Apple has introduced a new MacBook Air on its website, providing improved performance while retaining the familiar design. The new laptop comes with Apple’s M4 chip, the latest in the M-series chip lineup.
MacBook Air comes in two sizes. Customers can choose between a 13-inch and 15-inch display. Pricing starts at $999 for the 13-inch model, which is $100 less than previous entry prices. Booking starts today and shipments start on Wednesday, March 12.
This update maintains 16GB of RAM in the base configuration, remaining the same as last year’s model. This means that the entry-level MacBook Air still meets the minimum requirements of Apple Intelligence. When purchasing a laptop, customers can upgrade built-in memory to 32GB.
Previous MacBook Air models had two Thunderbolt 3 ports. Apple still offers two Thunderbolt ports, but it is upgrading those ports to Thunderbolt 4. With these ports, you can plug in up to two external monitors and keep the built-in display running. Customers can also get a MagSafe 3 charging port and an old 3.5mm headphone jack port.
The webcam has been upgraded and now supports the Center Stage, which is a software feature that enables current people to speak in the center of the framework. Apple also offers a brand new color called Sky Blue. The other three colors (midnight, starlight and silver) are still available.
While the MacBook Air is easier and more affordable than the MacBook Pro, these advantages come with some trade-offs. For example, the MacBook Pro offers longer battery life and has a mini dominant display with higher pixel density.
Despite these differences, the MacBook Air is still one of the best-selling laptops because it has a good balance between performance and price. While the M4 update isn’t a fundamental change, it’s likely to keep strong sales, similar to the M3 MacBook Air.
Apple first introduced the M4 chip using iPad Pro May 2024. Over the past year, the company has gradually converted its product range to M4 chips, with MacBook Pro, Mac Mini and Imac now featuring M4 chips or their Pro and Max Variants.
