If you’re a student, the laptop you pick matters more than you might think. It’s not just about specs or style—it’s about how seamlessly your tech keeps up with your life. From streaming late-night lectures to hammering out essays at 2 a.m., your machine needs to be fast, reliable, and (ideally) not feel like a backpack brick.
Apple’s MacBook Air line has been a student favorite for years—for good reason. Light, sleek, and powerful enough for most workflows. But now there’s a new question floating around dorm rooms and Reddit forums alike: Should you upgrade to the MacBook Air M4, or stick with the M3?
Having spent time testing both machines—and talking with students about how they actually use them—this guide will help you sort the noise from what actually matters. We’ll unpack what’s new, what’s not, and who should hold off.
Let’s dig in.
What Actually Changed Between the M3 and M4?
Apple’s M4 chip was announced with the kind of subtle-but-serious upgrades we’ve come to expect: faster, smarter, more efficient. But while the M4 chip debuted in the iPad Pro in May 2024, the MacBook Air M4 was announced in March 2025, making it the newest kid in Apple’s ultraportable family.
Now, side-by-side, here’s a look at what the new M4-powered Air brings to the table:
Spoiler alert: If you’re hoping for a visual redesign, it’s not here. The M4 Air looks exactly like the M3. But under the hood? That’s where it gets interesting.
Why Students Should Care About the Chip—Yes, Really
Let’s be honest. Most students aren’t benchmarking their laptops between study sessions. But that doesn’t mean the chip doesn’t matter.
The M4 isn’t just “a little faster.” It’s Apple’s first Mac chip built using second-gen 3-nanometer architecture. That’s tech speak for: more performance, using less power, packed into a tighter chip. That also means better heat management and efficiency, especially during longer sessions.
Where it really shines for students is in multitasking—especially if you:
- Run a dozen Chrome tabs while editing a video project
- Have Zoom, Canva, and Pages all open at once
- Use AI tools or do occasional coding and compiling
- Keep your laptop unplugged for long stretches
The M4 has an upgraded Neural Engine that can process up to 38 trillion operations per second—perfect for AI-powered features in macOS Sequoia (more on that later). That’s a big leap from the M3’s already-fast Neural Engine.
Real-World Use Case: Is the M4 Tangibly Faster?
In testing, the performance delta between the M3 and M4 felt subtle in light everyday tasks. Web browsing, document editing, streaming—they both fly.
But once I started editing video, rendering files, or switching between heavy creative apps, the M4’s edge became more noticeable. It’s snappier. It doesn’t heat up as fast. And battery drain during these tasks was gentler.
If your workflow involves heavier tasks (like Final Cut, Logic Pro, or heavy photo editing), the M4 makes a measurable difference.
For basic coursework, social media, and Google Docs? The M3 is still extremely capable.
The AI Angle: What the M4 Unlocks
Apple’s macOS Sequoia (launching Fall 2025) brings more built-in AI features—like real-time transcript summaries, writing enhancements, and “smart” document search. The M4’s upgraded Neural Engine is built for this kind of work.
That doesn’t mean the M3 is left out, but some features may run faster—or exclusively—on M4.
So if you’re planning to use your Mac for:
- Transcribing lectures
- AI-powered organization apps
- Local AI tools (not cloud-based)
- New developer workflows
…the M4 starts to pull ahead as a future-proof pick.
Battery Life: Marginal Gains, Still Great
Battery life has always been a MacBook Air strength, and that hasn’t changed.
Apple claims up to 18 hours for the M3 and up to 18 for the M4, depending on use. In my real-world test—streaming Spotify, using Safari, and running Pages—the M4 lasted about 45 minutes longer than the M3.
Is that a dealbreaker? No. But it’s nice to know the M4 is a bit more efficient, especially if you’re commuting, hopping between classes, or forgetting your charger (we’ve all been there).
RAM and Storage: This Is Where the M4 Shines for Power Users
The M4 MacBook Air now supports up to 32GB of unified memory (RAM)—a first for the Air line. This is quietly a huge deal for students working in fields like:
- Graphic design or video production
- Architecture and 3D modeling
- Programming and large-codebase compiling
- Data science or machine learning
Most students will be fine with 16GB of RAM. But if you want to stretch the lifespan of your device (and Apple’s upgrades aren’t cheap), having the option to go up to 32GB is a welcome change.
The M3 maxes out at 24GB, which was fine—but the extra ceiling gives power users more breathing room.
Portability and Design: Exactly the Same—and That’s OK
No, the M4 MacBook Air doesn’t look any different than the M3. It still weighs under 3 pounds, has that featherlight feel in your backpack, and comes in two sizes: 13-inch and 15-inch.
While the overall design remains the same, there is a difference in color options that might matter if aesthetics are high on your priority list. The M4 MacBook Air introduces a new Sky Blue finish, joining Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. That means Space Gray is no longer available in the M4 lineup.
Meanwhile, the M3 MacBook Air still comes in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and Space Gray.
Midnight continues to be the most visually striking (and the most fingerprint-prone), but Apple has improved its fingerprint-resistant coating slightly—still not smudge-proof, but better than before.
So if you're partial to Space Gray, you may want to grab an M3 while it's still in stock. Prefer something fresher? The new Sky Blue on the M4 is subtle, polished, and a standout in bright light.
What you won’t find: face ID, touchscreen, or new ports. Both M3 and M4 Airs have:
- Two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports
- One MagSafe charging port
- A headphone jack (bless)
Who Should Upgrade to the M4?
This is the question most students are really asking. And it comes down to a few honest factors.
You should upgrade to the M4 MacBook Air if:
- You haven’t upgraded in 3+ years (especially if you're on an Intel Mac)
- You work with media-heavy files or AI tools
- You want more headroom with RAM or future macOS features
- You’re planning to keep this Mac through grad school or beyond
- You want the absolute best battery life and thermal efficiency
You’re fine sticking with the M3 if:
- You already bought one (M3 is still excellent!)
- You primarily use your Mac for browsing, notes, docs, and email
- You don’t need the newer AI features or higher RAM ceiling
- You find a killer deal on an M3 model
Price Check: What’s the Cost Difference?
The starting price for the M4 MacBook Air 13-inch is $999.
But because the M3 is now technically “last-gen,” you can often find it discounted—sometimes as low as $849 from certified Apple resellers or during back-to-school sales.
For budget-conscious students, that $100–$200 savings might be better spent on accessories: a good USB-C hub, external monitor, or AppleCare+.
The M4 becomes more appealing if you’re customizing (adding more RAM/storage), since you’re getting a newer chip with a longer support window.
Deal Delights!
1. M3 MacBook Air (13") at $949 – Regularly $849, this one often drops at Best Buy and Amazon during seasonal promos. Great for budget buyers.
2. Apple Education Pricing – Students save up to $150 on new Macs, plus get gift cards or accessories during back-to-school events.
3. Apple Refurbished Store – Factory-certified M3 MacBooks, often $150+ off with full warranty.
4. Free AirPods with MacBook – A staple Apple back-to-school deal (check annual promos in July–September).
5. Bundle with Microsoft Office or Adobe CC – Look for student bundles at Apple-authorized education partners like B&H or Adorama.
Final Word
There’s no “wrong” choice here—both the M3 and M4 MacBook Airs are fantastic machines for student life. The M3 continues to be a powerhouse in its own right. But if you’re shopping new and looking ahead, the M4 is the smarter long-term pick—especially for students who need every ounce of performance they can get.
Either way, you’re getting one of the best laptops for students available today. Just make sure it fits your actual workflow, not just the hype.
