Apple has officially introduced the M4 MacBook Air, offering a substantial performance boost, enhanced AI capabilities, and a brand-new Sky Blue color option. With a starting price of $999—$100 lower than the previous model—this update makes the world’s most popular laptop even more accessible.
M4 MacBook Air: Specs
The M4 chip delivers significant speed improvements, making the M4 MacBook Air up to 2x faster than the M1 model and up to 23x faster than Intel-based MacBook Airs.
- 10-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU
- Support for up to 32GB of unified memory
- Up to 3x faster Neural Engine for AI-enhanced tasks
- Improved gaming performance with ray tracing support
Extended battery life
Apple claims the M4 MacBook Air provides up to 18 hours of battery life, an improvement of six additional hours over Intel-based models.
Apple Intelligence features
The M4 MacBook Air is optimized for Apple Intelligence, allowing users to take advantage of:
- Image Playground to generate AI-created images
- Genmoji to create personalized emojis
- Enhanced Siri with natural language processing and ChatGPT integration
Apple ensures privacy protection with on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute, keeping your data secure.
New 12MP Center Stage camera
The FaceTime camera has been upgraded to 12MP with Center Stage support, which keeps you in frame during video calls. The new Desk View feature also enables top-down presentations, which is ideal for remote work and content creators.
Multi-display support
For the first time, the MacBook Air can support up to two external 6K displays in addition to its built-in Liquid Retina display. This is a significant upgrade for professionals who require multiple screens.
The same MacBook Air, now in Sky Blue
While the ultra-thin, fanless aluminum design remains unchanged, Apple has introduced a striking Sky Blue color, joining the existing options of Midnight, Starlight, and Silver.
Additional design highlights
- Color-matched MagSafe charger
- 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch Liquid Retina displays
- Touch ID and Magic Keyboard
- Wi-Fi 6E, Thunderbolt ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack
MacBook Air (M4) release date and pricing
The new MacBook Air models are available for pre-order today, with official availability starting on March 12.
| Model | Standard Price | Education Price |
|---|---|---|
| 13-inch MacBook Air (M4) | $999 | $899 |
| 15-inch MacBook Air (M4) | $1,199 | $1,099 |
The $100 price reduction makes the MacBook Air even more appealing to students, professionals, and first-time Mac buyers.
Should you upgrade?
- If you own an M1 MacBook Air, upgrading to the M4 will give you double the speed, better battery life, and enhanced AI features.
- If you have an M2 MacBook Air, the M4 model offers a modest upgrade unless you need multi-display support or AI enhancements.
- If you’re upgrading from an Intel-based MacBook Air, this is a no-brainer—the M4 is up to 23x faster.
The M4 MacBook Air refines an already excellent device, offering faster performance, smarter AI features, and better display support—all while reducing the price to $999. For students, professionals, and everyday users, it’s Apple’s best-value MacBook yet.
Featured image credit: Apple
