First Benchmark Result Surfaces for MacBook Air With M3 Chip

[MacRumors]

An early benchmark result for the new MacBook Air has surfaced, providing a closer look at the M3 chip's performance in Apple's latest laptops.

In a Geekbench 5 result spotted by MySmartPrice, the MacBook Air with the M3 chip and 16GB of unified memory achieved a single-core score of 3,157 and a multi-core score of 12,020. The results have a "Mac15,13" identifier, which indicates they are for a 15-inch MacBook Air.

For context, the previous MacBook Air with the M2 chip and 16GB of unified memory achieved a single-core score of 2,610 and a multi-core score of 10,120. The M3 chip in the new MacBook Air therefore scored approximately 20% more in single-core and 18% more in multi-core compared to the M2 chip in the earlier model, and is on par with the M3 chip in the 14-inch MacBook Pro as far as straight CPU benchmarks go.

Featuring an 8-core CPU, up to a 10-core GPU, and support for up to 24GB of unified memory, the new MacBook Air is up to 60 percent faster than the model with M1 and up to 13x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air, according to Apple.

Apple began accepting pre-orders for the new MacBook Air on Monday, March 4, and the first deliveries to customers and in-store availability will begin on Friday, March 8. Pricing for the new MacBook Air starts at $1,099 in the United States, while the previous-generation 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip remains available for $999.

Article Link: First Benchmark Result Surfaces for MacBook Air With M3 Chip

 

[Dolmio]

Well that’s pretty impressive to get the multicore performance of a M1 Max in such a slim tiny device

 

[Populus]

It’s definitely a solid upgrade, at least according to those benchmarks.

I’m eager to see how this M3 chip behaves, on a fanless design such as the MBA, regarding throttling and such, given that it still works at the same 4GHz of clock speed as the M3 chips found on systems with active cooling.

 

[DrWojtek]

Incorrect. Average score for M1 Air is 2300/8500. Increase between M1 and M2 was abysmal.

 

[k1121j]

Why are we still comparing to an Intel Mac from so many years ago?!?

 

[MayaUser]

And probably 80% better if you are using ray tracing work

 

[kultschar]

Didnt the base M2 have a downgraded SSD (Speed) over the M1? If so wonder if this has been changed in the M3

 

[jayducharme]

I start to wonder what these incremental increases mean in a real world situation. With an M2 Max Studio, I don’t notice much change from my previous Macs unless I’m using Final Cut or Logic. Sure, if I want to look back to my G5 Mac Pro, there’s a huge difference. But IMO it takes at least five years between chip iterations to notice a such a difference.

 

[contacos]

I start to wonder what these incremental increases mean in a real world situation. With an M2 Max Studio, I don’t notice much change from my previous Macs unless I’m using Final Cut or Logic. Sure, if I want to look back to my G5 Mac Pro, there’s a huge difference. But IMO it takes at least five years between chip iterations to notice a such a difference.

My MacBook Pro from 2012 still runs fine for my daily routine (Safari, Mail, Spotify, Teams, Slack, Outlook, Chrome, Word/Excel) and I also have a 14inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro (my main device) to compare it to. Battery health is also still at 92% (I used it plugged in 99% of the time). I am actually shocked how well it is still performing considering it is running on macOS it does not even officially support.

My Dell laptop from work meanwhile ...

 

[chucker23n1]

Incorrect. Average score for M1 Air is 2300/8500. Increase between M1 and M2 was abysmal.

I wouldn't call 10%/16% "abysmal".

 

[senttoschool]

Why are we still comparing to an Intel Mac from so many years ago?!?

It’s for the Intel MacBook Air users holding out.

 

[k1121j]

It’s for the Intel MacBook Air users holding out.

Ohh I thought it was because comparing it to a previous version M1 or M2 didn't look appealing.

 

[mabaker]

Now, let’s see how much it throttles under a heavy pressure or even playing YouTube videos.

 

[DrWojtek]

I wouldn't call 10%/16% "abysmal".

