Apple’s MacBook Air is an ever easier recommendation, with a lower starting price, M4 processor, 12MP Center Stage camera and more!

The MacBook Air is Apple’s cheapest laptop in its lineup. Previously the options were 2022’s M2 MacBook Air for $999 or an M3 MacBook Air starting at $1,099. Apple have now ditched both of these configurations in favor of a new MacBook Air, bringing a new processor, camera, display support and color, all at the lower $999 starting price tag.

MacBook Air is by far the world’s most popular laptop, and today we’re giving everyone even more reasons to love it, including a big boost in performance with the M4 chip, a new Center Stage camera, and a beautiful new sky blue color. Combined with its thin and light, fanless design, all-day battery life, and the incredible capabilities of macOS Sequoia with Apple Intelligence, MacBook Air is unlike any other laptop. And with a new lower starting price of $999, MacBook Air delivers more value to consumers than ever before, making this the perfect moment to upgrade or experience the Mac for the first time

Greg Joswiak, senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Apple

The star of the show is the M4 chip. The M4 chip features a 10-core CPU and 8- or 10-core GPU. Apple claims the laptop is up to 2x faster than the M1 MacBook Air and up to 23x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. The 16-core Neural Engine, which helps AI intensive tasks, is up to 3x faster than the M1.

In October last year, with the launch of new MacBook Pros, Apple increased the starting memory option from 8GB to 16GB at no additional cost. A 24GB option and new 32GB option are also available.

The camera has been upgraded from a 1080p FaceTime HD camera to a 12MP camera, with support for Center Stage and Desk View. Center Stage zooms and pans the camera to highlight the subject as they move around the frame. Desk View gives a top-down view of the subjects desk.

Image Credit: Apple

The MacBook Air can now be connected to up to two 6K external displays, while keeping the lid open to use the built-in display too.

Image Credit: Apple

Finally in new additions, the MacBook Air is now available in sky blue. The metallic light blue color option joins midnight, starlight and silver, and replaces space gray. All options come with a color-matching MagSafe charge cable.

Everything else about the MacBook Air stays the same compared to the previous model, including the design, display, connectivity, battery performance, ports, storage, keyboard with TouchID, mic and speakers, macOS with Apple Intelligence, and 13- and 15-inch options.

As mentioned at the top, the new M4 MacBook Air now starts at $999, $100 less than before. A nice surprise considering increasing tariffs. Education buyers can get a $100 discount. The 15-inch model is an extra $200. You can pre-order the MacBook Air now and it will be available starting Wednesday, March 12. Click here for the 13-inch model. Click here for the 15-inch model. If you’re shopping for a MacBook and you’ve got $1,000 to spend, this is an easy recommendation. These are Amazon affiliate links. We may earn a commission for any sales generated.