Pre-orders for M3 MacBook Air open in Vietnam

Both the 13-inch and 15-inch versions will be available for pre-orders.

The basic M3 will arrive next week while customized versions will be delivered at the end of April or early May.

It features an M3 chip, the first computer chip built using 3-nanometer process technology. Its design otherwise differs minimally from the M2.

Performance-wise, it claims a 60% increase in speed compared to the previous generation with the M1 chip. The battery life for both the 13-inch and 15-inch versions is 18 hours, according to Apple.

The 13- and 15-inch versions are priced at VND28 million (US$1,122) and VND33 million.

The launch of the new MacBook Air is eagerly anticipated not only by Apple fans but also retailers as they expect the product to draw attention to the laptop market, which was relatively quiet in the first quarter of the year.

Electronics retail chains have also been offering huge discounts on the M2 MacBook Air since last month after the M3 model was announced.

"The MacBook Air is Apple's best-selling laptop line, so the release of a new model and discounts on older ones will help boost sales significantly," Nguyen Lac Huy of electronics retail chain CellphoneS said.

The 13-inch MacBook Air holds the title of the best-selling laptop in the world while the 15-inch variant is the most popular in its size segment, according to Apple.