MacBook Air comparison · M3 vs M4

MacBook Air M3 vs M4: which is worth buying in 2026?

The MacBook Air M4 is newer, faster and improves several key areas over the M3, but that doesn’t automatically make it the best purchase. If you can find a MacBook Air M3 at a good price, the cost difference can outweigh the performance gap.

We compare the MacBook Air M3 and M4 from a practical perspective: CPU, memory, screen, battery, SSD, camera, external monitors, second‑hand options and lifespan to see where it really makes sense to spend more.

See M3 vs M4 differences Check about my Mac
Quick answer

Choose the MacBook Air M3 if you find a good unit with 16 GB of memory and a significant price gap versus the M4.

Choose the MacBook Air M4 if prices are similar, you want more years of margin, you need up to 32 GB of memory or you use two external monitors in addition to the laptop screen.

If you already have an M3, upgrading to an M4 solely for web browsing, office work or routine tasks is probably unnecessary.

MacBook Air M3 vs M4: quick comparison

Apple kept the MacBook Air concept almost unchanged from the M3 to the M4. It’s still a lightweight, fanless laptop with a Liquid Retina display, MagSafe and two USB‑C ports.

The main differences are mostly internal and in a few areas relevant to professional work: CPU, memory bandwidth, maximum RAM, camera and external display handling.

M3

The smart buy if it drops in price

It still has more than enough power for a vast number of users. With a well‑balanced memory and storage configuration it can offer excellent value for money.

M4

More complete and with greater headroom

Improves the CPU, increases memory bandwidth, allows up to 32 GB of RAM and notably improves multi‑display setups.

Our pick

It depends on the actual price difference

With similar prices we’d pick the M4. If the M3 is noticeably cheaper and well configured, it remains a very recommendable buy.

Comparison table: MacBook Air M3 vs MacBook Air M4

Feature MacBook Air M3 MacBook Air M4
Generation 2024 2025
CPU 8 cores 10 cores
GPU 8 or 10 cores 8 or 10 cores depending on the configuration
Neural Engine 16 cores 16 cores
Memory bandwidth 100 GB/s 120 GB/s
Maximum memory Up to 24 GB Up to 32 GB
SSD From 256 GB From 256 GB
13″ display 13.6″ Liquid Retina 13.6″ Liquid Retina
Brightness 500 nits 500 nits
Camera FaceTime HD 1080p 12 MP with Center Stage and Top‑Down View
USB‑C ports 2 Thunderbolt / USB 4 2 Thunderbolt 4
External monitors Up to two, by closing the lid to use the second Up to two external monitors in addition to the built‑in display
Official battery life Up to 18 hours of video Up to 18 hours of video
MagSafe Yes Yes
Cooling Passive, fanless Passive, fanless
“`

1. Performance: how much faster is the MacBook Air M4?

The M4 is technically superior. Its CPU jumps from the M3’s 8 cores to 10 cores, keeping four performance cores and increasing efficiency cores to six.

It also raises unified memory bandwidth from 100 GB/s in the M3 to 120 GB/s in the M4.

This gives the M4 more headroom when tasks pile up, heavy apps run or workloads are sustained.

But those figures need context.

Normal use: small difference

Safari, Chrome, Office, mail, video calls, administration, university work, business management and many programming tasks run perfectly well on an M3.

Demanding work: M4 advantage

Builds, heavy image editing, video processing, professional multitasking and other intensive workloads can make better use of the M4’s extra CPU power and memory bandwidth.

That’s why we wouldn’t buy an M4 just because the model number is higher. First you need to look at how much each configuration costs.

2. M3 and M4 share a very capable GPU, but the M4 has more headroom

Both generations include a modern graphics architecture with hardware‑accelerated ray tracing and AV1 decoding.

That’s important because the fundamental graphical leap already happened with the M3. Therefore moving from M3 to M4 isn’t the same technological jump as moving from much older generations.

Don’t buy just by the chip name

Two MacBook Airs might carry M3 and M4 chips yet the memory, storage configuration and the device’s condition can be more important for your daily experience than the generational difference.

3. RAM: one of the biggest advantages of the MacBook Air M4

Apple uses unified memory integrated into its Apple Silicon architecture. These aren’t conventional RAM modules you can replace later.

That’s why it’s particularly important to choose the right memory at the time of purchase.

The MacBook Air M3 is available in various configurations and tops out at 24 GB of unified memory. The M4 raises the ceiling to 32 GB.

16 GB

The balanced configuration

For office use, studies, general programming, heavy browsing, photography and many professional tasks, 16 GB is a reasonable starting point.

