MacBook Air M4 vs M3: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

The Premise

Apple released the MacBook Air M4 in early 2025. It replaced the MacBook Air M3, which Apple released in early 2024. The M3 replaced the M2. The M2 replaced the M1. This cycle will continue until the sun expands to consume the Earth or Apple runs out of numbers, whichever comes first. The Editorial Staff has no strong prediction on which event will occur first.

The question before us: does the M4 justify its existence alongside the M3, which is now available at meaningful discounts? We purchased both. We tested both. We formed opinions.

The Benchmarks

We will present the numbers. The numbers are not exciting. They are, however, accurate.

Geekbench 6

M4 Single-Core: 3,810
M3 Single-Core: 3,090
Difference: 23.3% faster

M4 Multi-Core: 15,290
M3 Multi-Core: 12,080
Difference: 26.6% faster

A 23-27% improvement is, in the abstract, substantial. In practice, the question is whether you can perceive a 23% improvement in the tasks you perform. We tested this.

Real-World Tasks

Opening 30 Safari tabs simultaneously:

M4: 4.2 seconds
M3: 4.8 seconds
Difference: 0.6 seconds

The Editorial Staff opened 30 tabs on both machines and attempted to identify which finished first using only visual observation. We could not. We resorted to screen recording at 60fps and counting frames. The M4 won by 36 frames. We do not consider 36 frames a reason to spend additional money.

Exporting a 15-minute 4K video in Final Cut Pro:

M4: 6 minutes 12 seconds
M3: 7 minutes 48 seconds
Difference: 1 minute 36 seconds (20.5% faster)

This is a meaningful difference if you export 4K video regularly. If you export 4K video once per month, you will save 19.2 minutes per year. If you export 4K video daily, you will save 9.7 hours per year. We computed both scenarios because we did not know which applied to you.

Compiling a medium-sized Xcode project:

M4: 48 seconds
M3: 59 seconds
Difference: 11 seconds (18.6% faster)

Opening Microsoft Word and typing a letter to your landlord:

M4: Instantaneous
M3: Instantaneous
Difference: None that we or any human could detect

The GPU

The M4 features a 10-core GPU versus the M3's 10-core GPU. The M4's cores are newer and faster. In graphics benchmarks, the M4 outperforms the M3 by approximately 20-25%. In the context of a MacBook Air — a fanless laptop that thermally throttles under sustained GPU load — this improvement is real but bounded. Neither machine is intended for sustained 3D rendering. Both machines are excellent at displaying spreadsheets.

The Neural Engine

The M4 has a 16-core Neural Engine versus the M3's 16-core Neural Engine. The M4's version is faster, particularly for on-device machine learning tasks. Apple Intelligence features run more responsively on the M4. The practical difference: Siri responds approximately 0.3 seconds faster, and on-device image generation completes in 8 seconds versus 11 seconds. We tested both by asking Siri the same question seventeen times. Siri answered correctly fourteen times on the M4 and fourteen times on the M3. The three incorrect answers were different incorrect answers on each machine. We found this detail interesting but irrelevant.

The Meaningful Differences

Display

The M4 MacBook Air gained a nano-texture display option on the 15-inch model ($1,699). This reduces glare. The 13-inch models are identical in display quality. Both are Liquid Retina, both are 500 nits, both are excellent.

Thunderbolt

The M4 models include two Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps) versus the M3's two Thunderbolt 3 ports (also 40Gbps, but with fewer supported protocols). For external display connectivity, the M4 supports two external displays with the lid closed, versus one on the M3. If you use two external monitors, this is significant. If you do not, it is not.

RAM

Both base models ship with 16GB of unified memory. The M4 offers a 32GB option; the M3 maxes at 24GB. Again: if you know why you need 32GB, the M4 is your only option. If you are unsure, 16GB remains sufficient for the vast majority of workflows.

The Price Comparison

| Configuration | M4 Price | M3 Price (Current) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16GB/256GB | $999 | $749-$799 | $200-$250 |
| 16GB/512GB | $1,199 | $899-$949 | $250-$300 |
| 24GB/512GB | $1,399 | $1,099-$1,149 | $250-$300 |

The M3 MacBook Air is currently available at $749-$799 for the base model at Amazon and Best Buy. Apple's refurbished store lists it at $829. The M3 at $749 is $250 less than the equivalent M4 at $999. Two hundred and fifty dollars is $250.

The Verdict

The M4 is a better computer than the M3. This is not in dispute. It is faster, it has better port support, and it will receive software updates for one additional year.

The M3 is a better purchase than the M4 for most buyers. This is also not in dispute, though Apple would prefer we not say it.

The $200-$300 saved by choosing the M3 buys you: AppleCare+ ($79), a quality USB-C hub ($45), a laptop stand ($30), and approximately $96 in remaining cash, which you may spend or save according to your own values.

The M4 is the correct choice if: you plan to keep the laptop for 5+ years (the extra year of updates matters), you use two external monitors, you export video daily, or you derive satisfaction from owning the newest version of a thing. The Editorial Staff does not judge this last motivation. We merely observe it.

Both the M4 and M3 MacBook Air are tracked on our deals page. The M3 deal is, at present, the one we find ourselves recommending more often. We have feelings about this. They are complicated.

-- The BuyGetRewards Editorial Staff