Apple MacBook Air (M3) review: Worth your money

Rating: 4.5/5

Let’s face it, laptops these days are a dime a dozen. They come in all shapes, sizes, and price tags, each promising to be the next game-changer. But then there's the MacBook Air M3. It's not just another contender in the ring; it’s Muhammad Ali, floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee (except instead of bees, it stings with processing power).

The boxing analogy is actually apt as the M-series of processors deliver quite a knockout punch when it comes to performance. The M3 is no different. Combine the power of Apple silicon and MacBook Air’s design and it comes across as a tantalising prospect. But is it worth your hard-earned bucks? Read on to find out more

Apple MacBook Air (M3) review: Design and display
Apple's design language is like the little black dress – timeless and effortlessly chic. The MacBook Air M3 stays true to this legacy. It's still thin and light— something you wouldn't mind carrying around all day. For someone who switched from a 16-inch MacBook Pro, it felt that a weight was lifted from the shoulders — literally and metaphorically. The best part of the MacBook Air design is that it appeals to almost everyone. The familiar brushed aluminum finish exudes an air of sophisticated minimalism.

Speaking of looks, the new Midnight colour option is supposed to be less prone to fingerprints thanks to a special coating. It is a bit lighter than the previous Midnight and does seem to show fingerprints less, but it's not perfect. If fingerprints drive you crazy, you might want to consider the Starlight or Space Gray colours instead.
The keyboard? Still wonderful to type on, with keys that have that satisfyingly snappy travel distance. The Touch ID makes logins quite a breeze. The trackpad on the MacBook Air is as efficient as ever. Apple cracked the trackpad code a while back and perhaps no other laptop comes close to how good it is on the MacBooks.

When it comes to display, the MacBook Air has a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display. Those extra tenths of an inch might seem insignificant, but does look bigger. The bezels are slim and the display is quite immersive. The colours are vibrant, the text is sharp and the True Tone technology adjusts the display based on the ambient light, making it easy on the eyes – no matter how late into the night that Netflix binge goes. And you can binge as Apple has improved the speaker setup on the MacBook Air. It’s not as good as the MacBook Pro but has come a long way.

Let's not forget about the 1080p FaceTime HD camera. It's good enough for video calls (although low-light performance could be better), but the real win here is the integration with features like Center Stage, which keeps you perfectly centred in the frame even as you move around.

One thing that's still annoying — or may be to some people — is the notch on the screen. It eats up some space and doesn't really do much besides housing the improved 1080p webcam. Perhaps with future model upgrades, Apple could do something more with the notch. Though if you use the laptop in dark mode, you wouldn’t notice the notch too much.

Apple MacBook Air (M3) review: Performance
Now, let's talk about the real star of the show: the M3 processor. Apple claims it's up to 60% faster than its M1 predecessor. And let me tell you, that's not hyperbole. I threw everything I could at it – image editing, churning through documents, spreadsheets, running multiple programs simultaneously – and it handled it all with nonchalance. Applications launch in a blink, multitasking becomes a breeze, and even the most demanding tasks are completed rather rapidly.

The 10-core GPU deserves a special shoutout. Whether you're a casual gamer or a design professional, you'll be impressed. Games run smoothly, with impressive frame rates.

The M3 also boasts a faster Neural Engine, which means applications that rely on machine learning, like image recognition and video editing, see a significant performance boost.

Of course, the raw power of the M3 processor is only half the story. The other half is the seamless integration with macOS. Everything works flawlessly, with smooth animations, intuitive gestures, and an overall user experience that is really polished.

Apple boasts an 18-hour battery life, and I can confidently say it lives up to the hype. I breezed through a workday of heavy multitasking, video calls, and the occasional YouTube rabbit hole, and still had juice to spare. This means you can finally ditch the power cord and embrace the freedom of true mobility.

The base model comes with 8GB of unified memory, which might feel a bit limiting for power users who like to keep a gazillion tabs open at once. Upgrading to 16GB will set you back a few quid but for most users, 8GB will be sufficient. The M3 processor is quite capable of delivering smooth performance for most users and the tasks they perform on their laptops.

The other minor gripe is the lack of a variety of ports. You get two Thunderbolt/USB-4 ports, which are great for connecting high-speed peripherals. But if you rely on older devices or SD cards, you'll need to invest in a dongle or adapter.

Apple MacBook Air (M3) review: Verdict
For years now — or more so since November 2020 — the MacBook Air has perhaps been the easiest recommendation to make. Whenever someone asks which laptop they should consider (if they have the moolah, that is), the most prompt answer is the MacBook Air. It has been a powerhouse wrapped in a sleek, lightweight package. It's perfect for students, professionals, and anyone who demands top performance from their machine. It's a future-proof investment that will keep you productive and entertained. All of that is true for the MacBook Air with the M3 processor.

The M3 MacBook Air M3 isn't cheap. But for top quality, you have to pay top rupee. The M3 MacBook Air starts at Rs 1,14,900. Pay that and at least for the next five years you will be sorted as the MacBook Air is worth it — for your peace of mind and for the sheer idea of not thinking about replacing a laptop for a good few years. You won’t go wrong with it.


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