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Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M1)
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) ($793) vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M1) ($249) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right ultraportable laptop.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) | Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M1) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $793 | $249 |
| Weight | 1510g | 1290g |
| Chip | M3 | M1 |
| Display | 15.3" Liquid Retina | 13.3" Retina |
| Ports | MagSafe 3, 2x Thunderbolt, headphone | 2x Thunderbolt, headphone |
| Audio | Six-speaker with Spatial Audio | — |
| Cooling | Fanless | Fanless |
| Weight | 1510g (Apple published) | 1290g (Apple published) |
| Battery | — | Up to 18 hours |
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3)
- 15-inch screen at 1510g is remarkable
- Six speakers genuinely sound good
- Fanless and silent
- 270g heavier than the 13-inch
- Same chip as the 13, so no extra performance
- Large footprint in a small bag
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M1)
- Extraordinary value at this price
- Fanless and silent
- Battery life still excellent
- Fast enough for real work in 2026
- Wedge shape is thicker at the back than modern Airs
- Only two ports and no MagSafe
- 8GB base memory
- 1290g, heavier than an M2 Air
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M1) is the better value at $249. Both are part of our curated ultraportable laptop index — tap through to check current pricing.
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