M4 vs M2 MacBook Air: Is Upgrading Worth Your Time and Money?

M4 MacBook Air vs M2 MacBook Air: An Upgrade Analysis

Four Major Upgrades:

• Chip: The M4 chip features a 10-core CPU, offering up to 1.5x faster CPU performance compared to the M2's 8-core CPU. It also includes GPU and Neural Engine improvements.
• RAM: Starting at 16GB and configurable up to 32GB, the M4's RAM enhancements are geared towards future AI advancements and improved current computing performance.
• Camera: The M4 Air features a 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View and 1080p HD video recording, an upgrade from the M2 Air’s 1080p FaceTime HD camera.
• External Displays: The M4 Air supports up to two external displays while the lid is open, providing a total of three displays. The M2 Air only supports one external monitor.

Smaller Improvements:

• Microphone Modes: Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes are available on the M4 but not on the M2.
• Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6E on the M4 vs. Wi-Fi 6 on the M2.
• Thunderbolt Version: Thunderbolt 4 on the M4 vs. Thunderbolt 3 on the M2.
• Color Options: Sky Blue is exclusive to the M4, and the latest Midnight color includes fingerprint resistance.
• Video Decode Support: The M4 supports AV1 decode.
• Mute Key: A minor but notable change in functionality.

Conclusion:

While the M4 MacBook Air offers several compelling upgrades, whether it’s worth upgrading from an M2 model depends on your specific needs. If you frequently use external displays or rely heavily on video calls, the M4 might be a worthwhile investment. Otherwise, the improvements may not justify the cost for casual users.