Apple has just announced that 16GB of RAM is now the minimum for the M2 and M3 MacBook Air, giving the laptops the same RAM bump as all of the company’s other new computers this week. The cheapest MacBook Air still starts at $999.

In a surprise move, Apple has doubled the base RAM configuration on M2 and M3 MacBook Air models. Both MacBook Air models will now include 16GB RAM out-of-the-box, up from 8GB. The RAM increase comes without a change in price.

Apple's lowest-cost notebook starts at $999 with an M2 chip and 13.6-inch display. Updated M3 models start at $1,099 (13.6-inch) and $1,299 (15.3-inch). Apple in March 2024 launched updated 13-inch and 15-inch models equipped with Apple's M3 chip. M2 13-inch options remain available at lower prices.

Apple has announced a RAM upgrade for the MacBook Air lineup alongside new MacBook Pro models with M4 chips. In a surprise move, the Cupertino-based company has doubled the base RAM configuration on M2 and M3 MacBook Air models to 16GB, from the current 8GB, without a corresponding price increase.

A price war has developed between Amazon and Best Buy, with Apple's M3 MacBook Air now marked down to just $899. We covered a $200 price drop on the upgraded 13-inch MacBook Air with 16GB RAM/512GB storage earlier today, but the same $200 discount is now in effect on the standard M3 Air as well.