price compare, and you did a great job with understanding how far you can push the dollar amount, and what you get. I find myself in the same boat as well, if i'm gonna drop 1200+ dollars on a mac in 2024, I wouldn't want to feel like i'm selling myself short at that price point. But i've always been against all of the apple upcharges, TBH external drives are the way to go for me always. Thanks again!!
My 2021 MB Pro 14" w/ M1 is now doing the dreaded shutoff, apparently an issue with the M1 chips. So much for a $2k + laptop that was bought only 2.5 years ago. Thinking about trading it in and getting the 15" Air, I'm not a AV guy or use it for production, so based on my M1 Air that my wife uses, its been rock solid and the best buy of all the laptops we've bought from Apple. So, my question is, downgrading to the 60 Hz, wondering if I am going to regret it....
Thanks for the comparisons Jerry. I moved up to a refurbished M1 Pro MBP 14 from a base model MBA 13 because the extra features you cited meant more to me than better portability.
Which laptop would you choose for Lightroom and specifically for photo editing: the 13-inch or the 15-inch MacBook Air? I'm curious to know your thoughts. I heard that the 13-inch model struggles to dissipate heat quickly.
@@Chris-wv8cn2 extra inches of passive cooling, still not as efficient as having a fan, but far better than than 13” plus if your editing photos you need as big a screen possible.
@@JerrySchulze Yeah that's what I thought, but from what I read online was seeing mixed answers about whether the Mac would support that.. ended up going into the store and they confirmed it, and found your video shortly after that.
i have decided to get this one, and i have seen lots of reviews, of all the things you are the most sensible and honest. every other review felt like an apple fan boy trying so hard.
@@lorenzo6777 so worth it. It is like a brand new machine that is so much higher quality than the air with the processing, the screen, the speakers, that everything and you don’t even notice the difference in the screen size unless you look at them side-by-side that’s a non-issue completely and it weighs the same, so it’s a no-brainer. Go for it.
Great comparison at the end of the 3 models that are most suitable for day to day use, Im currently on a i7 13" 2019 MacBook Pro, and will be moving to the M3 14" MBP, thank you for posting!
I got the 15" air at the end, I really like that there is no fan, no dust or cat hair of whatever I came across my old pro. I had one old laptop stand made from a chunky pice of aluminium. 3 medium size fans under it and the difference in temperature is big. i use it manly for photoshop but if I export a 360 file with the insta360 app it got really hot. now its just a little bit warm. also the aluminium stand is a bit warm so there is a good heat transfer. for the few times a year I do things like this I think I got the right one. 16gb and 512 ssd.
Enjoyed your video mate. I have a M3 Air 13, went with the 512 storage instead of the RAM. 8 GB RAM is fine for my light usage (have powerful pc's for games/video etc) but need the storage for my family photos & vids. Cloud storage real slow and dont want to use external drive everytime want to see some family videos. Apple option prices are insane though!
Hi, thank you for the great review. Does the Macbook air heat up considerably while doing normal tasks on it as reports say? You seemed to be gaming so you tested it pretty intensely but didn't mention anything about heating. I am upgrading from my old 15" Macbook Pro 2015 (i7 and 16 GB of RAM). My choice would be the 15" Macbook Air M3 with 24 GB of RAM and 256 GB storage, after initially considering the MBP M3 16", but I don't want to spend that kind of money for a system I will not be pushing to its limits with just browsing and trading. My only concern is the lack of active cooling in the Macbook Air that would heat it up considerably more than the MBP... Have you used it with dual screens enough to notice it overheat? Everyone seems to report that when using dual screens with the lid closed. Thanks!
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly two years since I bought my 13” M2 MBA 8/10, 16gb, 512 spec. And yes I paid the Apple tax at that time ($1699.00)! But I have had no issues, and don’t plan to upgrade any time soon
Nice to see the M3 price drop for a 16GB / 512GB 13" Air. I'm on the same spec ram and storage M2, and for now it does what I need it to. No need for an upgrade here, but it makes me feel better about pricing in the future for when I do want/need an upgrade.
I currently have a 2019 model MacBook Pro 16 inch 16gb memory and 512 gb SSD which is out of warranty and the battery is down to 86% health according to CleanMyMac X. The battery drains like crazy, I might get 2-3 hours before recharging. So I am in the market for a new MacBook and am torn between the 15 inch Air with M3 16gb memory 512gb SSd and the 14 inch Pro with M3 Pro, 18gb memory and 512gb.just everyday stuff with lots of tabs open. I'm not a power user and I'm happy with my 16 inch screen, but it's hard to decide if I want to downgrade to the Air and the bigger screen or stay Pro with the smaller 14 but a huge upgrade over my current Pro as fas as picture and sound quality. Your video was really helpful but I'm still on the fence.
Either one will be a really big upgrade compared to what you have in performance and battery. The graphics in the old 16 may be better than the Air if you play any games.
@@JerrySchulze Thanks, Jerry. I've been racking my brain over this and just decided that I'm going to go with the MBP 16 inch M3 Pro. I love my 16 inch screen and the graphics so I might as well stick with the MBP at this point. At least I'll be good for the next few years with a much better product than what I have now as you said. Keep up the good work with your videos. Very insightful.
Thank you for the review! I have been torn on what to get (coming Windows). The last MacBook I had was a black one from 2007. My current laptop is a 2016 Lenovo and it’s been good enough. But, I recently bought an iPad and am trying to get back to the Mac ecosystem sans the iPhone. I think the 14” M3 Pro MacBook Pro is the way to go. While I would like a larger screen, the price and extra I/O can’t be beat.
For future proofing just go with 14 inch Pro because if you buy a 15 inch right now which has 60hz then you are stuck with it for the next 5-7 years or as long as you are planning to use it. But with 14 pro even after 5-7 years you would still have a lot of power alongside promotion which only adds to the experience. So basically with 15 inch there is a chance that you will feel like to upgrade in the future but with 14 inch pro that feeling of needing to upgrade probably wont exist. I personally use m1 air 13inch which i bought 2 years ago and am stuck with it for the next atleast 5 years. I use a 15 pro max so i know the smoothness that promotion adds to your experience. I hope i helped you with my suggestion. Have a great day.
