Apple’s Bold Claim: The MacBook Air with M4 Chip
Apple has made an astonishing assertion regarding the latest iteration of the MacBook Air, equipped with the groundbreaking M4 chip. The company states that this model is capable of performing tasks up to 23 times quicker than its predecessor, which was powered by Intel technology. However, potential buyers should pay close attention to some specifics highlighted in the fine print.
The Comparison Breakdown
To substantiate its claims, Apple compares a new 2025 MacBook Air featuring a powerful 10-core M4 chip and 32GB of RAM to a prior model from 2020 that housed a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor and only 16GB of RAM. Notably, both devices were configured with identical storage capacities of 2TB SSDs—representing the peak specifications available for their respective versions.
The Testing Methodology
Apple’s performance test involved utilizing Pixelmator Pro—a photo editing software it now owns—to apply Super Resolution on a relatively small image file measuring just 4.4MB. This machine learning feature enhances image resolution while maintaining clarity and intricate details, demonstrating impressive performance under very specific conditions.
This means that while Apple’s claim of being “up to 23 times faster” sounds impressive, it is essential to recognize that this speed advantage pertains primarily to particular tasks.
Diving Deeper into Performance Metrics
A closer look at Apple’s additional comparisons reveals more practical insights for everyday users:
- The speed for spreadsheet calculations in Microsoft Excel can reach as much as 4.7 times faster than its swiftest Intel-based counterpart and 1.6 times faster than the previous generation equipped with an M1 chip.
- In terms of video editing capabilities within iMovie, users may experience improvements up to 8 times versus older Intel models and about twofold faster when compared with earlier iterations using an M1 processor.
- The same goes for Adobe Photoshop; photo editing speeds may accelerate by approximately 3.6 times, doubling from previous models featuring an M1 chip.
- Web browsing efficiency could be enhanced by nearly 60% compared to laptops reliant on Intel Core Ultra processors; intensive tasks can see performance gains reaching around double those found on older systems.
A Pragmatic Conclusion
While Apple’s assertion regarding being “up to 23x” quicker may seem exaggerated at first glance, there is substantial validation in claiming that any model containing either an M1 or newer chipset boasts significant advancements over their Intel counterparts. For those contemplating whether now is the time for an upgrade—the answer leans towards yes!
The new MacBook Air can be pre-ordered through Apple’s online store today, with shipments expected to begin on Wednesday, March 12th.
