While the MacBook Air has been Apple’s most popular laptop, it’s not the first laptop to receive the latest M-series chip. That honor goes to the MacBook Pro, Apple’s most powerful laptop, which was updated with the M4 chip last October. Traditionally, the MacBook Air gets the chip update a few months later, and as expected, it’s now time for the M4 update.
Whether with the M4 or the older M3 chip, the MacBook Air is a fantastic laptop. But despite four significant changes in the M4 MacBook Air, only one is a compelling reason to leave behind your recently purchased M3 MacBook Air. And if you’re still relying on an Intel-based MacBook Air, the M4 MacBook Air is an offer you can’t refuse—it has the kind of performance that will save you a lot of time.
Model’s Specifications
Apple offers three standard configurations for both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs. In this review, the 15-inch MacBook Air has been customized with more RAM and storage compared to the top-end standard configuration, which starts at 16GB RAM and 256GB storage. Here are the specifications for our review unit:
• CPU: 10-core M4 (4 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores)
• GPU: 10-core M4
• Neural Engine: 16-core
• Memory: 16GB unified memory (120GBps memory bandwidth)
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.3-inch Liquid Retina LED-backlit display with IPS; native resolution of 2880 x 1864 at 224 pixels per inch; 500 nits brightness; P3 color; True Tone
• Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4/USB-C; MagSafe 3; 3.5mm audio
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
• Weight: 3.3 pounds (1.51 kg)
• Dimensions: 0.45 x 13.40 x 9.35 inches (1.15 x 34.04 x 23.76 cm)
• Battery Capacity: 66.5Wh
• Price (as tested): $1,399/£1,399/CA$1,999/AU$2,399
The new MacBook Air is highlighted by its new M4 chip, featuring a 10-core CPU (4 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores), an 8-core or 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Compared to the M3, the M4 has two more efficiency cores, two more GPU cores, and general CPU tweaks that make it a better performer.
Geekbench 6.4
Results are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.
Our performance analysis starts with Geekbench 6 for an overall perspective. In both single-core and multi-core tests, the M4 MacBook Air was 23% faster than the M3 MacBook Air. This is typical of what we see when moving from one chip generation to another.
The older the chip, the better the comparison will be. The M4 offers a 46% boost over the M2 MacBook Air; if you have an M2 Air, this performance boost is appealing, but you might be disappointed thinking that you don’t really need to upgrade. However, if you have an M1 MacBook Air, upgrading to the M4 is much more attractive in terms of pure performance.
If you have an Intel-based MacBook Air, I’ve been recommending an upgrade to the M-series Air since the M2, and I understand if you’ve hesitated until now. But upgrading to the M4 will save you a lot of time, no matter what you’re doing.
Cinebench 2024
Results are expressed as Cinebench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.
Cinebench 2024 is a test that performs 3D rendering. Most people working on tasks tested by Cinebench are using higher-end MacBook Pros, but the MacBook Air is suitable for this task too. Once again, as we saw with Geekbench, the results show a solid 21% increase from the M3 to the M4.
Handbrake 1.9.2 Video Encode
Results are in seconds. Shorter time/shorter bars are faster.
We used Handbrake to encode the “Tears of Steel” video from 4K to 1080p H.265. When encoding entirely in software using the H.265 (x265) video encoder, the M4 was 31% faster than the M3. When using Handbrake’s H.265 (VideoToolBox) hardware acceleration, the M4 was 40% faster.
iMovie 4K Video Export
Results are in seconds. Shorter time/shorter bars are faster.
We measured CPU performance by exporting 10 minutes of 4K video in iMovie with two settings. When exporting using the ProRes codec, the M4 was 16% faster than the M3. When we changed the export quality setting to high, the M4’s advantage dropped to 6%.
Blackmagic Disk Test
Results are in megabytes per second. Higher rates/longer bars are faster.
The SSD results between the M3 and M4 MacBook Air are virtually identical. There’s a slight increase from the M2 to the M4, but you’d need sustained disk read and write operations to notice the difference.
The M1 and M2 MacBook Airs with 256GB storage used a single 256GB SSD chip, which affected performance. Apple switched to a pair of 128GB SSD chips in the M3 MacBook Air, which improved performance. Our review unit has a 512GB SSD (likely installed as multiple chips), so we can’t confirm the performance of the 256GB SSD version, but Apple would be foolish to return to its old methods. You shouldn’t be concerned if you’re eyeing an Air with 256GB storage.
Geekbench 6 Compute
Results are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.
Geekbench’s Compute benchmark tests GPU performance using Metal or OpenCL APIs. If a game is written for Mac, it should use the Metal API for the best performance. The M4 MacBook Air is 16% better than the M3 in this test. Both chips have a 10-core GPU, so Apple has improved the M4’s GPU.
Video Game Frame Rate
Results are in frames per second. Higher rates/longer bars are faster.
We tested with built-in benchmarks from Borderlands 3, Total War: Warhammer III, and Civilization VI. When a game launches, macOS’s Game Mode automatically activates to optimize performance.
Geekbench AI
Results are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.
Apple Intelligence is a major marketing message for Apple. Whether you’re using AI-based features or not, they’re becoming part of Apple’s promotional focus. Apple Intelligence appeared in macOS Sequoia 15.1 and will continue to be enhanced over time.
