MacBook Air 15-inch M3 (2024): Refurbished, Specs & Repairs
The big-screen MacBook Air with M3
The MacBook Air 15-inch M3 (2024) pairs a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display with Apple’s M3 chip in a silent, fanless laptop just 1.15cm thick. It has a six-speaker sound system, MagSafe charging, Wi-Fi 6E and support for two external displays with the lid closed.
It suits study, office work, photo editing and everyday use, and runs current macOS. Many examples are still in excellent condition, and some are still covered by AppleCare.
Every refurbished Apple silicon MacBook Air we sell is checked by our technicians and comes with a 24-month warranty. Browse our refurbished MacBook Air range, or book a repair if you already own one.
About This Model
The MacBook Air 15-inch M3 (2024) was announced on 4 March 2024 and went on sale on 8 March 2024, with UK prices starting at £1,299. In October 2024 Apple raised its standard memory to 16GB. It was replaced by the 15-inch M4 model in March 2025.
Complete Mac Solutions supplies refurbished Apple Macs in Bristol for home users, students and businesses across the UK. We also offer MacBook repairs, including damage that Apple’s warranty does not cover.
Which MacBook Air does this cover?
This guide covers the MacBook Air (15-inch, M3, 2024). Choose About This Mac from the Apple menu: the chip will be shown as Apple M3 and the model name will say 15-inch.
It looks almost identical to the 15-inch M2 (2023), M4 (2025) and M5 (2026) MacBook Airs, so check the chip name rather than relying on the design. Every 15-inch M3 has a 10-core GPU.
Specifications at a glance
| Display | 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, 2880 × 1864 resolution, 500 nits |
|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M3 with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU |
| Memory | 8GB or 16GB as standard; configurable up to 24GB |
| Storage | 256GB as standard; configurable up to 2TB |
| Connections | Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, MagSafe 3 and headphone socket |
| Camera and sound | 1080p FaceTime HD camera; six-speaker sound system |
| Battery | 66.5Wh; up to 18 hours of movie playback, by Apple’s test |
| Colours | Midnight, Starlight, Space Grey and Silver |
| Size and weight | 1.15cm thick, 34.04cm wide, 23.76cm deep; approximately 1.51kg |
Ask us to confirm the exact configuration of any refurbished machine available, including the memory and storage.
What is it useful for?
Documents, spreadsheets, email, browsing, video calls, photo editing, music production and light video editing all run smoothly. The larger screen makes it much easier to work with two windows side by side, and with the lid closed it can drive two external displays.
With no fan, the MacBook Air makes no noise at all. The trade-off is that during long, heavy jobs such as big video exports, it slows itself down to stay cool. If that is your main work, a MacBook Pro is a better fit.
Is the 15-inch size right for you?
The 15-inch Air is about 270g heavier than the 13-inch model and needs a slightly larger bag, but it still fits comfortably in most backpacks. It also has a bigger battery and better speakers.
If you carry your laptop all day or work in small spaces such as trains and lecture theatres, the 13-inch MacBook Air M3 may suit you better.
A MacBook for Bristol students
Light, quiet and with all-day battery life, this MacBook Air is an excellent laptop for lectures, libraries and long days on campus. It will run current macOS and course software for years, which makes it a sensible main laptop for a full degree.
Check whether your course needs specialist software, and choose enough memory and storage at the start. Students get 10% off with our student deals.
MacBooks for businesses
Complete Mac Solutions supplies Macs for businesses as well as individuals. Tell us which applications, peripherals and working arrangements your team uses so we can help you choose a suitable machine.
The 15-inch M3 Air suits staff who spend all day in spreadsheets, documents and video calls but still want a light, quiet laptop. Choose a 16GB model so it stays comfortable for several years.
macOS compatibility
As an Apple silicon Mac, this model runs the current version of macOS and should continue to receive macOS updates for years, unlike Intel MacBook Air models.
Some older Intel-only applications and plug-ins may not run. Check that the software you depend on supports current macOS and Apple silicon before you buy.
Memory and storage choices
The memory is built into the chip and cannot be upgraded later, and the same is true of the storage. Choose 16GB rather than 8GB if you can; 24GB suits heavier multitasking. The 256GB starting storage fills quickly, so 512GB is worth considering.
MagSafe 3 frees up both Thunderbolt ports, and either port can also charge the laptop. External drives are a practical way to add space later, so plan for your files when choosing storage.
Faults and MacBook Air repairs in Bristol
Check Apple’s warranty or AppleCare first for faults that develop under normal use. For damage those do not cover, we can help.
Screen damage
Cracks, lines, black areas or patches of colour usually mean the display assembly needs replacing. Avoid closing the lid on earbuds, pens or other small items.
Liquid damage
Spills can reach the keyboard, trackpad and logic board. Turn the Mac off, unplug it and bring it in as soon as possible.
Charging and battery
If the Mac stops charging, try both MagSafe and USB-C, a different cable and a known-good adapter to narrow down the fault. A battery that drains quickly or a case that no longer sits flat deserves prompt assessment.
Complete Mac Solutions can discuss MacBook Air repairs in Bristol, or you can send your Mac to us by post from anywhere in the UK.
Buying a refurbished MacBook Air 15-inch M3 (2024)
Make sure the Mac has been removed from the previous owner’s Apple Account and Find My. Confirm the chip, GPU core count, memory and storage, check whether any AppleCare remains, and check the battery condition. Check whether it has 8GB or 16GB of memory, as Apple raised the standard amount to 16GB in October 2024.
Complete Mac Solutions carries a large stock of refurbished Macs and has an extensive supplier network to help source suitable configurations. Many of our Macs come fully boxed, with all accessories and in fantastic condition. Packaging, accessories and condition vary between machines, so ask us to confirm what comes with the one you choose.
Explore our Apple Macs for sale or speak to us about a laptop for home, study or business. If you already own this model, we can help with repairs and data recovery.
References and further reading
Compare the MacBook Air 15-inch M3 (2024) with similar models
The 15-inch M2 model costs less and handles everyday work well. The M4 model adds 16GB as standard and a 12MP Center Stage camera, and the 13-inch M3 has the same chip in a lighter case.
- MacBook Air 15-inch M2 (2023)
- MacBook Air 15-inch M4 (2025)
- MacBook Air 13-inch M3 (2024)
- MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 (2023)
Buy or repair a MacBook Air 15-inch M3 (2024)
Looking for a big-screen MacBook that stays light and silent? Ask about our current MacBook Air stock, or let us diagnose and quote for a repair on the one you already own.
Image credit
Photo: KKPCW. Wikimedia Commons source · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and compressed to WebP. Design reference: Same design (M2 15-inch).
