New M4 MacBook Air Features Faster Performance and Improved Video Calls

ByEmily Dolloff

Apple has unveiled an update to the MacBook Air, which it touts as the world’s most popular laptop. While the MacBook Air has long been a compelling option for many consumers, the new 13-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air models improve performance, boast a new 12-megapixel Center Stage camera, and fully support two external displays, making them even more appealing.

Adding to that appeal is a $100 price drop that brings the starting price back to $999 after Apple raised it several years ago. In concert with the return to the lower starting price, the company dropped the M2 MacBook Air and M3 MacBook Air from the official price list, though refurbished units remain available temporarily for discounted prices.

The jump from the M3 to the M4 increases performance, though Apple doesn’t say by how much. Independent benchmarks suggest that it may be about 20% faster. What’s more important for those considering an upgrade is that the M4 MacBook Air is up to twice as fast as the M1 MacBook Air and a whopping 23 times faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air.

The base level of the M4 MacBook Air now comes with 16 GB of unified memory, up from 8 GB. This increase is partly aimed at enhancing Apple Intelligence performance. It also reduces the necessity for many users to consider upgrading, which we had previously recommended. For most people, 16 GB is sufficient, but for optimal multitasking performance and to future-proof your investment, consider upgrading to 24 GB. Only those with demanding workflows will need the new maximum of 32 GB, and in such cases, it may be worthwhile to consider a 14-inch MacBook Pro.

Apple also significantly improved video calls by swapping the MacBook Air’s previous 1080p FaceTime HD camera for the 12-megapixel Center Stage camera. As you move around during a call, Center Stage zooms and pans to keep you in the frame. Not having to stay stationary during calls can make a day with too many virtual meetings less exhausting. The camera also supports Desk View, which lets you show off items below the camera, essentially on top of the keyboard. It’s a niche feature, but one that some people find useful.

The final improvement in the M4 MacBook Air is subtle but may be compelling for some users. The M1 MacBook Air and M2 MacBook Air could drive a single external display in addition to the built-in screen, and the M3 MacBook Air supported two external displays at once, but only if you closed the lid and used an external keyboard and trackpad. With the M4 MacBook Air, you can now connect two external displays while keeping the lid open, which gives you three screens and lets you use the built-in keyboard and trackpad. Increasing screen space boosts productivity by allowing you to see more on-screen at once, so we recommend you give multiple displays a try.

The new M4 MacBook Air comes in four colors: silver, starlight, midnight, and a new sky blue that replaces the previous space gray. The 13-inch model starts at $999, and the 15-inch model at $1,199. Memory upgrades include 24 GB for $200 or 32 GB for $400, and storage options beyond the base 256 GB carry the usual price premiums: 512 GB for $200, 1 TB for $400, and 2 TB for $800.

Put simply, the M4 MacBook Air is impressive. It boasts serious power in a svelte, lightweight package that makes very few compromises. It’s equally at home on the road as a laptop or at a desk connected to external displays, making it the perfect Mac for nearly any student and many average Mac users. Only those who require significant processing power or prefer a desktop Mac need to look at the Mac mini or MacBook Pro.

(Featured image by Apple)

Social Media: Apple has updated the MacBook Air with an M4 chip and higher memory ceiling for added performance, a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera for better video calls, and enhanced multi-display support for greater productivity. And it’s $100 less.

Similar Posts

  • My daughter Autumn and her husband Ismael are coming to visit next week which should be fun. Then we pack up and head back to Vermont. Hopefully the weather will cooperate but it seems like warmer weather is in the forecast for the Green Mountains.

    Thank you so much for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!

    Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,

    _Don, Emily, Hadley & Amy_

  • Hey Siri, What Can You Do?

    So, I am a little embarrassed to admit it but I bought an Amazon Echo to check out how Alexa compares with Siri. I’m a gadget guy so we will see if we find it useful and if not, I am sure I can find it a home on eBay. I use Siri more and more these days. My most common uses are asking her to settle trivia disputes with Grace or setting the timer for 5 minutes. But there is a lot more that Siri can do!

    Make Relationships with Siri
    When you speak Siri commands, you can refer to people by relationship, rather than name. So, if you want to call your father, you can say “call my father” instead of saying “call Bruce Leibowitz.” But to do this, you need to introduce Siri to your family. First, make sure you have a “card” in the Contacts app for yourself, and then go into Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, scroll down to find and tap My Info, and select your card. Next, make sure you have a contact card for your father, and then tell Siri, “Bruce Leibowitz is my father.” Or, if Siri doesn’t hear you correctly, open Contacts, edit your card (not your father’s!), scroll down, tap “add related name,” tap the default relationship to pick “father,” tap the info “i” icon, select your father’s card, and tap Done.

    You can even use Siri to remember other types of relationships. Artie used to bring manure from his uncle’s farm for my garden and ended up with the nickname, “the spreader”. If I tell Siri “Art Hendrickson is my spreader” I can now just say “text my spreader…” and Siri knows who I am talking about. This works for nicknames but also for lawyers, accountants, doctors or any nickname you want to tell Siri about.

    Take a Picture
    Instead of fumbling to launch the Camera app on your iPhone you can just say “take a picture” and Siri will automatically open the Camera app and you can snap away.

    Siri Converts
    Need to know how many millimeters are in 4 inches? Just ask Siri and you will find that there are 101.6 mm in 4 inches. This works for currency exchange rates, too. Ask Siri how many Euros are equal to $100US you will find that 87.73 Euros is the exchange rate today. Siri has some other strong calculation features too. You can ask Siri how many calories there are in that fish sandwich or to calculate a 20% tip on your restaurant bill. You can ask her to solve math problems involving fractions and other math functions that will be faster than opening the calculator app and punching in the numbers.

    Settling Up
    Okay you can use Siri to look up baseball stats or other information to settle a dispute but what if you are at loggerheads and just want to get a random answer and don’t have a coin to flip. You can ask Siri to “roll the dice”, “flip a coin” or pick a random number.

    Name that Tune
    Siri is integrated with Shazam to help you figure out what song is playing. Just ask her “what song is playing?” and she will listen and let you know and probably try to sell you the song, too!

    Find that Photo
    Siri can search your photo library for you. I know how frustrating it is if your are like me and have literally thousands of photos. You can say something like “find that photo from Daytona Beach from last March” and Siri will launch Photos and take you right to any photos taken at that place and time.

    Siri Takes You Out
    Siri can make your restaurant reservations for you, too! Tell Siri “make a restaurant reservation for four at 7PM” and she will respond with available restaurants nearby and if you have the Open Table app installed can make the reservation for you or give you the phone number to call.

    Are We There Yet?
    If you are using your iPhone for navigation you can just say “ETA” and Siri will let you know how much longer you are gonna be on the road.

    Leave Me Alone
    Siri can do a lot for you but sometimes you just want alone time. You can tell Siri to turn on “do not disturb” and you will not be bothered. Or tell her to “turn on airplane mode” and she will turn off Wi-Fi and cellular signals.