Apple has released its latest MacBook Air featuring the M4 chip, offering improved performance, longer battery life, and introducing a new sky blue color option – all at a reduced starting price of $999.
Key Updates to the MacBook Air
The new MacBook Air models (13-inch and 15-inch) feature several notable improvements:
- M4 Chip: Includes a 10-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU, and supports up to 32GB of unified memory
- Performance: Up to twice as fast as the M1 model and 23 times faster than Intel-based MacBook Airs
- Battery Life: Up to 18 hours, providing 6 additional hours compared to Intel models
- Memory: Now starts with 16GB of unified memory (upgraded from previous models)
- Camera: New 12MP Center Stage camera with improved video quality that keeps users centered in frame
- Display Support: Can now connect to two 6K external displays simultaneously
- Price Cut: 13-inch model now starts at $999 ($100 less than before) and $899 for education customers
“MacBook Air is by far the world’s most popular laptop, and today we’re giving everyone even more reasons to love it, including a big boost in performance with the M4 chip, a new Center Stage camera, and a beautiful new sky blue color,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
Performance Improvements
According to Apple’s benchmarks, the M4 MacBook Air delivers:
- Spreadsheet calculations in Microsoft Excel up to 4.7x faster than Intel-based models and 1.6x faster than M1 MacBook Airs
- Video editing in iMovie up to 8x faster than Intel-based models and 2x faster than M1 MacBook Airs
- Photo editing in Adobe Photoshop up to 3.6x faster than Intel-based models and 2x faster than M1 MacBook Airs
- Web browsing up to 60% faster compared to PC laptops with Intel Core Ultra 7 processors
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AI Capabilities
The M4 chip’s Neural Engine is 3x faster than the M1, accelerating AI tasks like enhancing photos and removing background noise. The new models are designed to work with Apple Intelligence, which enables features like:
- Image Playground for visual creation
- Genmoji for custom emoji creation
- Writing Tools for text enhancement
- Improved Siri capabilities
- Optional ChatGPT integration (no account required)
Design and Environmental Impact
The MacBook Air maintains its thin, light design while improving its environmental credentials:
- Over 55% recycled content overall
- 100% recycled aluminum in the enclosure
- 100% recycled rare earth elements in all magnets
- 100% recycled cobalt in the battery
- Over 95% recycled lithium in the battery (a first for any Mac)
- Fiber-based packaging with no plastic
Pricing and Availability
- 13-inch MacBook Air with M4: Starts at $999 ($899 for education)
- 15-inch MacBook Air with M4: Starts at $1,199 ($1,099 for education)
- Available for pre-order now, with availability beginning March 12
- Color options: new sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver
The entry-level model comes with an M4 chip (10-core CPU, 8-core GPU), 16GB unified memory, and 256GB storage. The mid-tier $1,199 model includes a 10-core GPU and 512GB storage, while the $1,399 configuration increases memory to 24GB.
FAQ
What makes the new MacBook Air with M4 different from previous models?
+The new MacBook Air features the M4 chip (providing up to 2x faster performance than M1 models), a new 12MP Center Stage camera, support for two external displays, and comes in a new sky blue color. It also starts at a lower price of $999 (compared to $1,099 for the M3 model) and includes 16GB of unified memory as standard.
When will the new MacBook Air be available?
+The new MacBook Air with M4 is available for pre-order now and will be in stores starting Wednesday, March 12.
How much does the new MacBook Air cost?
+The 13-inch MacBook Air with M4 starts at $999 ($899 for education), and the 15-inch model starts at $1,199 ($1,099 for education). The base model includes an M4 chip with 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory, and 256GB of storage.
What colors are available for the new MacBook Air?
+The new MacBook Air is available in four colors: the new sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver. Each color option comes with a matching MagSafe charging cable.
What is the battery life of the new MacBook Air?
+The new MacBook Air offers up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is about 6 hours more than Intel-based MacBook Air models.
Does the new MacBook Air support Apple Intelligence features?
+Yes, the MacBook Air with M4 is built for Apple Intelligence, which includes features like Image Playground, Genmoji, enhanced Writing Tools, and improved Siri capabilities. It also offers optional ChatGPT integration that doesn’t require creating an account.
