Apple Unveils New MacBook Air Featuring M4 Chip, Stunning Sky Blue Finish, and Lower $999 Starting Price

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA – Apple has introduced the latest MacBook Air, now equipped with the powerful M4 chip, an elegant new sky blue color, and a more affordable starting price. The world’s most popular laptop now delivers greater performance, up to 18 hours of battery life, and enhanced external display support, all while maintaining its sleek, lightweight design.

The new MacBook Air comes in two sizes—13-inch and 15-inch—and is available for pre-order today, with official availability beginning Wednesday, March 12. The device now starts at just $999 ($899 for students), making it even more accessible for students, professionals, and everyday users looking for a powerful yet portable laptop.

A New Shade: Meet Sky Blue

Expanding its color palette, the MacBook Air now comes in a stunning sky blue finish, a sleek metallic light blue that shimmers under light. This elegant new addition joins midnight, starlight, and silver, providing users with the widest range of MacBook Air color choices ever. Like the other models, the sky blue version includes a color-matched MagSafe charging cable for a seamless, premium experience.

M4 Chip: A Performance Leap

The M4 chip powers the new MacBook Air, significantly boosting speed and efficiency. Featuring a 10-core CPU, an up to 10-core GPU, and support for up to 32GB of unified memory, this model is up to 2x faster than the M1 version and 23x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air.

With up to 18 hours of battery life, users upgrading from an Intel-based MacBook Air will enjoy an additional six hours of use on a single charge. The Neural Engine in M4 is also three times faster than its M1 counterpart, allowing for lightning-fast AI-based tasks, such as automatic photo enhancements and background noise removal in videos.

The M4 chip delivers remarkable performance gains in everyday tasks:

Microsoft Excel calculations are up to 4.7x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air and 1.6x faster than the M1 model.

iMovie video editing is up to 8x faster than Intel-based models and 2x faster than the M1 version.

Adobe Photoshop editing is up to 3.6x faster than Intel-based MacBook Air and 2x faster than the M1 model.

Web browsing is 60% faster than PC laptops with Intel Core Ultra 7 processors.

Optimized for Apple Intelligence

The new MacBook Air is built for Apple Intelligence, unlocking a host of AI-powered features. Users can.

Enhance creativity with Image Playground and Genmoji.

Improve writing with advanced Writing Tools.

Interact with Siri in new ways, switching effortlessly between voice and text commands.

Access ChatGPT directly through Writing Tools and Siri, with built-in privacy protections.

Apple Intelligence prioritizes on-device processing for enhanced privacy and security, with Private Cloud Compute ensuring sensitive data remains secure and untracked.

Enhanced Camera and Multi-Display Support

MacBook Air now features a 12MP Center Stage camera, offering better video quality for FaceTime calls, online meetings, and live streaming. The Center Stage feature keeps users centered in the frame and supports Desk View, enabling users to display both their face and a top-down view of their desk.

For multi-display setups, the new MacBook Air now supports up to two external 6K displays, making it ideal for business professionals, students, and content creators who need more screen real estate.

Everything You Love About MacBook Air, and More

The latest MacBook Air continues to include features that have made it the best-selling laptop in the world.

Durable aluminum unibody: The thin and lightweight design is built to last, with the 13-inch model ideal for portability and the 15-inch version offering more workspace.

Magic Keyboard and Touch ID: Securely unlock your Mac, make purchases, and sign in to apps with Touch ID, while the Magic Keyboard offers a quiet and responsive typing experience.

Vivid Liquid Retina display: With 500 nits of brightness, support for 1 billion colors, and 2x the resolution of comparable PC laptops, everything looks sharp and vibrant.

Advanced connectivity: The MacBook Air features Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, MagSafe charging, two Thunderbolt ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Immersive audio: With Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, users experience a three-dimensional soundstage for music, movies, and video calls.

macOS Sequoia: Elevating the Mac Experience

Powered by macOS Sequoia, the new MacBook Air delivers an even better user experience. Key features include.

iPhone Mirroring: Wirelessly control your iPhone directly from your MacBook Air.

Smarter Safari browser: Get AI-powered article summaries, enhanced video viewing, and Distraction Control for a cleaner browsing experience.

Improved gaming: With Game Mode optimizations and upcoming AAA game releases, Mac gaming is more immersive than ever.

New Passwords app: Securely store and manage all passwords and credentials in one place.

Environmentally Friendly Design

Apple continues to prioritize sustainability, with MacBook Air leading the way.

Over 55% recycled materials, the most in any Apple product.

100% recycled aluminum in the enclosure.

100% recycled rare earth elements in magnets.

Over 95% recycled lithium in the battery, a first for any Mac.

Plastic-free packaging, helping Apple reach its goal of eliminating plastic packaging by 2025.

Apple remains committed to Apple 2030, its goal to be carbon neutral across its entire supply chain by the end of the decade.

Pricing and Availability

The new MacBook Air with M4 is available for pre-order today at apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app across 28 countries, including the U.S. It will be available at Apple Stores and authorized resellers starting March 12.

Pricing

13-inch MacBook Air with M4 starts at $999 ($899 for students).

15-inch MacBook Air with M4 starts at $1,199 ($1,099 for students).

Both models are available in sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver.

Upgrade Options & Additional Benefits

Apple Trade-In: Customers can trade in their old Mac and receive credit towards a new MacBook Air.

AppleCare+: Get extended service, accidental damage coverage, and 24/7 Apple support.

Apple Card Monthly Installments: U.S. customers can pay over time at 0% APR and earn 3% Daily Cash.

With its enhanced performance, stunning new color, and unbeatable value, the MacBook Air with M4 is the perfect choice for anyone looking to upgrade their laptop experience.