MacBook comparison
MacBook Air M3 vs MacBook Pro M3
Compare MacBook Air M3 vs MacBook Pro M3 side by side: chip, memory, storage, display, ports, launch price and how each fits in Apple history.
MacBook Air (M3, 2024)A clean M3 update to both Air sizes, finally supporting dual external monitors and adding Wi-Fi 6E.
MacBook Pro (M3, 2023)The M3 generation added hardware ray tracing, a darker new Space Black colour, and even brighter screens.At a glance
Released 1 year apart — the MacBook Air (M3, 2024) is the newer model. 11 of 13 specs differ.
Going from the MacBook Air (M3, 2024) to the MacBook Pro (M3, 2023), the chip changes from the Apple M3 (8-core) to the Apple M3 / M3 Pro / M3 Max, the display grows from 13.6″ to 14.2″, base storage rises from 256 GB to 512 GB, and it gets heavier, 1.24 kg to 1.6 kg. Launch price rises from $1,099 to $1,599.
- ChipApple M3 (8-core)Apple M3 / M3 Pro / M3 Max
- Display13.6″14.2″
- Storage256 GB512 GB
- Weight1.24 kg1.6 kg
- Launch price$1,099$1,599
Unchanged memory.
Specs side by side
| Spec | MacBook Air (M3, 2024) | MacBook Pro (M3, 2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Release | March 8, 2024 | November 7, 2023 |
| Launch price | $1,099 | $1,599 |
| Price today | $1,110 | $1,647 |
| Chip | Apple M3 (8-core) · 4.05 GHz | Apple M3 / M3 Pro / M3 Max · 4.05 GHz |
| Graphics | Apple 8/10-core GPU | Apple up to 40-core GPU |
| CPU cores | 8 | 16 |
| MemorySame | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB |
| Display | 13.6" or 15.3" Liquid Retina | 14.2" or 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR, ProMotion |
| Weight | 1.24 kg | 1.6 kg |
| Dimensions | Flat unibody | Unibody with notch |
| Ports | 2× Thunderbolt, MagSafe 3 | 3× Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SD, MagSafe 3 |
| Operating systemSame | macOS 14 Sonoma | 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 Air able to drive two external displays (with the lid closed).
First 3 nm pro laptop chips and a new "Space Black" finish.
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Last updated: 2026-08-18