The M4 chip fuels the latest MacBook Air with enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities, branded as Apple Intelligence. With a local AI processing power of 38 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) through its advanced 16-core Neural Engine, this new model comes close to matching the 48 TOPS of Intel’s Lunar Lake chips and 45 TOPS from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips. However, it’s worth noting that Apple Intelligence is still in the early stages of development. Apple is showcasing some third-party applications that leverage this technology right out of the box. For example, the note-taking app Bear now features capabilities like automatic text formatting into tables and report summarization.
Additionally, the MacBook Air includes an improved version of Siri, which integrates ChatGPT functionalities, along with other exciting features. Interestingly, Apple has historically not relied heavily on local AI processing for Apple Intelligence. In the past, tasks requiring AI capabilities were typically processed via Apple’s Private Cloud Compute system, which allowed older devices to perform well without needing high local processing power.
In terms of performance, the M4 MacBook Air shows significant improvements over last year’s M3 model. Benchmark tests reveal that it offers a 22% increase in GPU performance, a 31% boost in multi-core capabilities, and an 18% rise in single-core performance, as measured by Cinebench R24. This represents a notable advancement, especially in single-core tasks, where Apple’s silicon consistently outshines competitors. For graphics performance, the M4 impressively doubles the capabilities of the previous M2 chip, making it well-suited for tasks like photo editing and 3D modeling. Users transitioning from an M1 or M2 MacBook Air will likely notice a marked improvement.
A defining characteristic of the MacBook Air is that it operates without fans, contributing to a remarkably quiet experience during use. This silent operation can be particularly advantageous when running demanding applications, such as video games. For instance, during some testing with “Baldur’s Gate 3,” the performance wasn’t outstanding, yet the fanless design means you can comfortably play without headphones—an unusual benefit for gaming laptops. At a resolution of 1200p with medium settings and upscaling, it’s possible to strike a satisfying balance between visual quality and performance.
However, the fanless design does come with certain trade-offs. Without active cooling, the MacBook Air cannot fully exploit the capabilities of the M4 chip like the 14-inch MacBook Pro can. To avoid overheating, the Air’s system has to reduce processing frequencies, which can limit performance under heavy loads. During testing, CPU temperatures peaked at 102 degrees Celsius, but fortunately, the exterior didn’t feel excessively hot, even under maximum strain.
This underlines the engineering challenge in creating a high-performance device that remains silent and cool while also pushing the boundaries of performance. The M4 MacBook Air represents an exciting evolution in Apple’s laptop lineup, blending advanced technology and user-friendly features in a sleek, portable device.