24 GB

More professional headroom

Useful for development, virtualisation, editing, heavy multitasking and users who plan to keep the machine for many years.

32 GB M4

The M4 advantage

If you truly need more than 24 GB in a MacBook Air, the M4 offers a configuration the M3 cannot.

If you want to understand the differences between generations better, consult our technical guide to Apple Silicon from M1 to M5.

4. Display MacBook Air M3 vs M4: very little changes here

If you were expecting the M4 to bring a completely new screen, that shouldn’t be the main reason to choose it.

Equivalent models retain the Liquid Retina panel and 500 nits of brightness. The 13‑inch Air has an actual diagonal of 13.6 inches and a 2560 × 1664 pixel resolution.

Both support the P3 colour gamut, True Tone and one‑billion‑colour compatibility.

Display conclusion

I wouldn’t pay more for the M4 just for the screen

If you’re comparing same‑sized models, display quality isn’t a primary reason to move from M3 to M4.

5. Two external monitors: here the M4 clearly wins

This can be one of the most relevant differences for freelancers, developers, designers and professionals who use the laptop as their main desktop machine.

The MacBook Air M3 supports one external monitor up to 6K at 60 Hz while keeping its built‑in display active. To use a second external monitor you need to close the MacBook’s lid.

The MacBook Air M4 takes a big step: it can keep the built‑in display active and simultaneously drive up to two external monitors at 6K and 60 Hz.

That allows a three‑screen desktop including the MacBook’s own panel.

If this is important for your work you may also be interested in our guide on how to connect two monitors to a MacBook.

Do you work with two screens?

If you want to keep the laptop screen open while using two additional external displays, I’d choose the M4 without much hesitation.

“`
“`

6. Camera: the M4 greatly improves video calls

This difference can go unnoticed in many comparisons, but it’s very relevant for anyone who uses Teams, Zoom, Meet or FaceTime daily.

The M4 features a 12 MP camera with Center Stage and Top‑Down View support.

Center Stage keeps you better framed while moving and Top‑Down View lets you show objects on the desk from above.

MacBook Air M3

Its 1080p camera is still adequate for video calls and regular meetings.

MacBook Air M4

The 12 MP camera with Center Stage delivers a noticeably better experience for those who spend much of the day in online meetings.

“`
“`

7. Battery MacBook Air M3 vs M4: don’t expect a huge jump

On paper, both offer very similar official figures: up to 18 hours of video playback or streaming and up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing in Apple’s tests.

Therefore battery life alone isn’t our main reason to choose an M4 over an M3.

The situation changes completely when comparing a new M4 with a used or refurbished M3.

In that scenario you should look at:

  • cycle count;
  • maximum battery capacity;
  • real autonomy;
  • possible service warnings;
  • any swelling or deformation;
  • behaviour during charging.

You can expand this information in our recommendations to extend MacBook Air or Pro battery life.

“`
“`

8. SSD: 256 GB can matter more than M3 or M4

Both M3 and M4 are available with 256 GB SSDs and larger configurations.

Before choosing a generation, calculate how much space you actually use.

256 GB

Light use and cloud

May be enough for users who store little locally and mainly work with cloud services.

512 GB

A more balanced point

Provides significantly more room for apps, documents, photos and projects without constantly relying on external storage.

1 TB or more

Professional use

Recommended when you work with video, RAW photos, large libraries, virtual machines or other storage‑heavy projects.

In many cases we’d prefer an M3 with 16 GB and 512 GB over an M4 whose configuration fits the user’s real needs less well.

“`
“`

9. MacBook Air M3 or M4 for studying?

For university, college, entrance exams and conventional academic tasks, both have more than enough power.

Heavy tabbed browsing, Office, Pages, Numbers, programming, video calls, media playback and educational apps shouldn’t be a serious issue for either.

Choose for students by price and configuration

If we find a MacBook Air M3 with 16 GB in good condition and significantly cheaper, we’d probably pick the M3.

With small price differences we’d prefer the M4 as it’s a later generation and offers more future‑proofing.

“`
“`

10. MacBook Air M3 or M4 for work?

For a professional you need to look far beyond the CPU.

If you use the MacBook as your main machine, evaluate memory, storage, number of monitors, software used and how long you expect to keep the device.

For office work, invoicing, mail, programming, administration, moderate photography and a wide range of jobs, the M3 remains perfectly valid.

The M4 makes more sense in roles with two external monitors, heavier workloads, the need for 32 GB or frequent video calls.

Professionals

I’d look at these four things first

  • Required memory.
  • SSD capacity.
  • Number of monitors.
  • Actual price difference.
“`
“`

11. MacBook Air M3 or M4 for programming?

An M3 MacBook Air with sufficient memory remains an excellent development machine for web development, general programming and many professional environments.

