Apple’s newly introduced M4 MacBook Air brings a number of notable upgrades whereas sustaining the glossy design that is made the Air lineup so fashionable. Listed here are six essential issues it’s best to know concerning the newest iteration of Apple’s ultra-portable laptop computer.
Notice that the brand new 13-inch and 14-inch MacBook Air with M4 chip is accessible to pre-order now, and it launches Wednesday, March 12.
Assist for Two Exterior Shows
In a notable enchancment over earlier fashions, the brand new M4 MacBook Air can natively assist two exterior shows whereas holding the laptop computer’s lid open. This implies customers can work with as much as three screens concurrently (the MacBook’s built-in show plus two exterior screens).
Apple’s technical specs verify the brand new MacBook Air “concurrently helps full native decision on the built-in show at 1 billion colours and as much as two exterior shows with as much as 6K decision at 60Hz.” Assist additionally consists of Thunderbolt 4 digital video output and native DisplayPort 1.4 output over USB-C.
The enhancement eliminates the limitation present in earlier M1 and M2 fashions, which formally supported just one exterior show. It additionally improves upon the M3 which might drive two exterior shows however required the laptop computer’s lid to be closed.
12MP Middle Stage Digital camera
The M4 MacBook Air comes geared up with a serious digital camera improve, changing the earlier 1080p FaceTime HD digital camera with a 12-megapixel digital camera. This new digital camera not solely offers increased decision but in addition helps Middle Stage, which robotically retains you focused within the body throughout video calls as you progress round.
The digital camera additionally helps Desk View, a function that gives an overhead perspective of your desk throughout video calls. MacBook webcam high quality has been a long-standing criticism, so this modification ought to deal with the difficulty, particularly for customers who repeatedly depend on video conferencing.
Simpler Setup
Apple has simplified the setup course of for brand new Mac house owners. Beginning subsequent month with the discharge of macOS Sequoia 15.4, customers will have the ability to arrange their new MacBook Air by merely bringing their iPhone or iPad near the Mac.
This proximity-based setup lets you shortly register to your Apple Account and robotically switch your recordsdata, pictures, messages, passwords, and different private information to your new MacBook Air. The iPhone or iPad will should be working iOS 18.4 or iPadOS 18.4 or newer for this function to work. These updates may also be launched in April.
New Colour (and MagSafe Charger)
The M4 MacBook Air introduces a brand new “sky blue” coloration choice, changing the earlier area grey variant. To enrich this new end, Apple has additionally launched an identical sky blue USB-C to MagSafe 3 charging cable.
Like different MacBook Air fashions, the brand new M4 model comes with a color-matched MagSafe cable within the field. The magnetic connection offers the security benefit of detaching if somebody journeys over the wire, stopping potential harm to the laptop computer. For these wanting an extra cable or a distinct coloration, Apple sells the MagSafe 3 charging cable individually for $49.
Battery Life
Regardless of the efficiency enhancements provided by the brand new M4 chip, battery life rankings stay unchanged from the earlier M2 and M3 fashions. This consistency means that the ability effectivity beneficial properties from the brand new chip are being directed towards efficiency moderately than prolonged battery life.
As well as, the brand new MacBook Air encompasses a barely bigger 53.8-watt-hour battery in comparison with the 52.6-watt-hour battery in earlier fashions, which possible helps preserve battery life regardless of the extra highly effective processor.
$100 Value Lower
Apple has lowered the beginning value of the MacBook Air, providing the 13-inch M4 mannequin at $999 – that is $100 lower than the previous-generation M3 MacBook Air’s beginning value of $1,099. You additionally get 16GB of RAM at the least, which wasn’t the case when the M3 MacBook Air first launched.
The bottom 13-inch configuration features a 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB of unified reminiscence, and 256GB of SSD storage. The 15-inch mannequin begins at $1,199, sustaining the identical value level as its M3 predecessor.
