MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
When Apple announced the MacBook Air M4 earlier this year, it was clear that the laptop would be an incremental upgrade from last year's model, with the latest in Apple silicon and a host of software and AI-powered features. The fact that the 13-inch version was $100 less was a pleasant surprise, however, positioning it as a competitive choice in the current market.
I had a chance to test out the new MacBook Air M4, and my initial findings reflect a device that's snappier, a little more polished, and, for MacBook users, an incremental improvement. But if you're coming from Windows, the MacBook Air M4 might feel even more impressive as a fully realized ultraportable laptop with an elegant set of hardware.
Hardware upgrades: more for less
One of the big improvements to the hardware on the Air M4 is the expansion on both the low and high end. The lowest-tier configuration of the M4 comes with a 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU, as opposed to the 8-core M3 chip from last year.
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On the other hand, the high-end configuration offers 32GB of unified memory, which was previously capped out at 24GB on the M3 MacBook Air. This combination of improvements for its base components and lower starting cost keeps it relevant and a worthy competitor for the influx of other slim and lightweight laptops.
Video calls are actually enjoyable
One of the first things you notice when switching from Windows to Mac is just how good the webcam is on the M4 MacBook Air. Image quality is crisp, smooth, and well-lit, and audio is just as good. The entire videoconferencing experience is simply better on a Mac.
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