The latest MacBook Air is cheaper and more capable than its predecessors.
Shortly after introducing the new iPad and iPad Air, Apple has announced a slew of new Macs. The M4-powered MacBook Air starts at $999 in its 13-inch configuration, while the 15-inch variant starts at $1,199. You can also buy the new Mac Studio with an M4 Max chip starting at $1,999 or an M3 Ultra-powered model starting at $3,999.
The new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Airs run on Apple’s M4 chip, which Apple claims is twice as fast as the M1 chip found in the 2020 model. Both laptops also now support up to two external displays, even with the lid still open, and boast the same 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam found in the latest MacBook Pros. Design-wise, they’re identical to their M3-powered predecessor, but Apple’s now added a sky blue color option.
As for the new M4 Max Mac Studio, Apple says the desktop machine is “up to 3.5x faster” than the original M1 Max model from 2022. Compared to its outgoing predecessor, the M2 Max Studio from 2023, it offers a maximum 128GB of RAM, up from 96GB. The Mac Studio’s four rear USB-C ports have been upgraded from Thunderbolt 4 to Thunderbolt 5.
Apple claims the Mac Studio with an M3 Ultra chip is twice as fast as the M4 Max for GPU- and CPU-demanding workloads. Apple also says the system boasts “50 percent more performance cores” than its M2 Ultra predecessors. It, too, can be configured with up to 512GB of RAM and 16TB of storage, up from its outgoing predecessor’s maximum of 192GB of RAM and 8TB of storage. The front USB-C ports on the M3 Ultra Mac Studio also support Thunderbolt 5, unlike the ones on the M4 Max version, and it can support up to eight displays, as opposed to the cheaper Studio’s five.
Where to preorder the M4-powered MacBook Air
The new MacBook Air will be available in stores on March 12th in sky blue, black, silver, and a “starlight” cream shade. You can preorder the 13-inch base model with a 10-core CPU, eight-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage starting at $999 from Apple, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. You can also preorder the laptop with a 10-core CPU and GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $1,199. Meanwhile, the model with 24GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 10-core CPU and GPU goes for $1,399.
Apple also lets you upgrade storage and RAM. Upgrading to 512GB of storage will cost you an extra $200, 1TB an extra $400, and 2TB an extra $800. You can also preorder the laptop with 24GB of RAM for $200 more, while 32GB of RAM costs $400 extra. If you opt for 512GB of storage or more, you have the option to purchase a 35W Dual USB‑C Port Compact Power Adapter or 70W USB‑C Power Adapter for $20 extra.
The 15-inch MacBook Air is identical to its 13-inch sibling, aside from size and the fact that it comes with a six-speaker system instead of four. You can preorder the base model with a 10-core CPU and GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage starting at $1,099 from Apple, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. If you fork out $1,399, you can preorder it with an expanded 512GB of storage, while paying $1,599 will get you 24GB of RAM in addition to 512GB of storage.
If you want additional storage and RAM, you can upgrade to 512GB of storage for $200 more, 1TB for an extra $400, and 2TB for an extra $800. In terms of memory, you can choose between an extra 24GB of RAM for $200 more or 32GB of RAM for $400 more. Apple will also throw in either a 35W Dual USB‑C Port Compact Power Adapter or a 70W USB‑C Power Adapter for free.
Where to preorder the Mac Studio with the M4 Max chip
The new Mac Studio is sold with either the M4 Max chip or the beefier M3 Ultra chip. You can preorder the base Mac Studio with an M4 Max chip, a 14-core CPU, a 32-core GPU, 36GB of RAM, a 16-core neural engine, and 512GB of storage from Apple, Best Buy, and B&H Photo starting at $1,999. For $2,499, you can preorder the M4 Max Studio with 48GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, a 16‑core CPU, a 40‑core GPU, and a 16‑core Neural Engine. You can upgrade to 64GB of RAM for $200 more or 128GB for an extra $1,000.
Apple also lets you upgrade storage on either configuration if you pay extra. You can upgrade to 1TB of storage for $200 more, while the 2TB model costs $600 extra. You can also buy the 4TB configuration for $1,200 more or the 8TB model for $2,400 extra.
Where to preorder the M3 Ultra-powered Mac Studio
Meanwhile, the base M3 Ultra-powered Mac Studio with a 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU, a 32-core Neural Engine, 96GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage starts at $3,999 at Apple, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. Upgrading to 256GB of RAM costs an extra $1,600.
Alternatively, you can preorder it with a 32-core CPU, 80-core GPU, 32-core Neural Engine, 96GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage for $5,499. Again, upgrading to 256GB of RAM costs an additional $1,600, but you also have the option of adding 512GB of RAM for $4,000 more.
No matter which M3 Ultra-powered Mac Studio configuration you buy, you can upgrade to 2TB of storage for $400 extra or 4TB for $1,000 more. Upgrading to 8TB of storage will cost you $2,200 extra, while 16TB will cost you an additional $4,600.