If you do not play games, and most Mac users wouldn't buy a Mac for gaming, then 120Hz is not a major advantage, depending on usage. Remember that watching media is mainly 24-60FPS, so 120FPS is moot. Typing 120Hz has a nominal advantage. Even scrolling the web is only noticeable if you are continuously at speed. Working on office stuff also can be less than 120Hz. Most pro apps for photos or videos are static, so 120Hz and 60Hz provide the same experience. I would not make a big deal about 120Hz. But it is subjective.
Why have 2 MacBooks for routine use, excluding testing reasons for TH-cam reviews? Seems excessive given the cost. Edit: I am a big fan of a powerful desktop and light travel laptop combo. For Apple products, that would be Mac Studio and the M2/M3 Air.
That just how I use it. I like the second display at my primary desk and I actually have an issue with my elbow that makes typing and mousing on the MacBook better than an external keyboard and mouse.
I just got my new 15" 16GB MacBook Air a few weeks ago. I sent my M1 Air to my grandson for a Christmas present . For me, the lack of fan on the Air is the deciding factor, since I don't need pro-level performance. Laptops with fans inevitably get coated with dust internally and eventually the fan itself can get bogged down and the whole thing stops working as well. So I'll stick with no-fan computers. I love this new computer.
I’m upgrading from a MacBook Pro 2017 15inch with 512gb and 16gbs of ram to the m3 MacBook Air 15 inch with 256gb of storage and 8gbs of ram is that a huge downgrade?
I will not stand for this starlight slander!!! Lol I absolutely love my 13 inch in starlight, I love how subtle it is and how the colour shows differently in different lights.
hi! i'm a sophomore in college majoring in communication, coming from a 16inch 2019 mbp, 17 2.9, 1tb ssd, 16gb ram. i'm buying a new laptop this week and debating between the 15 inch air and the 14 inch pro. the air would be good for me since im in college and studying abroad in the fall in europe but the pro has a way better display and the 120hz refresh and ports is really enticing as well. can you tell me about the fans on the mbp and how loud they are and also how the battery life on the pro is compared to the air since thats what im leaning towards? also how is the weight on the pro since its slightly bigger than the air? is the 15” air vs. the 14” pro a huge sacrifice in screen real estate??thank u so much!!!
I've been watching a lot of reviews to help me with my decision and I find your video to be the most helpful. Short and to the point, if I could offer only one piece of advise that would be to talk slightly slower so the viewers can digest what you just said and hold the screenshots of prices a little loner on screen. Thanks for your help.
Yes the 15” model in this video looks so much better than the other one he has. I don’t like that all black looking keyboard island and the thickness of the smaller model. The 15” is way better in my opinion. Thank you.
I have a question, I’m a apple guy since iPhone 4 released, i have all phones since that, but i never own a MacBook 💻, I want that to creat sites and editing some videos. What is the best MacBook for that work? I’m thinking in an air m3 15 inch! that’s a good choice?
in india the prices are way to higher than US or any other country. In US, m3 pro macbook pro is 1799$ but in india it is 400$ or 500$ more than 1799$.
I've watched several TH-cam videos on the Air vs the Pro. Yes the Pro has slightly more ram and better display but it's also 14 inch. My old eyes need the biggest screen I can get and still be on a budget.
I got a 16gb / 512gb 13" Macbook air Refurbished with a Military discount for $1142 from the apple store. I am editing on it a mix of Cinema 4K and 6K open gate no issues.
I am a professional graphic designer. I use adobe indesign, illustrator and photoshop in same time. Can i do all these work smoothly in mba 15 inch 16 and 512 varrient? Please suggest. I am very confused. Should i go with mac or windows?
what if you've found the 15 inch M3 Macbook air for $1549 with 16/512gb can it be said that it's woth it at that price? Currenlty that's the sale price for it at best buy if your a plus member and $1599 at amazon currently.
@@JerrySchulze Absolutely, I most certainly did! I figured for $1549 price I got it for that’s just $50 bucks more than the 13 inch air with similar specs, but I get the added bonus of the extra screen real estate and two extra speakers for just $50 bucks more. Just can’t beat that!
weird price position for this. Makes no sense the base model 8GB and when spec it up, touch in MacBook Pro territory. Amazing that you just said 8GB no more, no go, period. Thats it.
I always love your stuff, the problem of course with that hub (one of which I have) is that it isn't portable given it needs mains. Is there a more portable option?
16/256 is perfect TABLET replacement. For the same price as the ipad pro 12.9" 256gb with accesories (like the cover with no keyboard) it is on par with the macbook air 15". Buy it with this config if you have another pc in your house and this is not the main device 16/512 for people who want a basic laptop for their needs and of course it is their main device 24/256 - tell me you are engineer student without telling me so 24/1TB - tell me you are a software engineer / computer engineer without telling me so 16/4TB - PRO music production ? I don't know
Today they gave me (at the office) a MBP 13 with M2 chip, 24gb of ram and 512ssd. I was using a thinkpad x1 carbon g9. The macbook is slower, has issues with external monitors, and the ecosystem is horribly closed. I do not understand how people invest a single dime in these macbooks.
great review @Jerry Schulze, am now a little all over the place again after watching, my concern is how safe or the throttling is it much of a concern when we talk about it or its simply the system getting heated but to no effect externally to the user. For light and random interval editing is an air ok or one to rather also just stick to pro, pro maybe as a future proofing. MBAir is tempting appearance and weight wise but if the price difference is not astronomical any harm in just being with the pro and be like that maybe the next 5 years.?
Totally disagree on the 8Gb of ram. Using a base M1 air for office stuff, some light photo and video editing (just for pleasure), immersed for meta’s quest 2, internet / productivity / TH-cam and so on. Almost all of the above are opened at the same time (using Safari and not Google stuff) and absolutely no problems so far ram wise. The swap / memory pressure is constant and low. This is exactly why this is the best selling and most recommended Apple laptop and it will remain so for the foreseeable future
Check out MKBHD's recent MB Air video comments, where thousands highlight that 8GB has been brilliant for them. It is misleading and disingenuous for creators to promote this vision of 8GB when the reality is far from that. Even MKHBD had the good sense to say 8GB is more than enough for the target audience of light use.
