Can MacBook Air take the heat?

Rival laptops challenge Apple's portable powerhouse.

Author

Lewis Wallace
April 09, 2024

Powered by Apple’s M3 chip, the latest MacBook Air delivers power and portability in a fantastic-looking package that makes it tough to beat.

However, PC laptops are nipping at the MacBook Air’s heels. Currently, the Dell XPS 15 gives Apple’s killer consumer machine a run for its money, as detailed in today’s comparison of the two popular laptops.

And soon, Microsoft plans to launch “AI PCs” that run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processors. The company reportedly thinks these new computers will outperform the MacBook Air, which Apple recently touted as the “world’s best consumer laptop for AI.”

Ever since Apple silicon arrived in 2020, Macs have been blowing minds — and blowing away the competition — by pairing exceptional performance with astonishing efficiency.

Is that dominance about to end? We should see in May, when Microsoft shows the world what its AI PCs can do.

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • Apple’s researchers are busy teaching AI how humans use iPhones. And that, in turn, could make iPhones better for us.

  • This $16 keychain charger can juice up your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods.

  • Fly Me to the Moon, an Apple TV+ film starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, dives into events that definitely did not happen during the 1969 moon landing. It’s part Mad Men, part NASA hoax ... and all comedy. Watch the trailer now.

  • QR codes are everywhere these days. Your iPhone gives you three easy ways to utilize them, and our how-to explains it all.

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

MaxAI.me - Do more Faster with 1-Click AI

MaxAI.me lets you chat with GPT-4, Claude 3, Gemini 1.5. You can also perfect your writing anywhere, save 90% of your reading & watching time with AI summary, and reply 10x faster on email & social media.

15-inch MacBook Air vs. Dell XPS 15: Which laptop should you buy?

Dell’s popular laptop poses a real challenge to Apple’s moneymaker. Which one is the best for you? Find out in our buying guide.

Microsoft's new Arm laptops might surpass M3 MacBook Air performance

Microsoft's upcoming Snapdragon X Elite-powered Windows laptops might beat the M3 MacBook Air in CPU and AI performance.

How to scan QR codes on iPhone

Scan a QR code directly from your iPhone camera or a picture — you don’t have to download a third-party app.

These CT scans show Vision Pro's glorious guts like nothing else

Unlike a traditional teardown, Lumafield's exquisitely detailed scans show the engineering inside without deconstructing the headset.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

This $16 keychain charger keeps your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods juiced anywhere

Make sure your beloved Apple gear never runs out of power with this wireless keychain charger, on sale now for just $15.19.

Apple’s Ferret-UI helps AI use your iPhone

Apple's new research paper on Ferret-UI shows advances on helping AI (think Siri) understand and work with small screens like your iPhone's.

Android's Find My clone launches along with Apple-compatible tracker tags

Google thinks Apple’s Find My network is so clever it “borrowed” the idea. And Rolling Square is making a tracking tag that supports both services.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

Optimize your job search with Resso Professional's suite of AI tools

Use AI to hone your resume and practice for the big interview with Resso Professional. The AI job search tool is on sale for $79.99.

Apple showcases what Vision Pro can do for business

Top visionOS apps reveal what spatial computing can do for workplace customization, design collaboration and more.

‘Fly Me to the Moon’ with Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum takes off this summer

Apple TV+ gives the world its first look at the alternate-history comedy "Fly Me to the Moon." Watch the upcoming movie’s trailer now.

Today in Apple history: Apple sells its 100 millionth iPod

On April 9, 2007, the iPod hit a major milestone. The landmark event confirmed the tiny music player as Apple’s most popular product yet.

Tweetz o’ the day

One more thing ...

❝

The way that we’re going to ratchet up our species is to take the best and to spread it around to everybody, so that everybody grows up with better things and starts to understand the subtlety of these better things. And Microsoft’s just… It’s McDonald’s. So that’s what saddens me. Not that Microsoft has won, but that Microsoft’s products don’t display … more insight and more creativity.

— Steve Jobs, 1995.

Today’s poll

Would you ever buy a Windows machine?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Results from yesterday’s poll: What new Apple gear is next on your list?

Best reader comments

Subscribe to The Weekender — Get the week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.

Reply

or to participate.