Apple Inc.
What Happened: The M3 chip is touted to be 60% faster than the M1 chip and up to 13 times faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. The laptops also feature a faster and more efficient Neural Engine.
Apple has also added support for dual displays for the first time in the MacBook Air - you can now connect up to two external displays to these notebooks while the lid is closed.
The new MacBook Air models come with a thin and light design, up to 18 hours of battery life, Liquid Retina display, and new capabilities, including support for up to two external displays and up to 2x faster Wi-Fi than the previous generation. They are available in four colors: midnight, starlight, space grey, and silver.
"MacBook Air is our most popular and loved Mac, and today it gets even better with the M3 chip and new capabilities," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
The new MacBook Air models are available for order starting today, with availability beginning Friday, March 8. The 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,099, while the 15-inch starts at $1,299.
Why It Matters: This launch follows a recent report that Apple was planning to release a series of new hardware, including Mac, iPad, Apple Pencil, and Magic Keyboard updates, without a traditional launch event.
Instead, the company chose to announce these products through its website.
In December, the tech giant launched a new online diagnostic tool that allows customers to remotely check and repair their iPhones and MacBooks from home.
Price Action: Apple closed at $176.73, down 1.63% on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro.
