If you can, wait for m4. The single thread improvement is significant and you'll get another year of hardware support (will go unsupported 1 year after the M3 air). There's also a bump in the NPU as well.
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Is it worth waiting for the M4 MacBook Air?
- Thread starter Mitochondrion
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If you can, wait for m4. The single thread improvement is significant and you'll get another year of hardware support (will go unsupported 1 year after the M3 air). There's also a bump in the NPU as well.
Waiting for the MacBook Pro m4 is good for everyone (EVEN IF THE UPDATE ISN’T WORTH LOOK AT THIS 
- If the update is very cool, well you can buy the new MacBook Air !
- If the update is pretty small well the MacBook Air m3 will be at the price of the m2 MacBook Air now ! And you just saved 100$ for waiting 2 months!
- If the update is very cool, well you can buy the new MacBook Air !
- If the update is pretty small well the MacBook Air m3 will be at the price of the m2 MacBook Air now ! And you just saved 100$ for waiting 2 months!
I just wish for one port on the right, my charger at the sofa there.
Yup, the two ports on one side is a pain as it restricts where you can run the charging cable (or dock) from.
Having another right side type C port on the pro is so much nicer.
There is no reason Apple will not put it on the air. USB C on the right side is not a pro feature !
It’s overdue since a long time and M4 simplify its integration.
My wife's 6-year-old HP laptop is developing issues so I offered to replace it with a 15" MacBook Air M3. With Costco's 90-day return policy, we could probably test drive the M3 until the M4 refresh arrives and then decide whether or not to swap. Alas, Costco ran out of Starlight so wife is content with simply waiting to see what M4 MBA 15 has to offer before deciding on M4 or an M3 deal. She mainly uses her laptop for browsing, email, and Word, so even an M1 MBA would do but I want to get her a larger screen since her HP was 14.1". We can wait two more months.
Just bought a 15” M3 MBA and love it. They are selling a great prices right now. Save $500 over the M4.
Even if it’s possible on the MacBook Air, adding m4 + a better battery + 12 mp camera + support for 2 external displays while de lid is open + Thunderbolt 4 AND THIS… Well who will buy the MacBook Pro now? People will pay an extra 500$ for a fan, a slightly better battery, some other ports, a better screen and better speakers? I fell paying 500$ us extra for this is too much… Also some people might not really care (like me) about HDMI and SD because I don’t use them or can use an adapter anyways… and speakers are good but I have my HomePod mini and even a Bose portable speaker!
So that’s the thing people forget, if the MacBook Air has too much features, the MacBook Pro wouldn’t be bought… for example it could have a starting 8 cores cpu like the iMac !
In my experience cost is a double sided sword. Some people simply can't afford an extra $500. Some people buy a new Mac, MacBook every few years so having the best specs vs saving money on something that will be outclassed by newer technology and better cpu/gpu is better for them. Some people try to get the best specs for their money and may keep their Mac for many years until it no longer works for them.
Everyone is different with different needs and desires and no one is wrong for any choice that fits them.
Personally I fit into the buy a new Mac every 3 years or so depending on my bank account. If I can afford to upgrade every 3 years or so I will do so because I value new cpu/gpu more than keeping something until it dies and trying to future proof. I value portability and light weight in my daily use a lot. That doesn't mean say after 3 years with my M2 MBA that I won't get a 14" MBP if I can afford it. I also value the better screen, speakers and ports but I don't really need any of it and my M2 MBA has been amazingly capable and extremely fun to use.
So at one point I may value portability and saving money over the better 14" MBP and at another point I may value the better specs. The cost can be amortized over the time I have the device and in that way even $500 extra may not be as big a deal and some years it may break the bank and I have to be more humble.
As long as I have a fairly capable and current Mac I am happy and future proofing never has worked out for me. In either case a MBA or MBP I buy just what I think I will need for as long as I have it rather than spending extra for specs I may never need.
It's cheaper to put all ports on one side, directly connected to the logic board. I agree it's not a Pro feature though.