Apple MacBook Air M4 13-inch and 15-inch review: Minimal upgrades at a much better price

At the risk of MacBook Air M1, M2 and M3 reviews from Engadget: MacBook Air equipped with M4 is almost unknown. Better, it now starts from $ 999, which is $ 100 than before. Although I still want to see more outlets and the screen update rate faster, the MacBook Air is still heads and shoulders above the competition. And when companies try to reach Apple, as ASUS did with Zenbook A14 2.2 pounds, they only prove the extent of Apple devices already designing better.

It is easy to take the MacBook Air as a Muslim by it, since its design has not changed since the M2’s arrival in 2022. It is still a great device today, which is a fast, light and well designed. The only main negative aspect is that there is a little learning curve for Windows users jumping for the first time. But regardless of this, the MacBook Air is a process of purchase without thinking if you are looking for a new effort.

Devices

Again, each MacBook air models feel 13 inches and 15 inches twice as impressive (0.44 inches thickness) and light, weighing 2.7 pounds and 3.2 pounds, respectively. Last year, I noticed that “her mono -aluminum can feel soft from the river stone but it is like a rock. It is a computer that I like to look at simply.” All this remains correct with M4 models.

In fact, it is more impressive that Apple bears such a leading design when competitors have an opportunity to catch up. As much as we love the surface laptop, XPS 13 and ZenBook S14, ASUS, Apple still keeps a Polish level that possible computers can completely match. The MacBook Air can feel more than the rest, which is the keyboard is a dream about writing on it and has one of the best tracking panels around it. (Before you invite me to Apple Fanboy, I am still used in the first place for the Windows desktop surface.)

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

The M4 chip of Apple-which includes the 10-core CPU, the 10-core GPU, and the 16 nucleus nervous engine (or what NPU calls into a computer)-is a major upgrade with this new AIRS MacBook. It should also be noted that the $ 999 primary model contains a slightly slower official processing unit than 8 light, which will hinder the performance of games and create media slightly. Regardless of the new blue sky option, there are no changes in physical design. Apple has also upgraded the web camera to the new 12 -megapixel shooter, which may be particularly useful if you want to display your desk contents. (More about that later.)

The 13.6 -inch MacBook Air features a 13.6 -inch liquid screen, which practically feels a 14 -inch screen, while the largest model has a 15.3 -inch screen. They are still limited to 60 Hz – which is a nuisance because many very personal computers are shipped with faster and smoother screens – but they are impressive offers, with wide -colored P3 colors and 1 billion colors. Both screens can also reach up to 500 networks of brightness, which is enough to be used on a sunny day.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

In use: fast and light

MacBook 13 -inch and 15 -inch MacBook is treated with my basic workflow: sorcery browsers with tons of open tabs, Slack, Spotify, messaging applications and Pixelmator Photo Editor. But this was not surprising, because the previous models were similarly. However, after the recent slow Zenbook A14, I felt a recovery to use laptops that seemed keen to work.

In fact, I could not feel the difference with jumping to the M4 chip, but according to Geekbench 6, it is 19.5 percent faster than M3 for the tasks of a single thread, and the fastest 21 percent for multi -threaded tasks. This is a typical gradual leap for improving the central processing unit, so I will not expel Apple a lot there. GPU’s gains of M4 were less impressive, with only 6 percent of M3 in the 3DMARK Wildlife Extreme and 16.3 per cent in the Geekbench GPU test.

It is possible that you will not do a serious creative work in MacBook Air, especially since there is no fan to cool things. But you can still press a little performance in a pinch. I managed to move the 4K section to 1080 pixels in 27 seconds using the M4 CPU in the hand brake, while using GPU only 17 seconds. In comparison, the Dell XPS 13 Copilot+ 32 seconds system with its CPU and 24 seconds with its graphics processing unit.

Intensive graphic Lies p He ran at 60 frames per second in 1080 pixels with high settings. This was also true in the M3 MacBook Air, but this time about the performance looked more consistent. Although I never recommend purchasing the MacBook Air with a gameplay in mind, it is good to be able to deal with some time, at least.

While jumping between 13 inches and 15 inches, you found a lot to like them. The smallest is easier to travel with her, but I also liked the 15 -inch overwhelming screen. Ultimately, the choice between them comes to what is more important to you.

Likewise, the jump to the 12 -megapixel center’s center camera is not completely shattered, but I can get a little better picture during video calls. I usually turn off the actual position of Mac, but I am sure that some will be able to follow you around the room. The new camera also supports Desk View, which displays a slightly perverted area of ​​the area in front of MacBook Air directly.

As for the battery life, each MacBook Air has continued for more than 18 hours while playing a high -resolution video. The air lasted in 13 inches for 18 hours and 15 minutes, while the notebook went in 15 inches for 18 hours and 23 minutes.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

How can Apple improve MacBook Air?

As I like MacBook Air in 13 inches and 15 inches, there are still many ways that Apple can improve below the line. As you mentioned above, it will be great that there will be higher display screens for update, which makes passing through the documents much easier on your eyes. Although I do not need Apple to go to the outlets, it will be good to have at least one USB-C connection on the right side of the air to allow the charging to facilitate. Currently, you are stuck with the Magsafe charging port and two USB-C connections on the left side.

Of course, I don’t really expect Apple to deliver these promotions any time soon. I bet that the company will pay more users to MacBook Pro with a value of $ 1,599, which contains a ton of ports and a high update screen promotion screen. However, it can dream of the obsessed.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

Do you have to buy M4 MacBook Air?

If you can’t know that now, I think MacBook Air is 13 inches and 15 inches are the perfect perfect situations for most people. Certainly, if you are on the market for an elegant laptop, they deserve to think. And if you are a Windows user hesitating to jump, I recommend trying the air for a while. It is not difficult to learn the basics of MacOS, and if you are not satisfied, you can always restore them (just make sure to check the return of retail stores).

Although I bet most of the users will be well with the MacBook Air base of $ 999 at a value of $ 256 GB with a storage of 256 GB, it may be useful to jump to the $ 1,199 with a 10-Core graphics unit and 512 GB of SSD if you plan to do light media. Or just jump directly to a 15 -inch $ 1.199, which comes with a 10 -core graphics processing unit.

As usual, I also recommend to avoid paying the ridiculous Apple upgrade fees for the ingredients. If you are considering spending another $ 400 for 32 GB RAM, you are likely to consider MacBook Pro instead. If you are looking to save some cash, there are still many retailers selling M2 MacBook Air with a sharp deduction of $ 700. Although it is an older chip, the laptop can still serve most users for several years (just make sure you get 16 GB RAM).

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

conclusion

Again, MacBook Air is 13 inches and 15 inches all we want from supercoucalate. They are ZipPy, light light and can last after a full day of work. Although the M4 chip is not a transformational upgrade, it helps Apple keep up with advanced computer flakes. Now that MacBook Air has started from $ 999, Windows users should think of jumping.

This article originally appeared on Engadget on

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2025-03-11 13:00:00