I'm replacing my late 2013 13" MacBook Pro 1 (8GB of ram and i5 processor). No brainer?!?!?!? My choice is the 15" M3 MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and 256GB of SSD. You wisely listed this as the only option considering a potential switch to 14" M3 MacBook pro. My goal was to have a lightweight MacBook Air this time around and treat it as a true "light client" that stands comfortably on its own with general compute. I just can't bring myself to buy 256GB of SSD memory for $200 -- no thank you! Instead, I bought a small USB-A/C thumb drive with 512GB storage memory for $45. There ---I have 768GB of storage memory and just barley increased the overall footprint and weight of the machine. Then the $200 to get double the RAM where you really are going to need it... if you are a power user (I am also a high-end "to reason" desktop PC person - yes, Windows -- deal with it) on the go and not planning to refresh in a few years, then one would be insane not to upgrade this (8-->(8->16 GB RAM) even if you are a total everyday user! Can't wait to get my hands on my starlight MacBook air (I also was/am not sure this was the best color choice, but I wanted a light color and decided not to want to blend in with all the silver mac laptop brothers! 4K OLED temptations from PCs were a bit hard to overlook this time -- but there is just nothing at all like the MacBook Air in this category - it is sorta a category of it's own really. Can't wait! For heavy stuff I am on my Desktop in Windows where the price of high end machines is not just for the rich.
Having got both devices I can truly say it’s a massive mistake to get the 15” MBA over the 14” MBP, they are night and day different. The midnight MBA is the only Mac I truly regret buying. Don’t buy a MBA pay the extra 100! 16GB and 512 is the absolute minimum for any MacBook in 2024, apple should not be selling anything less.
I have to disagree with the statement that "no Mac should ship with less than 16GB of RAM". That is wrong for several reasons. Price: With lower configurations, Apple can have a cheaper Mac entry point. This is one reason the Air has been the most successful PC since its launch. There are no 2024 Core Ultra premium ultrabooks for under £1600, so people with a budget of £1100 cannot own an XPS 14, Galaxy Book4 Pro, LG Gram 14, etc. Surely, offering a choice is more consumer-friendly than not; if you need 16GB, Apple offers that, and it is even a reasonable price: upgrading the MB Air 13 M3 from 8GB to 16GB also gets 25% extra GPU cores for £200. So, I need clarification on why you would force me to pay extra for more RAM if I cannot afford it. Of course, the base models get discounted; they are already £100 off in the UK, making them exceptional value. I still use my M1 MB Pro 13 base, which I bought 3.5 years ago, and it does not miss a beat for my work. It is a premium Chromebook workflow, and as people know, 99% of Chromebooks run on 8GB or less. Thankfully, many users like me who run on 8GB and do not have a pro workflow understand that 8GB is enough, it has been for 30 years, and that creators are basing their conclusions on a workflow of a tiny niche minority that would (should) never buy 8GB as even the pro creator apps suggest minimum 16GB but recommended 32GB. Leave us 8GB users alone; we love that we can save £500 with the base 8Gb/256GB over the premium Windows ultrabook 16gb/512gb. We are not all flush with money.
i am about to finish my CS masters degree and this entire time i have only worked with 8gb windows laptops. recently i have been looking into macs. but i dont get why people are so salty about 8gb ram. it is absolutely perfect for most people.
appreciate the thought. When considering 3-7 years down the line for something you buy today, I recommend 16. I also am not forcing you to do anything and I recommend that you save a little longer if you need to and you will be happier in the long run.
First off Jerry, thank you for shedding light on RAM and why more is better. Most users don’t know how RAM actually works. If a user gets the base model with 8GB of RAM the likelihood of the system using the hard drive as swappable memory is HIGH adding more ware and increase IOPs, which decreases the longevity of the hard drive. Not only that but some storage space will be lost as it will be reserved for swappable memory. Having said that, the way these systems are built where the RAM is right next to the CPU and at time right on it eliminating the need for Level 2,3 cache gives the impression that you don’t need to worry about it so much. If you’re a light user (word docs, few G chrome tabs open) you’re probably fine with the base model. system will be
@@WillChi23 watch Alex Ziskand Air review of today. From a light programmer user and has multiple apps open and 8GB is great. Having used 8GB for 40 years I know how much I need and unlikely to change for me or my 80 year old parents, so paying more for future proofing is not necessary. A reality check for some that do not understand that millions of users are not pro users or care about video editing.
I’m after a new machine for console streaming via capture card. And then of course video editing. Would the M3 Air handle this ok? Or better off going with the M3 pro?
![MacBook Air M3 vs MacBook Pro M3 - Which Should You Buy? [2024]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/I0YcblQpJBg/mqdefault.jpg)
This is the best review of the different specs, etc. and the irony is I disagree with the recommendation of the 14 M3 Pro over the 15" Air with 16/512. I know it's only $100 difference - and my head kept saying go the M3 Pro - but I spent a long time in the store comparing the 13" Air, 15" Air and 14" Pro. The size of the 15" screen is so much bigger than the 14" - whereas the 13" Air is similar in size to the 14". (The actual sizes are 13.6", 14.2" and 15.3"). The size real-estate is a lot more than you think when you really see them side by side. For me the 15" just looks and feels so much better than the 14".. .more modern, better battery, quiet, much bigger display and lighter. The Pro just looks like an older gen machine. I know the Pro chip with 18g ram is better, but the Air with 16 gigs will do 95% of what the pro will do and would be imperceptible to me.
I get it, and if that is the most important feature then it makes sense. I think the pro is silent for any regular use or even moderate use and is also modern looking. I find the extra features of the display and speakers plus the performance to be worth it over the display. But everyone has their priorities. Thanks for checking it out.
Great video and I totally agree with you @mailibuman. Great points. I am loving mine and love the bigger screen!
This! It‘s so often overlooked. The actual standard scaled resolution of the 15 Air is much closer to the 16 Pro and that of the 14 Pro closer to the 13 inch models. It‘s a much bigger difference than the small number (14 to 15) might suggest. In daily usage that makes much more of a difference to me than the slightly better speakers and brighter screen in hdr contexts.
Mostly OK, although I don’t have your same priorities, but you might want to check your “better battery” statement.
I settle on the base 16 pro bigger screen more ram more cpu more gpu 😮
I bought this EXACT laptop. Starlight with 16Gb/512Gb for $1529 with the Veteran discount.
Couldn't be more pleased with it. Being in my 50s now, the screen real estate is the biggest factor in a laptop. I use my Windows gaming desktop or my wife's Apple Studio (22) for intense computing. This Air does everything i personally need in a laptop better than anything else I've ever used. Extremely satisfied with it.
thanks for your service
You're the first reviewer I've seen that actually talks about the trackpad size and the distance of the keyboard from the front of the laptop. That's one of my biggest concerns about getting a 15" Air. Especially as someone who enjoys the 13" form. But that screen size is very tempting...
