New MacBook Air Coming This Week: What to Expect

[Reason077]

The M3 ‌MacBook Air‌ is priced starting at $1,099, and there are no pricing changes rumored.

Can Apple realistically maintain this pricing in the face of escalating tariffs? Will they just absorb the new tariffs and take a hit on their profits?

 

[Reason077]

maybe by 35% but in overall, not very obvious in day to day operations

Efficiency improvement will be noticeable if you run on battery, though. M4 uses much less power than M1 Pro given the same workload.

 

[Reason077]

I really, really want this to be available with 32GB of RAM.

I'm 99% sure there'll be a 32GB option. It doesn't make sense to have 24GB as the only upgrade option when 16GB is the base. RAM upgrades are enormously profitable for Apple. And the base M4 MacBook Pro does offer 32GB.

 

[anpaman]

I'll be buying the new MacBook Air M4 on day one. It will be replacing my 2019 MacBook Pro. Goodbye Intel!

Glad to heard it since I still don't have budget for MacBook Air M4. I would like to replacing my MacBook Pro 2017.

 

[0186279]

Will this be worth buying to replace my M1 Air that has zero issues?

Doesn’t seem worth it at all. Nothing would until your current nice and expensive machine causes you at least one issue. At least.

 

[It’s always something]

Can Apple realistically maintain this pricing in the face of escalating tariffs? Will they just absorb the new tariffs and take a hit on their profits?

No, and heck no.

 

[Reason077]

Will this be worth buying to replace my M1 Air that has zero issues?

My M1 Air also has zero issues, aside from only having 8GB RAM. But aside from the extra speed and battery life there's some nice minor improvements by going to the M4: faster thunderbolt ports. Faster WiFi (6E) support. Much faster GPU. Better FaceTime camera, slightly bigger display, etc.

And if the rumoured 3rd thunderbolt port is true then that will also be a huge improvement for me.

Yes, my M1 has been a great workhorse over the years but it's time for an upgrade. I'm going to get the M4 Air and give my M1 to my niece.

 

[Reason077]

A very reasonable request. You made me curious so I checked and noted that the current Airs top out at just 24GB.

The current models top out at 24GB because when they launched them they started at 8GB. The 8GB model was deleted half way through the cycle and 16GB became the base.

 

[sledgehammer89]

Still an eye straining glossy 60 hz display.

 

[thefrost]

Announce it today Tim!

 

[teohyc]

Will this be worth buying to replace my M1 Air that has zero issues? I'm still using my 2012 Air as my media server in my house.

I personally don't think I'll be buying anything in the near future. At least until the 17 Pro.

You'll just be spending unecessary money to do work on new laptop that your old laptop can already do.

 

[anpaman]

Still an eye straining glossy 60 hz display.

You need nano texture display.

 

[Karma*Police]

Still no dual monitor support????

 

[Can Inelli]

I have the M3 air already, but I think it’s worth upgrading just for the nano texture display.

 

[Reason077]

Still no dual monitor support????

M3 MacBook Airs already support dual external monitors provided you close the lid.

M4 MacBook Air should, hopefully, support 2 external displays + the built-in display simultaneously, just like the M4 Pro does. 🤞

 

[mozumder]

Looks like you can expect a 25% price increase due to taxes imposed by Trump as well.

 

[BBCWatcher]

The M3 MacBook Air is priced starting at $1,099, and there are no pricing changes rumored.

There's now an additional 10% across the board Trump tariff on products imported from China that are sold in the U.S. Maybe Apple can dodge this additional 10% tariff (for now) if enough MacBook Airs destined for the U.S. market can be assembled outside China. But if Apple cannot manage around this new tariff then a price hike to $1,199 in the U.S. (representing an adjustment to pass along most of the tariff hike) would not be surprising. Presumably Apple will retain either the M3 MacBook Air or M2 MacBook Air in its lineup for the more price sensitive buyers such as students, although they might price it at $1,049 (instead of the usual $999) to combat tariff effects to some degree. Apple might absorb some of the tariff effects (as a profit margin reduction), but Apple won't absorb all of the tariff effects.

Initial supplies in the U.S. of the new M4 MacBook Air could be constrained in weird ways if, for example, certain configurations are only or mostly assembled in China. If we see particular configurations sell out in the U.S. but not elsewhere, that's a tip off.

 

[Nibo10]

This could be MacBook Air, iPad Air and AirTag all in one (video).

 

[tomtad]

Nothing on new colours?

 

[bruno7]

Well, this might finally replace my 2015 MBP.

Quietly wishing for 32GB RAM and Nano Texture Display...

🤞

 

[Reason077]

Maybe Apple can dodge this additional 10% tariff (for now) if enough MacBook Airs destined for the U.S. market can be assembled outside China.

As far as I'm aware, 100% of MacBooks are assembled in China. An increasing number of iPhones are assembled in India (and a small number in Brazil) - but not Macs, AFAIK.

 

[Tozovac]

Depends on what you do, I guess. I went from the M1 Air 16gb to my current M4 Pro, also with 16gb, and I can barely tell a difference. Yes the screen is brighter and smoother, but I often have it docked so it doesn't really matter...but even when I don't, it's not THAT different. Day to day, it feels the same. I assume the screen brightness and refresh rate will be similar to the M1 Air, so even less of a reason.

2¢ 🤷🏻‍♂️

Wow this just saved me $1800. My wife’s 2014 MBA needs replaced bad, I was going to give her my M1 MBA and get an M4 Pro but now I’ll get her a $650 new MBA from Walmart and keep my M1 MBA if there’s no appreciable step up in noticeable day to day app performance. I’d love more ports and multi display capability but will plod on.

 

[Reason077]

Quietly wishing for 32GB RAM and Nano Texture Display...

🤞

I think you'll be granted one of these wishes and be disappointed about the other.

 

[StoneJack]

Still no dual monitor support????

wasn't it enabled long ago

 

[Fuzzball84]

After 20 plus years of buying Apple devices and services I don’t think I will be a customer much longer.