M3 MacBook Air outperforms MacBook Pro

The M3 MacBook Air outperforms pricey M3 MacBook Pro with this cooling dock, thermal pads.

Over a decade ago, I decided to get a MacBook Pro instead of another Sony laptop for work because I heard so much about the Mac and wanted to check it out for myself.

I was already a solopreneur, initially working out of cafes, then later, coworking offices. I valued performance over staring at the hourglass and would invest in higher-end models.

Though I've switched back to Windows PCs, I've kept tracking the latest Mac devices. And I think Apple has a brewing problem - and it's just come to a head.

💻 𝗠𝟯 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝗶𝗿

You might have read about the new M3 MacBook Air last week, with a redesigned chassis that does away with the iconic wedge design.

• 18 hours of battery life.
• Powerful new M3 processor.
• Looks like the MacBook Pro. 😅

One minor issue: The M3 System on Chip, or SoC, could hit up to 114°C, causing the external chassis to reach 46°C at its hottest point.

This isn't a problem per se. Built-in thermal throttling keeps it from melting or catching fire, albeit at a cost of performance compared to the MacBook Pro.

The reason? Unlike the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air doesn't come with an internal cooling fan.

🥵 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗸

But that's not an issue, right? You pay for what you get. Want performance, get the Pro. Don't be cheapskate.

But if the constraint on performance is heat, what if you could effectively dissipate heat using an after-market solution?

That was exactly what YouTuber MaxTech did with an SVALT solid aluminium cooling dock and thermal pads, which are pre-formed pieces of highly heat-conductive material.

And yes, the setup achieved a sustained benchmark score that's slightly better than the much pricier M3 MacBook Pro.

🍕 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Of course, most users that need the MacBook Pro will still buy one for its portability - it does pack more powerful graphical oomph, too.

But this development seems to validate my feeling that the latest MacBooks are converging in terms of both appearance and performance.

Afterall, Apple makes the SoC processor now, and it won't make sense to make too many variants simply for product segmentation.

Are you planning to buy the new M3 MacBook Air?

𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: SVALT