Easily missed among the M4 MacBook Pro news overnight was a pleasant announcement for prospective MacBook Air buyers: Apple is finally boosting the base memory configuration.
Wedged in between all of the Mac announcements this week, Apple quietly confirmed that its M2 and M3 MacBook Air laptops now ship with a minimum memory capacity of 16GB. Previously, the entry-level specs came in at 8GB.
The 8GB starting point copped plenty of criticism in recent years, especially considering many comparable Windows laptops include at least 16GB of RAM. Seemingly in response to these criticisms, Apple frequently referred to its “unified memory”, referring to the tight integration of its devices’ RAM as part of the system-on-a-chip design. Its argument is that the memory performs faster than that of its competitors.
Apple Intelligence’s AI features are likely a big reason behind the memory boost. Like the iPhone 16, which also saw a memory increase, Apple wants to ensure that more of its devices can access its heavily advertised features.
More importantly, the RAM upgrade doesn’t equate to a higher retail cost. A 13-inch M2 MacBook Air still starts at $1,599 in Australia, while the base-level M3 variant costs $1,799. There’s no M4 model just yet; it’ll likely come early next year, based on when Apple launched this year’s Air.
Apple claims the Air is “the world’s best-selling laptop”, a claim that’s tough to assess without transparent access to sales figures. Data from the IDC indicates that Lenovo is the top-selling PC brand, but that doesn’t reveal specifics about individual models.
In terms of quality, Apple’s laptops certainly stand out. Our review of the M3 MacBook Air labelled it the “best ultra-portable laptop” based on its overall performance and efficiency. 16GB of memory as the new minimum spec at no extra cost is a nice little upgrade.
Read more laptop news on GadgetGuy
The post MacBook Air gets the upgrade we’ve all been asking for, at no cost appeared first on GadgetGuy.
0 (mga) komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento