Apple MacBook Air (13-Inch, M4) Review: More Power For Less Money
i've been devoted to the MacBook Air since 2012, when I bought my first one with money I saved up from my summer job before my first semester of college (you can read more about that journey here). As someone always working on the go, I've always been drawn to how lightweight it is. When Apple revamped it back in 2022 with a new design, bigger and brighter display, MagSafe support, and a 1080p webcam, I was thrilled—this was my dream MacBook come to life.
But as I said in last year's review, the 13-inch MacBook Air has reached its peak in terms of design. Apple continues to release the same model while mainly focusing on the internals—and the same logic applies to this latest version. The standout feature is the M4 chip (the entry-level chip of the lineup) along with double the base memory (also available on its predecessor). Apple did throw in an updated 12-megapixel webcam and a new blue color option, but aside from that, the chassis remains the same.
Typically, when a next-generation model lacks any major additions, Apple keeps the price the same as previous versions. This time, however, the price sees a welcome reduction to $999—$100 less than its predecessors. It's what the MacBook Air cost before the launch of the M2 model (Apple did sell the M2-powered MacBook Air for $999 once the M3 Air came out, but the M4 replaces both models). So, that means the highest configuration will cost $2,199.
Although there are still a few additional things I had on my wishlist for this next-gen version (a nano-texture glass option being one of them), the MacBook Air with M4 continues to live up to its reputation as a reliable, lightweight machine and the best MacBook for most people. The fact that it's as affordable as it used to be is the cherry on top.
Subtle Alterations
Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
As with previous generations, the 13-inch MacBook Air has a square chassis, a big and bright 13.6-inch LCD panel (complete with a 60-Hz refresh rate), a four-speaker sound system, and a three-mic array. Coming in at 2.7 pounds, it also remains super lightweight and comfortable to commute with. You'll also get the same port selection, which includes two USB 4/Thunderbolt ports, a MagSafe charging port, and a 3.5-mm headphone jack.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
WWDC: Apple faces AI, regulatory challenges as it woos software developers
By Stephen Nellis CUPERTINO, California (Reuters) -Apple is facing an unprecedented set of technical and regulatory challenges as some of its key executives are set to take the stage on Monday at the company's annual software developer conference. On the technical side, many of the long-awaited artificial-intelligence features Apple promised at the same conference a year ago have been delayed until next year, even as its rivals such as Alphabet's Google and Microsoft woo developers with a bevvy of new AI features. Those unfulfilled promises included key improvements to Siri, its digital assistant. On the regulatory front, courts in the U.S. and Europe are poised to pull down the lucrative walls around Apple's App Store as even some of the company's former supporters question whether its fees are justified. Those challenges are coming to a head at the same time U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened 25% tariffs on Apple's best-selling iPhone. Apple's shares are down more than 40% since the start of the year, a sharper decline than Google and also lagging the AI-driven gains in Microsoft shares. Apple has launched some of the AI features it promised last year, including a set of writing tools and image-generation tools, but it still relies on partners such as ChatGPT creator OpenAI for some of those capabilities. Bloomberg has reported that Apple may open up in-house AI models to developers this year. But analysts do not believe Apple yet has what technologists call a "multi-modal" model - that is, one capable of understanding imagery, audio and language at the same time - that could power a pair of smart glasses, a category that has become a runaway hit for Meta Platforms. Google said last month it would jump back in to this category, with partners. Such glasses, which are far lighter and cheaper than Apple's Vision Pro headset, could become useful because they would understand what the user is looking at and could help answer questions about it. While Apple has focused on its $3,500 Vision Pro headset, Google and Meta have seized on the smart glasses as a cheaper way to deploy their AI software prowess against Apple in its stronghold of hardware. Meta Ray-Bans all sell for less than $400. Analysts say Apple needs to answer that challenge but that it is not likely to do so this week. "I'm not trying to replace my phone - this is a complementary thing that gives me more world context, because it's got a camera and it sees what I see, and I can talk to it in natural language," said Ben Bajarin, CEO of technology consultancy Creative Strategies. "Apple is not positioned to do that." To be sure, Apple's rivals are not decisively ahead in smart glasses. Anshel Sag, principal analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy, said Meta's Ray-Bans still lack some features and Google has not yet landed its "Gemini" model in a mass-market pair of glasses yet. "Meta has the undisputed lead, but Google is catching up fast and probably has the best-suited AI for the job," Sag said. "Vision Pro is great, but it's a showroom product that developers can use." But Bob O'Donnell, CEO of TECHnalysis Research, said it remains far from clear that smart glasses will gain wide acceptance. O'Donnell also said it is not certain that Apple is at any particular disadvantage if it partners with a company such as Google, OpenAI or even a smaller firm like Perplexity for core AI technology. So far, O'Donnell said, there is not yet strong evidence that consumers are basing major hardware-purchasing decisions on AI features. "There's an argument to be made that it's OK that (Apple) is behind because, except for the bleeding edge, most people don't care," O'Donnell said.
CNET
26 minutes ago
- CNET
Your Guide to Apple's iOS 18 iPhone Software
Apple released iOS 18 to the general public in 2024, a week after the company announced its new iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watch Series 10 and more at its "Glowtime" event. Since then, Apple has released more updates that bring Apple Intelligence, such as Genmoji and Image Playground, to certain iPhones models, such as the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max and the iPhone 16 lineup -- including the iPhone 16E. Read more: What CNET's Experts Hope to See in iOS 19 We've put together this cheat sheet to help you explore and make the most of the latest features in iOS 18. Check back periodically to see what future iOS 18 updates could bring to your iPhone. iOS 18 updates Using iOS 18 Getting started with iOS 18 Check back here later for more updates on iOS 18 and how to use the new features in the OS. You can also check out our iPhone 16, 16 Pro and 16E reviews.
WIRED
26 minutes ago
- WIRED
Apple WWDC Live Blog: All the Updates, as They Happen
Skip to main content Follow our WWDC 2025 live blog for all of the updates coming to iOS, macOS, watchOS, and more. Welcome to WIRED's live coverage of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference. The WWDC25 keynote will begin at 10 am Pacific, 1 pm Eastern, and 6 pm British Summer Time. It's a livestreamed event, and you can watch it right here on this page, or open the video feed in its own tab; Apple is streaming the video on its developer website and on its developer-focused YouTube channel. WWDC is Apple's annual event for its global network of software developers. The company uses the keynote to announce all of the changes coming to the software that powers iPhones, Macs, Apple Watches, and the rest of Apple's hardware. It also announces changes coming to the cloud services it provides, from iCloud and Messages to Siri and Apple Intelligence. It's basically one big news dump for everything in the world of Apple software. On occasion, the company will sneak in a surprise and use the WWDC keynote to announce something like a new hardware or software platform; 2023's event was when we first learned about Apple Vision Pro. But this year, we're only expecting software announcements—just bits, no atoms. Read Reece Rogers' preview of the show for a full look at what to expect from WWDC 2025. Once the keynote is underway, we'll post all of the important updates here on this live blog. We'll tell you release dates, point out new features, and note what's missing. We'll also have some analysis from our expert reporters who are either attending WWDC or watching from afar. Most of us have been covering Apple for well over a decade, so we'll be able to offer some unique insights about what's being shown during the presentation. We'll kick off live coverage around a half an hour before the keynote is scheduled to start. So come back at 9:30 am PDT (12:30 pm EDT, and 5:30 pm in the UK). You'll see the live blog refresh, and the text on this page will be replaced by live updates. Get ready for a great WWDC.