It does make a difference and is one of the main reasons I have trouble switching to a larger size full time.
I bought the 2024 Macbook Air 15 inch 24 GB / 1 TB model here in Norway for $1163 after rebates and company tax deduction. I wanted a thin laptop without a noisy fan and a large screen and decent performance for everyday tasks. I don't like the chubby 14 inch with smaller screen, noisy fans and not really more performance unless you buy the expensive M3 Pro/Max cpus. 16 inch is way too bulky. I went for space gray since I don't like fingerprints. In the shop, the new midnight variant still had fingerprints all over. If you buy any Mac with atleast 16 GB / 512 GB, you will be just fine in most cases I believe.
Thats a great deal!
How’s the performance on the laptop? I was thinking about getting that laptop too since to me, I felt that the MacBook Pro is a bit too expensive.
unheard of deal! wow
Hi, how is your Macbook Air doing? did you notice any overheat while using it in your daily tasks, as reports say?
How about dual screens, have you attached it to external screens so far and noticed any heating or drop in performance?
Thanks
@@Slimbk13 6 months late to the party, but the MacBook Air can support 2 external monitors if the lid of the laptop is closed. I use the MacBook Air M3 at work and I had to buy one of these for myself. I'm pretty satisfied with it besides the Air not having extra lightning ports like my personal MacBook Pro 13inch had but it's not a deal breaker for me...
My friend has a nice well specced 16 inch MBP. The problem is, he finds it heavy to bring around. The MBA would be less powerful than his 16 inch but I believe it's exactly what he should have gotten. The reason to get the Air is really weight considerations :)
Jerry you are so right on the 16gbs of memory, I had the M1 MacBook Air 8gbs and 256gbs and yes for simple tasks of classes and vernal work the computer was amazing with great battery life but when you worked it harder or more tabs per bigger excel files you started to see the bottle neck. M2 MacBook Air 16gb and 512gb has been simply amazing zero bottle necks and it seems over all the speed is better than my M1 air. But yes Apple no more 8gb of ram really?
The dilemma that I have is choosing between the 15 inch air with 16gb ram and 512 gb ssd and the MacBook Pro 14 inch with 18 gb ram is that the price difference here in Sweden actually is 400 dollars between the two. So your case for the small price difference doesn’t really apply here.
That is a biig difference and for you the 16/512 air might make sense. Thanks for watching.
@@JerrySchulze Hi,
Is it worth getting the MBA M3 13" with 24 GB of memory or is the difference with 16 GB barely noticeable ?
@@bertrusmcfly7958 from what I’ve seen in tests the jump from 16 to 24 doesn’t really get you that much. The only use case is maybe from stitch big panorama photos together. Think “art is right” did some tests of that. 16 gb seems to be the sweet spot for most users. Going 24gb on the air is a maybe not the right thing to do because it’s bumps the price up. At that point going for the MacBook Pro with 18gb and better performance overall might be better. But that’s just my thoughts on it.
Same for Germany... ;-)
how will you use your macbook? I like using my AIR on my bed and other places where having a fan would hurt long term as it would get clogged up. That is the main reason to buy the air. If not then PRO 14" would be better for you
Forget the inflated claims and sponsored content! This review is an excellent example of honest product evaluation. In a world full of misleading information, this reviewer sets it apart with his uncompromising honesty and actual consumer concern. A thorough, unbiased analysis of the product's strengths and weaknesses is a priceless aid for prospective buyers. It's a breath of fresh air that cuts through the hype around APPLE and offers an extremely frank perspective. Love it!
Thanks so much!
I went with the 14 M3 base Pro for $1449 BestBuy because of the fans for longer, sustained DJ sessions and the smart card and HDMI slots so it frees up my other USB Cs to avoid dongles. The speakers and screen are phenomenal too! Otherwise, I would have bought the 15” Air.
Thanks! Saved $200 with your link. Will love the new Mac Pro
Thanks so much and so glad you were able to get a nice discount! Is this laptop for everyday computing or something in particular?
I'm with you 100% on the keycaps. My M2 Air is docked at my desk in clamshell mode about 90%+ of the time. Even with the relatively minimal use of the built in keyboard, the keys look pretty bad. I would have to disagree on the RAM issue. My Air is a base model 8GB/256GB that I've been using since launch day and it flies through everything I throw at it. There are routinely 6-7 apps open at a time and, while I don't use super heavy apps, I regularly work in Photoshop and audio editing. Unless a person knows they're going to be using more intense apps on a regular basis, 8GB of RAM actually works just fine.
when I work in M1MBA 8GB with lightroom and 100MP raw photos, there is always some waiting time, won't be as snappy as 24MP, but my 16GB Mac mini will handle it all right, so I would say, there is a RAM difference, not until you push it to some degree though. But my argument is if you are buying a new Mac now, you might want to future proof yourself a bit, and in that case, RAM is the most important thing to go for.
I am still happy with my 8G MBA, and will continue to use it, but for the next machine, I think I will definitely go 16G or even 32-ish G RAM.
@@chennyye28 That’s totally understandable. If you know you’re going to push the machine harder, upgrading makes total sense. I just know from experience that the base model can handle a lot more than some people give them credit for.
@@chriscasillas for sure! 8GB is not as magical as what apple claims, but the whole apple silicon system is surely able to support a lot of people's need even in the base specs.
The configuration I've been eyeing is the one you're not recommending and I agree with you totally at it being a bad deal. But I need a larger display to upgrade from my M1 Air. So I'm holding out for retailers to offer a discount on the 16/512 model as the months roll on 🤞
good idea. Won't be long so check the links below!
Having used an M1 MBA as my everyday portable, the M3 MBA 15" keyboard is... bigger/wider ??? It's taking me some time to adjust my typing to not have mishits.
