{"slug":"macbook-air-m4-vs-m3)","question":"MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M3","answer":"The M4 MacBook Air delivers 25-30% faster CPU performance and up to 40% faster GPU speeds compared to the M3, with improved thermal efficiency and battery life, though both are excellent for everyday computing and creative work.","answer_curated":true,"verdict":"Choose the MacBook Air M4 if you do professional video editing, 3D rendering, programming, or plan to keep the laptop for 5+ years — the 25-30% performance boost justifies the $100 premium and future-proofs your investment. Choose the MacBook Air M3 if you primarily browse, stream, use Office apps, and want to save money — it handles everyday tasks flawlessly and remains an excellent value.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"CPU Performance","winner":"a","entityAValue":"8-core CPU (up to 10-core on higher models)","entityBValue":"8-core CPU"},{"label":"GPU Performance","winner":"a","entityAValue":"Up to 10-core GPU","entityBValue":"Up to 8-core GPU"},{"label":"Geekbench 6 Single-Core Score","winner":"a","entityAValue":"3,400-3,450 points","entityBValue":"2,850-2,900 points"},{"label":"Geekbench 6 Multi-Core Score","winner":"a","entityAValue":"13,600-13,900 points","entityBValue":"10,500-10,800 points"},{"label":"Battery Life (Real-World)","winner":"a","entityAValue":"18-20 hours","entityBValue":"15-18 hours"}],"winner":{"slug":"macbook-air-m4","name":"MacBook Air M4"},"confidence":"high","entities":[{"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"},{"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"}],"faqs":[{"question":"Is the M4 MacBook Air worth the extra $100 over the M3?","answer":"Yes, if you plan to keep the laptop 4+ years or do professional work like video editing, 3D rendering, or software development. The 25-30% performance boost and improved thermal efficiency provide better longevity and resale value. However, if you primarily browse, stream, and use productivity apps, the M3 remains exceptional value."},{"question":"Can the M3 MacBook Air handle video editing and photo work?","answer":"Yes, the M3 handles casual to moderate video editing (up to 4K 24fps with some effects) and photography workflows well. However, for professional 4K 60fps editing with color grading, the M4's 40% faster GPU significantly reduces export times—from 165 seconds to 120 seconds for a 5-minute clip."},{"question":"Which has better battery life?","answer":"The M4 achieves 18-20 hours of real-world battery life versus the M3's 15-18 hours, roughly 2-3 extra hours per day. This difference compounds over time and makes the M4 more practical for frequent travelers or people away from outlets all day."}],"attribution":{"source":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/macbook-air-m4-vs-m3)","license":"CC BY 4.0","citationFormat":"According to A Versus B (https://www.aversusb.net/compare/macbook-air-m4-vs-m3)), The M4 MacBook Air delivers 25-30% faster CPU performance and up to 40% faster GPU speeds compared to the M3, with improved thermal efficiency and battery life, though both are excellent for everyday ","dateModified":"2026-07-06T08:58:37.100Z"},"relatedQuestionsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/faq/macbook-air-m4-vs-m3)","relatedComparisonsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/related/macbook-air-m4-vs-m3)","knowledgeGraphUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/knowledge-graph/macbook-air-m4-vs-m3)","claimReviewSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ClaimReview","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/macbook-air-m4-vs-m3)#claimreview","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/macbook-air-m4-vs-m3)","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"conditionsOfAccess":"Free","claimReviewed":"MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M3","reviewBody":"The M4 MacBook Air delivers 25-30% faster CPU performance and up to 40% faster GPU speeds compared to the M3, with improved thermal efficiency and battery life, though both are excellent for everyday computing and creative work.","datePublished":"2026-07-06T08:58:37.045Z","dateModified":"2026-07-06T08:58:37.100Z","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-m4-vs-m3)","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/macbook-air-m4-vs-m3)","name":"MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M3","inLanguage":"en-US"}}}