Buzz
Compared to previous Air generations, a notable upgrade of the MacBook Air M3 13-inch or 15-inch is the ability to connect to two external monitors simultaneously instead of just one. However, this feature is only available when using the machine in clamshell mode, meaning with the lid closed. If the screen is open, MacBook Air M3 will only support output to a single external display.
But according to a recent performance test, the performance of MacBook Air M3 can drop by nearly half in this mode, leaving many wondering if the trade-off for an additional external monitor is worthwhile.
During testing with the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme benchmark tool running for 20 minutes, YouTube channel Max Tech discovered a significant performance drop of MacBook Air M3 when closed. In the initial run, the machine scored an impressive 8,083 points. However, the performance began to decline steadily due to the passive cooling design of MacBook Air unable to cope with the heat dissipation demands, resulting in a score drop to 5,916.
In clamshell mode, the performance of MacBook Air M3 even drops further, with a score plummeting to 4,198. It's possible that with the lid open, MacBook Air M3 can access more airflow, aiding better heat dissipation. However, in clamshell mode, this airflow is entirely restricted, leading to further performance degradation.
Previously, YouTube channel Max Tech also uploaded the temperature of the M3 chip when running a similar test, showing CPU temperatures reaching up to 114 degrees Celsius and GPU temperatures up to 102.9 degrees Celsius - a concerning level of heat. In the last three generations, Apple has utilized a thin cooling system to aid in heat dissipation, but it's evident that it's hardly showing noticeable effectiveness.
If users notice a decline in the performance of MacBook Air M3, they may consider switching to models with active cooling fans, or simply refrain from closing the laptop and utilize an external monitor. Nonetheless, MacBook Air M3 still remains one of the best mainstream MacBook options for all types of users.
Read more: Is Apple's MM1 large language model making significant strides and soon to be featured on the iPhone?Check out discounted prices for MacBook Air M3 at .
