Apple’s Lightest Laptop Gets Serious Performance

Apple’s latest 13-inch MacBook Air brings its biggest performance jump yet to the lightweight laptop line.

The new M4 chip replaces the M3, giving this model a ten-core CPU (with four performance and six efficiency cores) and up to a ten-core GPU. It’s designed to handle heavier multitasking, creative apps, and on-device AI features while staying completely silent thanks to the fanless design.

The display remains one of the Air’s best assets. It’s a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina panel with a 2560×1664 resolution and 500-nit brightness, covering the P3 color gamut. Text and graphics look sharp, and HDR content has vibrant colors for a laptop this thin. Combined with slimmer bezels, it gives the Air a modern, immersive look despite its compact footprint.

More Memory Out of the Box

Apple has bumped the base configuration to 16GB of unified memory paired with a 256GB SSD. That higher floor for RAM makes the Air much more capable out of the box for multitasking and heavier workloads without the usual slowdowns, and storage can still be configured up to 2TB for those who need more space.

A major functional upgrade is support for two external displays with the lid open something older Airs couldn’t do. This gives students, professionals, and creatives a lot more flexibility for multitasking and external monitors without moving up to a MacBook Pro.

Battery life remains a strong point. Apple rates the M4 Air for up to 18 hours of video playback, and early testing shows it easily lasting through a full workday or long flights. Combined with the low-power architecture of the M4 chip, you get consistent performance even on battery.

Charging and ports stay familiar. You get MagSafe 3 for quick, secure charging and two Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports for data, displays, and accessories. It’s still a minimalist port selection but covers most use cases, and MagSafe frees up the USB-C ports while charging.

Apple’s Lightweight Laptop Grows Up

The M4 version of Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Air takes the light, fanless laptop formula and makes it far more capable.

By standardizing on 16GB of unified memory and adding support for two external displays, it removes some of the biggest limitations of previous Air models. Coupled with the new chip’s speed and efficiency, you get a thin, silent machine that can handle heavier multitasking, creative work, and on-device AI features without losing the easy portability the Air is known for.

This model is best for users who want MacBook Pro-like versatility without the size, weight, or price tag. Students, professionals, and frequent travelers will appreciate the all-day battery life, bright Liquid Retina screen, and upgraded webcam, while creators who need a secondary machine for editing or streaming will find the new external display support and higher base RAM a welcome change. It’s still not a workstation, but it’s the most capable Air Apple has made to date.