The M4 becomes more interesting when workflows include frequent builds, many apps running simultaneously, containers, virtualisation or projects that particularly leverage the CPU.

I’d also seriously consider the M4 if you routinely work with two monitors, because here there’s a functional difference and not just a benchmark figure.

“`
“`

12. MacBook Air M3 or M4 for photo and video editing?

Photography and moderate editing

Lightroom, Photoshop and other tools work very well on a properly configured M3. For these users I’d prioritise sufficient RAM and SSD before obsessing about generation.

Video and heavier workloads

When work involves frequent exports, heavy multitasking or larger projects, the M4’s extra performance and the option to reach 32 GB are more appealing.

If your professional workload is extremely high, also consider whether the MacBook Air family is the right choice or if you should compare with a MacBook Pro.

You can consult our guide on which Mac to buy according to your needs.

“`
“`

13. Refurbished MacBook Air M3 vs new M4

This is probably the most interesting comparison.

When a generation drops from the main range it’s common to find previous units refurbished or second‑hand at more attractive prices.

A refurbished M3 can be an excellent buy, but you shouldn’t compare solely by price.

A used M3 is worth it if…

It is in good overall condition, has a healthy battery, sufficient RAM and SSD configuration and offers a meaningful saving versus the M4.

I’d prefer a new M4 if…

The financial difference is small, you want to keep it many years, you need 32 GB or the multi‑display and camera advantages matter for your work.

“`
“`

What to check before buying a second‑hand MacBook Air M3

An M3 processor in perfect health remains very powerful. The problem with a second‑hand purchase is usually not the CPU’s performance but the condition of the whole device.

I’d pay special attention to:

  • battery health and cycle count;
  • screen and backlight;
  • dents on the chassis and corners;
  • hinges;
  • keyboard;
  • trackpad;
  • MagSafe;
  • USB‑C ports;
  • speakers and microphones;
  • camera;
  • Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth;
  • absence of Activation Lock;
  • absence of unwanted enterprise management;
  • actual RAM and SSD capacity.

Be careful buying just for the price

A cheap MacBook Air M3 ceases to be a good deal if it subsequently requires a screen, battery or major electronic repair.

The device’s condition is part of its real price.

“`
“`

Is it worth swapping a MacBook Air M3 for an M4?

For most owners of a working MacBook Air M3, we wouldn’t automatically switch to the M4.

The M4 is better, but for browsing, documents, general programming, administration and many daily tasks the M3 still delivers an excellent experience.

I wouldn’t switch if…

Your M3 has enough memory and storage, runs well and you don’t encounter any specific limitations in your work.

I’d consider switching if…

You need 32 GB, want to use two external monitors without closing the built‑in display or your current configuration has become insufficient.

If you ultimately decide to replace your device, you can also check our service to sell your Mac.

“`
“`

MacBook Air M3 vs M4 from a repair perspective

Both M3 and M4 belong to the modern Apple Silicon architecture and use a very high level of electronic integration.

This brings many performance and efficiency advantages, but it means certain faults require precise diagnosis to find the real root cause.

Diagnosis

Not every fault means a full logic board

A MacBook that won’t power on can have problems with the power supply, charging, liquid damage, battery, firmware or electronics. Diagnosis is necessary before quoting a repair.

Electronics

Repairs require specialisation

In these machines many essential components are integrated, so some faults need electronic diagnosis and specialised repair work.

Data

Data can be the most important thing

When the Mac contains important information, assess from the start the storage’s condition and the realistic chances of preserving or recovering the data.

If you have a faulty device you can consult our MacBook Air repair service.

“`
“`

Which MacBook Air would I buy: M3 or M4?

My decision would depend mainly on price and configuration

I’d buy the M3 if I found a 16 GB (or higher) unit with sufficient SSD, in good condition and offering a significant saving compared with an equivalent M4.

I’d buy the M4 if the price difference is small, I want to keep it for many years, I need two external monitors in addition to the built‑in display or I want a configuration up to 32 GB.

If I already own an M3, I’d keep using it unless there’s a specific need the M4 solves.

“`
“`

MacBook Air M3 vs M4 by user type

Student

M3 if there’s a significant price difference. M4 if you want a machine for many years and the budget allows it.

Freelancer and office

M3 for conventional office work. M4 especially interesting for roles with multiple monitors and frequent video calls.

Programmer

Both are very capable. Prioritise RAM; M4 becomes more appealing under heavier loads and with 32 GB configurations.

Photography and video

M3 remains competent, but M4 gives greater headroom. Before deciding, check RAM and storage capacity.

