Originally published at: M4 MacBook Air Cuts Price, Boosts Performance, Camera, and Display Support - TidBITS
Although the just-introduced M4 MacBook Air isn’t dramatically different from its M3 predecessor, it nonetheless brings notable developments that make it a standout in Apple’s lineup. Noteworthy upgrades include the powerful M4 chip, a new 12-megapixel Center Stage camera that enhances video calls, and the capability to drive two external displays with the lid open. It’s now priced at $100 less than its predecessor and comes in a new sky blue color.
Ever since Steve Jobs pulled the first MacBook Air from an envelope, Apple’s thinnest, lightest Mac laptop has captivated users. However, that compact size often required tradeoffs such as limited performance, smaller screen sizes, and fewer ports. Recent updates, though, have addressed many of these shortcomings.
Once the MacBook Air transitioned to Apple silicon with the M1 chip, it eliminated most performance concerns. I regularly work on an M1 MacBook Air without experiencing any slowdowns, barring intensive tasks like virtualizing the crufty Windows app HyTek Meet Manager in VMware Fusion. The M2 version further enhanced performance, brought back MagSafe charging to free up a Thunderbolt port, and introduced a 15-inch model for those prioritizing screen size over portability. The M3 MacBook Air not only boosted performance but also supported driving two displays with the lid closed, meaning that it required an external keyboard and trackpad.
The M4 MacBook Air is the culmination of that work. I don’t want to say that it’s the ultimate MacBook Air that Apple will ever build—at minimum, future Apple silicon chips will deliver even faster performance—but within the bounds of what defines a MacBook Air, it makes no compromises. Let’s examine the changes.
M4 Chip Boosts Performance
Apple rarely shares performance comparisons with the previous generation of chips, and this is no exception. The company says only that the M4 MacBook Air is up to twice as fast as the M1 MacBook Air and up to 23 times faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. However, benchmarks indicate that the M4 may be approximately 20% faster than the M3, partly due to two additional CPU cores (10 versus 8).
Additional performance gains come from a faster Neural Engine and increased memory bandwidth of 120 Gbps, compared to 100 Gbps. For memory-intensive tasks, the M4 MacBook Air now starts with 16 GB of unified memory, with options for 24 GB and a new maximum of 32 GB. I think 16 GB is sufficient for most users, but upgrading to 24 GB could help future-proof your purchase, and it automatically includes the faster of the two available M4 chips.
Although the MacBook Pro line offers significantly more performance with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, the M4 MacBook Air provides more than enough power for most uses.
Despite the performance improvements, battery life remains the same as in the M2 and M3 models. This could be attributed to a slightly larger 53.8-watt-hour battery replacing the previous 52.6-watt-hour battery.
12-Megapixel Center Stage Camera
The only other notable hardware change is the move from the mediocre 1080p FaceTime HD camera to a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera with support for Desk View.
Apple was slow to up its webcam game when videoconferencing became a routine part of many people’s lives. While the 1080p FaceTime HD camera introduced in the M2 MacBook Air was an upgrade from the previous 720p FaceTime HD camera, the 12-megapixel Center Stage camera is a larger step. Beyond the enhanced video quality, the ability to move around while the Center Stage feature follows you reduces the exhausting need to stay stationary during prolonged video calls.
Double Display Support
I have relied on and evangelized multiple displays since the early 1990s because of the significant productivity boost provided by extra screen space. My 27-inch iMac sits side-by-side with a 27-inch Thunderbolt Display, and when I use my M1 MacBook Air, another 27-inch Thunderbolt Display serves as the primary screen above the MacBook Air’s built-in display. However, there was no way to drive two external displays until the M3 MacBook Air, and that came at the cost of having to close the lid to take the built-in screen out of the equation.
With the M4 MacBook Air, Apple has eliminated all the tradeoffs. It can drive two external displays at up to 6K resolution while keeping the main display active. This is helpful not only because it gives you another screen on which to stash windows but also because you can continue to use the built-in keyboard and trackpad rather than buying a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID for $149 and a Magic Trackpad for $129.
$100 Lower Price and a New Color
With the M2 MacBook Air, Apple raised the starting price from $999 to $1099 and kept it there for the M3 MacBook Air, partly because older models remained available at the $999 price point. With the M4 MacBook Air, Apple has made the buying decision simpler by eliminating the M2 and M3 models entirely and reducing the starting price of the M4 MacBook Air back to $999 for the 13-inch model and $1199 for the 15-inch model. Memory upgrades include 24 GB for $200 or 32 GB for $400, and storage options beyond the base 256 GB carry the usual price premiums: 512 GB for $200, 1 TB for $400, and 2 TB for $800.
Finally, the M4 MacBook Air now comes in a sky blue color that replaces space gray as an option—silver, starlight, and midnight remain available. It’s impossible to know what the sky blue color will look like, but if it’s anything like the blue titanium color Apple used for the iPhone 15 Pro, it will usually read as silver.
You can place pre-orders now, with availability starting 12 March 2025.
What About the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro?
If you’re thinking about buying a 13-inch M4 MacBook Air and aren’t constrained to the most affordable option, also consider the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro. It costs $500 more for a comparable 512 GB configuration, but it sports a larger, brighter screen, longer battery life, a third Thunderbolt 4 port, an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, and superior speakers. It’s also slightly larger and 0.7 pounds (310 grams) heavier.
To my mind, Apple has done a good job of differentiating the two—you’ll pay more for the MacBook Pro and have to carry a heavier laptop, but you receive noticeable improvements in return. For most users, I would still recommend the M4 MacBook Air, but if the $500 premium isn’t a deal-breaker, the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro is an exceptionally nice machine.
Looking at the pricing now for the M4 version, it’s at the same price point (£1399, for 24GB RAM and 512GB SSD) that the M2 version was offered at. Good news if you’re looking to save by getting a refurbished model, I expect, especially if you’re buying for a light workload. 