“M4 MacBook Air Review: Small Upgrade, Big Value”

The wait is over — Apple has officially launched the updated M4 MacBook Air, and while it may not look drastically different, it quietly improves on what’s already one of the best laptops in the world. Whether you’re a student, content creator, or everyday user, this might be the perfect upgrade — or maybe not. Let’s break it down.

Pricing: More Affordable Than Ever

One of the biggest surprises? The price drop.

Base model now starts at $999 (USD)

Students can grab it for just $899 with Apple’s education discount

In Canada, the price after conversion is closer to $1,400 CAD, making it less of a steal but still competitive

Verdict: For U.S. students, this is a no-brainer deal.

Design & Color: Meet Sky Blue

At first glance, the new M4 MacBook Air looks almost identical to its predecessor — but there’s a fresh new twist:

New Color Option: Sky Blue

A soft, almost silvery blue that replaces Space Gray

Still available in Silver, Starlight, and Midnight

Comes with a matching USB-C MagSafe cable

Includes a 35W dual-port charger (upgradable to 70W)

Pro Tip: Unless you compare Sky Blue directly to Silver, it’s hard to notice the difference — it’s very subtle.

What’s in the Box?

Unboxing the M4 MacBook Air reveals the familiar Apple touch:

MacBook Air (Sky Blue in this case)

Color-matched USB-C to MagSafe cable

35W dual USB-C charger

Standard documentation and Apple stickers

Nothing wild — just that clean Apple unboxing experience.

Hardware & Ports: Same Sleek Profile

No changes in footprint or layout:

Two USB-C ports on one side

MagSafe connector on the other

Headphone jack remains

Still available in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes

The design continues to be ultra-thin, lightweight, and perfect for portability.

Camera Upgrade: Hello, Center Stage

One major hardware upgrade is the front-facing camera:

Now a 12MP Ultra-Wide lens

Includes Center Stage, which automatically tracks you during video calls

Same camera used in MacBook Pro models

While not everyone uses FaceTime daily, it’s a great quality-of-life boost.

The Star of the Show: M4 Chip

Let’s talk performance:

The M4 chip is 2x faster than M1

Great for multitasking, video editing, and future-proofing

Ideal for anyone coming from:

Intel Macs

Windows laptops

Older M1 or pre-M1 devices

Already have an M2 or M3 MacBook Air with 16GB RAM? You’re probably fine skipping this one — not a game-changing upgrade.

Apple Intelligence & RAM Boost

The base model now comes with 16GB of RAM — no more 8GB limits

Better performance with new AI features like:

Image Playground

On-device custom image generation

Most of these features are more “fun” than essential for now

“It’s a party trick for now, but great for future use.”

Video Editing & Real-World Use

This machine handles:

4K video editing

Timeline scrubbing in Final Cut or Premiere

Social media content creation (especially iPhone footage)

While not as fast as the MacBook Pro in render times, the M4 Air is more than capable for most creators.

Display & Audio

Still features the Liquid Retina (IPS) Display

No ProMotion or mini-LED (exclusive to MacBook Pro)

Audio still comes from internal speakers — clean and powerful

For regular use, the display looks great. For professional color work? Consider the Pro.

Battery Life & Bonus Tweaks

Battery life is still 18 hours (with a slight increase in wattage)

New mute button design (tiny visual update for eagle-eyed fans)

Nothing groundbreaking, but battery life continues to be stellar.

The Storage Debate: 256GB Still Base?

Yes, unfortunately:

Base model still includes 256GB SSD

Apple charges $200+ for storage upgrades

Alternative: Buy a third-party SSD (like Lexar) for way less