MacBook Air's Wi-Fi antenna placement is a known weak spot.

Yes, there are. On certain MacBook Air models—especially the Intel-based ones and early M1s—the Wi-Fi antennas are positioned near the hinge or along the bottom edge. This means the signal can drop significantly if you hold the laptop in a way that covers those areas, like resting it on your lap or setting it on a metal surface.

Apple has tweaked the design over time. The M2 and M3 MacBook Airs moved the antennas to the sides of the chassis, which helped. But if you’re using an older model (2018–2020 Intel or 2020 M1), you might notice weaker signal when the laptop is in portrait orientation or sitting on a soft surface that blocks airflow and antenna positions.

If you’re getting inconsistent Wi-Fi, try propping the laptop up or rotating it 90 degrees. That often helps. Otherwise, consider a USB-C Ethernet adapter for a stable connection.