Apple's previous-generation 8-core MacBook with solid everyday performance at budget-friendly prices.
Students, light users, and portable workers
Apple Silicon chip (2023) with 10-core CPU, 600-nits display, solid productivity performance.
Video editors, developers, and power users
The MacBook Air (M3) is fanless, ultra-thin, and starts at $1,099 — perfect for everyday computing. The MacBook Pro (M3 Pro/Max) has active cooling for sustained performance, more ports, a brighter display, and starts at $1,999. Both use Apple Silicon.
MacBook Air for portability and everyday use. MacBook Pro for professional workflows requiring sustained heavy performance.
Choose MacBook Air (M3) if
Students, light users, and portable workers
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| Metric | MacBook Air (M3) | MacBook Pro M3 | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price(USD) | $1,099 | $1,999 | -45% |
| Weight(g) | 2.7 | 4.7 (16") | -43% |
| Battery Life(hours) | Up to 18 | Up to 22 |
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MacBook Pro Thickness 2024-2026: Complete Specs Comparison
Apple's MacBook Pro lineup remains remarkably thin across 2024, 2025, and 2026 models. We break down the exact thickness measurements for every current model and explain what these dimensions mean for portability and performance.
Apple MacBook Models Weight Comparison 2025-2026: Which Is Lightest?
Planning to buy a MacBook in 2026? Weight matters for portability. We compare all current Apple MacBook models—Air and Pro—to help you find the lightest option for your needs.
Choose MacBook Pro M3 if
Video editors, developers, and power users
| -18% |
| CPU Clock Speed(GHz) | 4.05 GHz | 4.05 GHz | — |
| Peak SDR Display Brightness(nits) | 600 nits | 600 nits | — |
| Neural Engine Configuration(cores) | 16-core | 16-core | — |
| Performance Gain (CPU Clock)(%) | Baseline | Baseline | — |
| Display Brightness Improvement(%) | Baseline | Baseline | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated May 2026.
MacBook Air (M3)
$1,099🏆
MacBook Pro M3
$1,999
MacBook Air (M3)
No (fanless)
MacBook Pro M3
Yes🏆
MacBook Air (M3)
2.7 lbs🏆
MacBook Pro M3
4.7 lbs (16")
MacBook Air (M3)
2x USB-C
MacBook Pro M3
HDMI + SD + USB-A + USB-C🏆
MacBook Air (M3)
60Hz
MacBook Pro M3
120Hz ProMotion🏆
For 90% of users — email, web, documents, coding, light video — the MacBook Air M3 is sufficient. Only get the Pro if you do sustained heavy workloads like 4K video editing or ML training.
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MacBook Air Weight Comparison 2025-2026: Which Model Is Right for You?
Wondering how much your MacBook Air actually weighs? We break down the current weight specs for 2025-2026 MacBook Air models, including the new M4 and M5 chips, and explain what these differences mean for portability.
| Attribute | MacBook Air (M3) | MacBook Pro M3 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price(USD) | $1,099 | $1,999 |
| Weight(g) | 2.7 | 4.7 (16") |
| Battery Life(hours) | Up to 18 | Up to 22 |
| CPU Clock Speed(GHz) | 4.05 GHz | — |
| Neural Engine Configuration(cores) | 16-core | — |
| Base CPU Configuration | 10-core CPU | — |
| Performance Gain (CPU Clock)(%) | Baseline | — |
| Peak SDR Display Brightness(nits) | 600 nits | — |
| Nano-Texture Display | Not available | — |
| Display Brightness Improvement(%) | Baseline | — |
| Market Release Date | March 2023 | — |
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes