MacBook Air M4 vs M3: Performance & Price 2026
The MacBook Air M4 delivers 25-30% faster CPU performance and significantly improved GPU capabilities compared to the M3, while maintaining similar battery life and thermal efficiency. The M4 is the newer generation with enhanced AI processing features, making it the better choice for demanding workflows.
MacBook Air M4
Latest-generation Apple laptop with improved CPU and AI capabilities released in 2024
Video editors, software developers, AI/ML practitioners, 3D designers, and anyone running sustained heavy workloads
MacBook Air M3
Previous-generation Apple laptop with solid performance for everyday computing tasks
Students, general users, writers, light video work, and anyone prioritizing affordability over maximum performance
Quick Answer
AI SummaryThe MacBook Air M4 delivers 25-30% faster CPU performance and significantly improved GPU capabilities compared to the M3, while maintaining similar battery life and thermal efficiency. The M4 is the newer generation with enhanced AI processing features, making it the better choice for demanding workflows.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose MacBook Air M4 if you do professional video editing, 3D rendering, AI model training, or other compute-intensive work where the 25-30% performance boost justifies the $100 premium. Choose MacBook Air M3 if you primarily use web browsers, office applications, and light creative work where both chips exceed performance needs and you want to save money.
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Choose MacBook Air M4 if
Best pickVideo editors, software developers, AI/ML practitioners, 3D designers, and anyone running sustained heavy workloads
Choose MacBook Air M3 if
Students, general users, writers, light video work, and anyone prioritizing affordability over maximum performance
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Key Differences at a Glance
- CPU Performance (Single-Core):✓ MacBook Air M4 wins(3,745 points vs 2,988 points)
- CPU Performance (Multi-Core):✓ MacBook Air M4 wins(14,782 points vs 11,894 points)
- GPU Performance (8-Core):✓ MacBook Air M4 wins(Up to 25% faster vs Baseline)
Key Facts & Figures
63 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | MacBook Air M4 | MacBook Air M3 | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPU Cores(cores) | Up to 10 cores | Up to 8 cores | |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core(points) | 3,300 points | 2,400 points | |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core(points) | 13,200 points | 9,800 points | |
| Battery Life (Real-World)(hours) | 18-20 hours | 15-18 hours | |
| Starting Price(USD) | $1,099 | $1,199 | |
| Video Export Time (4K 30fps, 5-min clip)(seconds) | 120 seconds | 165 seconds | |
| Operating Temperature Under Load(°C) | 65°C | 85°C | |
| CPU Cores(cores) | 10-core | 8-core | |
| GPU Cores (Standard)(cores) | 10-core | 8-core | |
| Battery Life (Typical)(hours) | 19 hours avg | 18 | |
| Battery Life(Hours) | 18-20 hours | Up to 18 | |
| Weight(grams) | 2.7-3.0 lbs | 2.7 | |
| Processor Performance (Geekbench 6 Multi-Core)(score) | 10,000-12,000 (M4) | — | — |
| RAM Starting Configuration(GB) | 8 GB | — | — |
| Storage Starting Configuration(GB) | 256 GB SSD | — | — |
| Software Support Lifespan(years) | 7-10 years | — | — |
| GPU Gaming Performance (3DMark Wildlife)(score) | 2,500-3,200 (M4 GPU) | — | — |
| CPU Cores (Standard Config)(cores) | 10 cores | 8 cores | |
| GPU Cores (Standard Config)(cores) | 10 cores | 8 cores | |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core Score(points) | 3,745 | 2,988 | |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core Score(points) | 14,782 | 11,894 | |
| Base Storage(GB) | 256 GB | 256 GB | |
| Maximum RAM Configuration(GB) | 32 GB | 24 GB | |
| Battery Life (EPA rated)(hours) | 18 hours | 18 hours | |
| Starting Price (13-inch)(USD) | $1,199 | $1,099 | |
| CPU Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) | 2,524 | 2,524 | |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $1,199 | $1,199 | |
| Single-Core Performance (Geekbench 6)(points) | 2,550 | 2,550 | |
| Multi-Core Performance (Geekbench 6)(points) | 10,200 | 10,200 | |
| Base Memory (RAM)(GB) | 8GB | 8GB | |
| Display Size (Base Configuration)(inches) | 13.6-inch | 13.6-inch | |
| Weight (13.6-inch/14-inch)(lbs) | 2.7 | 2.7 | |
| Battery Capacity(mAh) | 52.6Wh (13.6-inch) | 52.6Wh (13.6-inch) | |
| Real-World Battery Life(hours) | 15-18 | 15-18 | |
| External Display Support(displays) | 1 external display | 1 external display | |
| Sustained Thermal Load (TDP)(Watts) | 15W | 15W | |
| Price-to-Performance Ratio (Multi-Core)(pts/USD) | 8.5 | 8.5 | |
| Warranty Coverage (Standard)(years) | 12 | 12 | |
| Base RAM(GB) | 8GB unified memory | 8GB unified memory | |
| Maximum RAM(GB) | 24GB | 24GB | |
| Display Size(inches) | 13.6 inches | 13.6 inches | |
| Display Refresh Rate(Hz) | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
| CPU Performance (Geekbench 6 Multi-core)(points) | 12,100 | 12,100 | |
| GPU Performance (Metal Score)(points) | 21,500 | 21,500 | |
| Sustained Thermal Design Power(Watts) | 30 | 30 | |
| Battery Life (Mixed Use)(hours) | 15-17 | 15-17 | |
| Starting Price (Base Configuration)(USD) | $1,099 | $1,099 | |
| ProRes 4K Encoding Speed vs M1(% faster) | 45% faster (with hardware encoder) | 45% faster (with hardware encoder) | |
| Maximum Unified Memory(GB) | 24GB | 24GB | |
| Base Model Price (USD)(dollars) | $1,199 | $1,199 | |
| GPU Cores (Base)(cores) | 8 cores | 8 cores | |
| Memory Bandwidth(GB/s) | 100 GB/s | 100 GB/s | |
| Weight (13-inch/14-inch base)(lbs) | 2.8 lbs | 2.8 lbs | |
| Native Video Output Ports(count) | 0 (USB-C adapters required) | 0 (USB-C adapters required) | |
| Thunderbolt Ports(ports) | 2 | 2 | |
| Sustained 4K ProRes Performance(minutes) | 10-15 min (throttling) | 10-15 min (throttling) | |
| GPU Cores (Standard Configuration)(cores) | 10-core | 10-core | |
| Multi-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) | 10,180 | 10,180 | |
| Battery Life (Web Browsing)(hours) | 17 hours (average) | 17 hours (average) | |
| Thermal Design Power (TDP)(watts) | 25W | 25W | |
| Starting Price (13-inch, 2026)(USD) | $1,199 | $1,199 | |
| Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) | 2,445 | 2,445 | |
| Refresh Rate (Base Model)(Hz) | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- 3,745 points(winner)CPU Performance (Single-Core)2,988 points
- 14,782 points(winner)CPU Performance (Multi-Core)11,894 points
- Up to 25% faster(winner)GPU Performance (8-Core)Baseline
- 16-core with 38 TOPS(winner)Neural Engine Performance16-core with 16 TOPS
- 120GB/s(winner)Memory Bandwidth100GB/s
- $1,199Starting Price (13-inch)$1,099(winner)
- 18 hoursBattery Life (rated)18 hours
- CPU Performance (Single-Core)
MacBook Air M4
3,745 points(winner)
MacBook Air M3
2,988 points
- CPU Performance (Multi-Core)
MacBook Air M4
14,782 points(winner)
MacBook Air M3
11,894 points
- GPU Performance (8-Core)
MacBook Air M4
Up to 25% faster(winner)
MacBook Air M3
Baseline
- Neural Engine Performance
MacBook Air M4
16-core with 38 TOPS(winner)
MacBook Air M3
16-core with 16 TOPS
- Memory Bandwidth
MacBook Air M4
120GB/s(winner)
MacBook Air M3
100GB/s
- Starting Price (13-inch)
MacBook Air M4
$1,199
MacBook Air M3
$1,099(winner)
- Battery Life (rated)
MacBook Air M4
18 hours
MacBook Air M3
18 hours
Full Comparison
| Attribute | MacBook Air M4 | MacBook Air M3 |
|---|---|---|
| GPU Cores(cores) | Up to 10 cores(winner) | Up to 8 cores |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core(points) | 3,300 points(winner) | 2,400 points |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core(points) | 13,200 points(winner) | 9,800 points |
| Video Export Time (4K 30fps, 5-min clip)(seconds) | 120 seconds(winner) | 165 seconds |
| GPU Cores (Standard)(cores) | 10-core(winner) | 8-core |
Show 17 more attributesProcessor Performance (Geekbench 6 Multi-Core)(score) 10,000-12,000 (M4) — CPU Cores (Standard Config)(cores) 10 cores 8 cores GPU Cores (Standard Config)(cores) 10 cores 8 cores Geekbench 6 Single-Core Score(points) 3,745 2,988 Geekbench 6 Multi-Core Score(points) 14,782 11,894 CPU Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) 2,524 — Processor (Base) Apple M3 (8-core CPU) — Single-Core Performance (Geekbench 6)(points) 2,550 — Multi-Core Performance (Geekbench 6)(points) 10,200 — Sustained Thermal Load (TDP)(Watts) 15W — Maximum RAM(GB) 24GB — CPU Performance (Geekbench 6 Multi-core)(points) 12,100 — GPU Performance (Metal Score)(points) 21,500 — GPU Cores (Base)(cores) 8 cores — Sustained 4K ProRes Performance(minutes) 10-15 min (throttling) — Multi-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) 10,180 — Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) 2,445 — | ||
