MacBook comparison
MacBook Air M1 vs MacBook Air M3
Compare MacBook Air M1 vs MacBook Air M3 side by side: chip, memory, storage, display, ports, launch price and how each fits in Apple history.
MacBook Air (M1)The third great architecture leap, and the most decisive.
MacBook Air (M3, 2024)A clean M3 update to both Air sizes, finally supporting dual external monitors and adding Wi-Fi 6E.At a glance
Released 4 years apart — the MacBook Air (M3, 2024) is the newer model. 10 of 13 specs differ.
Going from the MacBook Air (M1) to the MacBook Air (M3, 2024), the chip changes from the Apple M1 (8-core) to the Apple M3 (8-core), the display grows from 13.3″ to 13.6″, and it gets lighter, 1.29 kg to 1.24 kg. Launch price rises from $999 to $1,099.
- ChipApple M1 (8-core)Apple M3 (8-core)
- Display13.3″13.6″
- Weight1.29 kg1.24 kg
- Launch price$999$1,099
Unchanged memory, storage.
Specs side by side
| Spec | MacBook Air (M1) | MacBook Air (M3, 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Release | November 17, 2020 | March 8, 2024 |
| Launch price | $999 | $1,099 |
| Price today | $1,209 | $1,110 |
| Chip | Apple M1 (8-core) · 3.20 GHz | Apple M3 (8-core) · 4.05 GHz |
| Graphics | Apple 7/8-core GPU | Apple 8/10-core GPU |
| CPU coresSame | 8 | 8 |
| MemorySame | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| StorageSame | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| Display | 13.3" Retina, 2560×1600 | 13.6" or 15.3" Liquid Retina |
| Weight | 1.29 kg | 1.24 kg |
| Dimensions | Tapered wedge, fanless | Flat unibody |
| Ports | 2× Thunderbolt / USB 4 | 2× Thunderbolt, MagSafe 3 |
| Operating system | macOS 11 Big Sur | macOS 14 Sonoma |
Highlighted cells win clear more-is-better specs (memory, storage, lighter weight). Historical pricing uses approximate US CPI; clock speeds are not full real-world performance.
Why each matters
First Mac with Apple Silicon, and the first fanless Mac that could outrun machines with fans.
First Air able to drive two external displays (with the lid closed).
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Last updated: 2026-08-18