M4 MacBook Air vs M3 Macbook Air: Here's the biggest upgrades

(Image credit: Apple)

The M4 MacBook Air is here. Should you upgrade?

Just a day after announcing a brand-new iPad Air, Apple has revealed the refresh of the matching Air-branded laptop. The M4 MacBook Air is here with the latest Apple Silicon powering things and a handful of other welcome additions.

In this article I'll help you decide whether the laptop is worth the upgrade for existing users by walking you through all the key differences between the laptops.

M4 MacBook Air vs M3 MacBook Air: Key changes at a glance

M4 processor replaces M3
Webcam gains Center Stage
Support for two external monitors
New Sky Blue colorway
$100 price cut

M4 MacBook Air vs M3 MacBook Air: Specifications

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Row 0 - Cell 0	MacBook Air M4	MacBook Air M3
Price	$999 (13 inch); $1,199 (15 inch)	$1,099 (13 inch); $1,299 (15 inch)
CPU	10-core	8-core
GPU	8-core (13-inch); 10-core (15-inch)	8-core (13-inch); 10-core (15-inch)
Display	13.6-inches (2560 x 1,664); 15.3-inch (2,880 x 1,864)	13.6-inches (2560 x 1,664); 15.3-inch (2,880 x 1,864)
Base memory	16GB	16GB
Base storage	256GB	256GB
Webcam	12MP (with Center Stage)	1,080p
Battery	18 hours (Apple claim)	15 hours 13 minutes (13-inch, tested); 15 hours 2 minutes (15-inch, tested)
Colors	Midnight, Starlight, Sky Blue, Silver	Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, Silver

M4 MacBook Air vs M3 MacBook Air: Price

Even the most modest upgrade is welcome if it comes with a price cut, and that’s exactly what Apple has delivered. The M4 MacBook Air cuts $100 from each model, meaning it starts at $999 for the 13-inch version and $1,199 for the 15-inch model.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given the price cut, Apple has discontinued the M3 and M2 models of MacBook Air from its online store. You would imagine third-party retailers with existing M3 stock will have to slash their prices, so it may be worth looking out for a bargain, as the M3 MacBook Air is still very good indeed.

M4 MacBook Air vs M3 MacBook Air: Design and display

Both the 13- and 15-inch M4 models look identical to their M3-based predecessors, which isn’t exactly a problem as the MacBook Air remains one of the most handsome laptops around.

There is one optional aesthetic difference. Apple has introduced a rather fetching Sky Blue colourway to add a splash of color to a somewhat austere line. It replaces Space Gray in the lineup, but you can still opt for Midnight, Starlight or Silver if blue isn’t your bag.

While the Liquid Retina displays retain the same size and resolution (2,560 x 1,664 on both models), there is a hidden enhancement for those who need a multi-screen setup to be productive. The dual Thunderbolt 4 ports now support two external screens in addition to the laptop’s own built-in display. On the previous generation, you could use two external screens, but only if you closed the lid.

M4 MacBook Air vs M3 MacBook Air: Performance

The main difference between the two laptops is the chipset powering things. The latest Air comes with Apple's M4 chipset, introduced last Spring with the 2024 iPad Pro, while the M3 model has a slightly older (but still rather impressive) processor.

Apple says that the 10-core CPU (up two on the 8-core M3) is up to twice as fast as the M1 MacBook Air, but the difference between M4 and M3 will be less dramatic.

Our complete set of M-series MacBook benchmarks lists the performance scores for all Pro laptops, which gives us some idea of what to expect. In single-core testing, MacBook Pros scored 3,138 when powered by M3 and 3,807 for M4. The difference is greater in multi-core testing: 12,018 for M3 and 15,114 for M4.

Gaming improvements will be a bit more modest. In benchmarks, the M3 MacBook Pro achieved frame rates of 19.8fps in Borderlands 3 and 50fps in Civilization VI, which only rose to 23fps and 53fps respectively on the M4 Pro.

Given the MacBook Air has a fanless design, the scores will be a bit lower here, but it gives you some ballpark figures to work with anyway.

M4 MacBook Air vs M3 MacBook Air: Camera

A more minor upgrade comes to the camera. While the M3 MacBook Air had a 1080p camera, the new model comes with a 12-megapixel sensor, with added Center Stage technology.

Center Stage, if you’re not familiar, is camera tech which Apple first introduced back in 2021 when the world was in pandemic lockdown and video calls had become all important. In short, it allows the camera to track a subject as they move around a room, digitally panning and zooming so you always remain in shot.

M4 MacBook Air vs M3 MacBook Air: Battery life

MacBook Air vs iPad Pro — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Apple doesn’t reveal battery capacity, so we’ll have to wait for the first M4 MacBook Air teardowns for an exact figure, but the company says both sizes will last up to 18 hours on a single charge.

That’s the same as Apple promised with the M3 model, so don’t expect much change on that score, despite the efficiency improvements of the M4 chipset.

M4 MacBook Air vs M3 MacBook Air: Verdict

The M4 MacBook Air looks like another fine laptop from Apple, with a set of solid improvements. The speed of the M4 chipset, the addition of Center Stage and the ability to use three screens at once are all extremely welcome — though not as welcome as the $100 price cut.

While it’s probably not worth those with last year’s model upgrading, owners of the M2 MacBook Air or earlier will be sorely tempted.

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Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.