Apple just launched its M4 MacBook Air and it ships next week.If you already own an M3 MacBook Air, should you even consider the M4 model? Here’s what you should know about the key differences.What’s new in the M4 MacBook Air vs the M3 model? Apple tends to update its most popular Macs on an annual cycle.
It was right around this time last year when the M3 MacBook Air launched.Because of the frequent updates, there aren’t always big changes from year to year.You’re more likely to find a lot of value in your purchase if you wait a few cycles between upgrades.
That said, there are still some nice feature updates in the M4 MacBook Air that might tempt an M3 owner.Here are five reasons you may want to upgrade early.#1: 16GB base RAM, with higher max capacity Last fall when Apple launched its first M4 Macs, it also did something unusual: it bumped the existing M2 and M3 MacBook Air models to 16GB starting RAM.
But if you bought a MacBook Air last fall, you almost certainly aren’t interested in a new model yet.For most of its life though, the M3 MacBook Air started at only 8GB of RAM.If that’s what your model has, buying a new M4 MacBook Air would immediately give you a big boost to 16GB—the new base standard.
Maybe you already upgraded the RAM in your M3 Air, but it’s not quite enough.The M3 model supported a max capacity of 24GB of RAM, while the new M4 model goes all the way up to 32GB.#2: 12MP Center Stage camera The MacBook Air’s camera hasn’t ever been the device’s strength.
It’s passable, but certainly not up to par with what you’d find in a modern iPhone or iPad.The M3 model offered a 1080p FaceTime HD camera.With the M4 you get an upgraded 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View, plus 1080p HD video recording.
If you’re on video calls a lot, getting a better camera on your MacBook Air could be a compelling reason to upgrade.#3: Sky Blue Okay sure, this has nothing to do with how the MacBook Air actually performs.But for a device that you likely use all day, every day, color can really make a difference! The M4 MacBook Air comes in four colors: Sky Blue Silver Starlight Midnight Sky Blue is the big addition, and it looks beautiful.
Personally, I think if you love the new color and it sparks joy, there’s no shame at all in trading in your M3 MacBook Air for a lovely new M4 model.#4: M4 chip with more CPU cores, better Neural Engine I have to mention the M4 chip, so what better time than feature number four? Apple’s M4 is the most modern chip the company makes.That means future-proofing, and it also means you gain more headroom than the M3 offered.
That said, how much will you actually feel the difference? It depends on what you’re doing.The M4 comes with 10 CPU cores, a big 25% boost from the 8 cores in the M3.Those two extra cores are efficiency cores, which should help out in everyday tasks like web browsing, email, messaging, and light creative workflows.
Apple’s updated Neural Engine in the M4 also brings some big advantages, especially for AI tasks.The 16-core Neural Engine can perform up to 38 trillion operations per second.#5: $999 starting price This may not be a feature advantage, per se, but it’s absolutely a reason you might consider upgrading.
There’s something very pleasing about that $999 sweet spot, down $100 from the $1,099 the M3 MacBook Air started at.Maybe $100 objectively isn’t a huge difference, but if you’re interested in getting a new computer, dropping a digit and going $999 makes the upgrade a little easier to justify.What hasn’t changed? Pretty much everything else about the M4 MacBook Air is the same as the M3 model.
It has the same: 13-inch and 15-inch sizes physical design display technology battery life two Thunderbolt 4 ports plus MagSafe Touch ID Magic Keyboard and so on M4 MacBook Air vs M3 MacBook Air: wrap-up For most people, the M4 MacBook Air won’t offer enough changes to justify an upgrade from the M3 model.That’s totally fine.Apple doesn’t intend for this computer to entice people who just bought a MacBook Air in the last year.
That said, if you’re a technology enthusiast, you love the Sky Blue color, and/or there are specific feature differences that would make your computing life better, the M4 MacBook Air is a fantastic machine to upgrade to—even if your M3 model is still running strong.Are you considering upgrading from an M3 MacBook Air to an M4? Let us know in the comments.Best Mac accessories 100W USB-C power adapter for fast charging Twelve South aluminum laptop stand for MacBooks Anker USB-C 8-in-1 hub with Ethernet, HDMI, SD, more Baseus 10ft USB-C cable for extended reach AirPods Pro 2 (now only $199 for limited time) You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.
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