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MacBook Air 15-inch (M3)
Get a MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) with 16GB of memory, not 8GB, and only at a clear discount from its $1,299 launch price.
Product images
MacBook Air 15-inch (M3), from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Get a MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) with 16GB of memory, not 8GB, and only at a clear discount from its $1,299 launch price. You still get a 15.3-inch, 500-nit screen, six speakers, Wi-Fi 6E and up to 18 hours of video playback, but the camera is 1080p. The 15-inch M4 added a 12MP Center Stage camera and two external displays with the lid open, and the M5 starts at 512GB with Wi-Fi 7.
Who it is for
- Buyers who want a 15-inch, fanless Mac for less and can find a 16GB model at a fair price.
- 15-inch M2 owners who need Wi-Fi 6E, or a second monitor and don't mind closing the lid to use it.
- 13-inch M3 owners who want more room: a 15.3-inch screen and six speakers instead of four.
Who should skip it
- Anyone shopping new. The current 15-inch M5 starts at 512GB, goes to 4TB and has Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7.
- Frequent video callers. The camera is 1080p FaceTime HD; the 15-inch M4 moved to a 12MP Center Stage camera.
- Anyone who wants two monitors with the lid open. The M3 runs one at up to 6K, and a second at up to 5K only once you close the lid.
- Commuters who want less weight. The 13-inch M3 weighs 1.24 kg (2.7 pounds) to this one's 1.51 kg, with a 52.6Wh battery and four speakers.
What sets it apart
- A 10-core GPU in every 15-inch M3; the 13-inch M3 starts at 8 GPU cores.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, a step up from the 15-inch M2's Wi-Fi 6.
- A 66.5Wh battery that Apple rates for 15 hours of web browsing and 18 hours of Apple TV app playback.
- Six speakers with force-cancelling woofers, playing Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.
Caveats
- Fast charging needs the 70W USB-C adapter, which was an option at purchase. The box has the 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter.
- Apple hasn't announced an end date for macOS support on this model, so check its current compatibility list before you buy.
Key specs
In the same order on every laptop page, so you can compare models.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chip / processor | M3: 8-core CPU (4 performance, 4 efficiency), 16-core Neural Engine, 100GB/s bandwidth | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Graphics | 10-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specsEvery 15-inch M3 has 10 GPU cores; the 13-inch M3 starts at 8. |
| Memory options | 8GB or 16GB unified memory; 8GB models configurable to 16GB or 24GB, 16GB models to 24GB | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specsSoldered, so check which one you're buying. |
| Storage options | 256GB SSD standard; configurable to 512GB, 1TB or 2TB (no 4TB option) | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Display size | 15.3-inch diagonal Liquid Retina (actual viewable area is less; rounded top corners) | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Display type | LED-backlit IPS Liquid Retina; not touch; not mini-LED XDR | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Display resolution | 2880 × 1864 at 224 ppi | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Refresh rate | No ProMotion or 120Hz mode listed | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Color / HDR | 1 billion colors; wide color (P3); True Tone | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Dimensions | 0.45 × 13.40 × 9.35 in (1.15 × 34.04 × 23.76 cm), height × width × depth | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Weight | 3.3 pounds (1.51 kg) | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Chassis material | Aluminum unibody (fanless) | Apple Newsroom, 4 March 2024 |
| Finishes | Silver; starlight; space gray; midnight | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specsSky blue arrived with the 15-inch M4. |
| Battery capacity | 66.5-watt-hour lithium-polymer | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Battery, wireless web | Up to 15 hours of wireless web | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs, footnote 2From Apple's January 2024 tests of a 15-inch M3 with 8GB and 256GB, browsing 25 websites with the brightness 8 clicks up from the bottom. |
| Battery, video playback | Up to 18 hours of Apple TV app movie playback | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs, footnote 2Same test unit, playing HD 1080p movies in the Apple TV app. |
| Charging | 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter and USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable (2 m) in the box; fast charging with the optional 70W USB-C Power Adapter | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Ports | MagSafe 3; 3.5 mm headphone jack; two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports (Thunderbolt 3 up to 40Gb/s, USB 4 up to 40Gb/s, DisplayPort, charging) | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specsApple lists Thunderbolt 4 only on later Airs. |
| Webcam | 1080p FaceTime HD camera | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specsThe 15-inch M4 and M5 have a 12MP Center Stage camera. |
| Speakers | Six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers; Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on the built-in speakers | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Microphones | Three-mic array with directional beamforming; Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID; 78 keys (US) or 79 (ISO), including 12 function keys and inverted-T arrows | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Trackpad | Force Touch trackpad | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3 | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specsThe 15-inch M5 has Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7. |