Great review.. I agree. In the last week I bought a base m3/8gb/256gb spec at best buy because it was an open box for $988. Well after a couple days I was already slightly regretting it a little.. it was fantastic but with just a few programs I was already pushing the 256gb space and I was regularly actively closing programs and making sure I didn't have too many things running. I was using Parallels/Windows 11 and new I needed as much free as possible to keep things running smoothly. Anyway.. bottom line is I returned it and sadly spent the extra $500 for the 16gb/512gb. It was annoying now but I knew if I planned on keeping this laptop for more than a year.. and maybe 4+ it would pay off bigtime. It already has. Also I traded my old M1 8gb/256gb and Best Buy gave me $525 for it which is crazy for a 3.5 year old laptop.. so I know this one will hold it's value especially being spec'd up a bit.
do you mean that you were pushing the 8gb ram space, not the 256gb space, since you were talking about closing programs, for you to fill up 256gb of disk space that quickly is quite fast.
Apple needs to stop with the 8 Gb Ram bullshit
Totally, the OS needs the best part of 6GB to wake up. It’s just wrong. But while ever the idiots but them, Apple will keep selling them and laughing as they hand over the money. 😂
Apple: Your wish has been granted my son!
Jerry, I was really close to buy the air 15 24GB 512GB, but your video totally made me realize I can get the 14 pro M4 16GB instead for slightly less even!, your 13min video future-proofed me and saved me a lot of hassle! You earned a new fan/subscriber
do you think i should stretch my budget and get the 24GB ram upgrade for the macbook m4 14inch?
I have the exact same config you have, but with the M2 15" model. Silver color is the best. I got the machine for a good discount off of the refurbished store about 3 months ago. I do often find now that I wish I had a few more ports. I connect one to my USB hub, which has 2 USB-A, and then 2 USB-C ports, and then one to my external SSD. Every port in this setup is occupied. I use my iPad for Sidecar, and never feel the need for an external monitor, so the improvement in monitor support isn't that advantageous. Totally justifying my purchase right now. I am curious to see what Apple does for the M4 iteration, it seem like they are going back and forth between major updates and minor updates. Really great and comprehensive review!
thanks so much for checking it out! Refurb is the way to go!!!
I bought the 13”, M2 MBA 8/10, 16gb, 512gb back in June of ‘22, i bought my wife the 14” M3 Pro MBP, 11/14, 18gb, 1T. In actual use it is difficult to tell the difference, but the speakers are definitely better on the 14”.
i'm currently using a macbook retina from 2017 😭so the m3 macbook pro would be a dream laptop upgrade for me
Can this handle basic 4k YT video editing?
Yep 👍
@@JerrySchulze really? No overheating?
Nice video! Just got my second Mac computer since the classic, 33 years ago in 1990. Went with the air 13" 16GB, $200 off list on amazon, great all around laptop, enjoying it so far.
Every time with macbooks i always have overheat storage transfer backlight screen failure HDMI monitor until i have 2 use a pentalobe screwdriver.
LOVE THE JELLY FISH BACKGROUND! where did you find it? lol I know weird question, as I wait to save up for an upgrade for my MacBook....
I've had my macbook air 13" 2017 for 7yrs now, looking for an upgrade now. Need a larger screen as my eyes are getting worst and going back to school. This 15" Air is my best option at the right price point for me. It's an extra 1k in Canada to grade to 14Pro which is really not worth it for me. One of the best reviews for the 15" Air I've seen during my research! Thanks Thanks!
Yea i agree with the comments, the review is awesome, the best part is comparing price points, a lot of reviews talk about the same perspectives on performance, IO, and benchmarks etc, but price and bang for buck is important to some consumers. Most reviewers don't price compare, and you did a great job with understanding how far you can push the dollar amount, and what you get. I find myself in the same boat as well, if i'm gonna drop 1200+ dollars on a mac in 2024, I wouldn't want to feel like i'm selling myself short at that price point. But i've always been against all of the apple upcharges, TBH external drives are the way to go for me always. Thanks again!!
one of the best reviews on apple products ive seen, thank you
Wow, thanks!
My 2021 MB Pro 14" w/ M1 is now doing the dreaded shutoff, apparently an issue with the M1 chips. So much for a $2k + laptop that was bought only 2.5 years ago. Thinking about trading it in and getting the 15" Air, I'm not a AV guy or use it for production, so based on my M1 Air that my wife uses, its been rock solid and the best buy of all the laptops we've bought from Apple. So, my question is, downgrading to the 60 Hz, wondering if I am going to regret it....
Thanks for the comparisons Jerry. I moved up to a refurbished M1 Pro MBP 14 from a base model MBA 13 because the extra features you cited meant more to me than better portability.
That's a nice upgrade.
Which laptop would you choose for Lightroom and specifically for photo editing: the 13-inch or the 15-inch MacBook Air? I'm curious to know your thoughts.
I heard that the 13-inch model struggles to dissipate heat quickly.
15” 100% for any type of photo or video editing.
@@D37fit Why?
@@Chris-wv8cn way nicer doing that on a big screen
@@Chris-wv8cn2 extra inches of passive cooling, still not as efficient as having a fan, but far better than than 13” plus if your editing photos you need as big a screen possible.
You’re the first reviewer I’ve seen show the new M3 air connected to two monitors with the one cable! Apple told me I’d need an MBP for that!
Weird... just need a dock that supports 2 displays.
@@JerrySchulze Yeah that's what I thought, but from what I read online was seeing mixed answers about whether the Mac would support that.. ended up going into the store and they confirmed it, and found your video shortly after that.
i have decided to get this one, and i have seen lots of reviews, of all the things you are the most sensible and honest. every other review felt like an apple fan boy trying so hard.
I purchased a refurbed 14” pro 18/512 for exact same price as 15” air 16/256. Very pleased with the space black. Exquisite machine!
Where’d you get the refurb model?
@@lorenzo6777 so worth it. It is like a brand new machine that is so much higher quality than the air with the processing, the screen, the speakers, that everything and you don’t even notice the difference in the screen size unless you look at them side-by-side that’s a non-issue completely and it weighs the same, so it’s a no-brainer. Go for it.
Loved the review Jerry!. Was very intrigued to see a glass housing for the magic trackpad and keyboard at 3:06. Where can i get one?
Sure, here are 2 options. Buy the XDDesignStudio Acrylic Tray: geni.us/4AAVluI
Buy the PurposeMadeProducts Tre2: geni.us/PRaV
@@JerrySchulze Thank you so much!
Great comparison at the end of the 3 models that are most suitable for day to day use, Im currently on a i7 13" 2019 MacBook Pro, and will be moving to the M3 14" MBP, thank you for posting!
