Today, reviews of the updated MacBook Air laptop, which goes on sale tomorrow, were released. In addition to the fresh M4 chip, the authors of the reviews noted the improved 12-megapixel camera with support for Center Stage user tracking, the ability to connect two external displays even with the lid open, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and the new Sky Blue color. In addition, in the US, the price of the new 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $999, which is $100 lower than the previous generation laptop.
Image source: Apple
The Apple M4 chip delivers up to 30 percent faster multi-core performance than the M3 chip, now proven by Geekbench 6 results on the new MacBook Air.
Experts noted that the Center Stage camera, although not dramatically, still improves the user experience.
«”The upgrade to a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera isn’t mind-blowing, but I appreciated the slightly better image quality during video calls. I typically turn off the Center Stage feature itself on my Mac, but I’m sure some users will appreciate its ability to track their movements around the room. The new camera also supports Desk View, which projects a slightly distorted view of the area directly in front of the MacBook Air,” Engadget’s Devindra Hardawar wrote in her review.
According to Jason Snell of Six Colors, Apple is “generous” in offering 16GB of RAM in the base $999 MacBook Air:
«Perhaps the most important change to the M4 MacBook Air is its base configuration, which starts at $999. When Apple introduced the Air’s flat, rounded-corner design in 2022, it had to keep selling older models to keep the price under $1,000. Three years later, Apple is finally able to offer an all-new Air — with a generous 16GB of unified storage — at that important price.”
Just as significant as the price and specs was the new Sky Blue color option, according to Andrew Cunningham of Ars Technica:
«The laptop comes in four finishes — the traditional silver, a gold Starlight, a dark Midnight, and the new Sky Blue. Sky Blue is probably my favorite of the three light options, though I wish it were more saturated. It’s similar in hue to the blue finish Microsoft offers on its Surface devices, but I prefer Microsoft’s version because it’s a more noticeable blue.”
We present to your attention a selection of video reviews of the new MacBook Air: