The MacBook Air has received a fresh upgrade with the latest Apple M4 chip. The company has also slashed the price, making it the most affordable MacBook in recent times. In this guide, let’s see all the differences between the MacBook Air M4 and the MacBook Air M3.
MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M3: Specs at a Glance
| Specification | MacBook Air M4 | MacBook Air M3 |
| Display | Liquid Retina IPS LCD screen, 13.6-inch: 2560×1664 pixels, 15.3-inch: 2880×1864 pixels, 60Hz refresh rate, 500 nits peak brightness |
|
| External Display | Two external displays with lid open |
Two external displays with lid closed |
| Processor | Apple M4 chip | Apple M3 chip |
| CPU | 10-core CPU (4 performance + 6 efficiency) |
8-core CPU (4 performance + 4 efficiency) |
| GPU | 10-core GPU | 10-core GPU |
| NPU | 16-core Neural Engine | 16-core Neural Engine |
| Apple Intelligence | Yes | Yes |
| RAM | LPDDR5X: 16GB, 24GB, 32GB | LPDDR5: 16GB, 24GB |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | |
| Webcam | 12MP Centre Stage | 1080p FaceTime |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | |
| Battery | 13-inch: 53.8Wh 15-inch: 66.5Wh |
13-inch: 52.6Wh 15-inch: 66.5Wh |
MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M3: Price in India
The MacBook Air M4 now starts at Rs 99,900 in India. To recall, the base model of the MacBook Air M3 started at Rs 1,14,900. Here’s a quick comparison of the launch prices between the two models:
| Variant | MacBook Air M4 | MacBook Air M3 |
|
13-inch
|
16GB+256GB: Rs 99,900 | 8GB+256GB: Rs 1,14,900* |
| 16GB+512GB: Rs 1,19,900 | 8GB+512GB: Rs 1,34,900* | |
| 24GB+512GB: Rs 1,39,900 | 16GB+512GB: Rs 1,54,900 | |
|
15-inch
|
16GB+256GB: Rs 1,24,900 | 8GB+256GB: Rs 1,34,900* |
| 16GB+512GB: Rs 1,44,900 | 8GB+512GB: Rs 1,54,900* | |
| 24GB+512GB: Rs 1,64,900 | 16GB+512GB: Rs 1,74,900 |
*Apple replaced 8GB RAM variants of the MacBook Air M3 models with 16GB RAM at the same price in 2024.
MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M3: Build and Design
Apple has kept the design unchanged between the two generations. Both models have an aluminium build with an anodized seal to prevent fingerprints. They are available in Midnight, Starlight, and Silver colours. The MacBook Air M4 now offers a new Sky Blue colour option.
MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M3: Display
The MacBook Air M4 and M3 also share the same display with the notch design. The screen is a Liquid Retina IPS LCD panel, and the refresh rate is still capped at 60Hz. Both models are available in 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch screen sizes.
The difference comes in external display support. The MacBook Air M4 now supports two external displays at 6K resolution with an open lid. The MacBook Air M3 can do the same but needs a closed lid. You can keep up to three active screens with the latest MacBook.
MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M3: Processor
- The MacBook Air M4 comes with the new Apple M4 chip, which is almost 20% faster than the M3 if we go by metrics. It features up to a 10-core CPU, which is where the upgrade comes in. However, the 10-core GPU and 16-core neural engine are largely similar to their predecessor. The M4 chip also gets up to 32GB LPDDR5X RAM with a memory bandwidth of 120GB/s.
- The MacBook Air M3 is powered by the Apple M3 chip. It maxes out with an 8-core CPU. Despite the difference, it is compatible with all the latest Apple Intelligence features. There’s nothing that the M4 can do, which the M3 can’t. However, RAM is limited to 16GB LPDDR5, with a 100GB/s memory bandwidth.
The M4 chip is a good upgrade over the M3 chip. However, the performance jump is not significant enough to upgrade if you already have a MacBook Air M3. But if you can benefit from the 32GB RAM, then the MacBook Air M4 is worth it.
You can read our detailed comparison between the Apple M4 and M3 chip to understand the differences in detail.
MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M3: Webcam and I/O
- The MacBook Air M4 gets an upgraded 12MP Center Stage camera. It also supports Desk View. This is the best webcam you get on any laptop in the world. Previously, this was limited to the MacBook Pro models but now has finally made its way to the MacBook Air Series.
- The MacBook Air M3 has the older 1080p FaceTime camera. It lacks support for Center Stage and Desk View due as the hardware is incompatible.
The webcam upgrade is a massive change on the MacBook Air M4 and is highly beneficial for users who make regular video calls. Other I/O ports have remained unchanged, such as 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, Touch ID, and a standard backlit keyboard with a force-touch trackpad.
MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M3: Battery
- Apple has upgraded the battery capacity on the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 to 53.8Wh, while the 15-inch variant gets the same 66.5Wh battery pack. Charging speeds have remained the same at 35W with the bundled charger, and support for up to 70W PD charging.
- The MacBook Air M3 comes with a 52.6Wh battery on the 13-inch model and 66.5Wh on the 15-inch model.
The battery has remained almost unchanged in this upgrade. Despite a small boost in battery capacity on the 13-inch model, Apple is claiming the same battery backup of up to 18 hours on both generations, MacBook Air M4 and M3.
MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M3: Verdict
Apple has done a perfect job of upgrading the MacBook Air models with the latest M4 chip with a minimum of 16GB RAM and an extra option of 32GB RAM for power users. The price of the base model has also dropped by Rs 14,000 compared to the last generation, which is always a welcome move. The new 12MP webcam with Center Stage is also a sweet addition to the MacBook Air models.
Coming to the question. Should you upgrade to the MacBook Air M4? The answer is both yes and no. If your regular usage can benefit from 32GB RAM, then you should definitely get the MacBook Air M4, which will cost you Rs 1.4 lakhs, which is still less than the MacBook Pro M4 models. But apart from that, if you already have a MacBook Air M3, you should hold the upgrade for this generation.
Nevertheless, the base model of the MacBook Air M4 at Rs 99,900 will surely give Windows laptops a run for their money for both Snapdragon X and Intel Core Ultra Series 2 variants. Apple’s M-Silicon has proven to be superior to its Qualcomm and Intel counterparts. With bank offers, you can get the MacBook Air M4 for as low as Rs 76,000 on Flipkart, which is a great opportunity for Windows users looking to shift to a MacBook.
