Apple has launched a new MacBook Air powered by the M4 chip.
The updated laptop comes with improved performance, an extended battery life of up to 18 hours, and a refreshed design including a new sky blue colour.
The 13-inch model now starts at $999, a $100 reduction from the previous model, while students and educational institutions can purchase it for $899.
The new MacBook Air supports two external displays alongside its built-in screen, an upgrade from previous models.
It also includes 16GB of unified memory as standard, a 12MP Center Stage camera, and the latest macOS Sequoia, which integrates Apple’s advanced system intelligence. Pre-orders have already begun, and the device will be available in stores from March 12.
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, highlighted the enhancements: “MacBook Air is by far the world’s most popular laptop, and today we’re giving everyone even more reasons to love it, including a big boost in performance with the M4 chip, a new Center Stage camera, and a beautiful new sky blue colour. Combined with its thin and light, fanless design, all-day battery life, and the incredible capabilities of macOS Sequoia with Apple Intelligence, MacBook Air is unlike any other laptop. And with a new lower starting price of $999, MacBook Air delivers more value to consumers than ever before, making this the perfect moment to upgrade or experience the Mac for the first time.”
Apple’s M4 chip amazingly boosts processing power, making tasks such as multitasking, photo editing, and video rendering much faster.
With a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU, the new MacBook Air with M4 chip is reportedly up to twice as fast as the M1 version and offers 23 times the speed of the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air.
Battery efficiency has also been improved, delivering up to six hours of additional usage compared to Intel-based models. The Neural Engine in the M4 chip is three times faster than the one found in the M1, accelerating tasks such as background noise removal in videos and automatic photo enhancements.
In performance tests, the new MacBook Air demonstrated:
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Up to 4.7x faster spreadsheet calculations in Microsoft Excel than Intel-based models
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Up to 8x faster video editing in iMovie compared to Intel-based MacBook Air
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Up to 3.6x faster photo editing in Adobe Photoshop compared to previous Intel models
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60% faster web browsing than a high-end PC with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor
Design and Display Enhancements
Another addition to this release is the sky blue colour, joining the existing lineup of midnight, starlight, and silver. The device retains its ultra-thin aluminium chassis and lightweight design, maintaining its reputation as Apple’s most portable laptop.
MacBook Air now supports multiple external displays, allowing users to connect up to two 6K monitors simultaneously. The built-in Liquid Retina display remains a standout feature, bringing beautiful colours, sharp details, and up to 500 nits of brightness.
Upgraded Camera and Audio Experience
For video calls and content creation, Apple has introduced a 12MP Center Stage camera that automatically adjusts framing to keep users in focus.
This is especially beneficial for FaceTime calls and virtual meetings. Added to these, the Desk View feature enables a split-screen setup, displaying both the user’s face and a top-down view of their workspace.
The audio system includes a three-microphone array for clearer voice capture and support for Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, delivering an immersive sound experience for music and movies.
MacOS Sequoia and Apple Intelligence
The new MacBook Air runs on macOS Sequoia, which introduces features like iPhone Mirroring, allowing users to access their iPhone apps and notifications directly from their Mac. Safari has also been upgraded with a redesigned Reader mode, Video Viewer, and Distraction Control to enhance productivity.
Apple Intelligence powers new features such as Genmoji for personalised emojis, Image Playground for creative designs, and Writing Tools to refine text.
Siri has also been improved, with the ability to switch seamlessly between voice and typed commands. Users can access ChatGPT through Siri without requiring an account, with built-in privacy protections ensuring data security.
Seeking to become carbon neutral by 2030, Apple’s new MacBook Air incorporates over 55% recycled materials, including a 100% recycled aluminium enclosure.
The battery contains 100% recycled cobalt, and for the first time, more than 95% of the lithium used is also recycled. Apple has also transitioned to fibre-based packaging to eliminate plastic waste by 2025.
Pricing and Availability
The MacBook Air is available in two sizes:
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13-inch model: $999 ($899 for students)
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15-inch model: $1,199 ($1,099 for students)
Pre-orders are currently open, with official availability beginning on March 12 through Apple stores and authorised resellers worldwide.
The MacBook Air aims to balance affordability with high-end performance, so students, professionals, and creatives can leverage the powerful yet portable laptop.
