When Apple finally revealed its new MacBook Air – now powered by the powerful M4 chip – consumers were treated to a catalogue of upgraded specs and enhanced performance stats. But the most unexpected part of this big announcement however, was the M4 MacBook Air’s comparably slim price tag – a starting price of USD$999/HK$7,999 (less than last year’s M3 launch price of USD$1,099!). While this lower price is already enough to sway many into immediately pre-ordering the M4 model before its official launch on 12 March, those still on the fence may be wondering if making an upgrade is worth it.
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New Perks, New Look
The biggest buzz surrounding this new model is, of course, the impressive M4 chip. With a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU, it’s significantly faster than previous models, supporting 16GB to 24GB of unified memory, with an option to upgrade to 32GB. Performance upgrades extend across the board, with faster web browsing, enhanced spreadsheet processing in Microsoft Excel, improved video editing in iMovie, and smoother photo editing in Adobe Photoshop. Battery life also gets a boost, with MagSafe charging providing up to 18 hours of power – perfect for those with a more mobile lifestyle.
Those working or studying from home will especially appreciate the new 12MP Center Stage camera, which offers automatic frame centring and a Desk View option for a more dynamic video call experience. The M4 also supports up to two 6K external displays in addition to the built-in Liquid Retina display – perfect for multitaskers! Meanwhile, the new macOS Sequoia introduces compelling features like iPhone Mirroring, a redesigned Reader function, Distraction Control, an improved Game Mode, and more. Apple users who like a bit of flash were also given a look at a brand new colour – a light Sky Blue. All in all, the M4 MacBook Air looks to be packing quite a punch (especially considering its price point) – although those who find their current MacBook specs suitable for their lifestyle may not have much value in these upgrades.
Investing In Apple’s Future With Bolder Bets
With the introduction of the M4 MacBook Air, Apple has made its priorities clear – doubling down on AI integration and sustainability. Built for Apple Intelligence, this model has been boasted as both the most powerful and helpful MacBook Air to date. Creative aspects like Image Playground, Genmoji, and Writing Tools, as well as an improved Siri, were introduced as some of the biggest highlights – with some heavily integrated with AI. Users of the M4 will also gain free access to ChatGPT without requiring an account, in functions like Siri and Writing Tools for heightened expertise. However, Apple ensures full user control – ChatGPT integration is entirely optional, with users able to enable or disable the function and decide what information is shared.
Apple has also addressed privacy concerns, reassuring users that IP addresses will be obscured and OpenAI will not store any requests. Given the growing unease surrounding AI, the M4 MacBook Air emphasises Apple Intelligence’s privacy-first approach. Using on-device processing, Apple Intelligence ensures that your data remains on your own device. Those in need of larger models will also be able to use Private Cloud Compute, which extends security and data protection into the cloud – guaranteeing that all data is never stored or shared with Apple.
Apple’s ambitious goal of becoming completely carbon neutral by the end of the decade also affected the design of the greener M4 MacBook Air. In keeping with the Apple 2030 goal, the M4 has over 55% of recycled content (the most for any Apple product thus far). including 100% recycled aluminium in its enclosure, 100% recycled rare Earth elements in all magnets, and 100% recycled cobalt along with over 95% recycled lithium for its battery. This significant step made by Apple to adopt a more eco-friendly operation is quite a selling point for those concerned with tech’s negative impacts on the environment.
Is It Time To Upgrade?
With pricing as one of its biggest selling points, it’s a bit of a no-brainer to upgrade to this newest model if your current laptop isn’t up to snuff with your needs. Packed with standout features and now available in a sleek metallic blue, you’re definitely getting enough bang for your buck to justify this purchase – especially over the recently introduced M4 MacBook Pro, which comes with a few extra perks but at a significantly higher price point. Choosing the M4 purely for environmental reasons may be warranted, but considering the amount of AI features built into this model, it remains to be seen how eco-friendly the M4 truly is.
At the end of the day, there are more points in the pro column than in the con for levelling up to the M4 MacBook Air. However, if you just purchased an older model like the M3 and find that its features are enough for what your personal use requires, a change may not be necessary. Hopefully Apple’s choice to keep pricing competitive for an upgraded model is the start of a new trend, but if not – grab this deal while you can.
Born in Korea and raised in Hong Kong, Min Ji has combined her degree in anthropology and creative writing with her passion for going on unsolicited tangents as an editor at Friday Club. In between watching an endless amount of movies, she enjoys trying new cocktails and pastas while occasionally snapping a few pictures.
