Apple MacBook Air (13-Inch, M4) Review: More Power For Less Money

i've been devoted to the MacBook Air since 2012, erstwhile I bought my archetypal 1 with wealth I saved up from my summertime occupation earlier my archetypal semester of assemblage (you tin work much astir that travel here). As idiosyncratic ever moving connected the go, I've ever been drawn to however lightweight it is. When Apple revamped it backmost successful 2022 with a caller design, bigger and brighter display, MagSafe support, and a 1080p webcam, I was thrilled—this was my imagination MacBook travel to life.

But arsenic I said successful past year's review, the 13-inch MacBook Air has reached its highest successful presumption of design. Apple continues to merchandise the aforesaid exemplary portion chiefly focusing connected the internals—and the aforesaid logic applies to this latest version. The standout diagnostic is the M4 spot (the entry-level spot of the lineup) on with treble the basal representation (also disposable connected its predecessor). Apple did propulsion successful an updated 12-megapixel webcam and a caller bluish colour option, but speech from that, the chassis remains the same.

Typically, erstwhile a next-generation exemplary lacks immoderate large additions, Apple keeps the terms the aforesaid arsenic erstwhile versions. This time, however, the terms sees a invited simplification to $999—$100 little than its predecessors. It's what the MacBook Air outgo earlier the motorboat of the M2 exemplary (Apple did merchantability the M2-powered MacBook Air for $999 erstwhile the M3 Air came out, but the M4 replaces some models). So, that means the highest configuration volition outgo $2,199.

Although determination are inactive a fewer further things I had connected my wishlist for this next-gen mentation (a nano-texture solid enactment being 1 of them), the MacBook Air with M4 continues to unrecorded up to its estimation arsenic a reliable, lightweight instrumentality and the champion MacBook for astir people. The information that it's arsenic affordable arsenic it utilized to beryllium is the cherry connected top.

Subtle Alterations

As with erstwhile generations, the 13-inch MacBook Air has a quadrate chassis, a large and agleam 13.6-inch LCD sheet (complete with a 60-Hz refresh rate), a four-speaker dependable system, and a three-mic array. Coming successful astatine 2.7 pounds, it besides remains ace lightweight and comfy to commute with. You'll besides get the aforesaid larboard selection, which includes 2 USB 4/Thunderbolt ports, a MagSafe charging port, and a 3.5-mm headphone jack.

I afloat recognize that an extended larboard enactment is usually reserved for the MacBook Pro, but I genuinely wanted Apple to adhd astatine slightest one other USB-C larboard here—especially since you tin link the MacBook Air to up to 2 outer monitors (we'll get to that later). Instead, you'll person to usage a chunky USB-C hub, which is conscionable different accessory you'll person to bargain (if you don't already person one) and transportation around.

It would've besides been bully to spot Apple connection the enactment to adhd nano-texture glass‚ which helps to trim glare successful agleam environments. It's recovered connected high-end products similar the Studio Display and MacBook Pro, but Apple offers it with the M4-powered iMac. It's an other $150 to $200, depending connected the device, but it would've been worthy the cost. Having utilized it connected the 14-inch MacBook Pro for months now, I find it pugnacious to usage a modular display.

Apple did update the webcam from a 1080p sensor to 12 megapixels, with enactment for Center Stage, which automatically keeps you successful framework during video calls (this was primitively a diagnostic that was lone recovered connected iPads, but it's since expanded to some Macs and MacBooks). While I'm each for a higher-resolution webcam, I ever crook Center Stage off. I find the diagnostic excessively awkward and sensitive—it'll sometimes cookware and zoom astatine the slightest hint of movement.