13″ & 15″ MacBook Air M3 could be released in 2024
Apple 13″ MacBook Air M3 $1599.00? minimum as recommended below Apple 15″ MacBook Air M3 $1899.00? minimum as recommended below
Do not buy a computer with 8GB memory and a 256GB SSD! Why any musician or creator would buy a new system constrained like this in 2023 is beyond me. If properly configured Apple silicon is too expensive for you, buy used or refurbished.
I’m not going to play with you here, or hem and haw like many YouTubers do. 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD are not enough for musicians and creators. It’s tight now and has a negative future-proofing factor. A 16GB memory upgrade for $200 and a 512GB SSD upgrade for $200 are seriously the minimum of what you need.
My minimum Apple computer recommendation for musicians and creators is 16GB memory and 512GB SSD or more. Any less than this does not make performance or economic sense. You will regret buying an Apple M Series system with 8GB memory and a 256GB SSD.
There has been a great deal of MacBook Air M3 rumor activity. I think it is safe to say it will not be released in 2023 Q2 or Q3. The earliest possible scenario would be 2023 Q4 but most likely in 2024.
We do know Apple is trying to move M Series processor upgrades to an annual rhythm like the A Series processors for iPhones etc. We also know that Apple supplier TSMC’s 3-nanometer process is in production and that Apple has purchased 100% of that capacity.
I think it’s also safe to say there will be 13″ and 15″ models, and that there will be no significant design changes from M2 models.
I think it is also safe to say the performance and efficiency of the M3 will be improved over M1 and M2. However M1/M2 Pro/Max/Ultra systems will still be better choices for higher performance. I wouldn’t delay purchasing M1/M2 higher end iterations for the base processor M3.
M3 Pro/Max/Ultra systems might be a different issue, but those will likely not be available until 2024 as well
Other than these things, there is not much to say for the moment. I will certainly update this page as more information becomes available.
This page is subject to content updates/additions. If you think any content should be updated or added, please leave a private comment on Mastodon – Woodpecker.social/@Yehuda.
Amazing low cost laptop option for musicians and creators
Apple 13″ MacBook Air M1 $1399.00 minimum as recommended below
Do not buy a computer with 8GB memory and a 256GB SSD! Why any musician or creator would buy a new system constrained like this in 2023 is beyond me. If properly configured Apple silicon is too expensive for you, buy used or refurbished.
I’m not going to play with you here, or hem and haw like many YouTubers do. 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD are not enough for musicians and creators. It’s tight now and has a negative future-proofing factor. A 16GB memory upgrade for $200 and a 512GB SSD upgrade for $200 are seriously the minimum of what you need.
My minimum Apple computer recommendation for musicians and creators is 16GB memory and 512GB SSD or more. Any less than this does not make performance or economic sense. You will regret buying an Apple M Series system with 8GB memory and a 256GB SSD.
With the above caveats, the MacBook Air M1 and its siblings, the MacBook Air M2, the Mac mini M2, the Mac mini M1 and the 24″ iMac M1 make amazing low cost options for musicians and creators. For some the 13″ MacBook Pro M2 or M1 would also be a viable option, but I personally hate the touch bar, so they are not for me (or the majority of others).
CPU Performance Benchmarks
The single-core performance of the MacBook Air is very similar to all other M1 Series processors, because of course they all share the same core.
Multi-core performance is where the differences become more apparent because of the different number of cores and in some cases, the thermal throttling. It is worth noting that even the entry level M1 MacBook Air holds its own against all previous Intel-based MacBook Pros.
To give you a rough idea of DAW performance, these Logic Pro benchmarks come from the ‘14″ MacBook Pro vs M1 MacBook Air – Worth $1,000 MORE?’ video located in the YouTube section farther down this page. These are base models. The MacBook Air M1 8GB has 8 CPU cores and 7 GPU cores. The MacBook M1 Pro 16GB has 8 CPU cores and 14 GPU cores.
Note the tracks in this benchmark are not necessarily real world loaded but I think you can see both of these systems will satisfy average DAW performance needs. Real world loaded I would feel very comfortable throwing 58 tracks at the MacBook Air M1 8GB model or 76 tracks at the MacBook Pro M1 Pro 16GB model. No need to completely dog out the CPU, ha! The numbers would be comparable for Ableton Live or other DAWs as well.
DAWs will run on an 8GB MacBook Air but you will hit the memory ceiling and feel it. Your call but I recommend 16GB. 256GB is a pointless SSD capacity as well. You will be on external storage very quickly.
Check software compatibilities
It should go without saying, but I’m gonna say it anyway. M Series has been out since November 2020. macOS Monterey has been out since October 2021. I think it’s crazy that any DAW or plugin should have issues or still require Rosetta emulation, but not everyone listens to me. Do your homework!