Geekbench provides an AI benchmark that checks the performance of Apple’s Neural Engine in its chips. However, the way Apple Intelligence is implemented right now doesn’t seem particularly processor-intensive, so you likely won’t feel a difference using image playgrounds on the M4 compared to the M1.
Ports, External Display Support, and Connectivity
Apple still provides two USB Type-C ports on the M4 MacBook Air, but they’ve been upgraded from Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 4. This is the most compelling reason to upgrade from an M3 or older Air: The M4 Air can drive up to two external displays at 6K resolution and 60Hz. This is in addition to the laptop’s built-in display, so there’s no clamshell compromise like with the M3 Air. This is a huge deal for users who have purchased a MacBook Pro or rely on external hub solutions.
Apart from better display support, users likely won’t see much difference between Thunderbolt 3 and 4. As always, Thunderbolt ports are also USB-C ports, and they support the USB 4 specification, so Apple calls them Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports.
The M4 MacBook Air uses Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. Apple hasn’t commented on why it hasn’t upgraded to Wi-Fi 7 like the iPhone 16, but there’s no need for concern. To take advantage of faster speeds, you’ll need to connect to a Wi-Fi 7 hotspot, and those aren’t widely available yet.
Camera
The M4 MacBook Air replaces the old 1080p FaceTime camera with a more modern 12MP Center Stage camera. This is the same camera Apple uses in the MacBook Pro, and the image quality is much better. Center Stage is a real game-changer. I recently realized how much I move around while recording the Macworld Podcast (sorry for the plug), and Center Stage helps keep me centered in the frame, which matters when you’re in a video call with multiple people.
Video conferencing has become truly common nowadays; thus, having high-quality video capability on the MacBook Air truly becomes a wonderful and necessary feature. It did take some time for a 12MP camera to arrive on the Mac. The 1080p cameras on iMacs were only four years ago, but the 12MP camera for the front-facing iPhone has been around since 2009. So yes, finally. (This also means that longtime Macworld readers can stop hearing us complain about Mac cameras—at least until 12MP becomes old.)
Battery Life and Charging
The M4 MacBook Air has the same battery as before: a 66.5-watt-hour lithium polymer battery, which Apple claims provides 15 hours of “wireless web” and 18 hours of “video streaming.” Battery life results are given in minutes. Longer bars/higher results are better.
In our battery life test, we looped 4K “Tears of Steel” video with the display set to 150 nits. The new laptop didn’t last as long as the M2 and M3 MacBook Air, but it still lasted about 18 hours before the battery ran out. When I used the M4 Air for a full workday (mostly writing this review), I never worried about battery life and didn’t need to plug it in until the end of the day. The included 35W power adapter has two USB-C ports, so you can plug in another device and charge it alongside the Air. Apple also includes a braided MagSafe cable that matches the laptop color.
Enter Sky Blue, Exit Space Gray
Apple has introduced a new Sky Blue color, replacing Space Gray. It looks like Apple introduced Sky Blue and dropped Space Gray to emphasize the color scheme of consumer-level products, which are presented in a “rainbow” of colors.
Sky Blue is lighter than the Blue iMac (which I reviewed last November) and looks great on the laptop. It’s not as ultramarine as on the iPhone 16, but if you want your Apple devices to match, it’s pretty close.
If you want a darker MacBook Air, your only option now is Midnight. I can’t say I’ll miss Space Gray, but I didn’t love it either. Its tone has changed over the past few years, and I prefer the darker shades. Perhaps there will be a rebirth someday, maybe with a different name like “Gray.”
What Has Not Changed
The focus here is on Apple’s changes made between the M3 and the M4 MacBook Air. The following components haven’t changed, but it’s worth mentioning them as they’ll play a role in your purchase decision. If you’re interested in more details, I’ve included links to our original posts.
• Design: Apple introduced this design with the M2 MacBook Air.
• Display: The Liquid Retina (LED) display still looks fantastic.
• Keyboard and Trackpad: Except for the mute icon, which gets a slash on the M4 MacBook Air, the keyboard is the same Magic Keyboard introduced with the 2020 Intel model and updated with the M2 redesign.
Should You Buy the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air?
Last year, in my M3 MacBook Air review, I said it was “probably the best laptop for most people.” With the M4 MacBook Air, that’s still true, but this laptop is even better. The M3 Air’s clamshell compromise with external display support was a deal-killer for many users. So, the expanded external display support in the M4 Air is a more important upgrade than performance improvements. That said, don’t get me wrong—faster is always better. The 12MP Center Stage camera is a long-awaited upgrade that makes Apple’s consumer laptop feel more professional. It’s also $100 cheaper across all configurations.
The model we tested, priced at $1,399, would cost $1,499 for the same specs with the M3 chip. That’s a nice and surprising discount, especially considering you get double the RAM that was available when the M3 launched in March 2024.
With all that said, if you’re working in a production environment with an M3 or M2 MacBook Air, and the lack of external display support hasn’t been a deal-breaker, you might not see a significant reason to upgrade. However, if you’re using an Intel MacBook Air, I believe you’ll be wowed by the performance boost. And if you need a large display, the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air is a great choice!
Best Prices Today: Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M4, 2025)
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