Why it’s still a good time to buy an M2 MacBook Air

If you’re buying a new MacBook, timing is of the essence when trying to get the most for your money. This is especially important since we know that the next MacBook Air is currently in the works, and it is said to come with the anticipated M3 chip.

Given that it’s been over a year since the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air launched, you can assume an update is coming. If you’re in the market for a MacBook Air, I’d generally recommend you wait until the M3 models arrive. But according to the latest reports, the M3 MacBook Air may be even further away than we originally imagined.

Insider Mark Gurman writes in his newsletter that the M3 chip could be announced later this year — but it will initially launch only on the 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini. Unlike previous years, Apple may hold off on the MacBook Air for updates until later.

Waiting would allow Apple to put more of a spotlight on the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which has been a tough sell in the past due to its older chassis. It still has a Touch Bar, large bezels, and a low-resolution webcam. Even after all the chip upgrades, it remains the worst Mac you can buy — especially compared to the MacBook Air. And yet, it seems Apple is determined to keep the M3 in the lineup by bumping it up before the end of the year. Delaying the M3 MacBook Air could allow Apple to update both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air at the same time since the 15-inch model was only introduced last summer.

Whatever the reason, it looks like the M3 MacBook Air update won’t arrive until 2024. This could be closer to six months, especially if Apple waits until its traditional annual spring event.

So, if you’re in the market for a new MacBook, you can feel pretty safe buying the M2 MacBook Air, whether it’s the 13-inch or 15-inch model. Even if Apple had opted for an earlier release, the change to M3 in these laptops wouldn’t be a deal breaker. The M2 MacBook Air is already a great laptop, excellently balancing both portability and performance. The M3 will certainly provide a boost in performance (and possibly battery life), but if you were already considering a MacBook Air, your needs probably aren’t best suited for one of Apple’s more powerful laptops.

Heck, if you don’t really need all the features of the new MacBook Air, Apple still sells the original M1 MacBook Air as well. Serving as the entry point into the lineup at just $999 (and often sold for as low as $799), the M1 MacBook Air uses an older chassis, but still offers some impressive performance and battery life. Although the M2 MacBook Air is the better-looking laptop, the M1 MacBook Air will surprise you with how well it holds up.

However, my advice may be different for anyone considering an M2 Pro or M2 Max MacBook Pro. If performance is paramount, the bump to the M3 could make a huge difference in your workload, so it might be a good idea to wait for this upcoming generation. It’s also said that these new laptops will arrive in spring 2024, so they’re not too far off.