MacBook Air 13″ M3 (10-core GPU): gaming performance

The MacBook Air 13″ M3 (10-core GPU) (2024) is best suited to light games and cloud gaming. In native games it runs Cyberpunk 2077 at about 25 FPS and Baldur's Gate 3 at about 31 FPS at 1080p High, and League of Legends at about 158 FPS. Windows games through CrossOver, like Counter-Strike 2, reach about 58 FPS. Its 10-core GPU performs roughly like a desktop RX 6400 in native games, although the fanless design slows it down in long sessions. With 16 GB of unified memory, about 10.4 GB is available for graphics.

Specs that matter for gaming

2024 · MacBook Air 13″

Chip	Apple M3
CPU	8-core CPU (4P + 4E)
GPU	10-core · hardware ray tracing
Unified memory	8 GB / 16 GB / 24 GB
Display	2560×1664
Cooling	Fanless (throttles in long sessions)
Similar PC	RX 6400 + Ryzen 5 8500G

Cyberpunk 2077 by settings

Native Mac version, 16 GB memory.

Quality	1080p	1440p	1440p + MetalFX
Low	43	30	42
Medium	33	23	33
High	25	17	24
Ultra	20	13	18

FPS in 16 games

High settings, 16 GB memory, average FPS. "CrossOver" means the Windows version through translation.

Game	Runs as	1080p	1440p	Retina (2560×1664)
Cyberpunk 2077	Native	25	17	16
Baldur's Gate 3	Native	31	22	20
Resident Evil 4	Native	27	19	17
Assassin's Creed Shadows	Native	20	13	12
Death Stranding Director's Cut	Native	30	21	19
No Man's Sky	Native	28	20	18
Lies of P	Native	32	22	20
World of Warcraft	Native	48	34	31
League of Legends	Native	158	110	101
Minecraft (Java)	Native	181	142	130
Counter-Strike 2	CrossOver	58	40	37
Elden Ring	CrossOver	21	15	13
GTA V (story mode)	CrossOver	33	23	21
Valorant	Not on Mac	–	–	–
Fortnite	Cloud only	–	–	–
Call of Duty: Warzone	Not on Mac	–	–	–

Try other games and settings

MacBook Air 13″ M3 (10-core GPU): quick answers

Is the MacBook Air 13″ M3 (10-core GPU) good for gaming?

The MacBook Air 13″ M3 (10-core GPU) (2024) is best suited to light games and cloud gaming. Expect about 25 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 and 158 FPS in League of Legends at 1080p High.

What PC is the MacBook Air 13″ M3 (10-core GPU) equal to for gaming?

In native Mac games its graphics perform roughly like a RX 6400, with CPU performance close to a Ryzen 5 8500G. Windows games through CrossOver run about a third slower.

How much memory does the MacBook Air 13″ M3 (10-core GPU) need for gaming?

Avoid the 8 GB version for modern games. 16 GB gives about 10.4 GB to graphics, which is enough for 1080p–1440p High.

MacBook Air 13″ M3 (10-core GPU): gaming performance

Specs that matter for gaming

Cyberpunk 2077 by settings

FPS in 16 games

Similar Macs

MacBook Air 13″ M3 (10-core GPU): quick answers