Photo: Apple
Aside from debuting the new iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro, Apple made a small yet important update to the MacBook Air. The M2 and M3 models now have 16GB of RAM as their minimum memory. You used to have to spend extra to get 16GB of RAM on your MacBook Air, but now the laptop is more in line with its competitors and the rest of Apple's computer lineup. This means the 8GB RAM option is no longer available for an Apple computer.
The most likely reason for the upgrade is Apple Intelligence. Artificial intelligence models usually require a lot of RAM to work well, and 16GB seems like the minimum you'll need for these machines to run more smoothly. The Apple MacBook Air starts at $1,299 in Canada for the M2 model, $1,449 for the 13-inch M3 model, and $$1,749 for the 15-inch M3 model.