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Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) vs Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2)
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) ($772) vs Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2) ($650) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right ultraportable laptop.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) | Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $772 | $650 |
| Weight | 1240g | 1400g |
| Chip | M3 | M2 |
| Display | 13.6" Liquid Retina | 13.3" Retina |
| Ports | MagSafe 3, 2x Thunderbolt, headphone | 2x Thunderbolt, headphone |
| Cooling | Fanless | Active fan |
| Displays | Two external with lid closed | — |
| Weight | 1240g (Apple published) | 1400g (Apple published) |
| Extras | — | Touch Bar, Touch ID |
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3)
- Two external displays, which the M2 could not do
- Faster chip in the same 1240g body
- Fanless and silent
- Better SSD than the base M2
- Marginal gain over an M2 for most tasks
- 8GB base memory again
- Still throttles under long exports
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2)
- Active cooling, so it sustains load better than an M2 Air
- Very long battery life
- The only way to get a Touch Bar if you liked it
- Heavier than an M2 Air at 1400g
- Thick bezels and an old design
- No MagSafe, only two ports
- 13.3-inch display is smaller than a 13.6-inch Air
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2) is the better value at $650. If weight matters most, Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) carries lighter at 1240g. Both are part of our curated ultraportable laptop index — tap through to check current pricing.
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