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Apple Silicon MacBook Air Q&A
Update Published April 3, 2025
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What custom processor options are available for the Apple Silicon MacBook Air?
For the MacBook Air "M1" and "M2" models, there were no custom processor options available.
For the MacBook Air "M3" models and current MacBook Air "M4" models, each line offers one default model that can, or could, be custom configured with a faster processor at the time of initial purchase of the notebook:
| MacBook Air | Custom Processor Option |
| "M3" 8 CPU/8 GPU 13" | M3 8-Core CPU/10-Core GPU |
| "M4" 10 CPU/8 GPU 13" | M4 10-Core CPU/10-Core GPU |
Both of these custom processor options cost an extra US$100 at the time of initial notebook purchase. The processor cannot be upgraded later.
What type of RAM does the Apple Silicon MacBook Air use? Can it be upgraded?
All Apple Silicon MacBook Air models have "unified" RAM integrated with the SoC. No Apple Silicon MacBook Air models can have the RAM upgraded after the initial notebook purchase.
The original M1-powered MacBook Air models -- the MacBook Air "M1" 8 CPU/7 GPU 13" and MacBook Air "M1" 8 CPU/8 GPU 13" -- were configured with 8 GB of RAM by default, but could be custom configured with 16 GB of RAM for an additional US$200 at the time of system purchase.
Subsequent MacBook Air models with M2 processors -- the MacBook Air "M2" 8 CPU/8 GPU 13", "M2" 8 CPU/10 GPU 13", and "M2" 8 CPU/10 GPU 15" -- originally were configured with 8 GB of RAM by default, but could be custom configured at the time of purchase with 16 GB of RAM for an additional US$200 or 24 GB of RAM for an additional US$400. Starting on October 30, 2024, Apple increased the default RAM in the MacBook Air "M2" 8 CPU/8 GPU 13" to 16 GB.
The MacBook Air models with M3 processors -- the MacBook Air "M3" 8 CPU/8 GPU 13", "M3" 8 CPU/10 GPU 13", and "M3" 8 CPU/10 GPU 15" -- originally were configured by default with 8 GB or 16 GB of RAM, but also could be custom configured with as much as 24 GB of RAM at additional cost. Starting on October 30, 2024, Apple increased the default RAM to 16 GB in the entry-level model and to 24 GB in the higher-end models.
The MacBook Air models with M4 processors -- the MacBook Air "M4" 10 CPU/8 GPU 13", "M4" 10 CPU/10 GPU 13" and "M4" 10 CPU/10 GPU 15" -- are configured by default with 16 GB or 24 GB of RAM, but can be custom configured with 32 GB of RAM at additional cost.
What type of internal storage does the Apple Silicon MacBook Air use? Is it possible to upgrade it?
The Apple Silicon MacBook Air models all have onboard storage.
Different models can, or could, be custom configured at the time of initial system purchase with larger internal storage than was available by default at additional cost:
| MacBook Air | Default SSD | Custom SSD |
| "M1" 8 CPU/7 GPU 13-Inch | 256 GB | 512 GB 1 TB 2 TB |
| "M1" 8 CPU/8 GPU 13-Inch | 512 GB | 1 TB 2 TB |
| "M2" 8 CPU/8 GPU 13-Inch | 256 GB | 512 GB 1 TB 2 TB |
| "M2" 8 CPU/10 GPU 13-Inch | 512 GB | 1 TB 2 TB |
| "M2" 8 CPU/10 GPU 15-Inch | 256 GB 512 GB |
1 TB 2 TB |
| "M3" 8 CPU/8 GPU 13-Inch | 256 GB | 512 GB 1 TB 2 TB |
| "M3" 8 CPU/10 GPU 13-Inch | 512 GB | 1 TB 2 TB |
| "M3" 8 CPU/10 GPU 15-Inch | 256 GB 512 GB |
1 TB 2 TB |
| "M4" 10 CPU/8 GPU 13-Inch | 256 GB |
512 GB 1 TB 2 TB |
| "M4" 10 CPU/10 GPU 13-Inch | 512 GB | 1 TB 2 TB |
| "M4" 10 CPU/10 GPU 15-Inch | 256 GB 512 GB |
1 TB 2 TB |
The storage in all Apple Silicon MacBook Air models cannot be upgraded after purchase.
How do you connect external storage to the Apple Silicon MacBook Air? Which is the best option?
The Apple Silicon MacBook Air models have two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports (USB-C connectors) and can directly use any USB-C or Thunderbolt 3/4 storage (up to 40 Gb/s).
For maximum performance, it is best to use Thunderbolt 3 or 4-based storage. One good option is the affordable, portable, and rugged OWC Envoy Pro FX from site sponsor Other World Computing.
Photo Credit: Other World Computing (OWC Envoy Pro FX)
Although performance will be slower, it also is possible to use an older USB 3.0 (USB-A connector) or Thunderbolt 2 hard drive with an Apple USB-C to USB adapter (MJ1M2AM/A) or an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C to Thunderbolt 2) (MMEL2AM/A) adapter, respectively.
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