To mark the release of the MacBook Pro M4, Apple announced a surprise update for its MacBook Air equipped with M2 and M3 chips. The basic RAM increases from 8 to 16 GB, without any increase in price. Excellent news for users looking for a high-performance ultraportable.
16 GB of RAM as standard, at no extra cost
Until now, the MacBook Air M2 and M3 were offered with 8 GB of RAM in base configuration. To upgrade to 16 GB, you had to pay an additional €220, which brought the price to €1,529, getting dangerously close to the €1,999 of the entry-level MacBook Pro.
Apple has decided to change the situation by doubling the basic RAM, while maintaining the starting price at €1199. A wise choice that makes the MacBook Air even more attractive, by offering more RAM to streamline multitasking and demanding applications.
A welcome update in the age of Apple Intelligence
If the MacBook Air remains for the moment confined to the M3 chip in its highest configuration, this doubling of RAM allows Apple to save time before moving to the M4 in 2025. Apple Intelligence works on all Macs equipped with an Apple Silicon chip, without requiring 16 GB of RAM. But this additional RAM will likely be necessary for future developments in Apple’s generative AI features. In fact, it is a safe bet that certain future Intelligence features will not be available on devices with 8 GB of RAM, a configuration that Apple has defended for years, even last year. At any rate, all Macs start at 16 GB of RAM.
With this update, MacBook Air maintains its status as the world’s most popular ultraportable, while gaining power and versatility. Great news for anyone looking for a compact, high-performance Mac without needing the raw power (and price) of a MacBook Pro. Apple continues to refine its range to offer the best value for money, thus democratizing access to ever faster machines.
We’ll have to wait a few days for resellers to adjust their prices accordingly, but here’s where to find the MacBook Air:
As the MacBook Air M2 and M3 with 8 GB of RAM are no longer officially sold by Apple, we will have to expect (very) large price reductions from resellers to sell off their stocks. Let’s stay tuned!
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