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Apple MacBook Air 13" M1 vs Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch

Buy the M1 Air if you want the cheapest way into a MacBook that still handles everyday work well; it is silent, light and has excellent battery life. Buy the M3 Air if you keep many tabs and apps open, edit photos or video, or want the newer design with a bigger, brighter screen, better webcam and speakers. Both are fanless and well built, and owners rate them highly; the M3 is the faster, more future-proof machine, while the M1 is the better value for light use.

  • Choose the MacBook Air M1 if your work is browsing, email, documents and streaming, and you want a proven, quiet laptop that still feels fast.
  • Choose the MacBook Air M3 if you multitask heavily, edit photos or video, or want the newer 13.6-inch display, 1080p webcam and better speakers.

Prices

  • Apple MacBook Air 13" M1: $499.00 at Peachtree Computers (last seen Nov 2)
  • Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch: $999.99 at Reliant Cellular (last seen Nov 10)
  • Difference: the Apple MacBook Air 13" M1 is $500.99 cheaper than the Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch at the latest prices (Nov 2 and Nov 10)
Apple
MacBook Air 13'' Laptop - Apple M1 chip - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD

Apple MacBook Air 13" M1

MacBook Air 13'' Laptop - Apple M1 chip - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD

4.9(12,559 ratings)
$499.00at Peachtree ComputersChecked Nov 2
See all prices and details
Visit Peachtree Computers
Pros
  • Silent fanless design
  • Excellent battery life
  • Fast enough for everyday tasks
  • Proven reliability and high owner ratings
  • Light and easy to carry
Cons
  • 8GB memory fills up with many browser tabs
  • Older 720p webcam
  • Dim compared with newer Air screens
  • Only two ports
  • Wedge design is older
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
  • Faster M3 chip for heavier multitasking
  • Brighter 13.6-inch display with 1 billion colors
  • 1080p webcam and four speakers with Spatial Audio
  • MagSafe charging frees both Thunderbolt ports
  • Longer expected macOS support
Cons
  • 8GB base memory still limits heavy multitasking
  • Fanless design can throttle in long sustained loads
  • Only two Thunderbolt ports
  • Costs more than the M1 for similar light use

What separates them

Apple MacBook Air 13" M1Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch
ChipApple M1, 8-core CPU and 7- or 8-core GPUApple M3, 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU on a 3nm process
Memory8GB unified memory, configurable at purchase8GB base, configurable up to 24GB
Display13.3-inch Retina, 2560x1600, 400 nits13.6-inch Liquid Retina, about 500 nits, 1 billion colors
Webcam and audio720p FaceTime camera, three mics, stereo speakers1080p FaceTime camera, three mics, four speakers with Spatial Audio
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4Two Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4, plus MagSafe charging
Design and weightWedge shape, about 2.8 lb, fanlessFlat design, about 2.7 lb, fanless
BatteryUp to 15 hours web, 18 hours videoUp to 18 hours Apple-rated
Software supportReleased 2020; still supported by current macOSReleased 2024; longer expected macOS support

Price history

  • Apple MacBook Air 13" M1: lowest $419.99 on Nov 1 at Walmart; $499.00 on Nov 2.

Prices at every store

Apple MacBook Air 13" M1

  • Peachtree ComputersNew

    Availability unknown

    $499.00Checked Nov 2
    Visit Peachtree Computers
  • WalmartNew

    Availability unknown

    $544.95Checked Nov 2
    Visit Walmart
  • TalkShopLiveNew

    Availability unknown

    $599.00Checked Nov 2
    Visit TalkShopLive
  • Best BuyNew

    Availability unknown

    $779.95Checked Nov 2
    Visit Best Buy

Also available at

  • South Carolina State University BookstoreCheck price at South Carolina State University Bookstore
All 8 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 13" M1Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch
Display size13.3-inch—
Native resolution2560x1600—
Brightness400 nits—
ChipApple M1 chip—
CPU cores8-core CPU—
GPU cores7-core GPU, 8-core GPU—
Wireless web batteryUp to 15 hours—
Movie playback batteryUp to 18 hours—
Battery capacity49.9‑watt‑hour—
Power adapter30W USB‑C Power Adapter—
Memory8GB unified memory—
Storage256GB SSD—
Show all 36 specsShow fewer specs
SpecApple MacBook Air 13" M1Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch
Screen Size13.3 inches—
Screen Resolution2560 x 1600 (Retina)—
Touch Screenfalse—
Processor ModelApple M1—
Storage TypeSSD—
Total Storage Capacity256 gigabytes—
System Memory (RAM)8 gigabytes—
GraphicsApple M1 7-core—
Display Connector(s)2 x Thunderbolt 3—
Battery Life (up to)

What reviewers say

Apple MacBook Air 13" M1

  • 4.9 / 512,559 ratings

Owners rate it very highly, with 4.9 out of 5 from 12,559 ratings. Most praise the speed for daily tasks, the silent fanless build and the battery life. Complaints center on the 8GB memory and 256GB storage limits.

What people mention
  • PerformancePraisedOwners say the M1 chip keeps everyday apps and light photo editing smooth.
  • Fanless designPraisedReviewers note the Air stays silent because it has no fan.
  • Battery lifePraisedUsers report a full day of work or study on one charge.
  • MemoryCriticisedThe fixed 8GB of unified memory is the most common complaint from heavier users.

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.

Questions and answers

Which is better for schoolwork and everyday browsing?
Both handle it easily. The M1 is enough for documents, video calls and streaming. The M3 is the safer pick if you keep many tabs and apps open at once.
Which lasts longer?
The M3 was released later, so expect more years of macOS updates. The M1 still runs current macOS and its battery is rated similarly, but it is an older design.
Is the M3 worth stepping up to?
Yes if you edit photos or video, multitask heavily, or care about the brighter screen, better webcam and speakers. No if your work is light and the M1 already feels fast.
Do either have fans?
No. Both are fanless and silent, so very long heavy tasks can slow them slightly to stay cool.
Can I upgrade the memory later?
No. Memory is soldered on both, so choose 16GB at purchase if you plan to multitask heavily or keep the laptop for years.
Which is better for video calls?
The M3. Its 1080p camera and four-speaker Spatial Audio setup are clearly better than the M1's 720p camera and stereo speakers.

Ask our shopping agent

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More comparisons

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Buying guides that pick them

  • Best MacBook Air laptops under $1,000
18 hours
—
Battery ChemistryLithium-polymer—
Backlit Keyboardtrue—
BrandApple—
Model NumberMGN63LL/A—
ColorSpace Gray—
Year of Release2020—
Display TypeLED—
Processor BrandApple—
Processor Model NumberApple M1—
Number of CPU Cores8-core—
Solid State Drive Capacity256 gigabytes—
Type of Memory (RAM)LPDDR4X—
Graphics TypeIntegrated—
GPU BrandApple—