If you haven’t already ordered an M4 MacBook Air, you can still buy one today for immediate pickup, as orders go live for the new Macs and iPads.
The new sky blue base model seemed likely to be in high demand, but quick checks on countries in timezones where stores are open shows immediate availability …
As of today, you can buy the new:
- iPad
- iPad Air
- Mac Studio
- M4 MacBook Air
M4 MacBook Air
Of these, it’s the M4 MacBook Air generating the most buzz. While the improvements over the M3 model are relatively modest, the combination of the reduced $999 price for a 16GB machine and the availability of a new color are likely to encourage owners of Intel machines to upgrade.
The MacBook Air has always been the most popular Mac, and indeed Apple describes it as “the world’s most popular laptop.” All models have been the obvious bet for anyone who doesn’t have a specific reason to buy the more expensive MacBook Pro, but the Apple Silicon models have closed the performance gap significantly.
I argued that it may not be an exciting update, but if you’ve been wondering about upgrading from an Intel model, or buying your first MacBook Air, this is a good time to buy. Reviewers back this view, though they do note that you shouldn’t get too excited about the new blue color.
The first M4 MacBook Air reviews are out, and the consensus view appears to be that while it may not be an exciting update, it’s a lot of tech for the money – and is the Mac most people should buy. The other thing reviewers agree on is that the new blue color is a whole new level of subtle, so don’t expect too much of a change in look from the silver.
M4 Mac and M3 Ultra Mac Studio
The MacBook Air isn’t the only machine to get an update today, with the Mac Studio now available with your choice of M4 Max or M3 Ultra chips.
Reviewers were equally positive about this.
The conclusion? This is a powerhouse machine that is easily the most powerful Mac ever—but you need to know which chip is right for you.
That’s because each chip has its own strengths and weaknesses, so the choice will depend on your intended use.
M3 iPad Air
Also available today is the M3 iPad Air. Reviews suggest you won’t really notice a performance improvement over its predecessor, but it does provide the option of an improved Magic Keyboard.
The new keyboard is also compatible with the M2 model.
A16 iPad
Finally, the base model iPad also gets an update – but only to an A16 chip, and not the A17 Pro most of us expected. That means no support for Apple Intelligence.
Have you ordered any of the new devices? Do share your reasons in the comments.
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