| Battery Life (Real-World)(hours) | 18-20 hours(winner) | 15-18 hours |
| Weight(grams) | 2.7-3.0 lbs | 2.7(winner) |
| Weight (13.6-inch/14-inch)(lbs) | 2.7 | — |
| Starting Price(USD) | $1,099(winner) | $1,199 |
| Starting Price (13-inch)(USD) | $1,199 | $1,099(winner) |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $1,199 | — |
| Base Model Price (USD)(dollars) | $1,199 | — |
| Starting Price (13-inch, 2026)(USD) | $1,199 | — |
| Operating Temperature Under Load(°C) | 65°C(winner) | 85°C |
| CPU Cores(cores) | 10-core(winner) | 8-core |
| Battery Life (Typical)(hours) | 19 hours avg(winner) | 18 |
| Battery Life(Hours) | 18-20 hours(winner) | Up to 18 |
| Battery Life (EPA rated)(hours) | 18 hours | 18 hours |
| Battery Capacity(mAh) | 52.6Wh (13.6-inch) | — |
| Real-World Battery Life(hours) | 15-18 | — |
Show 2 more attributesBattery Life (Mixed Use)(hours) 15-17 — Battery Life (Web Browsing)(hours) 17 hours (average) — | ||
| RAM Starting Configuration(GB) | 8 GB | — |
| Storage Starting Configuration(GB) | 256 GB SSD | — |
| Software Support Lifespan(years) | 7-10 years | — |
| GPU Gaming Performance (3DMark Wildlife)(score) | 2,500-3,200 (M4 GPU) | — |
| Base Storage(GB) | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| Maximum RAM Configuration(GB) | 32 GB(winner) | 24 GB |
| Base Memory (RAM)(GB) | 8GB | — |
| Base RAM(GB) | 8GB unified memory | — |
| Maximum Unified Memory(GB) | 24GB | — |
| Memory Bandwidth(GB/s) | 100 GB/s | — |
| Display Size (Base Configuration)(inches) | 13.6-inch | — |
| Display Size(inches) | 13.6 inches | — |
| Display Refresh Rate(Hz) | 60Hz | — |
| Display Options | 13-inch, 15-inch, 17-inch | — |
| Display Resolution(pixels) | 2560 x 1600 (13.6") | — |
Show 1 more attributeRefresh Rate (Base Model)(Hz) 60 Hz — | ||
| External Display Support(displays) | 1 external display | — |
| Native Video Output Ports(count) | 0 (USB-C adapters required) | — |
| Thunderbolt Ports(ports) | 2 | — |
| Price-to-Performance Ratio (Multi-Core)(pts/USD) | 8.5 | — |
| Warranty Coverage (Standard)(years) | 12 | — |
| Sustained Thermal Design Power(Watts) | 30 | — |
| Thermal Design Power (TDP)(watts) | 25W | — |
| Starting Price (Base Configuration)(USD) | $1,099 | — |
| ProRes 4K Encoding Speed vs M1(% faster) | 45% faster (with hardware encoder) | — |
| Weight (13-inch/14-inch base)(lbs) | 2.8 lbs | — |
| GPU Cores (Standard Configuration)(cores) | 10-core | — |
Show 17 more attributes
Show 2 more attributes
Show 1 more attribute
Pros & Cons
10 pros·5 cons across both
MacBook Air M4
Pros
- 25-30% faster CPU performance for demanding tasks
- 38 TOPS Neural Engine vs 16 TOPS on M3 (2.4x AI acceleration)
- 120GB/s memory bandwidth enables faster data processing
- Improved thermal management handles sustained workloads better
- Better future software optimization and OS support
Cons
- $100-$200 price premium over M3 models
- Overkill performance for basic web browsing and office work
MacBook Air M3
Pros
- $100-$200 lower starting price ($1,099 vs $1,199)
- Still handles 95% of common tasks (web, office, light editing) without strain
- Excellent battery life matching M4 at 18 hours
- Proven reliability with mature software optimization
- Widely available as refurbished/discounted units
Cons
- 25-30% slower CPU performance than M4
- Neural Engine only 16 TOPS vs 38 TOPS (limitations for AI features)
- Lower memory bandwidth (100GB/s vs 120GB/s) creates bottlenecks in data-intensive work
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
In Geekbench 6 benchmarks, the M4 is approximately 25-30% faster in multi-core performance (14,782 vs 11,894 points). For video editing in Final Cut Pro, users report 20-25% faster export times. For everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing, the difference is imperceptible since both chips far exceed requirements.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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Wikipedia
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