I got m3 pro MBP for 1599, Best Buy. I think this is best deal out there for great configuration
When watching the video sometimes I get confused which laptop model you're really describing about. Is it MBA 15 or MBP 13 ???
3:56 wallpaper link pleaseeeeee
Sonoma with the 6 update is using 7 GB of RAM at idle on my M3 Air 15 inch. Buying 8 GB is going to result in swap memory use.
I got the 15" air at the end, I really like that there is no fan, no dust or cat hair of whatever I came across my old pro. I had one old laptop stand made from a chunky pice of aluminium. 3 medium size fans under it and the difference in temperature is big. i use it manly for photoshop but if I export a 360 file with the insta360 app it got really hot. now its just a little bit warm. also the aluminium stand is a bit warm so there is a good heat transfer. for the few times a year I do things like this I think I got the right one. 16gb and 512 ssd.
got myself a 16 gigs 256 macbook air 15", I hope i made the right decision
I’m sure you’ll love it
@@JerrySchulze i will update you
@@parthdashora9594how is your experience? Please answer
@@JerrySchulzei got the 15” MacBook Air 512GB 16gb of RAM
Enjoyed your video mate. I have a M3 Air 13, went with the 512 storage instead of the RAM.
8 GB RAM is fine for my light usage (have powerful pc's for games/video etc) but need the storage for my family photos & vids. Cloud storage real slow and dont want to use external drive everytime want to see some family videos.
Apple option prices are insane though!
yes they are.
Very good point about 512 storage and comparison to Cloud storage. Thanks.
That element hub would be nice if it had an Ethernet spot as well
You can get a usb a or usb c 2.5g adapter for very cheap.
Hi, thank you for the great review. Does the Macbook air heat up considerably while doing normal tasks on it as reports say? You seemed to be gaming so you tested it pretty intensely but didn't mention anything about heating.
I am upgrading from my old 15" Macbook Pro 2015 (i7 and 16 GB of RAM). My choice would be the 15" Macbook Air M3 with 24 GB of RAM and 256 GB storage, after initially considering the MBP M3 16", but I don't want to spend that kind of money for a system I will not be pushing to its limits with just browsing and trading. My only concern is the lack of active cooling in the Macbook Air that would heat it up considerably more than the MBP... Have you used it with dual screens enough to notice it overheat? Everyone seems to report that when using dual screens with the lid closed.
Thanks!
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly two years since I bought my 13” M2 MBA 8/10, 16gb, 512 spec. And yes I paid the Apple tax at that time ($1699.00)! But I have had no issues, and don’t plan to upgrade any time soon
Nice, you got a spec that will last.
Hello! Would be a 16GB 512GB Ssd MacBook Air good enough for Lightroom and PS? Thank you.
Yep!
@@JerrySchulze thank you a lot from Brazil. ☺️
...you forgot to do the bending test on 15 inch air...
Nice to see the M3 price drop for a 16GB / 512GB 13" Air. I'm on the same spec ram and storage M2, and for now it does what I need it to. No need for an upgrade here, but it makes me feel better about pricing in the future for when I do want/need an upgrade.
I currently have a 2019 model MacBook Pro 16 inch 16gb memory and 512 gb SSD which is out of warranty and the battery is down to 86% health according to CleanMyMac X. The battery drains like crazy, I might get 2-3 hours before recharging. So I am in the market for a new MacBook and am torn between the 15 inch Air with M3 16gb memory 512gb SSd and the 14 inch Pro with M3 Pro, 18gb memory and 512gb.just everyday stuff with lots of tabs open. I'm not a power user and I'm happy with my 16 inch screen, but it's hard to decide if I want to downgrade to the Air and the bigger screen or stay Pro with the smaller 14 but a huge upgrade over my current Pro as fas as picture and sound quality. Your video was really helpful but I'm still on the fence.
Either one will be a really big upgrade compared to what you have in performance and battery. The graphics in the old 16 may be better than the Air if you play any games.
@@JerrySchulze Thanks, Jerry. I've been racking my brain over this and just decided that I'm going to go with the MBP 16 inch M3 Pro. I love my 16 inch screen and the graphics so I might as well stick with the MBP at this point. At least I'll be good for the next few years with a much better product than what I have now as you said. Keep up the good work with your videos. Very insightful.
@@michw.9317 Awesome! I think you will be hjappy for more than a few years. Enjoy!
Thank you for the review! I have been torn on what to get (coming Windows). The last MacBook I had was a black one from 2007. My current laptop is a 2016 Lenovo and it’s been good enough. But, I recently bought an iPad and am trying to get back to the Mac ecosystem sans the iPhone. I think the 14” M3 Pro MacBook Pro is the way to go. While I would like a larger screen, the price and extra I/O can’t be beat.
Hi Jerry how much difference did you find when it comes to 60hz vs 120 hz promotion . Please help me with this. Is this can be the deciding factor?
For future proofing just go with 14 inch Pro because if you buy a 15 inch right now which has 60hz then you are stuck with it for the next 5-7 years or as long as you are planning to use it. But with 14 pro even after 5-7 years you would still have a lot of power alongside promotion which only adds to the experience. So basically with 15 inch there is a chance that you will feel like to upgrade in the future but with 14 inch pro that feeling of needing to upgrade probably wont exist. I personally use m1 air 13inch which i bought 2 years ago and am stuck with it for the next atleast 5 years. I use a 15 pro max so i know the smoothness that promotion adds to your experience. I hope i helped you with my suggestion. Have a great day.
If you do not play games, and most Mac users wouldn't buy a Mac for gaming, then 120Hz is not a major advantage, depending on usage. Remember that watching media is mainly 24-60FPS, so 120FPS is moot. Typing 120Hz has a nominal advantage. Even scrolling the web is only noticeable if you are continuously at speed. Working on office stuff also can be less than 120Hz. Most pro apps for photos or videos are static, so 120Hz and 60Hz provide the same experience.
I would not make a big deal about 120Hz. But it is subjective.
I find it more noticeable on iPad and iPhone/mobile, than I do on desktop, but, it's one more feature upgrade that is nice.
A newer deal availible now: refurb 15" M3 air, 16/512 $1279 USD. Seems like a great deal. any Comments?
Why have 2 MacBooks for routine use, excluding testing reasons for TH-cam reviews? Seems excessive given the cost.
Edit: I am a big fan of a powerful desktop and light travel laptop combo. For Apple products, that would be Mac Studio and the M2/M3 Air.
