M4 MacBook Air  vs.  M1 MacBook Air

Should You Upgrade?

New Design

The M4 MacBook Air features a redesigned chassis compared to the tapered-edge design of the M1 MacBook Air.

Bigger, Brighter Display

The M4 MacBook Air is available in 13-inch and 15-inch display sizes and is also 100 nits brighter than the M1 MacBook Air (500 nits vs. 400 nits).

Better Performance

The newer M4 MacBook Air comes with the M4 SoC, which Apple claims is 1.7x faster in daily usage and 2.1x faster in demanding tasks than the M1 SoC.

Improved Camera

The M4 MacBook Air features a 12MP Center Stage camera capable of 1080p video recording, compared to the 720p FaceTime camera on the M1 MacBook Air.

MagSafe Charging

The M4 MacBook Air supports MagSafe charging and 70W fast charging, allowing you to use the two Thunderbolt ports for other tasks.

External Display Support

The M4 MacBook Air can run two external displays alongside its own display, whereas the M1 MacBook Air supports only one external display.

Verdict

The M4 MacBook Air certainly wins this comparison. However, if you're satisfied with the performance of your M1 MacBook Air, we suggest holding onto it for now.

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