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Apple Silicon MacBook Air Q&A
Update Published March 14, 2024
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How many external displays does each Apple Silicon MacBook Air support? Are there any adapters or 'hacks' to use more displays than are offically supported?
Officially, all Apple Silicon MacBook Air models -- M1, M2, and M3-powered -- both simultaneously support the internal display and a single external display up to 6016x3384 (6K) at 60 Hz including the beautiful, but very expensive, Apple Pro Display XDR via Thunderbolt / USB 4 (USB-C). Of course, more affordable and/or smaller Thunderbolt 3 or 4 (USB-C) equipped displays also will work.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (32" Apple Pro Display XDR)
For the M3-powered Apple Silicon MacBook Air models, Apple formally added support for two external displays -- one up to 6016x3384 (6K) at 60 Hz and another up to 5120x2880 (5K) at 60 Hz with the lid closed (so that the internal display is off).
However, by using a DisplayPort adapter and DisplayLink software -- like site sponsor OWC's USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Display Adapter with DisplayLink -- all of the Apple Silicon MacBook Air models can support at least two external 4096x2160 (4K) displays with HDMI ports.
Photo Credit: Other World Computing (USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Adapter)
Other options to connect a single display with an HDMI port or a vintage VGA port include the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (MJ1K2AM/A), which has an HDMI port, or the Apple USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (MJ1L2AM/A), which has a VGA port. With the applicable adapter, you then will just need a regular HDMI or VGA cable to connect one external display.
What type of video processor is provided by the Apple Silicon MacBook Air? Does it have "integrated" or "dedicated" video memory? Is it upgradable?
All Apple Silicon MacBook Air models have a video processor (GPU) that is fully integrated with the SoC. Traditionally, video processors that have "integrated" memory, meaning that memory is shared with the system, tend to be lower performance than those with "dedicated" memory reserved for the video processor, but benchmarks show that this is not really the case for the Apple Silicon MacBook Air.
Different Apple Silicon MacBook Air models ship, or shipped, with integrated GPUs with a different number of cores:
| MacBook Air | GPU Cores |
| "M1" 8 CPU/7 GPU 13-Inch | 7-Cores |
| "M1" 8 CPU/8 GPU 13-Inch | 8-Cores |
| "M2" 8 CPU/8 GPU 13-Inch | 8-Cores |
| "M2" 8 CPU/10 GPU 13-Inch | 10-Cores |
| "M2" 8 CPU/10 GPU 15-Inch | 10-Cores |
| "M3" 8 CPU/8 GPU 13-Inch | 8-Cores |
| "M3" 8 CPU/10 GPU 13-Inch | 10-Cores |
| "M3" 8 CPU/10 GPU 15-Inch | 10-Cores |
It is not possible to upgrade the GPU after the initial purchase of the system in any Apple Silicon MacBook Air.
How do you connect the Apple Silicon MacBook Air to a wired Ethernet network? Is it possible?
The Apple Silicon MacBook Air does not have an Ethernet port, but it is quite possible to connect the notebook to a wired Ethernet network with a third-party adapter.
A variety of adapters are available, but one good option is the OWC USB-C Travel Dock E available from site sponsor OWC.
Photo Credit: OWC (USB-C Travel Dock E)
This compact dock provides a Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB 3.2 (Type-A) ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, an SD card reader, and a USB-C power passthrough port.
What type of power connector does the Apple Silicon MacBook Air use? Is it compatible with "MagSafe" power connectors?
The original Apple "M1" powered Apple Silicon MacBook Air models -- the MacBook Air "M1" 8 CPU/7 GPU 13-Inch and MacBook Air "M1" 8 CPU/8 GPU 13-Inch use a 30 watt USB-C power adapter and a USB-C cable. Unfortunately, it does not disconnect cleanly when tugged like the magnet-equipped "MagSafe" power connectors of yore. All later Apple Silicon MacBook Air models inclue a new "MagSafe 3" power connector that acts very much like older models.
For the original Apple Silicon MacBook Air models, although it is now discontinued and no longer easy to find, Griffin sold a smart "BreakSafe" magnetic USB-C power cable replacement for the standard Apple Silicon MacBook Air power cable that cleanly disconnects when under strain, just like MagSafe.
Photo Credit: Griffin Tech, Inc. (BreakSafe Power Cable)
The Breaksafe safely disconnects when pulled and prevents the notebook from flying off a desk or table. It is certainly worth tracking down for someone with an early Apple Silicon MacBook Air.
Who designed the Apple Silicon MacBook Air?
Of course, all of Apple's hardware has been designed by hundreds of hardworking employees, but the company's industrial design for many years has been performed entirely in-house by Apple's Industrial Design Group.
For the "guts" of the Apple Silicon MacBook Air, Apple's "Hardware Technologies" group, led by Johny Srouji, also deserves a great deal of credit, too.
Where can I buy a Apple Silicon MacBook Air?
In the US, you always can buy a new Mac directly from Apple, but you often can get a better deal by buying your new Apple Silicon MacBook Air from an Apple Authorized Reseller like site sponsor Adorama. Adorama commonly has deep discounts on recently discontinued models, too. Other World Computing sells used and refurb MacBook Air models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well.
In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs sells used MacBook Air models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.
What are the custom configuration options for the Apple Silicon MacBook Air?
For M1 and M2-powered Apple Silicon MacBook Air models, Apple offers, or offered, the option of additional RAM and/or SSD storage at the time of purchase. For one M3-powered model, Apple added a custom processor option, as well.
Apple Silicon MacBook Air Custom Configuration Options
| MacBook Air | RAM | SSD | Processor |
| 2020, M1 13" | 16 GB | 512 GB 1 TB 2 TB |
None |
| 2022, M2 13" | 16 GB 24 GB |
512 GB 1 TB 2 TB |
None |
| 2023, M2 15" | 16 GB 24 GB |
1 TB 2 TB |
None |
| 2024, M3 13" | 16 GB 24 GB |
512 GB 1 TB 2 TB |
10-Core GPU |
| 2024, M3 15" | 16 GB 24 GB |
1 TB 2 TB |
None |
For the M2 and M3-powered Apple Silicon MacBook Air models, Apple also offers, or offered, a choice of power adapters, as well.
Internal upgrades cannot be made subsequent to initial system purchase.
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