That just how I use it. I like the second display at my primary desk and I actually have an issue with my elbow that makes typing and mousing on the MacBook better than an external keyboard and mouse.
I just got my new 15" 16GB MacBook Air a few weeks ago. I sent my M1 Air to my grandson for a Christmas present . For me, the lack of fan on the Air is the deciding factor, since I don't need pro-level performance. Laptops with fans inevitably get coated with dust internally and eventually the fan itself can get bogged down and the whole thing stops working as well. So I'll stick with no-fan computers. I love this new computer.
Appreciate the good, clear recommendations.
Glad to help!
Where can I get that jellyfish wallpaper?
3:32 what application is this to see the wattage?
I’m upgrading from a MacBook Pro 2017 15inch with 512gb and 16gbs of ram to the m3 MacBook Air 15 inch with 256gb of storage and 8gbs of ram is that a huge downgrade?
I will not stand for this starlight slander!!! Lol I absolutely love my 13 inch in starlight, I love how subtle it is and how the colour shows differently in different lights.
hi! i'm a sophomore in college majoring in communication, coming from a 16inch 2019 mbp, 17 2.9, 1tb ssd, 16gb ram. i'm buying a new laptop this week and debating between the 15 inch air and the 14 inch pro. the air would be good for me since im in college and studying abroad in the fall in europe but the pro has a way better display and the 120hz refresh and ports is really enticing as well. can you tell me about the fans on the mbp and how loud they are and also how the battery life on the pro is compared to the air since thats what im leaning towards? also how is the weight on the pro since its slightly bigger than the air? is the 15” air vs. the 14” pro a huge sacrifice in screen real estate??thank u so much!!!
get the mbp m3 pro if money isn't a problem
Is it possible to work with Rino 3D and Unity with the 24 GB version?
Can you link that jellyfish wallpaper?
I see if I can get something together. I made it with AI.
@@JerrySchulze Oh never mind then
Will there be any performance difference between m3 air 16 gb Ram 256 GB and 512 GB Storage?
no,
I've been watching a lot of reviews to help me with my decision and I find your video to be the most helpful. Short and to the point, if I could offer only one piece of advise that would be to talk slightly slower so the viewers can digest what you just said and hold the screenshots of prices a little loner on screen. Thanks for your help.
It’s a lot closer to the original air size wise
Can you do a speaker sound test with a range of songs please?
Sorry, which one you prefer ?
Macbook pro M3 8.512
Or
Macbook air M3 16.512
Great video. I have MacBook Air for camtasia recording. No fans, quiet and fast. MacBook Pro for heavy lifting work! Easy.
Yes the 15” model in this video looks so much better than the other one he has. I don’t like that all black looking keyboard island and the thickness of the smaller model. The 15” is way better in my opinion. Thank you.
I would reduce the recommendations to 2 positions 13" MBA M3 16/256 and 14" MBP M3Pro Base
I have a question, I’m a apple guy since iPhone 4 released, i have all phones since that, but i never own a MacBook 💻, I want that to creat sites and editing some videos. What is the best MacBook for that work? I’m thinking in an air m3 15 inch! that’s a good choice?
in india the prices are way to higher than US or any other country. In US, m3 pro macbook pro is 1799$ but in india it is 400$ or 500$ more than 1799$.
what about m3 air with 24 gb ram?
14 inch not to small for coding?
I am not a coder but I find the size acceptable for remote work.
I've watched several TH-cam videos on the Air vs the Pro. Yes the Pro has slightly more ram and better display but it's also 14 inch. My old eyes need the biggest screen I can get and still be on a budget.
I got a 16gb / 512gb 13" Macbook air Refurbished with a Military discount for $1142 from the apple store. I am editing on it a mix of Cinema 4K and 6K open gate no issues.
Spot on about RAM always thought that! Will not be buying a macbook / air until 16GB on base models.
I am a professional graphic designer. I use adobe indesign, illustrator and photoshop in same time. Can i do all these work smoothly in mba 15 inch 16 and 512 varrient? Please suggest. I am very confused. Should i go with mac or windows?
Yes
The starlight color looks like how the grey on the super nintendo would look after a decade of ownership.
Haha
M3 MacBook Air 15" good or bad ??
Pretty good if you can get with 16gb and on sale.
Why do the airs have to have 60hz. Thats the only thing stopping me from buying these..
what if you've found the 15 inch M3 Macbook air for $1549 with 16/512gb can it be said that it's woth it at that price? Currenlty that's the sale price for it at best buy if your a plus member and $1599 at amazon currently.
Ya, probably is. You gonna snag one?
@@JerrySchulze Absolutely, I most certainly did! I figured for $1549 price I got it for that’s just $50 bucks more than the 13 inch air with similar specs, but I get the added bonus of the extra screen real estate and two extra speakers for just $50 bucks more. Just can’t beat that!
I would wait for the 15" m3 air to go on sale.
Always a good idea.
weird price position for this. Makes no sense the base model 8GB and when spec it up, touch in MacBook Pro territory. Amazing that you just said 8GB no more, no go, period. Thats it.
thank you for this review. i have been thinking about what to get and this clears it up.
Great, what did you decide?
I always love your stuff, the problem of course with that hub (one of which I have) is that it isn't portable given it needs mains. Is there a more portable option?
Something like the CalDigit SoHo is great for tossing in a bag.
thanks@@JerrySchulze for the reply, I will take a look.
16/256 is perfect TABLET replacement. For the same price as the ipad pro 12.9" 256gb with accesories (like the cover with no keyboard) it is on par with the macbook air 15". Buy it with this config if you have another pc in your house and this is not the main device
16/512 for people who want a basic laptop for their needs and of course it is their main device
24/256 - tell me you are engineer student without telling me so
24/1TB - tell me you are a software engineer / computer engineer without telling me so
16/4TB - PRO music production ? I don't know
seems like it 15 is huge and makes difference
Today they gave me (at the office) a MBP 13 with M2 chip, 24gb of ram and 512ssd. I was using a thinkpad x1 carbon g9. The macbook is slower, has issues with external monitors, and the ecosystem is horribly closed. I do not understand how people invest a single dime in these macbooks.
