MacBook Air M4 Review: Is It Worth the Upgrade?
Apple has just launched the new MacBook Air with the M4 chip, and while there are some solid improvements, this isn’t a complete overhaul. Let's break down what’s new, what’s still the same, and whether you should consider upgrading — or perhaps stick with the older M3 model.
🔥 Performance: A Modest but Noticeable Bump
The M4 chip brings faster CPU and GPU performance, along with slightly better power efficiency. In everyday use, that means your apps will open a bit quicker, and things like compiling code or editing photos should feel snappier.
✅ Benchmarks in Geekbench:
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18% faster single-core and 23% faster multi-core compared to the M3.
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55% faster single-core and 69% faster multi-core than the original M1 Air.
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Compared to similarly priced Windows laptops, the M4 absolutely crushes Intel’s Lunar Lake and beats Qualcomm's X Elite in single-core tasks.
However, the MacBook Air is fanless, and that causes thermal throttling during sustained loads. Under stress tests like Cinebench loops, the M4 can't maintain peak performance. The 15-inch Air throttles less than the 13-inch, making it a better pick for light creative workloads.
🎮 Graphics & Creative Performance
In GPU benchmarks like 3DMark’s Wildlife and Geekbench Compute, the M4 Air performs about 16% better than the M3 model.
But keep in mind:
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All MacBook Airs (M1 to M4) perform similarly in Premier Pro due to Apple’s shared media engine.
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Photoshop performance is a bit better on the M4 and still beats most Intel and Qualcomm chips.
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That said, AMD’s latest Z5 chip outperforms the Air in creative tasks.
A real-world video editing test showed laggy playback even on the 15-inch M4 Air — reinforcing that this machine isn’t ideal for heavy creative workloads.
🔋 Battery Life: Still an Apple Strength
Battery life remains a strong point. In a looped Netflix playback test at 200 nits:
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Both 13" and 15" M4 Airs had ~75% battery remaining after 4 hours — translating to about 16 hours of battery life.
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During performance tests, the 15-inch Air used just 8% battery over 30 minutes, while the 13-inch used 14% — still solid.
Though Windows laptops have improved in idle/light tasks, Apple’s power efficiency still wins the day under real-world usage.
💻 What Hasn’t Changed: The Disappointments
While the M4 chip is a step forward, many hardware aspects didn’t get an upgrade:
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Display: Still the same 60Hz panel, while many competitors offer 90Hz or 120Hz displays. Not a deal breaker, but a missed opportunity.
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Keyboard: Still low travel, decent for typing but not as comfortable as some Windows ultrabooks.
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Ports: Still limited and all charging ports are on the left side, which can be inconvenient.
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Wi-Fi/Bluetooth: Still using Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, instead of Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 like newer Windows laptops.
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Chassis: Still the same design. It's premium and solid, but not as lightweight as rivals like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon.
📸 Webcam Improvements
The webcam has improved, especially in tricky lighting. In backlit conditions, the M4 Air handles exposure far better than the M3 model. While not mind-blowing, it’s a welcome upgrade for video calls.
🧠 Which One Should You Buy?
Here’s where it gets interesting.
💰 The Best Deal Might Be the Older M3 Air
Because of the M4's launch, the M3 MacBook Air has dropped in price. And here’s the truth: for basic users (school, office, home) — the difference between M3 and M4 is negligible.
So unless you're doing performance-heavy tasks, the discounted M3 Air is arguably the better deal.
However, if you:
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Are coming from an M1 Air, the M4 upgrade is worth it.
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Want less throttling and better performance, go for the 15-inch M4 Air.
But don’t expect a MacBook Pro alternative — the Air still isn’t designed for that level of work.
📦 Pricing
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Base model M4 MacBook Air starts at $999 — $100 cheaper than the M3 was at launch.
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But the 256GB storage on the base model still feels stingy.
📝 Final Verdict
The MacBook Air M4 is one of the best laptops you can buy for under $1,000 — especially for light use. It's powerful, quiet, efficient, and polished.
However, the real value might be in the heavily discounted M3 Air, especially if you’re not a power user.
👍 Pros:
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Better CPU & GPU performance
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Excellent power efficiency
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Solid build and battery life
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Improved webcam
👎 Cons:
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Still 60Hz display
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Thermal throttling under load
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Limited ports
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Same design, keyboard, and Wi-Fi as before
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