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MacBook Air M4 will miss this

Astuces iOS

Astuces iOS

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 17, 2023
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MacBook Air M4 is a good computer but compared to the MacBook Pro, you will miss all of this :

- Space Black (you have Midnight on the air)

- 14.2 inch display (against 13.6 on the base model)

- 10 cores gpu (against 8, like the cpu, a 10 cores gpu model is available!)

- 24h of battery (against probably 18 !!)

- 512gb of base storage (against 256gb)

- Better screen image quality (mini-LED/
Liquid Retina XDR display)

- More nits (Up to 1000/1600 against maybe 500 !!)

- ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz

- High-fidelity six-speaker sound system (against Four-speaker sound system)

- HDMI port

- SDXC card slot

- An extra thunderbolt PORT !!

- A fan

- A nano texture option

Do you need all of this, maybe not but if you are searching for a 512gb model, this is a good deal for you since the screen will be much better !

EDITED AFTER MBA M4 RELEASE!!
 
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If they only offer 8-core M4 for the $1099 base model and 10-core M4 for the 16gb RAM/512gb SSD $1299 model, then we're talking a $300 price difference between similarly a equipped Air and base M4 MacBook Pro.

Not everyone is willing to trade the weight and thickness savings for a "better" screen, speakers and extra ports and having to pay an additional $300 for that tradeoff. It's a different target market.

And if they offer the 10-core at $1099 that is going sell like hot cakes - like the Mac Mini.
 
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Most people in this target market couldn’t care less about 8-core vs. 10-core CPU. CPU speed hasn’t been the bottleneck for this class of machine for years.

I HOPE for a binned SoC if it means keeping costs down. In fact the only reason I’m leaning toward M4 over M3 and M2 is because of macOS support. M4 will have the best longevity in terms of security updates.
 
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Astuces iOS said:
MacBook Air M4 is a good computer but compared to the MacBook Pro, you will miss all of this :

- Space Black (probably but ok you have Midnight on the air)

- 14.2 inch display (against 13.6 on the base model)

- 10 cores cpu (base iMac M4 has 8 and available in 10 cores cpu... I guess we will have a similar thing)

- 10 cores gpu (against 8, like the cpu, a 10 cores gpu model will be available!)

- 24h of battery (against probably 20)

- 512gb of base storage (against 256gb)

- Better screen image quality (mini-LED/
Liquid Retina XDR display)

- More nits (Up to 1000/1600 against maybe 600)

- ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz

- High-fidelity six-speaker sound system (against Four-speaker sound system)

- HDMI port

- SDXC card slot

Do you need all of this, maybe not but if you are searching for a 512gb model, this is a good deal for you since the screen will be much better !

PS : For the iMac you need to pay an extra 400$ to get 10 cores CPU + 10 Cores GPU + 512gb of storage... it could be similar on the air... Take also in note this is just based on rumors.
Click to expand...

Yeah man, not everyone has the same priorities as you, if you hadn't noticed.

- Don't want the space black at all
- Don't care about the number of cores, as frankly even my M1 Air is fast enough for what I do
- Can very much make do with "only" 20h battery life (lol)
- Am willing to upgrade to 512 GB storage on the Air
- Don't really need all that display tech to work with primarily text and a few images
- Don't care about ProMotion really
- the speakers on the Air are more than sufficient, and I'm also using AirPods if I need quality sound
- Absolutely zero need for HDMI
- Very rarely use an SD card

Soooo, I'm missing out on very little, it turns out. The displays on the Pros are very pretty, but it's not a burning need for me, and certainly not worth all the added weight and expense that come with even the 14" Pro.
I want a laptop I can mostly forget is in my bag, and the Pro isn't it. The other "drawbacks" are not a factor.
 
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ignatius345 said:
Yeah man, not everyone has the same priorities as you, if you hadn't noticed.

- Don't want the space black at all
- Don't care about the number of cores, as frankly even my M1 Air is fast enough for what I do
- Can very much make do with "only" 20h battery life (lol)
- Am willing to upgrade to 512 GB storage on the Air
- Don't really need all that display tech to work with primarily text and a few images
- Don't care about ProMotion really
- the speakers on the Air are more than sufficient, and I'm also using AirPods if I need quality sound
- Absolutely zero need for HDMI
- Very rarely use an SD card

Soooo, I'm missing out on very little, it turns out. The displays on the Pros are very pretty, but it's not a burning need for me, and certainly not worth all the added weight and expense that come with even the 14" Pro.
I want a laptop I can mostly forget is in my bag, and the Pro isn't it. The other "drawbacks" are not a factor.
Click to expand...
Dude I said : «Do you need all of this, maybe not» LOL it was just for people who want to knows.
 
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Honey_crisp said:
If they only offer 8-core M4 for the $1099 base model and 10-core M4 for the 16gb RAM/512gb SSD $1299 model, then we're talking a $300 price difference between similarly a equipped Air and base M4 MacBook Pro.

Not everyone is willing to trade the weight and thickness savings for a "better" screen, speakers and extra ports and having to pay an additional $300 for that tradeoff. It's a different target market.

And if they offer the 10-core at $1099 that is going sell like hot cakes - like the Mac Mini.
Click to expand...
Would be weird to have 10 cores at 1099 when the iMac doesn't have it on their base model... (I understand Mac mini since with studio display it's more expensive than the iMac + mouse + keyboard)

Anyways we will see but here is my guess :

- 8 cores CPU and 8 Cores GPU on the base model

- 10 cores of GPU might be still available for free with 24gb of ram or 512gb of storage

- 10 cores of CPU might be an extra 200$ but will include for free 10 Cores GPU like 24gb of ram or 512gb
 
Your list is missing a few other differences: The base MBP (at least compared with the M3 Air) has an extra TB4 port and a headphone jack, as well as a better camera and more sophisticated microphone (Edit: both the MBP and Air have headphone jacks).

