Apple’s New M3 MacBook Air Offers Faster SSD Storage Speeds
Apple has recently unveiled its latest addition to the MacBook Air lineup, the M3 MacBook Air. This new model not only boasts faster performance, Wi-Fi 6E, and support for dual external displays, but it also addresses a previous issue that plagued the base model MacBook Air – slower SSD storage speeds.
The previous-generation base model M2 MacBook Air with 256GB of storage suffered from slower SSD speeds compared to higher-tier configurations. This was due to the fact that the base model utilized a single 256GB storage chip, rather than two 128GB storage chips like its predecessor, the base M1 MacBook Air.
However, Apple has rectified this problem with the introduction of the M3 MacBook Air. As first discovered by Gregory McFadden on Twitter and confirmed by a teardown performed by Max Tech on YouTube, the new model now utilizes two 128GB storage chips for the base configuration. This change allows the M3 MacBook Air to process tasks in parallel, resulting in significantly increased data transfer speeds.
Testing conducted by Max Tech revealed impressive results. The M3 MacBook Air achieved write speeds of 2108 MB/s, a significant improvement from the base M2 MacBook Air’s speeds of 1584 MB/s. In terms of read speeds, the M2 MacBook Air reached 1576 MB/s, while the M3 MacBook Air soared to 2880 MB/s. These findings indicate that the M3 MacBook Air offers approximately 33% faster SSD write speeds and around 82% faster read speeds compared to its predecessor. In fact, these speeds even match or surpass those of the highly acclaimed M1 MacBook Air.
Apple’s decision to address the slower SSD storage speeds in the base model of the MacBook Air demonstrates their commitment to providing users with top-notch performance across all configurations. By utilizing two 128GB NAND chips instead of a single 256GB module, Apple has effectively optimized the data transfer capabilities of the M3 MacBook Air.
For those interested in seeing the teardown and testing process in action, the full YouTube videos from Gregory McFadden and Max Tech can be found below.
In conclusion, Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air not only offers faster performance, Wi-Fi 6E, and support for dual external displays but also addresses the previous-generation base model’s slower SSD storage speeds. With the utilization of two 128GB storage chips, the M3 MacBook Air showcases impressive write and read speeds that rival or surpass those of its predecessor, the M1 MacBook Air. Apple continues to prioritize user experience and performance, ensuring that their products meet the demands of modern users.