I would.

 

[Nugat Trailers]

Identify your MacBook Pro model​

MacBook Pro (14-inch, Nov 2023)
This model has the M3 chip and includes two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports.
Colors: Silver, space gray
Model Identifier: Mac15,3

Identify your MacBook Pro model - Apple Support (AM)

Use this information to find out which MacBook Pro you have, and where it fits in the history of MacBook Pro.

support.apple.com

Unless Apple did something odd, I think you might be reporting on the wrong model.

Edit - Looking at the Geekbench result, it's in fact Mac 15,13, which wasn't used before.

 

[johannnn]

Why are we still comparing to an Intel Mac from so many years ago?!?

Because that makes the numbers look better.

Let's be real. The shift between Intel and Apple Silicon was enormous. But the difference between M1 vs M2 vs M3 etc is small. And given that Macs dont bring anything new except for the new CPU, it makes sense having some misleading numbers for the CPU to sell more Macs. Otherwise apple.com would just say "nothing new with the looks, nothing new with the specs except for 10% faster in synthetic performance tests but likely no difference in real world usage".

 

[madmin]

soicannohaz30kmacpronow?

 

[SpanishAppleNerd]

Why are we still comparing to an Intel Mac from so many years ago?!?

marketing

 

[return2sendai]

I start to wonder what these incremental increases mean in a real world situation. With an M2 Max Studio, I don’t notice much change from my previous Macs unless I’m using Final Cut or Logic. Sure, if I want to look back to my G5 Mac Pro, there’s a huge difference. But IMO it takes at least five years between chip iterations to notice a such a difference.

The software is now heavier on usage too, to take advantage of the new chip. So real-world use might feel about the same, but more can be done with improved software.

 

[neuropsychguy]

Why are we still comparing to an Intel Mac from so many years ago?!?

People haven’t upgraded yet. The comparisons let people know the computer will be much faster than the older Macs they are using. If that seems common sense, don’t doubt the technology ignorance of most people.

 

[MajorFubar]

Have to say that's pretty impressive. Here I am with a two year old Mac Studio Max whose single-core GeekBench score of 2406 is already obliterated by a fanless a Macbook Air, and the the multicore is not night-and-day behind either. Technology sure moves fast.

 

[Kalixt]

M3 15' with 16GB RAM/512GB SSD for 2059€, yea.... no thanks.

https://www.alza.sk/macbook-air-15-m3/18908347.htm#f&cst=1&cud=0&pg=1&prod=

 

[d686546s]

I need a new Mac after my M1 MBA died and I'm genuinely torn between getting an M2 and an M3. My general computing needs are very basic and I'm getting corporate discount on the M2, but not on the M3.

On the other hand I do like the occasional game, although the Mac is my tertiary gaming device after the PS5 and the Steam Deck. Primarily Baldurs Gate 3 and things like Civilisation.

The M3 would be a no-brainer if RAM and storage upgrades wouldn't bite so much. Any thoughts on how much of a real world impact increased speed and GPU capabilities will actually have? My prices, including discounts, below.

M2 MBA with 16/512 £1,315
M3 MBA with 16/256 £1,299
M3 MBA with 16/512 £1,499

 

[Enrico]

Have to say that's pretty impressive. Here I am with a two year old Mac Studio Max whose single-core GeekBench score of 2406 is already obliterated by a fanless a Macbook Air, and the the multicore is not night-and-day behind either. Technology sure moves fast.

Sure but only for a short period.
Your Mac Studio will last many years without a degrading battery that will need replacement, and is able to sustain that performance almost indefinitely thanks to its internal cooling!

 

[MajorFubar]

Incorrect. Average score for M1 Air is 2300/8500. Increase between M1 and M2 was abysmal.

It was incremental. M2 to M3 is also incremental. It's always going to be incremental from here-on-in. If you're expecting the quantum-leap speed differences between each iteration that we witnessed when the M1 was launched, you're going to be forever disappointed until the next Big Thing.