13 Inch MacBook Air Questions (Summer, 2024)

I’ve been recommending computers the entirety of my adult life, both as a Gen-Xer who is “good with computers,” as well as over thirty years in IT. As things have commodified in the last decade or so, this is less common. Lately, however, I’ve been browsing various forums, such as Threads or Reddit, and there seem to be a lot of questions around the 13” MacBook Air: which model, configuration, or other factor. Having just purchased one to replace an older MacBook Pro, I thought I’d offer my perspective on this.

This is written to target folks who expect to spend more than 80% of the time using it for general computing (like word processing or browser things), such as school or an office job. It was written in August, 2024, so “as of this writing” applies broadly.

Models and Configurations

  • Should I get a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air? If you’re asking that question, without any qualifications (“should I get if for…”), you want the Air.
    • The Apple Silicon MacBook Airs are excellent general purpose computers. It can handle anything you can do in a browser or office application, and can do a decent job with video editing, graphic design, and similar tasks. If you’re not sure, and you don’t see that as the primary everyday use, you probably will do good with a MacBook Air.
    • I find it can stretch into video editing and virtualization.
    • The Air will work for most developers.
    • If you know you’re doing a lot of processor intensive work, like video editing, then consider a Pro model. But, at that point, you might benefit from a higher end desktop (like a Mac Studio) and an Air for the road.
  • 16 GB or 8 GB RAM? For general computing, you’ll probably be OK with 8, but if you can swing it, get the 16. You’ll get better performance, especially if you’re pushing the machine a bit, and future-proof yourself a good bit.
  • Should I spend more for storage or RAM? RAM, without question. You can get external storage with good performance easily, and also use the cloud. RAM will be more impactful.
  • Should I buy an Intel Mac? In 2024, I would not buy a new Intel Mac. Apple is phasing these out. Most of the newer features do not (or will not) support the Intel chips.
  • Should I get an M1, M2, or M3 (the M3 is current)? My general answer is to get the latest machine you can reasonably afford, to ensure it will be supported for a long while. As new OSs roll out, Apple will drop support for the oldest chips first. I feel strongly that, if you connect a system to the internet, it needs to be on a supported OS for security. This would lead me to suggest the M3. However, most commentary from other users is that, from a performance standpoint, the M2 is very close to the M3, and the M1 is not bad (I’ll put benchmarks below). You’ll be fine for quite a while with either machine, and there are outstanding deals to be had on the M1 and M2 systems.
  • Does the Midnight Blue show fingerprints? I have an Midnight M3, and haven’t really noticed it, but I’m not that fussy. The Midnight M2 MacBook Air seemed to have them a lot, and some M3 owners say the same. I say just invest in microfiber clothes.

Chargers and Accessories

One selling point of the Apple Silicon MacBook Airs is battery life. Apple claims 18 hours of battery life for typical use (not sleeping time). I haven’t tested that specifically, as I mostly use my MacBook for the hours after work, and it spends the day in sleep mode. That works out to 4 hours a day of interactive use. In that use case, I think Apple’s claim does track. I can go several days without needing to charge in that pattern.

  • How can you charge a MacBook Air? The M1 model came with a power adapter (”brick”) with a USB-C port and a USB-C to USB-C cable, and charged using one of the USB-C cables. The M2 and M3 came with a power brick with a USB-C port, and a USB-C to MagSafe cable. These could be charged with the MagSafe cable, or using one of the USB-C ports–if you get a cable.
    • I had a power adapter and a USB-C/USB-C cable at my desk and “dressed in,” which I would use for either my prior MacBook Pro, or my WorkTop. At home, I use this for my MacBook Air. So far, I’ve had the Air for about three months, and haven’t even bothered to unwrap it.
  • Can I use any USB-C charger? A qualified “yes.”
    • It’s a standard, designed to deliver power and data,so pretty much any USB-C charger can be used.
    • I would not use one that provides less than the laptop draws (35 watts). At best, it won’t be able to keep up with the power draw, though there is a risk it could burn out the charger. I wouldn’t use the same one that came with your phone (5-10 watts), for instance.
    • It is OK if it uses one that can provide more. The laptop will not draw more than it needs.
    • If I was using a non-Apple charger, I’d ensure it’s a good quality. Anker and UGREEN have good reputations. I would avoid a no-name you find on Amazon.
  • What about Fast Charging? M2 and M3 MacBook Airs can support Fast Charging if using a power adapter that can provide 67 watts or more. A fully depleted battery can be charged to 50% in 30 minutes, and a full charge at an hour and a half.
  • What Mice and Keyboard recommendations? This is a lot of personal preference. I do tend to favor Logitech for mice. For both, I go with BlueTooth connectivity, so I don’t have to plug a cable or receiver dongle into one of the ports on the laptop. This keeps a port free, and makes it easier to keep track of things.
  • Any other accessories to consider? I’d recommend getting a USB-C, to augment the two ports on the system. It can give you a blend of ports, including USB-C, USB-A (for older devices), HDMI (for external monitors), and cabled ethernet. I got one for my prior MacBook, and use it with the Air. They don’t make that model anymore, but there the recommended alternative looks good. Pick the blend of ports you anticipate needing, and a reputable manufacturer.

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6 results, from the Geekbench Browser:

System Single-Core Multi-Core
MacBook Air (2024) Apple M3 4051 MHz (8 cores) My system 3122 11903
MacBook Air (2022)    
Apple M2 3488 MHz (8 cores) 2658 9994
MacBook Air (Late 2020)    
Apple M1 1946 MHz (8 cores) 2321 7891
MacBook Pro (14-inch, Nov 2023)    
Apple M3 Pro 4044 MHz (11 cores) 3168 12364
MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2019)    
Intel Core i5-8257U 1400 MHz (4 cores) 1244 4084
MacBook Air (Early 2020)    
Intel Core i7-1060NG7 1200 MHz (4 cores) Last Intel MacBook Air 1358 3165

Disclaimer

While this has been based on research and experience, always consult the manufacturer’s recommendations, and use accessories compatible with your system. I do not take responsibility for any damage.