MacBook Air doubles base memory to 16GB for same $999

AppleInsider

The entry-level version of the M3 MacBook Air now has 16GB of unified memory, doubling the previous amount, but staying at $999.

MacBook Air M3

Alongside its announcement of the new M4 MacBook Pro, Apple has updated the MacBook Air. Where the base $999 model had 8GB of RAM, it now ships with 16GB -- and does so for both the M2 and M3 editions.

So while there is as yet no M4 version of the MacBook Air, the lower-price alternative to the MacBook Pro has had a significant update. Previously increasing the MacBook Air to 16GB RAM, would cost an extra $200.

That used to bring the MacBook Air to $1299, which meant it was in sight of the $1,599 for the base MacBook Pro.

The MacBook Air was last updated in March 2024, with a redesign that made it resemble the MacBook Pro. Three months after release, AppleInsider described it as the best Mac for nearly everyone.



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Dead_Pool

But I thought Macs were so efficient that they needed only 8 GBs?

Fidonet127

Dead_Pool said:

But I thought Macs were so efficient that they needed only 8 GBs?

Times change, and the general usage went up, so Apple increased the minimum ram.

mpantone

Dead_Pool said:

But I thought Macs were so efficient that they needed only 8 GBs?

It was pre-Apple Intelligence.

Many closely watching Apple’s AI efforts expect their LLM to take up around 6GB of RAM leaving little for applications. Increasing RAM to 16GB provides far more headroom which will be crucial if the user enables Apple Intelligence.

This has been heavily covered by tech media despite the fact AppleInsider failed to mention it in this particular article.