MacBook Air M3
Parent Rankings Score
9.6/ 10 · Editorially reviewed
The ultimate college laptop for almost everyone
$1,099
Why We Like It
The MacBook Air M3 is the laptop we recommend to most college students regardless of major. The M3 chip's combination of speed and efficiency produces all-day battery life, silent fanless operation, and performance that handles everything from Photoshop to light coding.
Editor's Verdict
Best Overall in laptops for college.
9.6/10
Pros & Cons
Pros
- M3 chip crushes college workloads with extraordinary efficiency
- 18-hour battery — survives a full day of back-to-back classes
- Can now drive two external displays simultaneously
Cons
- Only 2 Thunderbolt ports on base model
- 8GB RAM on base config can feel tight for power users
Score Breakdown
Safety
9.3
Value
8.7
Ease
9.9
Quality
9.8
Overall Score
9.6
Laptops were evaluated on processing performance, battery life, build quality and portability, display quality, keyboard and trackpad, and value.
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