What’s New With The Apple MacBook Air M4?

It’s time for an upgrade

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love the Apple MacBook Air.

As an editor perpetually on the move—hopping from fashion week to press trips, conferences to cocktails—it’s the 13-inch model that has remained my ride-or-die. Lightweight, elegant, and endlessly efficient, it strikes the perfect balance between power and portability—an indispensable carry-on companion that strikes the perfect balance between power and portability, slipping seamlessly into my tote as I navigate flights and front rows alike.

While I’ve been working with the M3 chip version for some time, Apple’s latest evolution of its beloved bestseller—now powered by the M4 chip—has taken things to dazzling new heights.

The upgrade is more than just a spec boost; it’s a reimagining of what a lightweight laptop can achieve. While still impeccably slim, featherlight, and achingly sleek, the MacBook Air has gotten major performance upgrades.

Battery life has jumped to a generous 18 hours—up from a previous 15-plus—meaning I can go almost two full workdays without reaching for a charger. The camera has been upgraded to 12MP with Centre Stage, perfect for video calls on the fly, and the M4 chip handles everything I throw at it—from working on Photoshop and InDesign files to editing articles and reviewing decks—with zero lag.

And then there’s the colour—because yes, aesthetics matter. The new sky blue finish is a breath of fresh air: chic, modern, and distinctly fashion-forward. “Combined with its thin and light, fanless design, all-day battery life, and the incredible capabilities of MacOS Sequoia with Apple Intelligence, Macbook Air is unlike any other laptop,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing at its launch.

I’ve now spent a month with the M4 model, and it has more than kept pace with my ever-evolving itinerary. Whether I’m tweaking layouts, editing stories, marking up PDFs, or juggling the thousand little tasks that define an editor’s day-to-day, the MacBook Air M4 delivers—and then some. Most days, a single charge carries me from morning to night, and I haven’t once had to scramble for a power outlet in an airport lounge or in between shows.

Another bonus? Apple has lowered the price of this fan favourite. The 13-inch model now starts at $1,499, while the 15-inch version goes for $1,799. In this economy, that kind of power, performance, and polish feels like a very smart investment.

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