MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Air M3: which is better for gaming?
Compared across 35 Mac games · High preset · no MetalFX
In short
The MacBook Air M3 (Apple M3) is 6% faster on average than the MacBook Air M2 (Apple M2): 46 vs 43 FPS at 1080p High across the games both can run. It clears 60 FPS in 10 games versus 10.
For gaming the gap is small: if you already own the MacBook Air M2, upgrading is not worth it. If you are buying, pick whichever has more memory for the money.
10 games at 60+ FPS · wins 0 of 35
10 games at 60+ FPS · wins 33 of 35
Average FPS by resolution
| Resolution | MacBook Air M2 | MacBook Air M3 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 43FPS | 46FPS | +7 % |
| 1440p | 27FPS | 29FPS | +7 % |
| 4K | 14FPS | 15FPS | +7 % |
Which one for your resolution?
- 1080p: MacBook Air M3, at 46 FPS on average, playable.
- 1440p: MacBook Air M3, at 29 FPS on average, though neither is smooth without lowering settings.
- 4K: MacBook Air M3, at 15 FPS on average, though neither is smooth without lowering settings.
Specifications
| MacBook Air M2 | MacBook Air M3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M2 | Apple M3 |
| Generation | M2 | M3 |
| GPU cores | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Geekbench Metal | 39,429 | 41,753 |
| Unified memory | 8 / 16 / 24 GB | 8 / 16 / 24 GB |
| Cooling | Fanless | Fanless |
| Gaming score | 11/100 | 11/100 |
| Year | 2022 | 2024 |
Game performance
Estimate1080p · High
The MacGameFPS verdict
Calibrated on real Mac benchmarks, not spec sheets
Verdict
The MacBook Air M3 wins in 33 of 35 games. For gaming the gap is small: if you already own the MacBook Air M2, upgrading is not worth it. If you are buying, pick whichever has more memory for the money.
FAQ
Which is better for gaming, the MacBook Air M2 or the MacBook Air M3?
The MacBook Air M3: it wins in 33 of 35 games and is 6% faster on average at 1080p High.
Is upgrading from the MacBook Air M2 to the MacBook Air M3 worth it for gaming?
For gaming the gap is small: if you already own the MacBook Air M2, upgrading is not worth it. If you are buying, pick whichever has more memory for the money.
How big is the FPS gap in Cyberpunk 2077?
At 1080p High, the MacBook Air M2 gets about 12 FPS and the MacBook Air M3 about 13 FPS.
Which one for 1440p or 4K gaming?
At 1440p the average is 27 vs 29 FPS, and at 4K 14 vs 15 FPS (MacBook Air M2 vs MacBook Air M3).
How much memory should I get?
For gaming, 16 GB is the sensible minimum and 24 GB leaves headroom. The MacBook Air M2 ships with 8, 16, 24 GB and the MacBook Air M3 with 8, 16, 24 GB.
