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

  • _Dear Friends,_

    I had a great trip up to Jasper, GA to pick up the 2003 Victory motorcycle. I took almost all two-lane roads and the weather cooperated although it was a bit chilly in the mornings. It got busier as I headed south in Florida but all in all it was a great way to spend the weekend.

    Small Dog Electronics is finishing up our 20th year in business and we are going to be changing out the 20-year anniversary banners and signs. Now that we are going to be 21 we are renewing our commitment to walking the walk as a socially responsible business. We feel that how we treat people, customers, employees, vendors or strangers is an equal measure of our success as to how we treat the planet and the profit we hope to make. Did you know that 100% of the electrical power for our S. Burlington store and about 85% of the power for our Waitsfield headquarters is generated from solar energy?

    When you form a “corporation”, if you tear down the word to its Latin base, it means to “form a body”. My high school latin teacher would be proud. As a body in society, a business has a bigger footprint than any individual. We have buildings, we consume resources, we generate waste and we have a huge impact on peoples lives. With that larger footprint comes a larger responsibility and that is the basis for our commitment to always measure our success by the triple bottom line of People, Planet and Profit.

    This week’s Kibbles & Bytes exclusive features the iPad mini 4. This model in Space Gray includes 64GB of storage and cellular capability. With the Retina display and Touch ID this incredibly thin and light iPad could be a complete solution. Because this model has cellular capability (cell contract required) you can use it anywhere where there is Wi-Fi or Cellular coverage. The iPad Mini 4 is my iPad of choice. I like the way it fits in one hand and is perfect for reading. It feels like you are holding a paperback book. This week, exclusively for Kibbles & Bytes readers we are offering the “iPad Mini 4 in Space Gray with AppleCare Plus”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900002167 for a special price. AppleCare Plus for the iPad extends the 1-year warranty to 2-years and also provides for coverage for accidental damage (i.e. broken screen, etc.) for up to two incidents for a $49 deductible. It also extends the 90-days of free Apple technical support to 2-years. Normally, this bundle is $729.98 but we are giving Kibbles & Bytes readers the opportunity to save $40 on this bundle. You get the iPad mini 4 64GB Cellular model with AppleCare Plus for only “**$689.98!**”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900002167

  • The Little Guy(s)

    You know I am a rabid Boston Celtics fan, and I have been since I was a child listening to games on my transistor radio, searching for the gravely voice of Johnny Most. These days our All-Star and team leader is Isiah Thomas who NBA hall of famer, Tommy Heinsohn, always refers to as the “little guy”. We have been thinking of changing our dog, Max’s name to the little guy as a result.

    It was little iPhone and little iPad Pro day at the Apple event. Apple introduced the 4-inch iPhone SE and the iPad Pro 9.7-inch tablet. In other hardware announcements, there were new watch bands for the Apple Watch and a new Lightning to USB 3 camera adapter. The original iPad Air is now discontinued and the iPad Air 2 with a more limited selection becomes the entry-level 9.7-inch iPad.

    I have gotten used to the size of my iPhone 6 but there are many people that want a smaller iPhone. Having a big iPhone 6 or 6+ sticking out of your back pocket is an invitation to theft and they do get a big bulky in the front pocket of your jeans. The iPhone SE uses the iPhone 5 form factor, with a 4-inch screen and aluminum case. The iPhone SE is not crimping on power though, as it meets almost all of the specifications of the iPhone 6s. It fails to match up to the current iPhone lineup only in the lack of the 3D Touch technology, the Taptic Engine that provides feedback you can feel, and slower wireless networking. It’s either $399 or $499, with 16 GB or 64 GB of storage, and comes in the same four colors, Silver, Space Gray, Gold and Rose Gold. We have found that most cases for the iPhone 5 should work with the iPhone SE. These are shipping on March 31.

    p{text-align: center;}. !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/4692.png!

    The 12.9-inch iPad Pro, introduced last year with the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, has enjoyed some moderate acceptance as a productivity device. I can see how for some, it might be their only device. And for artists, architects and others the iPad Pro is a digital drawing board like no other. But it is 12.9 inches and that is just a bit large for some. Apple introduced the 9.7-inch iPad Pro to meet this need, which meets or exceeds many of the larger model’s specs.

    For instance, the smaller model’s screen can display more colors and adjusts its white balance to match the ambient light in the room. Its cameras are notably better — the rear camera is 12 megapixels instead of 8 and has a True Tone flash, while the front camera is 5 megapixels instead of 1.2 and can use the screen as a flash. Plus, the new iPad Pro can record 4K video instead of just 1080p. I assume we will see these upgrades to the 12.9 inch iPad Pro in the future but the smaller version is a powerhouse.

    The 9.7-inch iPad Pro’s A9X chip is somewhat slower, it has half the RAM, and its Lightning port transfers data at only USB 2 speeds. But if the size is right for you, prices start at $599 for 32 GB of storage and go up to $899 for 256 GB. It will be shipping on March 31 in four colors: silver, gold, space gray, and rose gold. Cases and accessories designed to fit the iPad Air 2 should work with the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. We have our orders in with Apple and should have stock by the launch date. I think this new iPad Pro is going to be the iPad of choice for a lot of people.

    p{text-align: center;}. !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/4689.png!

    Apple also introduced the $39 Lightning to USB3 camera adapter. It is much more than a camera adapter though and opens the Lightning port to a lot of USB devices. With the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, it’s easy to transfer photos and videos from your high-resolution digital camera to your iPad Pro.
    If you connect with a USB Power Adapter, you can connect USB peripherals like hubs, ethernet adapters, audio/MIDI interfaces, and card readers for CompactFlash, SD, microSD, and more. This is a new and important step by Apple in making the Lightning port much more versatile.