M1 MacBook Air still wins on battery life — but not by much.

All three are excellent. Real-world use (web browsing, email, light productivity) means you’re looking at 12-15 hours regardless of which chip you pick.

The M1 Air is a freak of efficiency. It came out in 2020 and still outlasts most Windows laptops. The M2 Air introduced a larger, brighter screen and a barely thinner chassis — that cost a few watt-hours. In practice, reviewers saw the M2 drop maybe 30-60 minutes compared to the M1 under identical loads.

The M3 Air brings back some of that efficiency with a better process node. Apple claims the same 15-hour wireless web rating as the M1. Early tests show it’s about tied with the M1, maybe a hair behind. The M3 handles burst tasks better, so video calls or editing might last slightly longer, but we’re talking 5-10% at most.

If battery life is your #1 concern, keep the M