Home use

It’s hard to justify replacing a well‑priced M3 with an M4 only for performance.

Buying for many years

With similar budgets and configurations I’d choose the M4 for being a later generation, allowing up to 32 GB and offering greater flexibility with external monitors.

“`
“`

Conclusion: MacBook Air M3 or M4 in 2026

The MacBook Air M4 is objectively the more complete machine, but the right question isn’t whether the M4 is better than the M3. It is.

The more interesting question is how much more it’s worth paying for it.

The MacBook Air M3 still provides sufficient power for a huge range of users and can be a particularly attractive purchase when available with 16 or 24 GB and a clearly lower price.

The M4 is more recommendable when prices are close, when you need more memory, when you use multiple displays or when you want to buy a machine you’ll keep for many years.

In short: don’t choose just by generation; choose by configuration, condition, price and real needs.

“`
“`

Frequently asked questions about MacBook Air M3 vs M4

Is the MacBook Air M4 much better than the M3?

The M4 is superior in CPU, memory bandwidth, maximum RAM, camera and monitor handling. However, for everyday tasks an M3 still delivers excellent performance.

Is it worth buying a MacBook Air M3 in 2026?

Yes, provided the price is right. An M3 MacBook Air with enough memory, a good SSD and in good condition can still be a very attractive purchase in 2026.

Which is better: an M3 MacBook Air with more RAM or an M4 with less?

It depends on use. For multitasking, development and memory‑heavy applications, a configuration with more RAM can offer more practical value than choosing the newest processor alone.

Does the MacBook Air M4 have a better screen than the M3?

There isn’t a significant screen leap between equivalent models. Both keep the 500‑nit Liquid Retina display and very similar visual features.

Which MacBook Air lets you connect more monitors?

The M4 offers the most flexible setup: it can drive up to two external monitors while keeping the built‑in display active. With the M3 you must close the lid to use a second external monitor.

Does the MacBook Air M4 have a better camera?

Yes. The M4 includes a 12 MP camera with Center Stage and Top‑Down View, a particularly useful upgrade for video calls and remote work.

Which has better battery, M3 or M4?

Official battery figures are very similar. Apple states up to 18 hours of video playback/streaming and up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing for both models.

Is it worth replacing a MacBook Air M3 with an M4?

For a user whose M3 works fine, it’s usually unnecessary. The upgrade makes more sense if you need 32 GB of memory, a setup with two external monitors plus the internal display, or any of the M4’s specific improvements.

What would I check when buying a used MacBook Air M3?

Battery health and cycles, screen, keyboard, trackpad, ports, MagSafe, chassis, camera, memory, SSD capacity and potential Activation Lock or enterprise management issues.

Which MacBook Air to choose to work for several years?

Given similar prices and configurations I’d choose the M4 for being a later generation, supporting up to 32 GB of memory and offering greater flexibility with external monitors.

“`
“`

Do you have a MacBook Air M3 or M4 with a fault?

A black screen, a MacBook that won’t charge or a device that won’t power on don’t automatically mean it must be replaced. The first step is to determine exactly where the fault lies.

We provide professional diagnosis, electronic repairs when appropriate, an honest appraisal of the device and a quote based on the identified fault.

Consult repair Call 626 30 23 90
“`
Reparación Mac por ciudades

Servicio técnico Apple especializado para equipos enviados desde España

Daniel Gontán trabaja reparaciones electrónicas de Mac que normalmente Apple no repara a nivel de componente. Estas landings locales ayudan a ordenar el servicio por ciudad y a reforzar el enlazado interno.

Barcelona

Reparar placa Apple en Barcelona

Diagnóstico electrónico de placas Apple para equipos enviados desde Barcelona.

 Valencia

Reparar placa Apple en Valencia

Reparación a nivel de componente para Mac con fallos de placa o alimentación.

 Marbella

Reparar placa Apple en Marbella

Servicio especializado para MacBook, iMac y placas Apple dañadas.

 Sevilla

Servicio técnico Apple en Sevilla

Reparación Mac para averías que requieren diagnóstico electrónico real.

 Córdoba

Servicio técnico Apple en Córdoba

Diagnóstico y reparación Apple para equipos que no encienden o fallan al cargar.

 Zaragoza

Reparación Mac en Zaragoza

Servicio para MacBook, iMac y Mac con problemas de placa, carga o encendido.

 Tarragona

Reparación Mac en Tarragona

Reparación electrónica Apple para equipos enviados desde Tarragona.

 Valladolid

Reparar Mac en Valladolid

Orientación previa y diagnóstico para Mac que no arrancan o se apagan.
Ver mapa completo de ciudades
1