March 5, 2025 – 11:36 AM PST, Cupertino, California

Apple has just pulled back the curtain on the highly anticipated MacBook Air with the M4 chip, ushering in a new era for its best-selling laptop. Available for pre-order starting today on Apple’s website and the Apple Store app, the new Air delivers a powerhouse performance upgrade, meaningful enhancements, and a jaw-dropping starting price of $999 for the 13-inch model—a $100 reduction from its predecessor. Shipping begins March 12, with in-store availability kicking off the same day.

M4 Chip: A Leap in Power

The star of the show is the M4 chip, first introduced on the iPad Pro in 2024 and now tailored for the MacBook Air lineup. Featuring a 10-core CPU (4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores) and up to a 10-core GPU, Apple claims it delivers up to twice the performance of the M1 MacBook Air and a staggering 23 times that of the fastest Intel-based Air. The 16-core Neural Engine, optimized for Apple Intelligence, triples the speed of AI tasks—like auto-enhancing photos or removing video background noise—compared to the M1.

Unified memory starts at 16GB as standard—a first for the base model—and scales up to 32GB, while SSD storage begins at 256GB, configurable to 2TB. Apple touts an 18-hour battery life, up to six hours longer than older Intel models, making this Air a dream for on-the-go users.

Familiar Design, Bold New Color

The MacBook Air’s iconic aluminum unibody design remains unchanged: ultra-thin at under half an inch and available in 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch sizes. But a standout addition is the new “Sky Blue” color—a subtle metallic blue that replaces Space Gray and joins Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. This vibrant option has already sparked excitement online, with fans praising the fresh aesthetic.

Practical Upgrades and Connectivity

The M4 Air sports a 12MP Center Stage camera, a significant step up from the prior 1080p webcam, with improved tracking for video calls. The Liquid Retina display retains its stellar quality but skips the nano-texture anti-glare option found on MacBook Pros, a potential letdown for some. Connectivity sees a boost: the Air now supports two external displays without closing the lid, an upgrade from the M3’s single-display limit, thanks to a macOS Sequoia software tweak.

Quad speakers with Spatial Audio and a three-mic array deliver immersive sound, while Thunderbolt 3 ports (no upgrade to Thunderbolt 4, despite rumors) and a 3.5mm headphone jack round out the package.

Aggressive Pricing and Eco Push

Priced at $999 for the 13-inch (16GB/256GB) and $1,199 for the 15-inch, the MacBook Air M4 is Apple’s most affordable M4 device yet, undercutting the M4 MacBook Pro’s $1,599 entry point. This price drop, amid rising component costs and tariff talks, signals Apple’s intent to stay competitive in the laptop market.

Environmentally, Apple is advancing its goal to eliminate plastic from packaging by the end of 2025: the new Air ships in fully fiber-based packaging, with over 55% recycled content in its chassis. Production relies on renewable energy, reinforcing the company’s green commitments.

Reactions and Outlook

Greg Joswiak, Apple’s Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing, said, “The MacBook Air is the world’s most popular laptop, and with the M4 chip, a new Center Stage camera, and this stunning Sky Blue finish, there’s even more to love.” Early buzz on X shows widespread excitement for the power and price, though some lament the lack of a 120Hz display or bolder design overhaul.

Alongside the Air, Apple unveiled an updated Mac Studio with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips, dubbed “the most powerful Mac ever,” capping a busy week after yesterday’s iPad Air M3 launch. As pre-orders surge—Apple’s site briefly crashed this morning—the MacBook Air M4 is shaping up as an instant hit, blending affordability with innovation. First reviews and hands-on impressions are expected by tonight as units reach testers.