Help can I get by with the MacBook Air M3 with 24gb of ram and 256 memory?
great review @Jerry Schulze, am now a little all over the place again after watching, my concern is how safe or the throttling is it much of a concern when we talk about it or its simply the system getting heated but to no effect externally to the user. For light and random interval editing is an air ok or one to rather also just stick to pro, pro maybe as a future proofing. MBAir is tempting appearance and weight wise but if the price difference is not astronomical any harm in just being with the pro and be like that maybe the next 5 years.?
Since UE5 kinda works on a M1 air I think you can set your mind at ease
No, I think that use case is just fine for the Air.
M3 speakers are way better than my M2 version. Just my opinion and I use it for music.
Better speakers is the one reason I would upgrade my 2022 M2 13" Air to the M3. How much better? How is the low end? And do you have the 15" or 13"?
I disagree with the 16/512 Variant of the 15 Air. The screen difference is massive in real world use…
Totally disagree on the 8Gb of ram. Using a base M1 air for office stuff, some light photo and video editing (just for pleasure), immersed for meta’s quest 2, internet / productivity / TH-cam and so on. Almost all of the above are opened at the same time (using Safari and not Google stuff) and absolutely no problems so far ram wise. The swap / memory pressure is constant and low. This is exactly why this is the best selling and most recommended Apple laptop and it will remain so for the foreseeable future
Check out MKBHD's recent MB Air video comments, where thousands highlight that 8GB has been brilliant for them. It is misleading and disingenuous for creators to promote this vision of 8GB when the reality is far from that. Even MKHBD had the good sense to say 8GB is more than enough for the target audience of light use.
@@andyH_England we are in consensus here
appreciate the thought. When considering 3-7 years down the line for something you buy today, I recommend 16.
I'm replacing my late 2013 13" MacBook Pro 1 (8GB of ram and i5 processor). No brainer?!?!?!? My choice is the 15" M3 MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and 256GB of SSD. You wisely listed this as the only option considering a potential switch to 14" M3 MacBook pro. My goal was to have a lightweight MacBook Air this time around and treat it as a true "light client" that stands comfortably on its own with general compute. I just can't bring myself to buy 256GB of SSD memory for $200 -- no thank you! Instead, I bought a small USB-A/C thumb drive with 512GB storage memory for $45. There ---I have 768GB of storage memory and just barley increased the overall footprint and weight of the machine.
Then the $200 to get double the RAM where you really are going to need it... if you are a power user (I am also a high-end "to reason" desktop PC person - yes, Windows -- deal with it) on the go and not planning to refresh in a few years, then one would be insane not to upgrade this (8-->(8->16 GB RAM) even if you are a total everyday user! Can't wait to get my hands on my starlight MacBook air (I also was/am not sure this was the best color choice, but I wanted a light color and decided not to want to blend in with all the silver mac laptop brothers! 4K OLED temptations from PCs were a bit hard to overlook this time -- but there is just nothing at all like the MacBook Air in this category - it is sorta a category of it's own really. Can't wait! For heavy stuff I am on my Desktop in Windows where the price of high end machines is not just for the rich.
Having got both devices I can truly say it’s a massive mistake to get the 15” MBA over the 14” MBP, they are night and day different. The midnight MBA is the only Mac I truly regret buying. Don’t buy a MBA pay the extra 100!
16GB and 512 is the absolute minimum for any MacBook in 2024, apple should not be selling anything less.
14 is bulky and harder to type on, I wouldn’t recommend it over 13 inch 16/512
I thought my connection is buffering the video but I realized that’s how you speak. Random pauses in each word is annoying.
No its not wait until 22nd October for the M4 once the university deal ends and Apple sells all their old tech to students
I have to disagree with the statement that "no Mac should ship with less than 16GB of RAM". That is wrong for several reasons. Price: With lower configurations, Apple can have a cheaper Mac entry point. This is one reason the Air has been the most successful PC since its launch. There are no 2024 Core Ultra premium ultrabooks for under £1600, so people with a budget of £1100 cannot own an XPS 14, Galaxy Book4 Pro, LG Gram 14, etc. Surely, offering a choice is more consumer-friendly than not; if you need 16GB, Apple offers that, and it is even a reasonable price: upgrading the MB Air 13 M3 from 8GB to 16GB also gets 25% extra GPU cores for £200.
So, I need clarification on why you would force me to pay extra for more RAM if I cannot afford it. Of course, the base models get discounted; they are already £100 off in the UK, making them exceptional value. I still use my M1 MB Pro 13 base, which I bought 3.5 years ago, and it does not miss a beat for my work. It is a premium Chromebook workflow, and as people know, 99% of Chromebooks run on 8GB or less.
Thankfully, many users like me who run on 8GB and do not have a pro workflow understand that 8GB is enough, it has been for 30 years, and that creators are basing their conclusions on a workflow of a tiny niche minority that would (should) never buy 8GB as even the pro creator apps suggest minimum 16GB but recommended 32GB. Leave us 8GB users alone; we love that we can save £500 with the base 8Gb/256GB over the premium Windows ultrabook 16gb/512gb. We are not all flush with money.
i am about to finish my CS masters degree and this entire time i have only worked with 8gb windows laptops. recently i have been looking into macs. but i dont get why people are so salty about 8gb ram. it is absolutely perfect for most people.
appreciate the thought. When considering 3-7 years down the line for something you buy today, I recommend 16. I also am not forcing you to do anything and I recommend that you save a little longer if you need to and you will be happier in the long run.
First off Jerry, thank you for shedding light on RAM and why more is better. Most users don’t know how RAM actually works.
If a user gets the base model with 8GB of RAM the likelihood of the system using the hard drive as swappable memory is HIGH adding more ware and increase IOPs, which decreases the longevity of the hard drive. Not only that but some storage space will be lost as it will be reserved for swappable memory.
Having said that, the way these systems are built where the RAM is right next to the CPU and at time right on it eliminating the need for Level 2,3 cache gives the impression that you don’t need to worry about it so much. If you’re a light user (word docs, few
G chrome tabs open) you’re probably fine with the base model.
system will be
@@WillChi23 watch Alex Ziskand Air review of today. From a light programmer user and has multiple apps open and 8GB is great. Having used 8GB for 40 years I know how much I need and unlikely to change for me or my 80 year old parents, so paying more for future proofing is not necessary. A reality check for some that do not understand that millions of users are not pro users or care about video editing.
I’m after a new machine for console streaming via capture card. And then of course video editing. Would the M3 Air handle this ok? Or better off going with the M3 pro?