What color MacBook Air to buy: Midnight, Space Black, or Space Grey?

[SW3029]

I'm going to be buying the M3 15" MBA when Apple releases it in a few months. I've always gotten Space Grey MacBooks, but I'm thinking about changing that and getting a Midnight or Space Black this time (if Apple offers Space Black on the M3 15MBA).

I hardly ever notice fingerprints on my Space Grey MacBook. How does Midnight and Space Black compare to Space Grey as far as fingerprints and other smudges are concerned?

And does the Midnight color look too bright or is it a darker color than the Space Grey?

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I’ve had all the colors so here is my ranking of fingerprints/oils from, **** ton to barely noticeable:
1. Midnight
2a. Space Black (on higher MBP models)
2b. Space Grey
3. Starlight
4. Silver

Never noticed any chipping or anything around the ports like some have had but I rarely use them and actually look when I plug stuff in so results may vary. Midnight is darker than space grey with almost a metallic blue in certain lighting while low light almost makes it look black.

 

[MTD's Mac]

Midnight is darker than Space Grey, with a blue tint in some light. It really varies a lot based on lightning.

I doubt Space Black will come to the MacBook Air, since it's absence from the base M3 MacBook Pro indicates it's being reserved as a high-end "Pro" color.

Space Grey is a good compromise between resisting fingerprints and not being as light as Silver, though it can still show scratches. As for the truly fingerprint-free colors, Silver may show big dents but is effectively immune to light scratches, and Starlight is pretty close.

 

[turbineseaplane]

To me it's always silver as it wears the best over the long term

I'd go insane with nicked up paint and worn edges, etc

 

[outlawarth]

I never quite understood the online hysteria about fingerprints and chipping on the midnight MBA. I've had my midnight for a while and I do not have one chip on the ports or anywhere on the body of the laptop. And I am OCD about these things.

 

[Knightimer]

Space Black

 

[helloapple1]

I had to midnight for a few months, and I found that it didn't feel a lot premium to me after a while. I switched to silver, and I cannot be happier.

 

[Mainsail]

MBA does not come in Space Black.

 

[glambutnerdy]

Space grey is a sweet spot, cool and distinctive looking while keeping the inherent mac sleekness.

I’m not the biggest fan of the darker colours, they add an ambiguity that makes the laptops look more windows like (ie less distinguishable from high end dell/lenovo/etc lines). Then again I’m pretty conservative when it comes to laptop shades - I’ve always found the gold tacky.

 

[oasantos1]

Midnight looks beautiful out of the box, but then the fingerprints drive you crazy.

I now have Space Black on my MBP, less fingerprints, but not as dark unfortunately.

 

[1BadManVan]

I had a MacBook Air in midnight but it showed scratches way too easily so I returned it for a silver air and much happier with that choice

 

[Macbookey]

I’m a creature of the night, so Midnight all the way. Fingerprints be damned by a daily wipe down. Could care less about whether it screams Apple or not. It is a quality device to me. I love the immersive look of the screen with the darkened borders. Midnight or Space Black for life. Keep the dark side coming Apple.

 

[Moreplease]

I never quite understood the online hysteria about fingerprints and chipping on the midnight MBA. I've had my midnight for a while and I do not have one chip on the ports or anywhere on the body of the laptop. And I am OCD about these things.

If you’re “OCD” about these things, you probably look after your stuff.

Many people don’t. They stab USB plugs blindly into the ports (or kink the cable coming out of the plug, but that’s a different problem), throw laptops into backpacks full of abrasive junk like keys or hard drives, drop laptops, drop things onto laptops, etc.

My stuff typically looks nearly new after five years. My wife’s looks like it’s been in the trenches. My father’s stuff doesn’t even survive five years. Etc.

 

[kschendel]

Midnight is lovely and I don't notice the fingerprints at all. No chips either.

 

[Plutowillreturn]

Picked one up in midnight a few days ago. I am a fan.

 

[Mainsail]

After having space grey for years, I went with silver for the MBA retro look. I have owned it for 1.5 years and it’s pristine. To each their own.

 

[Plutowillreturn]

Picked up another one today in Starlight. It’s also a winner. Coming from a space grey rMB and silver MBA.