M2 vs. M3 vs. M4 MacBook Air Buyer's Guide: 25+ Differences Compared

Apple has announced a new MacBook Air with its latest M4 chip, an enhanced camera, and a new color option, discontinuing the previous two generations. The new 13-inch M4 model starts at $999, with education pricing available to shave off at least $100. The main upgrade of the three MacBook Air models is their chips, with the M3 outperforming the M2 by 17% in single-core tasks and 21% in multi-core tasks. The M4 outperforms the M3 by 25% in single-core tasks and 30% in multi-core tasks. Beyond chip performance, there are other notable differences between the three generations, including camera and microphone upgrades. The M3 and M4 MacBook Airs represent minor upgrades over their predecessors, focusing on enhanced performance rather than new capabilities. Unless you need maximum performance or future-proofing, it's likely not worth buying the M4 MacBook Air over the previous model for most users. However, the M4 model's improved camera and enhanced support for two external displays may justify the extra cost for some users. Upgrading from the M2 or M3 to the M4 MacBook Air is not worth it for most customers, but upgrading from an M2 13-inch to an M4 15-inch may be more justifiable due to the display size increase. The older machines are still highly capable, making it important to consider the specific advantages of the M4 chip before making a purchase.