M4 MacBook Air Review: Solid and Cheaper

With better performance, improved external display support, and a slightly lower starting price, the M4 Air positions itself as a solid choice for students and light users. But for many folks, the older M3 Air may still be the smarter buy.

What's New with the M4?

The jump from M3 to M4 isn’t groundbreaking, but there are real gains:

• CPU & GPU Gains: Up to 23% faster multi-core performance over the M3, and nearly 70% faster compared to the original M1 Air. Short bursts of performance, like compiling code, benefit from a new 22W peak power draw (vs 16W on the M3).
• Improved Efficiency: Despite the performance boost, power efficiency holds steady. Battery life remains excellent, with around 16 hours of video playback and minimal battery drain under load.
• Dual External Monitor Support: One of the most practical upgrades—support for two 6K external displays while still using the internal screen—solves a major limitation of earlier Airs.
• Lower Starting Price: Now starting at $999, Apple has made the Air more accessible while putting downward pressure on M3 Air pricing.

Still the Same Where It Counts—For Better or Worse

• Design & Build: No changes to the chassis. It's a premium, solid-feeling machine, but no longer the lightest in its class. Competitors like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon beat it with a larger screen.
• Display: Bright and color-accurate, but still limited to a 60Hz refresh rate—disappointing given most competitors at this price now offer 90Hz or higher.
• Keyboard & Ports: The low-travel keyboard remains unchanged, as do the limited ports (with all charging still annoyingly on the left).

Real-World Performance

The fanless design still leads to thermal throttling under sustained loads like video editing or multi-minute Cinebench tests. While performance is solid for everyday use and light creative work, anyone with serious media workloads should look toward the MacBook Pro.

In short bursts, the M4 feels fast and responsive, and it comfortably beats out Windows competitors in single-core performance. That said, creative professionals may see little difference from the M3 or even M2 in real-world apps like Premiere Pro or Photoshop due to hardware limitations like a single media engine.

Verdict: Buy It or Skip It?

If you're buying a new laptop and want a machine under $1,000, the M4 MacBook Air is a great choice. It’s quiet, efficient, and offers enough performance for most users.

However, for those with light computing needs, the now-discounted M3 MacBook Air offers nearly identical real-world performance for a lower price. The M4’s enhancements—while welcome—aren’t significant enough to make the M3 feel outdated.

Buy the M4 if:

• You want the best Air at a new lower price.
• You need dual monitor support.

Buy the discounted M3 if:

• You want the best value.
• Your workload doesn’t demand maximum performance.

In a landscape where Windows laptops are getting more expensive, Apple’s move to lower pricing—while maintaining a polished, dependable experience—makes the MacBook Air a standout in the ultralight category once again.