Furthermore, in my opinion any major software company that markets to Apple users and hasn’t updated their software to include Apple silicon compatibility deserves to lose your business. It’s been a year and a half, and at this point it’s a real screw you. They obviously don’t care about their customers and should be replaced by a company that cares more about their customers.
All that said, my personal experience has been very good. Everything I use runs natively on M Series and is compatible with Monterey. But don’t listen to me, do your homework!
My personal experience with Ventura has also been very good. Everything I use runs natively on M Series and is compatible with Ventura. But don’t listen to me, do your homework!
Ports are important for musicians & content creators
I do wish these MacBook Airs had an Ethernet RJ-45 and a couple of legacy USB-A ports, but that will be probably never. The 2 Thunderbolt/USB-C ports on the MacBook Air can also be easily expanded with a hub if you need more. Also an external monitor like the Apple Studio Display has 3 more USB-C ports in addition to the Thunderbolt 3 connection port. I would theorize that in portable mode you might not need more ports than are built into the MacBook Air, but in the studio you may.
You may want a USB-C to Ethernet RJ-45 adapter. You will want to plug your interface directly into USB-C or if you can’t do that, get a hub or adapter also for legacy USB-A hard drives, flash drives, cables to synths, cable to printer etc.
Obviously wise future purchases will be solidly Thunderbolt or USB-C. Occasionally most musicians like to plug headphones directly into the system, though most of the time it’s either through an interface or Bluetooth. You can also buy the Apple USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter for an older existing monitor if you need it. This adapter also has a USB-C and a USB-A.
MacBook Air hardware upgrades
Remember no internal hardware upgrades can be performed. This is especially true with Apple silicon. SoC or System on Chip as you probably already know, cannot be upgraded. The advantages are more than worth it, but push yourself to adequately configure memory and storage for the future.
External storage alternatives
I recommend backing up all data to the cloud, and supplementing the internal Apple SSD.
See Apple M Series External USB-C SSD Options for a more extensive discussion and specific product recommendations.
The MacBook Air M1 has what it takes to last 5+ years
This is why you buy Apple. Realistically with the cost of computers these days, a 1-3 year refresh cycle is not practical for most people. Unlike the majority if not all PC systems, Apple computers are built to last and Apple silicon is state of the art enough to start you at the head of the pack.
Keep coming back
What will be different about this site compared to many Apple sites is over time we will be sharing configuration and electronic music/video recording pertinent information. More soon.
This page is subject to content updates/additions. If you think any content should be updated or added, please leave a private comment on Mastodon – Woodpecker.social/@Yehuda.
Amazing low cost laptop option for musicians and creators
Apple 13″ MacBook Air M2 $1499.00 minimum as recommended below Apple 15″ MacBook Air M2 $1699.00 minimum as recommended below
Do not buy a computer with 8GB memory and a 256GB SSD! Why any musician or creator would buy a new system constrained like this in 2023 is beyond me. If properly configured Apple silicon is too expensive for you, buy used or refurbished.
I’m not going to play with you here, or hem and haw like many YouTubers do. 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD are not enough for musicians and creators. It’s tight now and has a negative future-proofing factor. A 16GB memory upgrade for $200 and a 512GB SSD upgrade for $200 are seriously the minimum of what you need.
My minimum Apple computer recommendation for musicians and creators is 16GB memory and 512GB SSD or more. Any less than this does not make performance or economic sense. You will regret buying an Apple M Series system with 8GB memory and a 256GB SSD.
With the above caveats, the MacBook Air M2 and its siblings, the MacBook Air M1, the Mac mini M2, the Mac mini M1 and the 24″ iMac M1 make amazing low cost options for musicians and creators. For some the 13″ MacBook Pro M2 would also be a viable option, but I personally hate the touch bar and find the design/features dated, so they are not for me (or the majority of others). In almost all ways, the newly refreshed MacBook Air M2 is a better computer than the older design 13″ MacBook Pro M2.
The MacBook Air M2 is a very cool laptop. Also keep in mind, when you configure above the minimum suggested above, you get closer to the cost of a 14″ MacBook Pro M1 Pro, a much better laptop. Even at the minimum recommended configuration, there is only a $400 uptick to this system with fans, larger and better display, more ports… but if you get GPU core, memory and/or storage upgrades the difference will be even less.
The above said, if you prioritize portability above sustained performance and pro features, a properly configured MacBook Air M2 may be perfect for you. There is nothing in Apple’s current lineup that is smaller or weighs less.
Equally, let’s keep all the above information in proper perspective. The MacBook Air M2 is a fan-less design entry level system with the fully expected limitations of a machine in its class. It is the MacBook suited best for the majority of basic computer users out there. MacBook Airs are Apple’s best sellers, and for very good reasons.
