Apple has finally launched the M4-powered MacBook Air, 10 months after the introduction of the M4 Apple Silicon chipset. This delay brings several benefits to Apple, including reduced costs due to parts becoming pricier and a looming trade war between China and the US.
The new MacBook Air keeps its current starting price of $999, even though the M5 is expected to arrive at the Worldwide Developers Conference in May. In contrast, the M4 MacBook Pro starts at $1599. Apple’s strategy of pushing the MacBook Air into the functional end of the market creates distance between it and the more expensive M4 MacBook Pro, which will feature the newer M5 chipset.
The introduction of Apple Silicon equalized the performance of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops, but since then, there has been little to tell them apart. However, this delay will create space in the portfolio for the more powerful M4 MacBook Pro and reduce costs for Apple. With the average consumer not needing extreme power, Apple’s decision allows it to maintain a psychologically locked-in starting price while increasing demand for the premium M4 MacBook Pro.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2025/03/01/apple-macbook-air-m4-launch-date-release-specs-new-macbook