{"slug":"macbook-air-m3-vs-macbook-air-m4))","question":"MacBook Air M3 vs MacBook Air M4","answer":"The MacBook Air M4 delivers 25-30% better CPU performance and up to 16-core GPU options compared to the M3's maximum 10-core GPU, while offering improved battery efficiency and thermal performance. The M3 remains a capable machine for most users at a lower price point.","answer_curated":true,"verdict":"Choose the MacBook Air M4 if you need maximum performance for demanding tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, AI workloads, or professional development—the 30% CPU uplift and 16-core GPU justify the $100 premium. Choose the MacBook Air M3 if you primarily do web browsing, document editing, and light content creation and want to save money; it still handles these tasks effortlessly with 16+ hours of battery life.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"CPU Performance (Geekbench 6 Single-Core)","winner":"b","entityAValue":"2,485 points","entityBValue":"3,735 points"},{"label":"GPU Options (Max Cores)","winner":"b","entityAValue":"10-core GPU","entityBValue":"16-core GPU"},{"label":"Memory Bandwidth","winner":"b","entityAValue":"120 GB/s","entityBValue":"192 GB/s"},{"label":"Battery Life (Web Browsing)","winner":"b","entityAValue":"16 hours","entityBValue":"16-18 hours"},{"label":"Starting Price (256GB Base)","winner":"a","entityAValue":"$1,199","entityBValue":"$1,299"}],"winner":{"slug":"macbook-air-m4","name":"MacBook Air M4"},"confidence":"high","entities":[{"name":"MacBook Air M3","slug":"macbook-air-m3","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/macbook-air-m3","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/macbook-air-m3"},{"name":"MacBook Air M4","slug":"macbook-air-m4","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/macbook-air-m4","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/macbook-air-m4"}],"faqs":[{"question":"Is the M4 worth the $100 extra over the M3?","answer":"Yes, if you do video editing, 3D work, or heavy coding. The M4 delivers 50% faster multi-threaded performance and 60% more GPU power. For basic tasks like email, browsing, and documents, the M3 is perfectly adequate and saves you money."},{"question":"How much faster is the M4 for video editing?","answer":"The M4 handles 4K ProRes editing 40-50% faster than M3 due to its 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU. Exports render 1.5-2x quicker. For 1080p editing, both are smooth, but M4 leaves less room for effects before performance degrades."},{"question":"Does the M4's better battery life mean I can skip a charge longer?","answer":"Marginally. The M4 extends battery life to 18 hours versus M3's 16 hours under light use—only a 2-hour difference in real-world conditions. Both handle a full workday. The M4's improvement comes mainly from lower power consumption, not a larger battery."}],"attribution":{"source":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/macbook-air-m3-vs-macbook-air-m4))","license":"CC BY 4.0","citationFormat":"According to A Versus B (https://www.aversusb.net/compare/macbook-air-m3-vs-macbook-air-m4))), The MacBook Air M4 delivers 25-30% better CPU performance and up to 16-core GPU options compared to the M3's maximum 10-core GPU, while offering improved battery efficiency and thermal performance. Th","dateModified":"2026-07-09T06:14:27.688Z"},"relatedQuestionsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/faq/macbook-air-m3-vs-macbook-air-m4))","relatedComparisonsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/related/macbook-air-m3-vs-macbook-air-m4))","knowledgeGraphUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/knowledge-graph/macbook-air-m3-vs-macbook-air-m4))","claimReviewSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ClaimReview","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/macbook-air-m3-vs-macbook-air-m4))#claimreview","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/macbook-air-m3-vs-macbook-air-m4))","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"conditionsOfAccess":"Free","claimReviewed":"MacBook Air M3 vs MacBook Air M4","reviewBody":"The MacBook Air M4 delivers 25-30% better CPU performance and up to 16-core GPU options compared to the M3's maximum 10-core GPU, while offering improved battery efficiency and thermal performance. The M3 remains a capable machine for most users at a lower price point.","datePublished":"2026-07-09T06:14:27.656Z","dateModified":"2026-07-09T06:14:27.688Z","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5,"alternateName":"High Confidence"},"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net"},"itemReviewed":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/macbook-air-m3-vs-macbook-air-m4))","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/macbook-air-m3-vs-macbook-air-m4))","name":"MacBook Air M3 vs MacBook Air M4","inLanguage":"en-US"}}}