Anticipated Early Arrival of Apple's MacBook Air Upgrade
Apple has recently launched the MacBook Air M4, offering significant upgrades over previous models. The laptop comes in two sizes - a 13-inch and a 15-inch version, with starting prices of $999 and $1,199 respectively[1].
Key Features and Performance Highlights
The MacBook Air M4 is powered by Apple's latest M4 chip, built on a 3nm process technology. It includes a 10-core CPU and an 8-core GPU, with next-gen graphics capabilities such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing, mesh shading, and Dynamic Caching[2]. The updated 16-core Neural Engine provides a substantial 111% performance increase over the M3, executing 38 trillion operations per second (up from 18 trillion in the M3), and is over 3 times faster than the M1[1][2].
The MacBook Air M4 supports up to 32GB of unified memory with increased bandwidth of 120GB/s, up from 24GB and 100GB/s in the prior generation[1]. It also offers dedicated acceleration for ProRes, H.264, HEVC, and ProRes RAW video codecs, enhancing video processing while maintaining battery efficiency[1]. The base SSD starts at 256GB and can be configured up to 2TB[1][2]. The 13-inch model includes a 12MP Center Stage camera improving video calls with enhanced quality and automatic framing[2].
Performance Comparisons
Benchmarks and user reviews emphasize substantial improvements in graphics thanks to the new GPU features, and in AI workloads due to the upgraded Neural Engine[2]. The MacBook Air M4's Geekbench Metal score is higher than the MacBook Air 13 (M3, 2024) with a score of 41,045, and it outperforms the older M1 MacBook Air[3]. However, it trails behind the MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) with a much higher Geekbench Metal score of 112,261[4].
Availability
The MacBook Air M4 models launched in March 2025, with availability confirmed through mid-2025[1][2][4].
Conclusion
The 2025 MacBook Air M4 offers a compelling upgrade in CPU/GPU power, AI capabilities, memory capacity, and external display support, positioning it as a very performant and versatile lightweight laptop option.
[1] Apple Inc. (2025). MacBook Air M4 product page [2] Wong, J. (2025). MacBook Air M4 review [3] Smith, T. (2025). MacBook Air M4 benchmarks [4] Geekbench (2025). MacBook Air M4 Geekbench scores
- The MacBook Air M4 laptop, recently launched by Apple, features the latest M4 chip, offering improvements in CPU and GPU performance compared to its predecessors.
- The MacBook Air M4 is equipped with a 10-core CPU and an 8-core GPU, boasting next-gen graphics capabilities and a significantly faster Neural Engine.
- The MacBook Air M4 supports up to 32GB of unified memory and offers dedicated acceleration for various video codecs, enhancing video processing and battery efficiency.
- The MacBook Air M4's Geekbench Metal score outperforms the MacBook Air 13 (M3, 2024) but trails behind the MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024).
- Despite being lighter and more portable, the MacBook Air M4 offers significant improvements in performance, making it a versatile option for users seeking a powerful laptop.
- Smartphone enthusiasts and tech aficionados might also find interest in the MacBook Air M4, as its impressive performance adds to the growing array of high-performing gadgets available in the market.
- If you're considering a new laptop and prioritize performance, budget-friendliness, and a lightweight design, the MacBook Air M4 could be an excellent addition to your collection of technology gadgets.
