The Power-Packed, Pocket-Friendly MacBook Air M4: Apple's Latest Stealth Move
Enhanced MacBook Air M4 delivers additional power at a reduced cost
Let's talk tech, shall we? Apple's latest MacBook Air M4 is sendin' shockwaves through the competition. With a sleek design, improved internals, and a wallet-friendly price tag, Apple's took a subtle swipe at the Windows gang, proving once again why they're at the top of the laptop game.
Here's the lowdown. The MacBook Air M4 ain't flashy, but it's far from basic. Apple's kept things simple with a familiar design, but the new kid in town stands out with a crisp, pale blue hue. The main event? The M4 chip under the hood, along with an upgraded camera.
Connection Options: Quality Over Quantity
Don't be fooled by the limited ports. You've only got two USB-C, a headphone jack, and a magnetic MagSafe-3 charging port. But these bad boys offer high-speed Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 data transfer rates of up to 40 Gbit/s and charging powers of up to 100 watts. Pair 'em with a high-quality charger and cable, and you're good to go.
Interestingly, you can now connect two high-resolution external monitors without sacrificing your MacBook Air's life. It supports up to a breathtaking 6K resolution, keeping things sharp on multiple screens.
The Unchanged, Yet Unbeatable Extras
Nothing's changed when it comes to the wireless connectivity – the MacBook Air M4 still rocks Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. The touchpad and keyboard remain top-notch, offering precision and comfort. The responsive fingerprint sensor's still where you left it, too.
The Display: First Impressions Aren't Everything
A minor bummer, the display's the same LCD panel with a 60 Hz refresh rate. But don't be fooled. It boasts a high resolution of 224 ppi, accurate colors, and impressive contrast. Sorry, MacBook Pro Pro fans – the Pro option for an extremely anti-reflective nanotexture ain't available here.
The Upgraded Camera: Post-Meeting Selfies Galore
Thankfully, the camera's gotten a boost. It's now the same one found in the latest MacBook Pros, which means better picture quality for video calls. It even comes with a follow mode, so you'll always stay in frame, no matter where you wander. But let's be real – it's not perfect. It tends to overexpose occasionally, and the image ain't as crisp as we'd like.
Performance: Smooth Sailing
The M4 chip brings a noticeable performance boost, making light work of demanding tasks. It handles gaming like a pro, and we're impressed that it does so without a fan. However, prolonged peak performance might require active cooling system like the Pros' have.
The SSD: Fast and Furious
The SSD ain't holding the M4 back. With write speeds of around 4600 MB/s and read speeds of 3000 MB/s, it's speedy as hell.
Battery Life: It Just Keeps Going
Despite the performance upgrade, the MacBook Air M4 maintains its legendary battery life. Apple claims up to 18 hours, and in real-world testing, it clocks around ten hours on average.
Price: apple of my eye
Here's the cherry on top: Apple's lowered the starting price. You can pick up the 13-inch model with an 8-core GPU, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD for around 1200 euros – that's 100 euros cheaper than its predecessor.
Source: ntv.de
- Tech Tests
- Mac OS X
- Notebooks
- Despite the Commission's proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, the MacBook Air M4, with its improved internals and sleek design, poses a significant threat to competitors in the laptop market, especially in terms of average overexposure to radiation from its upgraded camera.
- While the MacBook Air M4 lacks some port options, such as the absence of a MagSafe-3 charging port in older models, the high-speed Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 data transfer rates and charging powers of up to 100 watts compensate for this deficiency, potentially overexposing users to high-quality charging solutions.
- In terms of the MacBook Air M4's display, critics argue that a minor bummer is the same LCD panel with a 60 Hz refresh rate, which might lead to an overexposure of the need for a more versatile and future-proof display technology in competitive MacBook models.
