Are you still relying on an Intel MacBook Air? Well, it’s time for you to consider parting ways with it guilt-free.
Alright, perhaps don’t throw it away just yet, but users of the Intel MacBook Air can finally switch to the Apple silicon model without losing any functionality.
The M4 MacBook Air will be available in stores starting Wednesday, March 12. One of the most eye-catching updates is the introduction of a vibrant sky blue color, which replaces the previous space gray, along with a redesigned mute key icon—a total game changer.
Since the debut of the current design with the M2 chip, the MacBook Air has outshined the Intel version in terms of aesthetics.
Despite the refreshed design, however, the last three iterations of the MacBook Air struggled to surpass the final Intel MacBook Air from early 2020 in one significant area.
External display compatibility took a hit when Apple transitioned from Intel processors to their own silicon.
Both the M1 and M2 MacBook Air models are limited to supporting a single external display. Without messy workarounds, the first generation of Apple silicon models couldn’t manage two external displays, even if both were just 1080p.
When I made the leap from Intel to Apple silicon in late 2020, I transitioned from the original M1 MacBook Air, replacing my 16-inch Intel MacBook Pro. I shifted from one of Apple’s noisiest and hottest running notebooks to the silent, cool M1 MacBook Air and haven’t looked back since.
However, I also couldn’t use the second 21.5-inch 4K monitor at my desk with the Apple silicon MacBook Air. The performance and battery life improvements made it worthwhile, but it was still a drawback compared to the most basic Intel MacBook Air.
That started to change with the last generation MacBook Air, which allowed the M3 MacBook Air to connect to two external displays, but only when the MacBook Air lid was closed.
Since then, the MacBook Pro lineup has become even more appealing. All M-series MacBook Pro models have always been able to support dual monitors, but they come at a higher price and size than the MacBook Air.
This leads us to the exciting news about the M4 MacBook Air: it can now support two external displays alongside the built-in display simultaneously. No more compromises! Unless you’re considering one of those earlier-generation M-series MacBook Airs. Eventually, those will be phased out, and all new MacBook Air models will match the capabilities of the Intel MacBook Air!
The M4 MacBook Air is available for pre-order now and will be in stores on Wednesday.
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