Apple has announced that its M2 and M3 MacBook Air models will now come with 16GB of RAM as the baseline, setting a new standard across its latest lineup of computers. Previously, customers would need to pay an additional $200 to upgrade from 8GB to 16GB on the entry-level MacBook Air. The starting price, however, remains unchanged at $999.
Why the Change?
This shift brings the MacBook Air in line with Apple’s other newly updated computers, including the latest iMacs, Mac Minis, and MacBook Pros, all of which also start with 16GB of RAM. Apple made a similar move in 2016 when it phased out the 4GB RAM option on the MacBook Air, setting 8GB as the standard. This approach eliminates the 8GB RAM tier, now available only in iPhones or iPads, from Apple’s current macOS computer lineup.
The move may be strategic as Apple intensifies its focus on Apple Intelligence, or AI-related features, in its ecosystem. AI-driven functionalities can be resource-intensive, and the increased RAM will likely improve AI-driven performance for macOS applications. While 8GB of RAM has been adequate for Apple’s mobile devices, a higher minimum capacity prepares the latest computers to handle the growing demands of artificial intelligence.
Benefits for Consumers
With 16GB now the starting standard, the MacBook Air becomes a more robust option for multitasking, data-heavy applications, and future-proofing without an additional cost. It positions Apple’s entry-level laptop as an attractive competitor against similarly priced devices that offer lower specifications.
In effect, Apple has raised the bar for performance expectations, setting 16GB as a new baseline for powerful, accessible devices.
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