Should I buy MacBook Air M3 at 40% off or wait for M4?

[oyqy]

I'm currently using an M1 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM, and I sometimes experience lag when using Photoshop, which is why I'm considering purchasing a new one with 24GB of RAM. I know that the M4 MacBook Air is about to be released, but today I found out that the M3 MacBook Air is on sale at my local mall right now.

The 24GB/512GB model, which is originally priced at 11,999 Chinese yuan (~$1,654), is now only 9,999 CNY. With the additional 20% government subsidy, the final price comes down to just 7,199 yuan (~$992).

The imminent release of the M4 is making me feel quite torn. One one hand the price seems amazing, the new model won't have discounts for a while. But on the other hand, the M3 chip was introduced in 2023, buying a device with an older chip now feels a bit like a compromise especially because my iPad Pro already has the M4 chip.

What would you suggest?

 

[Bazza1]

I don't know the demands of what you do on Photoshop, but I agree, a 40% discount sounds very appealing for a device that will be more powerful than what you already have.
There's always going to be 'buyer's remorse', regardless of how new and shiny the device you buy is - 'Sure I bought a M4, but maybe I should have held out for the M5? It'll probably be very cool' - but what real value is there in paying a premium price for a product that does what a discounted (and current) device does?

If it comes to that, while I have a M2 Mini at home, I keep my 2017 Air (running Monterey) for work and travel, and it does a majority of the stuff I need it to do - in some cases better, as it runs some software that does not exist for Sonoma, or arguably better versions of Apple's own apps. The idea of replacing both it and my Mini for a new Air never occurs to me, especially at the full prices they go for.

 

[russell_314]

buying a device with an older chip now feels a bit like a compromise especially because my iPad Pro already has the M4 chip.

What would you suggest?

I don’t think comparing it to an iPad makes any sense. I would compare it to what you have now.


Of course it’s a compromise. The retailer is compromising by giving you 40% off. The latest and greatest doesn’t include compromises in the price.

The questions you should be asking are

Will the M3 Air do what you need that much better? Do you perhaps need a base model M4 MacBook Pro?

Is the device you have now working in the sense of is the lag really a problem that slows your production time down or makes it harder to do what you’re doing or is it just you want something more expensive? I really don’t know. Perhaps the lag is causing your problems so this is a big deal.


Will the M4 be much faster with photoshop? I don’t know perhaps look up some benchmarks?

These are just some thoughts you can run through and figure out if it’s really worth it. You might be spending a whole bunch of money for a very slight improvement.

 

[Black.Infinity]

Usually real life difference between two generations is not night and day
On paper the performance gain is going to be around 10% to 15%
Going from M1 to M3 you will see a noticeable improvement

 

[lambertjohn]

Get the M3 Air. It won't be obsolete for years to come. I'm typing this on an M2 Air and it's still relevant, even in 2025.

 

[Unami]

I sometimes experience lag when using Photoshop,

I'd be courious what you're doing when you're experiencing lag. I'm considering buying a M4 Air with 24, possible 32GB of RAM when available, as a general 2nd computer and for the occasional light video editing, music making and photo editing while on the road (I really don't like the weight of the pro).

But, "lag" in photoshop doesn't make me feel optimistic - Photoshop isn't that ressource hungry, unless you're doing 1gb files with 50 layers. Could you be a little more specific?

 

[ThatsMeRight]

The M4 chip isn’t worth $600 more, so go for this deal!

 

[helloapple1]

Only speaking for myself here, but if I were in your shoes I would wait and get the latest M4 when it comes out.

 

[raythompsontn]

M1 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM, and I sometimes experience lag when using Photoshop, which is why I'm considering purchasing a new one with 24GB of RAM

The increase in memory will not help the Photoshop slowdowns. I run Lightroom with 24GB of RAM and after processing 3K images, merely ending Lightroom causes the beach ball for several seconds.

I would opt for the M3 at that discount. The M4 will not provide a substantial boost in performance.

 

[StoneJack]

The CPU in M4 is about 15-20 percent faster (based on the previous CPU advancement).
By getting 40% discount on M3 you are actually 20-25% better off.
I would say go for M3 it is a good price.
But if you can wait, also wait and see what newer Air M4 will bring. So wait few days.

 

[oyqy]

I'd be courious what you're doing when you're experiencing lag. I'm considering buying a M4 Air with 24, possible 32GB of RAM when available, as a general 2nd computer and for the occasional light video editing, music making and photo editing while on the road (I really don't like the weight of the pro).

But, "lag" in photoshop doesn't make me feel optimistic - Photoshop isn't that ressource hungry, unless you're doing 1gb files with 50 layers. Could you be a little more specific?

More or less in line with what you described actually, I often handle PSD files around 20,000x20,000 pixels with approximately 50 layers, the file size can reach about 2 GB. I frequently notice that the memory pressure is in yellow or red. I also feel that the Pro is too heavy.

 

[bill-p]

What would you suggest?

Unless you actually "need" a feature that's only in M4 but not in M1 (i.e.: supporting 2 external displays), I honestly don't think you will "appreciate" the improvement enough since all you are hung up on is "a bit of lag". M4 will end up lagging too when you push it far enough.

I do 3D modeling in M2 Air. It's okay at native res but performance tanks to the teens in frame rate when I'm connected to an external 4K display. "A bit of lag" is an understatement (read: I literally have to wait seconds, sometimes up to almost a minute to see new changes). But still, final render performance is about the same and I can get the job done. I think that's all that should matter.

Another factor, I guess, is if you are using Photoshop professionally to generate revenue. Maybe that's where being able to see changes at 60fps versus 15fps should matter. But even so, I think the extra performance is nice to have rather than a must.

 

[geta]

If your current computer is no longer suitable for your needs, and you need new one now, the MBA M3 would be a great device, special for the price you can get it for.

But it can wait a bit longer till the new M4 version comes out, I would do so because maybe the extra gain of power will be better for your needs.

 

[Unami]

More or less in line with what you described actually, I often handle PSD files around 20,000x20,000 pixels with approximately 50 layers, the file size can reach about 2 GB. I frequently notice that the memory pressure is in yellow or red. I also feel that the Pro is too heavy.

Thanks for the answer - I'm not that surprised that that brings an air to it's knees

I'll probably get an M4 Air then (fingers crossed for March 4th) - if it's too slow, I'll sell it and get a hopefully lighter M6 Pro MBP next year.

 

[nothyng]

I bought an m3 air on December and have been using it until this weekend when I got tired of having problems with thunderbolt port extenders.

I ended up buying a mac mini m4.

Im loving the mac mini.

If I could I would return the macbook air.

So if I where you I would wait.