Except for a brand new coloration, the M4 MacBook Air appears an entire lot like final 12 months’s mannequin. And we’ve bought the hands-on expertise and photos to show it.
Apple’s bought 5 primary updates for its refresh of the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Airs for 2025. First, it’s bought the same M4 chip to the bottom 14-inch MacBook Professional, although right here it begins with a 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU. Additionally inherited from the MacBook Professionals, the Airs now use the 12-megapixel Heart Stage webcam that’s wider and may monitor you throughout the body. And now you can (lastly) use two exterior screens and preserve the lid open, primarily providing you with a elaborate triple-monitor setup with the lowly MacBook Air.
As for that new coloration choice, sky blue, it replaces area grey. Starlight, silver, and midnight are nonetheless round from final 12 months (and midnight is unchanged, so count on some fingerprint smudginess). The brand new blue is a really pale metallic end. You possibly can mistake it for a silver when you didn’t see them side-by-side. I believe one of the simplest ways I may describe it’s 2003 Toyota Matrix blue. In different phrases, it’s good however not blue sufficient. Apple ought to name it non-committal blue.
However the fifth factor that’s new for the MacBook Air, and certain the one many people will care most about, is that it begins at a lower cost. The 13-inch mannequin begins at $999 whereas the 15-inch begins at $1,199. That is truly a return to type for the 13-inch, which used to begin at that value earlier than a rise through the M2 era. The M4 Air could also be an in any other case delicate chip-bump of an improve with a brand new bland-ish metallic end, however $100 off makes all of the distinction.
Along with our hands-on with the MacBook Air we additionally bought our first take a look at the brand new Mac Studio duo, one with the M4 Max chip and one with a brand new, all-out M3 Extremely. The Studios don’t look any completely different, however the adjustments inside are fairly main for hardcore execs performing some heavy-duty artistic work or native AI stuff.
Apple’s new Macs and iPads are due out subsequent week and already up for order. Take a look at our smattering of photographs.
Mac Studio M4 Max / M3 Extremely
Pictures by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
