A new iteration of the MacBook Air, powered by Apple’s latest M4 processor, is expected to launch soon, possibly within the week. According to Bloomberg, the announcement is imminent.
The current model of the MacBook Air featuring the M3 chip was unveiled in the first week of March 2024, indicating that Apple is adhering closely to its refresh cycle for this popular entry-level laptop. This new machine is likely to be available in both 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, just like its predecessor.
The most notable upgrade in the forthcoming models will be the introduction of the M4 chip, which promises enhanced processing power and improved energy efficiency. This chip boasts a 10-core CPU configuration, consisting of four high-performance cores and six cores designed for efficiency, allowing it to effectively manage less demanding tasks. Additionally, the graphical capabilities will feature a 10-core GPU, marking a significant enhancement from the previous generation of Apple silicon.
The M4 chip has already been integrated into the MacBook Pro, with more powerful variants, such as the M4 Pro and M4 Max, currently available. Alleged benchmark tests suggest that the M4 within the MacBook Air will perform comparably to the MacBook Pro.
Apple asserts that the M4 silicon achieves a performance increase of roughly 1.8 times compared to the M1, with potential speed improvements of up to 3.4 times when executing resource-intensive tasks, like graphic rendering in Blender.
The next-generation neural processing unit (NPU) accompanying the M4 chip is also expected to deliver a threefold improvement in speed. However, it’s important to note that the MacBook Air doesn’t perform on the same level as the MacBook Pro, even with the same base M4 processor.
This difference arises mainly because the MacBook Air operates without a fan, which leads to quicker thermal throttling. Based on my experience with the M3 MacBook Air, I can confirm it achieves high benchmark scores but struggles to maintain those speeds under prolonged load.
From a design standpoint, not much is likely to change. Reports suggest that the M4 version of the MacBook Air will have a similar appearance to the M3 model. It will be interesting to see if Apple introduces new color options this time around. Pricing details remain unclear, but if Apple opts not to increase prices, the 13-inch model will likely retail for around $1,099.
