M3 MacBook Air was introduced. Biggest thing for me is that it now supports two external displays (though lid has to be closed but that's how I have my current setup). That would use the two Thunderbolt ports and the MagSafe 3 for power so I couldn't plug into USB hub (I'd need a new monitor that supports USB through Thunderbolt connection). So not quite an in-place replacement.


M3 13" 24 GB RAM 2 TB SSD is $2300 pre-tax. Upgrade to 15" for +$200.

Apparently the M3 MBP will also get two external display support.

One big advantage is no fan which means one less moving part that can break down, albeit you lose high-end sustained performance. Lack of ports would mean using a dock which adds $200.


I read a couple of reviews

Ars Technica's Apple's Efficient M3 MacBook Airs... uses a Handbrake test showing how a 13-minute encode affects the Air since it has to throttle down due to no fan.

Tom's Guide MacBook Air M3 Benchmarks that with AAA game titles the M3 in the Air and MBP may have it rough. M3 Pro is better though M3 Max if you want 60 frames per second. Then again I rarely play AAA games and I'm quite fine reducing game graphics.


I guess that tilts my opinion towards buying a MBP M3 Max.

MBP M3 Max (14-core CPU, 30-core GPU) 36 GB memory 1 TB SSD is the lowest config and that's $3200.

MBP M3 Max (16-core CPU, 40-core GPU) 48 GB memory 1 TB SSD is best processor lowest config for $3700.

MBP M3 Max (16-core CPU, 40-core GPU) 64 GB memory 2 TB SSD is comfortable and that is $4300.

MBP M3 Max (16-core CPU, 40-core GPU) 128 GB memory 8 TB SSD is overkill at $6900.

16" adds +$200 which at the higher configs is more worth it.