For a long time, the MacBook Air has stood for efficiency, portability, and stylish design. Expectations were high when the new MacBook Air with Apple’s newest M4 chip was released. The M-series CPUs have transformed Apple’s devices’ performance, and the M4 chip is expected to push beyond the boundaries even further. Our comprehensive evaluation will examine the new M4 chip’s design, performance, salient features, battery life, and overall user experience.
1. Design and Build Quality
With a few minor adjustments, Apple has kept the MacBook Air’s iconic thin and light form. Because of its lightweight design and durability, the aluminum unibody makes it easy to carry. The traditional Silver, Space Gray, and Gold finishes are still available, but Apple has introduced a new Midnight Blue option that has been well-liked due to its sleek, contemporary appearance.
The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina screen is more immersive since the screen bezels are narrower than before. Whether you’re streaming your favorite content or working on creative projects, the display’s True Tone technology, P3 broad color support, and brightness of up to 500 nits guarantee clear and vibrant images.
The huge Force Touch trackpad and Magic Keyboard are still in place and continue to provide accurate input and a comfortable typing experience, respectively.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lightweight and portable | No major design overhaul from the previous model. |
| New Midnight Blue color option. | |
| Thin bezels and gorgeous Retina display. |
2. Performance with the M4 Chip
Without a question, the new M4 chip is the standout feature of this MacBook Air. With its 8-core CPU, 12-core GPU, and up to 16-core Neural Engine, the M4 processor elevates Apple’s bespoke silicon, which has continuously outperformed itself. The M4 chip, which is based on a 4nm architecture, offers a notable improvement over the M3 processor in terms of raw processing power and efficiency.
Multitasking, video editing, 3D rendering, and even intense gaming are all handled with ease and virtually without lag by the MacBook Air equipped with the M4 CPU. The flawless operation of programs like Adobe Photoshop and Final Cut Pro demonstrates the chip’s remarkable GPU capabilities.
Benchmark Results:
- Geekbench 6: The M4 chip scores an impressive 9000 in multi-core performance, a significant increase over the M3.
- Cinebench R23: Multicore score of 12500, outperforming many competing ultrabooks.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Exceptional performance for both casual and professional tasks. | Slight thermal throttling under extreme workloads |
| Significant improvements in GPU-intensive applications. | |
| Faster machine learning tasks |
3. Battery Life
The MacBook Air’s battery life has always been one of its most appealing features, and the M4 chip makes sure it continues to outperform the competition. The MacBook Air can run on a single charge for up to 20 hours, thanks to the energy-efficient 4nm architecture, even when doing intensive tasks like editing and video playback. The battery life for daily chores like word processing, email, and web browsing should be closer to 24 hours.
Furthermore, the MacBook Air’s MagSafe 3 connector enables quick charging, enabling customers to reach 50% charge in just 30 minutes. Although charging via USB-C ports is also possible, MagSafe is still the recommended option for quicker charging.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Industry-leading battery life. | Slightly lower battery life during resource-intensive tasks. |
| Fast charging with MagSafe 3 support. | |
| Efficient power usage for heavy workloads. |
4. Connectivity and Ports
With two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) connectors, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a MagSafe 3 charging port, the MacBook Air with M4 chip carries on the tradition of having few ports. Despite Thunderbolt 4’s great power and versatility—which includes fast data transfer and 4K monitor connections- users who need more peripherals may still find the port count restrictive. For individuals that require HDMI, USB-A, or an SD card reader, a hub or adaptor can be required, much like with earlier generations.
Whether you’re streaming high-definition video or downloading files to the cloud, the MacBook Air’s wireless capabilities—Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3—ensure reliable, quick connections.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Thunderbolt 4 for high-speed data transfer. | Limited port selection. |
| MagSafe 3 port for dedicated charging. | |
| Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support. |
5. Software and macOS Sonoma
Apple’s most recent operating system, macOS Sonoma, is preinstalled on the MacBook Air with the M4 processor. New widgets, improved video conferencing capabilities, and improved gaming compatibility are all included in macOS Sonoma. From boot times to running numerous apps at once, the M4 processor and macOS collaborate to provide a responsive and seamless experience.
The M4 chip’s native support for iPhone and iPad apps is one of the main benefits of the Apple Silicon range. Users who are already familiar with the Apple ecosystem will find the MacBook Air much more adaptable due to its smooth integration of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| macOS Sonoma optimized for the M4 chip.. | Some macOS updates may not yet fully take advantage of the M4’s performance. |
| Ability to run iOS and iPadOS apps. | |
| Enhanced video conferencing tools and widgets. |
6. Price and Configurations
Starting at $1,099, the base model of the MacBook Air with the M4 CPU has 256GB of SSD storage and 8GB of unified memory. For those who require additional power for creative or professional work, there are choices to expand to 16GB or 24GB of unified memory and up to 2TB of SSD storage. The base pricing is reasonable when compared to comparable ultrabooks, but higher-end versions can cost a lot more.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Competitive pricing for the base model. | High-end configurations can get expensive. |
| Available in multiple configurations to suit different needs. |
Final Verdict
The M4-chip MacBook Air is a powerful, lightweight, and effective gadget that keeps raising the bar for ultrabooks. The new M4 processor improves machine learning capabilities and offers a notable speed improvement, particularly in workloads requiring a GPU. It is the perfect option for both business and home users because of its great battery life, elegant design, and seamless macOS integration.
However, some users may find the restricted port selection and the possibility of thermal throttling under high workloads to be disadvantages. The MacBook Air with M4 CPU is a great option if you’re a creative worker or require a powerful laptop for work-related activities while you’re on the go.
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