The Apple M series chips represent a transformative leap in computing technology for Mac devices, starting with the groundbreaking M1, which revolutionized performance and efficiency. Since then, each subsequent generation — M2, M3, and the latest M4 — has built on that foundation, delivering enhanced capabilities and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in power consumption, speed, and integration. These chips have enabled a new era of sleek, powerful, and energy-efficient Macs that are designed to handle everything from everyday tasks to the most demanding creative and professional workflows, all while maintaining impressive battery life and thermal management. The continuous evolution of the M series showcases Apple’s commitment to innovation and performance excellence in personal computing.
(1) M1 introduced Apple’s first highly efficient and powerful silicon for Macs.
(2) M2 improved on M1 with better performance and enhanced graphics.
(3) M3 uses advanced 3nm process technology for faster, more efficient processing.
(4) M4 further boosts speed, efficiency, and AI capabilities with more cores and improved thermal management.
Apple MacBook Air M1
- Performance:
- Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU (4 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores)
- 7-core or 8-core GPU (graphics memory integrated, unified memory)
- 16-core Neural Engine
- RAM: 8GB unified memory (configurable up to 16GB)
- Design:
- Thickness: 6.1 mm at front tapering to 16 mm at back
- Weight: 1.29 kg
- Material: Aluminum body
- Display:
- 13.3-inch Retina display with IPS technology
- Resolution: 2560 x 1600 pixels
- Aspect ratio: 16:10
- Brightness: 400 nits
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Wide color (P3) and True Tone
- Anti-reflective coating
- Features:
- Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
- Force Touch trackpad
- 720p FaceTime HD camera
- Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.0
- Stereo speakers
- Storage:
- 256GB SSD (configurable to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB)
- Battery:
- 49.9 watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
- Up to 15 hours wireless web browsing
- Up to 18 hours video playback
- 30W USB-C power adapter
- Colors:
- Gold
- Silver
- Space Gray
- Warranty:
- 1-year limited warranty
- AppleCare+ available for extended coverage
- Operating system:
- macOS (not Windows)
Apple MacBook Air M2
- Performance:
- Apple M2 chip
- 8-core CPU (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores)
- 8-core or 10-core GPU option
- 16-core Neural Engine
- Unified memory bandwidth: 100GB/s
- RAM: 8GB (configurable to 16GB or 24GB)
- Graphics memory integrated in unified memory
- Design:
- Thickness: 11.3 mm
- Weight: 1.24 kg
- Display:
- 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with IPS technology
- Resolution: 2560 x 1664 pixels
- Aspect ratio: approx. 16:10
- Brightness: 500 nits
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Wide color (P3) and True Tone technology
- Anti-reflective coating
- Features:
- MagSafe 3 charging port
- Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and ambient light sensor
- Force Touch trackpad
- 1080p FaceTime HD camera
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 support
- Storage:
- 256GB SSD (configurable to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB)
- Battery:
- 52.6-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
- Up to 18 hours video playback
- Up to 15 hours wireless web browsing
- 30W or 35W USB-C power adapter (depending on GPU configuration)
- Fast charging supported with 70W adapter (sold separately)
- Color options:
- Midnight (a very dark blue, almost black with a subtle sheen)
- Starlight (a soft, warm gold shade)
- Silver (classic, professional silver)
- Space Gray (darker, stealthier gray)Midnight (a very dark blue, almost black with a subtle sheen)
- Warranty:
- 1-year limited warranty
- Optional AppleCare+ coverage available
- Operating System:
- macOS (latest version supported)
Apple MacBook Air M3
- Performance:
- Apple M3 chip
- 8-core CPU (4 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores)
- GPU options: 8-core or 10-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- 16-core Neural Engine
- RAM: 8GB unified memory (configurable to 16GB or 24GB)
- Graphics memory integrated with unified memory, memory bandwidth 100GB/s
- Design:
- Thickness: 11.3 mm
- Weight: about 1.24 kg
- Aluminum unibody design
- Display:
- 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display (LED-backlit, IPS technology)
- Resolution: 2560 x 1664 pixels
- Aspect ratio: approximately 16:10
- Brightness: 500 nits
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Wide color (P3), True Tone technology
- Anti-reflective coating
- Features:
- MagSafe 3 charging port
- Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB 4) ports
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
- Force Touch trackpad
- 1080p FaceTime HD camera
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support
- Storage:
