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Apple MacBook Air M2 vs Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch

The MacBook Air M3 is the better buy for most people. It has the newer chip, a brighter 13.6-inch screen, Wi-Fi 6E, and support for two external displays with the lid closed. The M2 Air is still a strong, silent, fanless machine and is the smarter pick if you find it in good condition and want to spend less. Reviewers and owners praise both for build quality, battery life, and near-silent running; the M3 gets the edge on longevity and graphics.

  • Choose the MacBook Air M2 if you want the same thin, silent design and all-day battery and are fine with an older chip and Wi-Fi 6.
  • Choose the MacBook Air M3 if you want the newest chip, a brighter screen, Wi-Fi 6E, and dual external display support.

Prices

  • Apple MacBook Air M2: $639.99 at GameStop (checked today)
  • Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch: $999.99 at Reliant Cellular (last seen Nov 10)
  • Difference: the Apple MacBook Air M2 is $360.00 cheaper than the Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch at the latest prices (Nov 10 and Nov 14)
Apple
Apple MacBook Air M2

Apple MacBook Air M2
4.8(3,500 ratings)
$639.99at GameStopChecked 13 min ago
See all prices and details
Visit GameStop
Pros
  • Silent fanless design
  • Excellent 18-hour battery life
  • Bright Liquid Retina display
  • Strong build and resale value
Cons
  • Older M2 chip
  • Wi-Fi 6 only
  • One external display with lid open
  • Base storage can fill quickly
Apple
Macbook Air (A3113) M3

Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch

Macbook Air (A3113) M3

$999.99at Reliant CellularChecked Nov 10
See all prices and details
Visit Reliant Cellular
Pros
  • Newer M3 chip with ray tracing
  • Wi-Fi 6E
  • Two external displays with lid closed
  • Same thin, light, fanless body
Cons
  • 8-core GPU on the base model
  • No major design change over M2
  • Base memory still limits heavy multitasking

What separates them

Apple MacBook Air M2Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch
ChipApple M2, 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPUApple M3, 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU with hardware ray tracing
Display brightness500 nits500 nits on the 13.6-inch Liquid Retina panel, 1 billion colors
WirelessWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)Wi-Fi 6E for the 6 GHz band
External displaysOne external display with the lid openTwo external displays with the lid closed
Design and weight2.7 lb, fanless aluminum wedge-free body2.7 lb, under half an inch thin, fanless
BatteryUp to 18 hours, 66.5 WhUp to 18 hours
PortsMagSafe 3, two Thunderbolt, headphone jackMagSafe 3, two Thunderbolt, headphone jack
LongevityOlder chip, fewer macOS feature years aheadNewer chip, longer software support runway

Price history

$1,699.00$639.99
Oct 28Nov 14
  • Apple MacBook Air M2: lowest $639.99 on Nov 14 at GameStop.

Prices at every store

Apple MacBook Air M2

  • GameStopNew

    In stock

    $639.99Checked 13 min ago
    Visit GameStop
  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by Powered By Tek

    $642.86Free shippingChecked Nov 11
    Visit Walmart
  • Macpro-laNew

    Availability unknown

    $724.00Checked 13 min ago
    Visit Macpro-la
  • OWCNew

    Availability unknown

    $749.00Checked 13 min ago
    Visit OWC

Also available at

  • bhphotovideo.comCheck price at bhphotovideo.com
  • Uber EatsCheck price at Uber Eats
  • EntrepreneurCheck price at Entrepreneur
All 19 stores and price history →

Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch

  • Reliant CellularNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $999.99Checked Nov 10
    Visit Reliant Cellular
Prices and history →

Specs compared

SpecApple MacBook Air M2Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch
Resolution2560 x 1664—
Operating SystemMac OS—
TouchscreenYes—
With Retina DisplayYes—
Drive TypeSolid State Drive—
Number Of CoresOcta Core—
LanguageEnglish / North America—
Available PortsUSB-C—
Biometric SecurityFingerprint Scan—
Weight2.7 lb—
Screen Size13 inches—
Battery Life18 hours battery life—
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecApple MacBook Air M2Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch
OS VersionmacOS 13.0, Ventura—
Main StorageSSD 256GB, 256GB SSD—
Storage TypeSSD—
Storage InterfaceSolid State—
Battery Capacity66.5 Wh—
Battery Run Time18 Hours—
Battery TypeLithium-ion—
Ports And InterfacesUSB-C—
Wireless CommunicationsWi-Fi, Bluetooth—
Network Interface

What reviewers say

Apple MacBook Air M2

  • 4.8 / 53,500 ratings

Owners rate it highly, with 4.8 out of 5 from about 3,500 ratings. Most praise the light, silent design and battery life; complaints center on the 8 GB base memory and 256 GB storage.

What people mention
  • Fanless designPraisedOwners note the Air stays silent because it has no fan.
  • Battery lifePraisedMost report a full day of mixed use on one charge.
  • MemoryCriticisedThe 8 GB base configuration struggles with heavy multitasking.
  • StorageCriticisedThe 256 GB SSD is seen as small for the price.

Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch

Reviewers and owners rate the M3 Air highly for its battery life, silent operation and light build. Most say it is fast enough for everyday work and light creative apps. Complaints center on the 8GB base memory and the two-port layout.

What people mention
  • BatteryPraisedOwners report getting through a full workday without the charger.
  • NoisePraisedThe fanless design stays silent even under load.
  • MemoryCriticisedReviewers say the 8GB base configuration struggles with many tabs and heavier apps.
  • PortsCriticisedTwo Thunderbolt ports are called limiting for monitors, drives and card readers.
Reviews
  • The best MacBooks of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed - ZDNET
  • The best laptops under $1,000 of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed - ZDNET
  • The best laptops for graphic designers in 2026: Expert tested and reviewed - ZDNET

Questions and answers

Is the M3 worth stepping up to from the M2?
Yes for most buyers. The M3 adds a newer chip, Wi-Fi 6E, and dual external display support, which extends useful life. The M2 remains fine for browsing, writing, and light editing.
Which is better for video editing?
The M3 handles longer timelines and graphics effects better thanks to its newer GPU with hardware ray tracing. The M2 is still capable for short 1080p and light 4K edits.
Which lasts longer?
The M3 should get macOS updates for more years because its chip is newer. Both share the same aluminum build and rated 18-hour battery.
Do both run silently?
Yes. Both are fanless, so neither has a spinning fan or vents. They can warm up under sustained load but stay quiet.
Can I connect two monitors?
Only the M3 Air supports two external displays, and only with the lid closed. The M2 Air supports one external display with the lid open.
Is the screen different?
Both are 13.6-inch Liquid Retina panels at 2560x1664 and 500 nits. The M3 model is rated for 1 billion colors.

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Buying guides that pick them

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Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax
—
Processor BrandApple—
Graphics MemoryShared Memory—
Number Of Processor Cores8-core CPU—
Integrated GPUYes—
Processor Clock Speed3.49 GHz—
Graphics Memory TechM2—
Max Turbo Speed3.49 GHz—
Highlighted Performance FeaturesFanless design for silent operation—
Processor ChipsetM2 chip—
Processor Chipset Features16-core Neural Engine—
64-Bit ComputingYes—
Cache12 MB—
Display Size15-inch—
Installed Memory8 GB RAM, 16 GB RAM, 24 GB RAM—
ColorBlack—
With Backlit KeyboardYes—
Refresh Rate60Hz—
Drive Capacity1 TB drive—