Apple Unveils the new MacBook Air
Today, Apple released a new MacBook Air. The new MacBook Air makes some improvements over the previous model.
Screen and External Displays
The MacBook Air continues to be available in 13-inch and 15-inch models. The 13-inch still has a 13.6-inch screen, and the 15-inch has a 15.3-inch screen. There is a new 12 MP Center Stage camera. According to Apple:
A new 12MP Center Stage camera with improved video quality keeps MacBook Air users looking their best, whether at home, school, or work. Center Stage automatically keeps users centered in the frame as they move around — great for connecting with friends and family over FaceTime or joining an important meeting. It also supports Desk View, which simultaneously displays the user and a top-down view of their desk, making video calls even more engaging for those who want to show off their latest DIY project or present a prototype at work.
One of the shortcomings of the M3 MacBook Air has been rectified. The M3 MacBook Air could only support two external displays while the MacBook Air’s lid was closed. Now, the M4 MacBook Air can support up to two 6K external displays, in addition to the built-in display, meaning that you can have up to 3 displays simultaneously. This can be a productivity improvement for some users.
Processor, Memory, and Storage
There are two different possible GPU configurations. The 13-inch MacBook Air has a 10-Core CPU, and either an 8-Core or 10-core GPU. The 15-inch MacBook Air has a 10-Core CPU, with 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores. There is also a 10-Core GPU.
One of the big improvements over the M4 includes a 20% increase in memory bandwidth, going from 100GB per second to 120GB per second. The amount of memory that is standard is 16GB, and can be configured for either 24GB or 32GB.
The base model MacBook Air comes with 256GB of storage, and can be configured with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB.
Colors
The most noticeable change with the MacBook Air is a new color option. The previous "Space Gray" model has been replaced with a new Sky Blue. The other colors, Midnight, Silver, and Starlight, are also available.
Pricing and Availability
The MacBook Air starts at $999, which is $100 less than the previous model. The 13-inch model ranges in price from $999 for the base model to $2199 for the 10-Core GPU M4 with 32GB of memory and 2TB of storage. The 15-inch ranges from $1199 for its base model to $2399 for 32GB of memory and 2TB of storage. You can pre-order it today, and it will begin arriving on March 12th.
Closing Thoughts
The updated MacBook Air is a minor update, but it is a welcome one. The lower base price may be welcome to some users, while the ability to support two external displays in addition to the built-in display will bring other users. One thing that might entice another set of users is the new Sky Blue color.
Source: Apple Newsroom