| Operating system | macOS, with Apple Intelligence (Apple supports it on M1 and later) | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| External display support | One external display up to 6K@60 with the lid open; close the lid to use a second external display up to 5K@60 | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Security / biometrics | Touch ID | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Cooling | Fanless | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| US launch price | $1,299 (education $1,199) at launch on 4 March 2024 | Apple Newsroom, 4 March 2024Used and refurbished prices vary by seller; it's no longer Apple's current 15-inch Air. |
| Price band | Older large ultraportable | Based on Apple's $1,299 launch price |
| Announced | 4 March 2024 | Apple Newsroom; Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| Availability | Orders from 4 March 2024; in stores from Friday, 8 March 2024; by 2026, used, refurbished or education stock unless Apple still lists it | Apple Newsroom, 4 March 2024; Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| 15-inch M2 (earlier model) | MacBook Air 15-inch (M2): Wi-Fi 6 rather than 6E, and one external display with no lid-closed second display | Apple 15-inch M2 tech specs |
| 13-inch M3 | MacBook Air 13-inch (M3): 8-core GPU to start, 2560 × 1664 screen, 52.6Wh battery, four speakers, 1.24 kg | Apple 13-inch M3 tech specs |
| 15-inch M4 (next model) | MacBook Air 15-inch (M4): 16GB and 256GB to start, Center Stage camera, two external displays with the lid open, sky blue | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| 15-inch M5 (current model) | MacBook Air 15-inch (M5): 512GB to start, up to 4TB, Apple N1 wireless chip, 40W Dynamic Power Adapter | Apple 15-inch M5 tech specs |
| Second external display | Close the lid to use a second external display; the 15-inch M4 and M5 run two with the lid open | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
| In the box | 15-inch MacBook Air; 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter; USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable (2 m) | Apple 15-inch M3 tech specs |
When Apple announced the 15-inch M3 on 4 March 2024 at $1,299, its gains over the M2 were Wi-Fi 6E and a second external display with the lid closed. It reached stores on 8 March 2024. What it didn’t get is the 12MP camera and the lid-open dual-display support that came a generation later.
What the 15-inch M4 and M5 changed
- The 15-inch M4 made 16GB of memory standard, replaced the 1080p camera with a 12MP Center Stage camera, runs two external displays with the lid open and added a sky blue finish.
- The 15-inch M5 starts at 512GB of storage and goes to 4TB, uses Apple’s N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, and comes with a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter.
If you own a 16GB M3 and one external monitor is enough, keep it. The M4 is the upgrade for video calls and for two monitors with the lid open; the M5 is the one for more storage and Wi-Fi 7.
Screen, sound and battery
The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina screen has 2880 × 1864 pixels at 224 ppi, 500 nits, P3 wide color and True Tone. It isn’t a touchscreen, and there’s no ProMotion. Six speakers with force-cancelling woofers play Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, and three beamforming microphones support Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes.
Apple’s figures for the 66.5Wh battery are 18 hours of movie playback in the Apple TV app and 15 hours of wireless web, measured in January 2024 on an 8GB, 256GB model. The box has the 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter and a 2-meter USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable.
Ports and displays
You get MagSafe 3, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and two USB-C ports that handle Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 at up to 40Gb/s, DisplayPort and charging. You can run one external display at up to 6K and 60Hz alongside the laptop’s own screen. A second one, at up to 5K and 60Hz, works only with the lid shut, which suits a laptop parked on a stand but not one you type on.
Price
Apple’s US launch price was $1,299, or $1,199 with education pricing. It’s no longer Apple’s current 15-inch Air, so you’ll be buying it used, refurbished or through education stores, where prices vary. Compare whatever you’re offered with a new 15-inch M5 before you decide.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Apple Support — MacBook Air (15-inch, M3, 2024) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Newsroom — new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy a 15-inch M3 with 8GB or 16GB?
16GB if you can find it. The memory is soldered, so an 8GB machine stays at 8GB, and Apple made 16GB the standard amount on the 15-inch M4.
Does the 15-inch M3 have Thunderbolt 4?
No. Its two USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 at up to 40Gb/s, plus DisplayPort and charging. Apple lists Thunderbolt 4 only on later Airs.
Does the 15-inch M3 come in sky blue?
No. It comes in silver, starlight, space gray and midnight. Sky blue arrived with the 15-inch M4.
Does the 15-inch M3 run Apple Intelligence?
Yes. Apple supports Apple Intelligence on Macs with M1 or later, and the M3 qualifies.
Official product page: MacBook Air 15-inch (M3). Tech specs: MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) specs.