- Starts with 256GB SSD (configurable up to 2TB)
- Battery:
- 52.6 watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
- Up to 18 hours Apple TV app movie playback
- Up to 15 hours wireless web browsing
- 30W or 35W USB-C power adapter, fast charge capable with 70W adapter
- Colors:
- Silver
- Space Gray
- Starlight
- Midnight
- Warranty:
- 1-year limited warranty
- AppleCare+ available for extended coverage
- Operating System:
- macOS (no Windows support)
Apple MacBook Air M4
- Performance:
- Apple M4 chip
- 10-core CPU (4 performance cores + 6 efficiency cores)
- 8-core or 10-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- 16-core Neural Engine
- RAM: 16GB unified memory (configurable to 24GB or 32GB)
- Graphics memory integrated in unified memory, 120GB/s bandwidth
- Design:
- Thickness: 11.3 mm
- Weight: 1.24 kg
- Aluminum unibody design
- Display:
- 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display (LED-backlit, IPS technology)
- Resolution: 2560 x 1664 pixels
- Aspect ratio: approx. 16:10
- Brightness: 500 nits
- Refresh rate: 60 Hz
- Wide color (P3), True Tone technology
- Anti-reflective coating
- Features:
- MagSafe 3 charging port
- Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and ambient light sensor
- Force Touch trackpad
- 1080p FaceTime HD camera
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
- Storage:
- Starts at 256GB SSD (configurable to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB)
- Battery:
- 53.8 watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
- Up to 18 hours video streaming
- Up to 15 hours wireless web browsing
- 30W or 35W USB-C power adapter depending on GPU config
- Fast charging supported with 70W adapter
- Colors:
- Sky Blue
- Silver
- Starlight
- Midnight
- Warranty:
- 1-year limited warranty
- AppleCare+ available for extended coverage
- Operating system:
- macOS (no Windows support)
| Specification | MacBook Air M1 (2020) | MacBook Air M4 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Apple M1 chip, 8-core CPU, 7/8-core GPU | Apple M4 chip, 10-core CPU (4P+6E), 8/10-core GPU with ray tracing |
| RAM | 8GB/16GB unified memory | 16GB/24GB/32GB unified memory |
| Graphics Memory | Integrated in unified memory | Integrated in unified memory, 120GB/s bandwidth |
| Design Thickness | 6.1 mm (front) to 16 mm (back) | 11.3 mm flat design |
| Weight | 1.29 kg | 1.24 kg |
| Display Size | 13.3-inch Retina IPS | 13.6-inch Liquid Retina IPS |
| Display Resolution | 2560 x 1600 pixels | 2560 x 1664 pixels |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 | ~16:10 |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Display Features | True Tone, P3 Wide Color, anti-reflective coat | True Tone, P3 Wide Color, anti-reflective coat |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB SSD | 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB SSD |
| Battery Capacity | 49.9 Wh lithium-polymer | 53.8 Wh lithium-polymer |
| Battery Life | Up to 15 hrs web, Up to 18 hrs video playback | Up to 15 hrs web, Up to 18 hrs video playback |
| Power Adapter | 30W USB-C adapter | 30W/35W USB-C, fast charge with 70W adapter |
| Color Options | Gold, Silver, Space Gray | Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 3/USB 4, 3.5mm headphone jack | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), MagSafe 3, 3.5mm jack |
| Camera | 720p FaceTime HD | 12MP, 1080p FaceTime HD with Center Stage |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Warranty | 1-year limited + AppleCare+ available | 1-year limited + AppleCare+ available |
| Operating System | macOS | macOS |
Which One You Should Buy?
Choosing between the Apple MacBook Air M1 and M4 depends largely on your priorities and budget. The M1 model remains a fantastic choice for users seeking excellent performance, long battery life, and macOS experience at a more affordable price. It is well-suited for everyday tasks, light creative work, and general productivity.
However, if you require higher performance for demanding tasks, better graphics capabilities, a brighter display, improved camera quality, and the latest connectivity features, the MacBook Air M4 is the superior option. It offers more future-proofing with its advanced chip architecture and enhanced design, making it ideal for professionals, creators, and power users who want the best overall experience.
Ultimately, the M1 is a value-packed option for most users, while the M4 caters to those who need cutting-edge performance and are willing to invest more for those enhancements. Consider your workload and budget before deciding which MacBook Air fits your needs best.
Price
- MacBook Air M1: Available around ₹54,000-₹55,000 during Flipkart Big Billion Day sale.
- MacBook Air M2: Available at under ₹50,000 in Flipkart Big Billion Days 2025 sale, making it one of the best laptop deals.
- MacBook Air M3: Prices vary but generally offered in the range of ₹90,000 to ₹1,10,000 with occasional deals.
- MacBook Air M4: On Amazon Great Indian Festival 2025, available as low as ₹78,990 after bank discounts; Flipkart offering it near ₹75,000 to ₹80,000 during the sale.
