Apple announces a new M4 MacBook Air with a $100 price cut

The 13-inch M4 MacBook Air starts at $999, and the 15-inch model at $1199.

Image: Apple

It seems to be the season for "Air" upgrades! Following the introduction of the new iPad Air with the M3 chip, Apple has surprised Mac enthusiasts by unveiling a new MacBook Air featuring significant updates in color, chipset, camera, and price. Pre-orders for the new MacBook Air models begin today, with availability starting March 12th.

Following Monday's teaser video by Tim Cook, Apple introduced new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models powered by the upgraded M4 chipset. This is the same powerful chip that already drives last year's iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro. The newly introduced MacBook Air models boast a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU. Apple claims the "new M4 MacBook Air is up to 2x faster than the M1 model," significantly boosting performance and making it 1.6x faster than the M1 MacBook Air.

In addition to the chipset upgrade, the new MacBook Air now features a 12-megapixel camera, the same as the MacBook Pro model. While the output video resolution remains at 1080p, expect enhanced image quality. A new video recording feature, "Center Stage," automatically keeps users centered in the frame as they move. On the display front, the MacBook Air now supports two 6K external displays with the lid open. While the other design, keyboard, and other specs regarding the display are the same. The overall design, keyboard, and other display specifications remain consistent with the previous model.

Image: Apple

And there's a fresh coat of paint, too! The new MacBook Air is now available in a captivating Sky Blue color. This metallic light blue shade "creates a dynamic gradient when light reflects off of its surface," adding a touch of modern elegance to the lineup. Sky Blue joins the existing Midnight, Starlight, and Silver color options, providing a wider range of choices to suit individual preferences.

On the software side, the new M4 MacBook Air arrives with a highly anticipated feature: Apple Intelligence. This includes features like Genmoji, Image Playground, and enhanced writing tools, which are consistent with other Apple products. Apple also claims improved Siri performance, which is capable of responding to both typed and spoken commands. While Siri may not yet match competitors like Gemini live, Alexa, or ChatGPT in live capabilities, its seamless integration within the MacBook Air is a unique advantage.

Addressing a key user concern, the new 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $999, and the 15-inch model at $1199—a $100 price reduction from their predecessors. This price cut, combined with the substantial upgrades over the M3 MacBook Air, is a significant selling point. You can pre-order the new MacBook Air directly from Apple's official website.