Apple Launched MacBook Air Featuring Upgraded M3 Chips For Enhanced Performance

Apple on Monday unveiled a pair of new MacBook Air laptops with its latest M3 processors, betting that the more powerful models would attract consumers looking to upgrade to artificial intelligence-powered personal computers.

The new MacBook Air models come with 13-inch and 15-inch screen sizes and are up to 60% faster than the model with Apple's M1 processor, the company said on its website. The latest MacBook Air now boasts an integrated AV1 decode engine, offering users improved video quality and efficiency when streaming services.

Additionally, the laptop introduces cutting-edge features such as support for Wi-Fi 6E and innovative microphone modes like Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum. These enhancements aim to provide superior voice clarity during both audio and video calls.

Prices for the smaller model start at $1,099 in the United States, while the base version of the bigger MacBook Air costs $1,299. Both are available for order from Monday, with deliveries set to begin later this week, said Apple, which has since 2020 used its own chip after parting ways with Intel.

The introduction of AI-enabled PCs is expected to help drive a recovery in the PC market in 2024 after a more than two-year, post-pandemic slump. Its Mac sales were up slightly at $7.78 billion in the last reported quarter after slumping by a third in the previous quarter.