If I buy a M3 MacBook Air now because I need it, and the M4 MacBook Air comes out past the 14 day return window, within 30 days or so will Apple allow an exchange?
Just curious.
Just curious.
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If I buy a new M3 MacBook Air now…and the M4 comes out.
- Thread starter FrankySavvy
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Probably not but that is only a guess on my part. In reality only Apple can answer that question. If you can wait, why take the chance?
However, the jump from the M3 to the M4 will not be significant. Unless multiple monitor support is added and you really need that option. If the M3 fills your need, buy it and be happy. The next latest and greatest is always "just around the corner".
You should maybe look in the refurbish store for a M3. Save some money. Same warranty, almost factory fresh. Probably better because the refurbished devices are checked more thoroughly.
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There is always something new coming.
The m3 air is still a great machine for next 3-5 years
The m3 air is still a great machine for next 3-5 years
If you’re in the US, Costco has a 90 day return policy. If you end up liking the features of the M4 you should be able to order one and return the M3.
You can always buy both and take turns using them.
I would plan based on the assumption that it will come out in March, 1 year after the M3, but that's just a guess.
I just purchased a new M3 MacBook Air at a killer price and will not regret not having a M4. For what I do the M3 vs M4 will make no difference and I get to keep $500 in my wallet. There is going to be a M5 next year and I will still be using and enjoying my M3 MacBook Air. It is an amazing machine, the battery lasts forever!
You can spend your life worrying that if you buy something today its replacement will be lauched tomorrow. It's the quickest route to end up with nothing. If you've decided the M3 Air is good enough for you today, it's still going to be good enough for you next week / next month / six months time, even if they replace it tomorrow.
Buy it from Costco. They have a 90 day return policy.
The $65 membership fee is worth it if you're not already a member as you also get an extra 1 year warranty on top of Apple's 1 year. If there's an M4 MBA around the corner, it should be out by mid April. But by then, Costco will be clearancing out their inventory of M3 MBA's, so you might even be able to get a better price on the M3 MBA and keep that over the M4 MBA.
In my experience the new first choice box will come out a month or two after you bought your second choice. ;~) Apple's return or Costco's is the way to go. Apple's returned boxes just find their way into the refurb store and maybe that is also where Costco's returns go to, IDK.
The good news is the second choice may turn out to be the better choice, so keep an open mind. When my 2016 MBP rammed-out with its 16 GB RAM I could only buy an M2 MBP with 96 GB RAM instead of the M2 Studio Max with 96 GB RAM that was my first choice but not out yet. For my workflow the M2 MBP's mobility has turned out to make it a better choice than my original plan of sessile Studio + old MBP for mobility would have been. YMMV of course.
Unless one is into something like 3D or if you are an AI aficionado [and if either of those are the case you should be buying something other than a seriously RAM-limited base-level-chip MBA], M4 over M3 is of less relevance than than having more RAM in the box. Like others suggested, look for a cheaper refurb or one with 24 GB RAM at similar price.
IMO refurbs are better than new; the only issue being that it is hard to find the configuration one wants. Some refurbs may also have some small cosmetic damage, but I personally could care less about small cosmetic damage. Those who worry about small cosmetic damage may want to stick with buying new.
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I always wait for the next model so I can buy previous model cheaper. But that’s just me.
For now I went with a base m4 MacBook Pro, will see if the MacBook Air M4 comes out soon.
My M1 MBP is still a great machine for next 3-5 years, let alone the M3. People should stop chasing numbers and simply replace as needed. Like as not, wont be disappointed...
Q-6
If you can afford to wait then you wait. Seriously, if you're "wondering if you should wait" then you clearly have a functional machine right now that does whatever you need it to do to deal with your life, or you'd be buying a machine today.
If you can't afford to wait (e.g. your computer is broken or you don't have one, or the one you have does not do things you NEED it to do today) then you buy what you need. Now.
I'd wager that we're 3-6 months away; I'd suspect the MacBook Air will be updated around mid-year, but who knows!
This too.
If you're that performance sensitive that the difference between m3 and m4 will make a serious difference then you probably should be looking at the Pro or Max chips anyway.
As you say, M1 is still "fast", in general use my M4 Max feels snappier than my M1 Pro of course, but it isn't night and day and that's a 3-4 year jump going from Pro to Max with 4x the RAM.
The Intel i9 MBP was very much a defended hero of the day with the in crowd, until the event of Apple Silicon. The i9 would instantly throttle to base frequency... or less.
My usage pattern has not changed, so the M1 MBP remains to be devastatingly fast. More importantly for a portable it's runtime on battery is superlative. You can have the most powerful Mac or PC Notebook in the world, is cock all use if the battery runs dry... then it's just a dead weight.
Learnt this a long time back; 2014 13" MBP stretched to over 12 hours. Single click at the airport, paid for itself...
Q-6
I have an M2 Air and it's pretty darn amazing. So, M4, M3, whatever. All the M-series Macs are awesome!!
I'll give you an example.
My wife didn't heed my advice and didn't wait 3 months for the iPhone 15 Pro, and got the 14 Pro. Now she doesn't have Apple Intelligence. I know it's not a huge loss at the moment, but with years to come, maybe this feature will become useful.
I'd personally either get a huge discount on the M3 Air ($500) OR buy a very old 2015 MBP for $100, work on it for 3-4 months, and then get the M4 Air. I definitely wouldn't buy the M3 Air for the full price.
With the 90 days return, if the M4 Air gets released in June (same as M2 was), you'll be very disappointed.
My wife didn't heed my advice and didn't wait 3 months for the iPhone 15 Pro, and got the 14 Pro. Now she doesn't have Apple Intelligence. I know it's not a huge loss at the moment, but with years to come, maybe this feature will become useful.
I'd personally either get a huge discount on the M3 Air ($500) OR buy a very old 2015 MBP for $100, work on it for 3-4 months, and then get the M4 Air. I definitely wouldn't buy the M3 Air for the full price.
With the 90 days return, if the M4 Air gets released in June (same as M2 was), you'll be very disappointed.