Memory and SSD Performance Benchmarks
I’ll be the first to admit there is a lot of sensationalism and overreaction in tech videos with benchmarking. Max Tech can be among the most flagrant and I do not always agree with their benchmark analysis. Still the core of what they and others do with benchmarks is valuable. Their video M2 MacBook Air 8GB vs 16GB RAM – How BAD is base model? is straight and to the point. If you’re still questioning my insistence that musicians and creatives would be meshuganah to get less than 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD, watch that video (also in playlist near end of this page). Here’s some basic measurements.
In 2022, I feel no one is served well by buying a computer meant to last at least 5 years with 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD. Musicians and creators especially would be poorly served by Apple’s MacBook Air M2’s base models. 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD should be Apple’s base on their entry level models.
CPU Performance Benchmarks
According to Apple, the CPU performance of the M2 is an up to 18% improvement over the M1. The Single Core performance of the MacBook Air M2 will be very similar to all other M2 Series processors, because of course they all share the same core.
It is also worth noting that the memory bandwidth of the M2 is 100GB/s, while the memory bandwidth of the M1 Pro is 200GB/s, so real world single core application performance may be virtually the same.
M2 Multi Core performance will be faster than M1, but the M1 Pro, M1 Max, or M1 Ultra will be significantly faster in Multi Core performance than the M2.
Multi Core performance is where the differences between the M2 and the M1 Pro, M1 Max, or M1 Ultra processors will be more apparent because of the different number of cores and in some cases, the thermal throttling. It is worth noting however, that even the entry level M2 MacBook Air holds its own against all previous Intel-based MacBook Pros.
GPU Performance Benchmarks
According to Apple, M2 GPU Core performance is an up to 35% improvement over the M1. M2 GPU Core performance will be faster than M1, but the M1 Pro, M1 Max, or M1 Ultra will be still significantly faster in GPU Core performance.
$1599.00 MacBook Air M2, 8 core CPU, 8 core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD vs $1999.00 MacBook Pro M1 Pro, 8 core CPU, 14 core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD.
Lightly loaded DAWs will run on an 8GB MacBook Air but you will hit the memory ceiling and feel it. Your call but I recommend 16GB. 256GB is a pointless SSD capacity as well. You will be on external storage very quickly.
Check software compatibilities
It should go without saying, but I’m gonna say it anyway. M Series has been out since November 2020. macOS Monterey has been out since October 2021. I think it’s crazy that any DAW or plugin should have issues or still require Rosetta emulation, but not everyone listens to me. Do your homework!
Furthermore, in my opinion any major software company that markets to Apple users and hasn’t updated their software to include Apple silicon compatibility deserves to lose your business. It’s been a year and a half, and at this point it’s a real screw you. They obviously don’t care about their customers and should be replaced by a company that cares more about their customers.
All that said, my personal experience has been very good. Everything I use runs natively on M Series and is compatible with Monterey. But don’t listen to me, do your homework!
My personal experience with Ventura has also been very good. Everything I use runs natively on M Series and is compatible with Ventura. But don’t listen to me, do your homework!
Ports are important for musicians & content creators
I do wish these MacBook Air M2s had an Ethernet RJ-45 and a legacy USB-A port, but that will be probably never. The 2 Thunderbolt/USB-C ports on the MacBook Air can also be easily expanded with a hub if you need more. Also an external monitor like the Apple Studio Display has 3 more USB-C ports in addition to the Thunderbolt 3 connection port. I would theorize that in portable mode you might not need more ports than are built into the MacBook Air, but in the studio you may.
You may want a USB-C to Ethernet RJ-45 adapter. You will want to plug your interface directly into USB-C or if you can’t do that, get a hub or adapter also for legacy USB-A hard drives, flash drives, cables to synths, cable to printer etc.
Obviously wise future purchases will be solidly Thunderbolt or USB-C. Occasionally most musicians like to plug headphones directly into the system, though most of the time it’s either through an interface or Bluetooth. You can also buy the Apple USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter for an older existing monitor if you need it. This adapter also has a USB-C and a USB-A.
MacBook Air hardware upgrades
Remember no internal hardware upgrades can be performed. This is especially true with Apple silicon. SoC or System on Chip as you probably already know, cannot be upgraded. The advantages are more than worth it, but push yourself to adequately configure memory and storage for the future.
External storage alternatives
I recommend backing up all data to the cloud, and supplementing the internal Apple SSD.
See Apple M Series External USB-C SSD Options for a more extensive discussion and specific product recommendations.
The MacBook Air M2 has what it takes to last 5+ years*
*Configuration caveats heeded. This is why you buy Apple. Realistically with the cost of computers these days, a 1-3 year refresh cycle is not practical for most people. Unlike the majority if not all PC systems, Apple computers are built to last and Apple silicon is state of the art enough to start you at the head of the pack.
Keep coming back
What will be different about this site compared to many Apple sites is over time we will be sharing configuration and electronic music/video recording pertinent information. More soon.
This page is subject to content updates/additions. If you think any content should be updated or added, please leave a private comment on Mastodon – Woodpecker.social/@Yehuda.
