Waiting for the perfect moment to upgrade your aging MacBook? The new MacBook Air M4 offers compelling reasons to make the leap. With an ultra-fast processor, 12MP high-definition camera, AI-powered tools, and a lower price, it’s time to consider an upgrade.
MacBook Air M4 three of the several new enhancements worth highlighting:
- 12MP FaceTime HD Camera with Center Stage & Desk View
The new 12MP FaceTime HD camera is a major leap forward, offering far superior image quality versus the previous 2MP camera. It provides sharper, clearer visuals – images and text and better performance, even in low-light environments, which is perfect for video calls with family, virtual meetings, or working remotely.
Center Stage, a standout feature, keeps you centered in the frame during video calls, even if you move around. Whether you’re standing to present, chatting with family, having a remote doctor visit via Zoom, you’ll no longer need to adjust your camera to stay centered.
Desk View is another game-changer using the MacBook’s camera to show what’s on your desk in real-time, giving others a clear view of what’s in front of you. It’s especially useful for showing off a family photo album, crafting a project, or helping kids with homework. Desk View eliminates the need for an additional camera to share handwritten notes or documents, making video calls smoother and more natural.
- Apple Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Features)
You may be wondering, “Why do I need AI?” Apple’s new smart AI tools significantly enhance your user experience by helping you stay organized, communicate more easily, and get creative with ease.
The Siri + ChatGPT integration makes it seamless using AI to assist with everyday tasks. Need a reminder, a quick answer to a question, or help drafting an email? You’ve got it – and you can do it hands-free. This combination also helps with summarizing articles or generating ideas, making it a handy assistant for staying productive.
Image Playground is another exciting new that lets you enhance or create unique images using AI. You can modify existing pictures or generate new creative visuals, ideal for personal projects like family photo albums or social media.
Additionally, Genmoji allows you to create personalized emojis by describing them with texts to use in email and messages. It adds a fun, personalized touch whether you’re keeping in touch with friends or family and making connecting with younger generations more engaging and interactive.
- Dual External 6K Monitor Support
If you love multitasking or need a larger screen or workspace for easy reading, photo editing, or work-related tasks, the M4 offers dual 6K external monitor support. You can now connect two monitors, still keeping your MacBook Air open with easy access to the Force Touch trackpad, backlit Magic Keyboard, and Touch ID for secure sign-ins, password entries, and payments.
You can have one screen for emails and the other for video calls or editing photos while chatting on FaceTime.
Other reasons why the MacBook Air M4 is a worthy investment:
- Performance: Apple’s M4 chip is up to 23 times faster than the Intel-based MacBook Air, and twice as fast as the previous M1 model, resulting in quicker app launches, smoother video playback, and better overall performance.
- Display: The Liquid Retina LED-backlit display that supports up to 1 billion colors. The 13.6-inch model offers a resolution of 2560-by-1664, while the 15.3-inch model has a 2880-by-1864 resolution, both at 224 pixels per inch. Both offer a sharp, clear viewing experience, whether you’re reading or watching media.
- Design: The MacBook Air retains its sleek, ultra-portable design, is less than ½ inch thick and weighs just 2.7 lbs (3.3 lbs – 15.3-inch). It also features durable recycled aluminum enclosures, with 50% of the materials being recycled – a sustainable choice for eco-conscious users.
- Battery Life: If you’re on the road or travel a lot, battery life is now rated—up to 18 hours on a single charge..
- Connectivity: The new models feature Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring a faster and more reliable connection, and longer battery life for your wireless headphones, speakers, and other devices. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E, which provides better range and faster speeds for all your online activities.
- Sound: The M4 comes equipped with a three-microphone array for clearer voice clarity during calls while minimizing background noise. The 13-inch model has a four-speaker sound system, while the larger 15.3-inch model boasts six speakers, including two force-canceling subwoofers, making it perfect for immersive audio experiences.
iCloud & iPhone Integration
Like all other Macs, the new models feature iCloud – to store all your contacts, photos and docs so they’re accessible from any device; iPhone Integration lets you seamlessly connect your iPhone with the MacBook Air, allowing you to mirror your iPhone, copy and paste text between them, and even answer phone calls directly from your MacBook. Plus, Migration Assistant makes it easy to set up and copy your existing files from another Mac or PC.
Final Thoughts
The MacBook Air M4 is a sleek powerful, versatile laptop, ideal for casual home users to professionals, whether you’re upgrading from an older MacBook or switching from a different brand.
Its impressive performance, enhanced visuals, and easy-to-use AI features make day-to-day tasks smoother and more enjoyable helping you do what you want to do, without worrying about the technology.
Prices start at $1,399 for the 13.6-inch with 16GB of RAM/256GB SSD storage (upgradeable to 32GB/2TB). It comes in four colours; Midnight, Starlight, Silver and a new Sky Blue.
For more detailed information visit. Apple.com/ca/macbook-air/.
The syndicated edition of the article appears at Troy Media and 32 affiliated syndicated sites. Print version appears in Active-Life Magazine and on the NextHome Blog. Podcasts (when available) also appear at either Toastcaster.com or Toastmasters Podcast.com.
Greg Gazin, also known as the Gadget Guy and Gadget Greg, is a syndicated veteran tech columnist, communication, leadership and technology speaker, facilitator, blogger, podcaster and author. Reach him @gadgetgreg or at GadgetGuy.ca.