According to testing conducted by Max Tech, the M3 MacBook Air can reach temperatures of up to 114 degrees Celsius on its hottest core. While modern processors, whether in laptops or desktops are engineered to handle substantial heat, the M3 MacBook Air’s peak temperature of 114 degrees Celsius was unexpected. Stress testing revealed that temperatures eventually drop to approximately 100 degrees Celsius, albeit at the expense of performance.
More About M3 MacBook Air Stress Test
The latest iteration of the MacBook Air, equipped with the newest M3 chip, was released this week. Similar to its M1-powered predecessor, this lightweight Apple laptop relies solely on passive cooling mechanisms such as heatsinks and chassis to maintain silent operation. As a result, the processor in the M3 model is forced to work at temperatures resembling the setup of versions.
Surprisingly the degree to which the M3 MacBook Air overheats is notable. In tests with 3DMark Wild Life Extreme and Cinebench 2024, Max Tech observed the core in the M3 reaching 114 degrees Celsius times. Under use the average CPU and GPU temperatures peaked at 107 and 103 degrees Celsius leading to chassis temperatures hitting up to 46 degrees Celsius or 115 degrees Fahrenheit at its highest point.
Similar heat issues were seen in the M2 MacBook Air under load, though it’s uncertain if any reached as high as 114 degrees Celsius. Max Tech had recommended placing pads inside the MacBook Air to enhance heat transfer, a method that could also benefit the M3 model.
The sustained high temperatures pose challenges for the operation of the processor, causing a reduction in frequency and power consumption by the M3 during stress tests. This helped stabilize the chip around 100 degrees Celsius—a temperature still considered high but deemed acceptable within industry standards.
Nevertheless, this approach, to management comes with a trade-off: performance is impacted. In a review of the M3 MacBook Air, the 15-inch version showed a 10% performance drop in Cinebench R23 while the 13-inch model experienced a 20% decrease from the first to the run. Graphics performance also saw a decline, as Max Tech test results in 3DMark Wild Life Extreme displayed a 27% decrease from the best outcomes on the 15-inch MacBook Air.
Although the M3 MacBook Air does face issues and reaches high temperatures, it is uncertain if this presents a major concern. The MacBook Air has never been marketed as a high-performance gadget. It is expected that its performance may dip under workloads, even, with active cooling. Furthermore, its durability should be satisfactory as long as the processor functions well.
