Apple has officially introduced its latest MacBook Air models in 13-inch and 15-inch variants, powered by the newly developed M4 chip. These laptops succeed the M3 models and bring significant performance improvements, extended battery life, and a new color option. With an enhanced 12MP Center Stage camera and up to 18 hours of battery life, these new MacBook Air models cater to professionals and casual users alike. The starting price in India is set at Rs. 99,900.

Key Features and Upgrades

M4 Chip for Superior Performance: Features a 10-core CPU, up to a 10-core GPU, and support for up to 32GB of unified memory.

Extended Battery Life: Up to 18 hours on a single charge.

Support for Multiple Displays: Can now connect up to two external monitors.

New Sky Blue Color Option: Alongside Midnight, Starlight, and Silver.

Advanced 12MP Center Stage Camera: Offers improved video calls with automatic framing and Desk View support.

Upgraded Neural Engine: Enhances AI-based tasks, making them up to 3x faster than M1 models.

Faster Storage Options: Configurations available up to 2TB SSD.

M4 Chip: A Major Leap in Performance

The new MacBook Air models are powered by Apple’s M4 chip, featuring a powerful 10-core CPU with four performance cores and six efficiency cores. The GPU options include an 8-core or 10-core variant, delivering a massive leap in graphics performance.

Apple claims that the M4 MacBook Air is up to 2x faster than the M1 model and up to 23x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. The Neural Engine, optimized for AI-based tasks, is three times faster than its predecessor.

Display, Design, and New Color Option

The MacBook Air continues to feature Apple’s stunning Liquid Retina display, available in 13.6-inch (2560×1664 pixels) and 15.3-inch (2880×1864 pixels) sizes. The screens offer 500 nits of brightness, True Tone technology, and wide color support (P3), making them ideal for creative professionals and media consumption.

Apple has introduced a new Sky Blue color variant, which has a dynamic metallic gradient effect when light reflects off its surface. Other available colors include Midnight, Starlight, and Silver.

Camera and Audio Enhancements

The 12MP Center Stage camera now offers enhanced video quality, automatically adjusting framing to keep the user in the center. It also supports Desk View, allowing users to display both their face and a top-down view of their desk.

Audio quality sees an improvement with a six-speaker sound system featuring force-canceling woofers and support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. A three-microphone array with directional beamforming and enhanced voice clarity ensures excellent audio quality for calls and recordings.

Connectivity and Ports

The new MacBook Air models come with two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, a MagSafe 3 charging port, a 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones, and Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for improved wireless connectivity.

Battery Life and Charging

The MacBook Air M4 models offer up to 15 hours of wireless web usage and 18 hours of video playback on a single charge. The 13-inch model with an 8-core GPU includes a 30W USB-C Power Adapter, while the 10-core GPU versions come with a 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter.

Pricing and Availability in India

Apple has priced the new MacBook Air models competitively in India:

MacBook Air 13” (M4 Chip)

16GB + 256GB, 10-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU – Rs. 99,900

16GB + 512GB, 10-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU – Rs. 1,19,900

24GB + 512GB, 10-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU – Rs. 1,39,900

MacBook Air 15” (M4 Chip)

16GB + 256GB, 10-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU – Rs. 1,24,900

16GB + 512GB, 10-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU – Rs. 1,44,900

24GB + 512GB, 10-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU – Rs. 1,64,900

Pre-orders are now live on Apple’s official store and Apple Store app in 28 countries, including India. The devices will be available at Apple retail locations and authorized resellers starting March 12, 2025.

Conclusion

Apple’s new MacBook Air (M4) models bring a major performance boost, extended battery life, and a refined design, making them a compelling choice for students, professionals, and creatives. With a starting price of Rs. 99,900, these new models offer exceptional value, especially with the inclusion of the powerful M4 chip, new color options, and advanced AI-powered features.