Apple Announces New MacBook Air With M4 and 'Sky Blue' Color Option

[hans1972]

No one is dying because of the old-fashioned displays but it’s perfectly fine to leave a comment to mention why you’re not getting the machine. It’s not to rain on anyone’s parade, it’s going to be a really sweet device for everyone not used to normal refresh rates, it’s just to signal that a lot of people would appreciate it if Apple would change their treatment of potential MBA customers and leaving a comment on a popular fan website is the easiest way to do that.

But some of the people are doing this for every release of an Apple product, for years. Some of the same people here have been complaining for 10+ years.

They either continue to buy Apple products or even worse, continue to post negativity while using Android phones and PCs.

And there is no innovation in the complaints. They're all the same with some slight variation.

 

[EugW]

On the 13” the upgrade to 512 on the ssd is the best bang for the buck, you also get the full 10 cores on gpu.

Yeah, but most people in this price class don't really tax the GPU. Of course some people do, but most don't. For those that don't, the extra two GPU cores are completely irrelevant.

 

[HiRez]

Incredible deal if you only need the minimum options (which fortunately features 16 GB RAM now). As usual, a much worse deal if you need only moderate spec bumps. Still, good product for a decent price, it's hard to say Mac laptop users have it bad these days.

 

[hans1972]

No disagreement here, but I want them to release products that I want to buy and will bring them more success. Nobody is asking for them to reinvent the wheel, but the competition is eating their lunch if you care about displays. I bought one of the Asus Qualcomm Snapdragon X powered laptops last fall, it is as fast or faster than my MBP, has an OLED screen, same RAM, same storage, Windows Hello, $700.

I don't see the problem. You found an alternative which was better for you and cheaper.

When you have bought an alternative you shouldn't care about Apple anymore, just continue using your Windows laptop and forget about Macs.

 

[hans1972]

And why just be complacent with whatever Apple releases instead of having some basic demands?

I have demands for the products I buy, not the products that Apple produces.

Here are my top four demands for laptops:

• Must look and feel like macOS
• Must run software written for macOS
• Must integrate tightly and easily with the Apple ecosystem including other Apple devices
• Must have a good trackpad

None other than Apple is able to meet those demands, and thus Apple will always be the choice.

 

[hans1972]

Not sure if actually serious.

Of course I am, that's why I like Apple so much.

They only do gradual changes most of the time, and maybe once every 7 or 10 years, they do a huge change.

Evolution is better than revolution.

 

[randomdude84]

So to spec out what I want for the new m4 air 15” w/ 1TB storage is $1500 but for $200 more I can have a 14” pro with the same specs.

I’m planning on doing some guitar recording and YouTube videos for fun. I think the m4 air would be fine but with the specs I want it seems wise to just spend the extra $200 and get the pro.

 

[Otwer22]

Yeah, but most people in this price class don't really tax the GPU. Of course some people do, but most don't. For those that don't, the extra two GPU cores are completely irrelevant.

Thats true and it would be nice if there was more to get elsewhere but there isn’t. Since only the gpu is binned no gains can be had in cpu cores.

 

[mattw6789]

Exactly my thoughts. Early 2015 MBP in almost mint condition. Trade in value $85 - wow

While mine is in "good" condition, the battery is shot and it's fairly slow (with a near maxed out hard drive). Very overdue, the trade in quote is $125 though

 

[farmboy]

Hard to understand what all the hate is about. For us without a laptop and who want to stay in the Apple ecosystem, this seems to be something that will last for years and do what average users need it to do! Great job, Apple.

Oh, there's a core of "everything Apple has ever done is bad / not what I want / fugly / and too expensive" who nonetheless never fail to post on every single discussion.

 

[SebCohen]

Have you seen them in a store? They’re completely different breeds so I recommend doing that if you haven’t yet. I’m sure the decision will be easy to make then.

Oh I stroll into my LAS (Local Apple Store) bi-weekly to just touch them...

The 15" Air is to big and the 13" too small. Pro 16" is humongous and the 14" is just perfect. But all I really need is a 14" Air 24GB ram and 1TB SSD. BUT...doesn't exist. Bonus is the Pro has way better brightness which I absolutely love.

 

[SebCohen]

It looks like a Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 but with a notch in the top of the screen.

Ick

 

[jedivulcan]

I just ordered a 13” model in Sky Blue. It ought to complement my 13” Sky Blue iPad Air quite well. Trading in my old 2019 MacBook Pro 16”.

 

[Makisupa Policeman]

Apple has now totally discontinued Space Gray in its notebook line up. MBP M4/Pro/Max also dropped it last year.