But the most important difference, I think, is the screen quality, and part of that is from the MBP's higher pixel density (254 ppi vs. 224 ppi). The glossy MBP screen is simply beautifully sharp with text.

Different machines for different audiences.
 
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You forgot to mention the pro has much better speakers too.

Reason I’m changing from a 14” MBP M1 to an M4 MBA is due to portability which is obviously improved on the Air with size and weight.

It’s a big trade off but for me believe it’ll be worth it.
 
Personally I think the Air is plenty for me. I would like a nicer display though. The one in the current Airs is really nothing special. Especially with that dumb notch.
 
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Astuces iOS said:
MacBook Air M4 is a good computer but compared to the MacBook Pro, you will miss all of this :

- Space Black (probably but ok you have Midnight on the air)

- 14.2 inch display (against 13.6 on the base model)

- 10 cores cpu (base iMac M4 has 8 and available in 10 cores cpu... I guess we will have a similar thing)

- 10 cores gpu (against 8, like the cpu, a 10 cores gpu model will be available!)

- 24h of battery (against probably 20)

- 512gb of base storage (against 256gb)

- Better screen image quality (mini-LED/
Liquid Retina XDR display)

- More nits (Up to 1000/1600 against maybe 600)

- ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz

- High-fidelity six-speaker sound system (against Four-speaker sound system)

- HDMI port

- SDXC card slot

Do you need all of this, maybe not but if you are searching for a 512gb model, this is a good deal for you since the screen will be much better !

PS : For the iMac you need to pay an extra 400$ to get 10 cores CPU + 10 Cores GPU + 512gb of storage... it could be similar on the air... Take also in note this is just based on rumors.
Click to expand...

You really need to find a new hobby instead of constantly comparing useless features between different product lines to justify whatever you bought.
 
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Astuces iOS said:
MacBook Air M4 is a good computer but compared to the MacBook Pro, you will miss all of this :

- Space Black (probably but ok you have Midnight on the air)

- 14.2 inch display (against 13.6 on the base model)

- 10 cores cpu (base iMac M4 has 8 and available in 10 cores cpu... I guess we will have a similar thing)

- 10 cores gpu (against 8, like the cpu, a 10 cores gpu model will be available!)

- 24h of battery (against probably 20)

- 512gb of base storage (against 256gb)

- Better screen image quality (mini-LED/
Liquid Retina XDR display)

- More nits (Up to 1000/1600 against maybe 600)

- ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz

- High-fidelity six-speaker sound system (against Four-speaker sound system)

- HDMI port

- SDXC card slot

Do you need all of this, maybe not but if you are searching for a 512gb model, this is a good deal for you since the screen will be much better !

PS : For the iMac you need to pay an extra 400$ to get 10 cores CPU + 10 Cores GPU + 512gb of storage... it could be similar on the air... Take also in note this is just based on rumors.
Click to expand...

I use an M1 Pro (work) and an M3 Pro (personal) MBP and I do wish I had a MacBook Air sometimes purely due to the size and weight.

Sometimes fancy and more advanced features aren’t always good for everyone.
 
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I happened to buy a CTO MBA M2 that cost more than some 14" MBP configurations at the time. So I gave up on all that listed stuff because of mobility.

I both regret it and don't regret it. Depends on what I do ;). I certainly have scenarios where I'm glad I opted for 24GB, though. Would I stand without a laptop today I would probably want to try the MBP-route and deal with the heft.
 
Astuces iOS said:
MacBook Air M4 is a good computer but compared to the MacBook Pro, you will miss all of this :

- Space Black (probably but ok you have Midnight on the air)

- 14.2 inch display (against 13.6 on the base model)

- 10 cores cpu (base iMac M4 has 8 and available in 10 cores cpu... I guess we will have a similar thing)

- 10 cores gpu (against 8, like the cpu, a 10 cores gpu model will be available!)

- 24h of battery (against probably 20)

- 512gb of base storage (against 256gb)

- Better screen image quality (mini-LED/
Liquid Retina XDR display)

- More nits (Up to 1000/1600 against maybe 600)

- ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz

- High-fidelity six-speaker sound system (against Four-speaker sound system)

- HDMI port

- SDXC card slot

Do you need all of this, maybe not but if you are searching for a 512gb model, this is a good deal for you since the screen will be much better !

PS : For the iMac you need to pay an extra 400$ to get 10 cores CPU + 10 Cores GPU + 512gb of storage... it could be similar on the air... Take also in note this is just based on rumors.
Click to expand...

I went from a M1 Air to my current M4 Pro; my observations:

  • Don't want or like space black, on computers or phones.
  • Don't care about cores. I can't tell any difference, whatsoever, in day-to-day usage.
  • Screen is better, but not enough to matter.
  • 14 vs 13 screen. Nice, but not a big deal.
  • I don't buy base storage regardless of the model. Minimum 1tb.
  • HDMI was already available with a multi-port dock, which I still carry.
  • Same for the SD card slot.
  • Battery is fine on both.
What I do miss is the wedge shape, the lighter weight, the lack of a fan, and lack of fan grates on the sides. I kind of wish I had waited for the M4 Air, but I wanted to get my upgrades in before tariffs.

The only thing I really like is having a usb-c port on both sides.
 
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