Apple unveils MacBook Air and Mac Studio with powerful M4 chips

Apple has introduced the latest iterations of its MacBook Air and Mac Studio, now powered by the cutting-edge M4 chip. This marks Apple’s second major product announcement within a week, following the launch of the M3-powered iPad Air and an upgraded entry-level iPad. Unlike previous launches, Apple opted for a low-key release rather than a grand event, highlighting these updates as evolutionary rather than groundbreaking.

MacBook Air M4: Thin, Light, and More Powerful

The new MacBook Air retains its signature sleek design but now boasts the M4 chip, featuring a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU. The base model comes with 16GB of unified memory, expandable up to 32GB for higher-end configurations. This is the same chip that powered last year’s iPad Pro and iMac, making the MacBook Air compatible with Apple Intelligence—Apple’s AI-powered feature suite, set to launch in India this April.

Available in 13-inch and 15-inch models, the MacBook Air M4 features a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera and offers up to 18 hours of battery life. A key upgrade is its ability to support up to two external displays, an improvement over previous M-series processors that only supported a single screen.

While the design remains unchanged, Apple has introduced a new color—Sky Blue—alongside existing Midnight, Starlight, and Silver options. Pricing starts at Rs 99,900 for the 13-inch model and Rs 124,900 for the 15-inch model, with pre-orders available now and an official launch set for March 12.

Mac Studio Gets a Performance Boost with M4 Max

Apple is also upgrading its Mac Studio, the compact yet powerful desktop designed for professionals. The refreshed model now features the M4 Max chip, designed for intensive tasks such as coding, video editing, and graphic design.

The M4 Max brings a 16-core CPU, up to a 40-core GPU, and a Neural Engine that is over three times faster than the M1 Max. It also delivers over half a terabyte per second of unified memory bandwidth, along with an advanced graphics architecture featuring hardware-accelerated mesh shading and second-generation ray tracing. The base model starts with 32GB of unified memory, expandable up to 128GB.

Apple Intelligence, which enhances writing, editing, and voice assistant functionalities, is also supported on the Mac Studio. For those looking for additional options, Apple continues to offer the Mac Studio with the M3 Max chip as well.

The Mac Studio starts at Rs 219,400 and is available for pre-order immediately. It can be paired with Apple’s Studio Display, a 27-inch 5K monitor with built-in speakers and a camera, or with the high-end Pro Display XDR.

With these latest updates, Apple continues to refine its product lineup, delivering powerful performance upgrades while maintaining the sleek aesthetics and efficiency that define its brand.