Pretty surprising since it seems to be the most ubiquitous Mac color. Better get one in an M2/M3 while you can!

 

[farmboy]

And why just be complacent with whatever Apple releases instead of having some basic demands?

And billions of people? The laptop market share of Apple is 8% or something so most people actually disagree with the strategy of Apple.

Apple is doing amazing without critical customers and they don’t focus on market share but on high profit margins and that’s completely fair. No offense taken. But most people don’t understand your line of thinking and that’s also completely fair.

Apple's global laptop market share is 17%, followed by Lenovo 15%, HP 12%, and "Others" 18%, miscellaneous the rest. So by your standard more people agree with Apple's direction (in at least that segment) than do not.

 

[Makisupa Policeman]

It’s really up to you, if you’re just browsing you will notice ZERO difference. If you want a different color or need the new display options than it could be worth it. Only you can decide that.

That’s really not worth it imo, unless you were looking at the 15” screen option or something. You’re not going to notice any difference in your use case.

 

[Makisupa Policeman]

#humblebrag

I’m trading in my M1 MBP 16/512 for $445 credit!

They used my registered device to auto-enter the trade-in info, however, they mislabeled the machine as 1TB even though they have correct S/N, so I’m getting $100 more.

Just to check, I manually entered the info, answering questions like year, storage, and condition, and it calculated only $345 for my model.

Reminds me of getting the Community Chest card “Bank Error in Your Favor. Collect $100.”

Trade in values are pathetic right now. Just out of curiosity I checked my less-than-two-year-old MBP M3 Pro and they’re offering less than $1,000!

 

[Warped9]

Sierra Blue is making a comeback! Can't wait to see it in real life!

Looks a lot like the blue on the current iPad Air.

We have to see them at the stores to find out the difference between space grey and midnight. I’m not sure if midnight is a little blue tinted tone or not.

Very distinct difference. Space Grey is unmistakably medium grey while Midnight is a deep blue almost black.

They also removed both M2 and M3 MacBook Air so you are forced to buy M4 for more money hehehe

The M2 and M3 will soon be available at clearance prices.

I'm obviously alone in not finding the color "beautiful" or "gorgeous"

All these muted "tints" are really not that attractive to me

So many of them look like "dirty silver"

I miss real, vibrant, color options

You want iMac tones?

If your heart is set on an M2 or M3 Air, there will be plenty of inventory-clearing sales coming your way soon.

Agreed.

 

[jmgregory1]

I would be all over buying a blue M4 15” MBA if I didn’t love my M4 13” iPad Pro, which is my daily driver (other than my other work provided Surface laptop, which I’m hoping dies soon). Maybe I’ll push my wife to get one, and retire her 13” MBP (Intel).

 

[Astuces iOS]

Message to every MacBook Air m2 and m3 users : do not upgrade.

 

[JoyfulPlantLady]

I ordered an 16GB/256GB 13’ Sky Blue to replace my trusty 2015 MBP. I mostly use MS Office, web browsing, Wordpress and Zoom so I don’t need a lot of RAM or storage. I’m looking forward to getting it.

 

[risenphoenixkai]

I made the terrible mistake of using Apple's AR thingy to view the new one next to my 2018 model.

Those shrewd, shrewd bastages.

 

[randomdude84]

Would anybody just opt to spend $200 more on a 14" MacBook pro m4 considering the new m4 air i just specked out is only $200 cheaper?

I do light recording with my guitar and will be doing some light video editing for youtube. not sure i really need the 3 thunderbolt ports or other other inputs but at a $200 difference, i don't see why i shouldn't just get the pro?

thoughts?

 

[Mike82]

Would anybody just opt to spend $200 more on a 14" MacBook pro m4 considering the new m4 air i just specked out is only $200 cheaper?

I do light recording with my guitar and will be doing some light video editing for youtube. not sure i really need the 3 thunderbolt ports or other other inputs but at a $200 difference, i don't see why i shouldn't just get the pro?

thoughts?

If the extra weight and thickness don't bother you, definitely go for the Pro. Personally, I'd still buy the Air even if they were the same price.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Would anybody just opt to spend $200 more on a 14" MacBook pro m4 considering the new m4 air i just specked out is only $200 cheaper?

I do light recording with my guitar and will be doing some light video editing for youtube. not sure i really need the 3 thunderbolt ports or other other inputs but at a $200 difference, i don't see why i shouldn't just get the pro?

thoughts?

It all comes down to which form factor you like the best. With your usage, the pro won't really make a big difference.