Apple refreshed the MacBook Air lineup last week, and those new models are available starting today. We picked up one of the M4 MacBook Air models for a quick unboxing and first impressions overview.
If you've seen the M2 or M3 MacBook Air models, then you know exactly what the M4 version looks like. Apple didn't change the design one bit, though there is a new Sky Blue color that replaces Space Gray. It's a subtle blue that doesn't even look blue depending on the lighting, so it's not the most exciting update.
What's new is inside, and it's primarily the M4 chip. The M4 chip is Apple's latest, and you don't need us to tell you that it's fast. CPU performance is up to 30 percent faster, and GPU performance is up to 21 percent faster compared to the M3.
Both the M3 and the M4 are built on a 3-nanometer process, so there isn't a huge year-over-year improvement, but the new MacBook Air models weren't designed for people coming from M3. If you're upgrading from an Intel-based Mac, a Windows PC, or even the M1 MacBook Air from 2020, you're going to see a night and day leap in performance.
You can get the MacBook Air in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, and they're about identical except for the display size, the weight, the speaker system, and the cost. There aren't differences in battery life, and both last for up to 18 hours when streaming video or 15 hours when browsing the web, so you can work all day without needing a charge.
There are two Thunderbolt 4 ports for connecting peripherals, and this year, the MacBook Air can drive two external displays at 6K resolution at 60Hz with no compromises. Apple added a new 12-megapixel front-facing camera this year, and it's a huge improvement over the 1080p camera that's been in multiple generations of prior MacBook Air models. The camera supports the latest features like Center Stage for keeping you in frame and Desk View if you need to demonstrate something on your desk.
The 13-inch MacBook Air is priced at $999 and it comes with 16GB RAM, an 8-core GPU, and a 10-core CPU. If you want the larger screen size, the 15-inch MacBook Air starts with 16GB RAM, a 10-core GPU, and 10-core CPU. You can upgrade the 13-inch MacBook Air to the 10-core GPU, and both models support up to 32GB RAM if you want to improve performance for tasks like video editing, gaming, and AI.
While the MacBook Air only got an incremental update this year, it's still the best Mac for most people. The $999 model is a solid deal with the M4 chip and the 16GB RAM. You can't get a cheaper current-generation notebook from Apple, but if you don't need portability, you can get a Mac mini with about the same specs for $599.
The main compromise between the MacBook Air and the more expensive MacBook Pro is essentially the display. The MacBook Pro has a much brighter mini-LED display that supports HDR and ProMotion. It also has more ports, a longer battery life, and the option to upgrade to faster M4 Pro or M4 Max chips for those who need even more performance.
It's probably going to be a few more years before Apple makes any notable design changes to the MacBook Air, so it's not a bad time to upgrade from an older Intel or M1 MacBook Air model.
