# M4 is the strongest for heavy workloads (editing, coding, AI tasks)

**URL:** <https://intoguide.com/t/m4-is-the-strongest-for-heavy-workloads-editing-coding-ai-tasks/1339>\
**Category:** iOS\
**Created:** [April 25, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://intoguide.com/t/m4-is-the-strongest-for-heavy-workloads-editing-coding-ai-tasks/1339 "2026-04-25T15:28:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wasabi](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/intoguide.com/wasabi/32/646_2.png) [@wasabi](https://intoguide.com/u/wasabi)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://intoguide.com/t/m4-is-the-strongest-for-heavy-workloads-editing-coding-ai-tasks/1339/1 "2026-04-25T15:28:50Z")

</div>

# MacBook Air (M2, M3, M4) — Full Buyers Guide (2022–2025)

Apple’s latest MacBook Air update introduces the **M4 chip** , a new 12MP camera system, and a fresh color option—while quietly discontinuing older generations. On the surface, it looks like a normal yearly refresh, but the real question is:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/uploads/intoguide1/original/2X/d/d80ea1ba12d93ef80702424dd95e1befef248c85.jpeg)

👉 How much better is the M4 MacBook Air compared to M2 and M3—and is it worth upgrading?

* * *

# Quick Summary

### MacBook Air M2 (2022)

- Still very capable

- Best value used/refurb option

- Older design foundation

### MacBook Air M3 (2024)

- Faster GPU + better efficiency

- Adds Wi-Fi 6E

- Supports dual external displays (lid closed)

### MacBook Air M4 (2025)

- Biggest performance jump (especially CPU)

- Best battery efficiency

- 12MP upgraded camera with Center Stage

- More future-proof memory options (up to 32GB)

* * *

# MacBook Air Comparison Table (M2 vs M3 vs M4)

| Feature | M2 MacBook Air (2022) | M3 MacBook Air (2024) | M4 MacBook Air (2025) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Chip | Apple M2 | Apple M3 | Apple M4 |
| Process Node | 5nm (N5P) | 3nm (N3B) | 3nm (N3E) |
| CPU Cores | 8-core | 8-core | 10-core |
| GPU Cores | Up to 10-core | Up to 10-core | 10-core |
| CPU Clock Speed | 3.49 GHz | 4.05 GHz | 4.3 GHz |
| Transistors | 20B | 25B | 28B |
| Neural Engine | 15.8 TOPS | 18 TOPS | 38 TOPS |
| Memory Bandwidth | 100 GB/s | 100 GB/s | 120 GB/s |
| RAM Options | 8–24GB | 8–24GB | 16–32GB |
| Memory Type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR5 | LPDDR5X |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| External Displays | 1 display | 2 displays (lid closed) | 2 displays |
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD | 1080p FaceTime HD | 12MP Center Stage camera |
| Camera Features | Basic video calls | Improved clarity | Center Stage + Desk View |
| GPU Features | Ray tracing (basic) | Ray tracing + mesh shading | Improved GPU efficiency |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Starting Price | $999 (now lower) | $1,099 | $999 |

* * *

# Performance Differences (Real-World Impact)

## M2 MacBook Air

- Great for:

- Still efficient but aging architecture

* * *

## M3 MacBook Air

- ~17% faster single-core vs M2

- ~21% faster multi-core

- ~15% better GPU performance

- Noticeably smoother for:

* * *

## M4 MacBook Air

- ~25% faster than M3 (CPU single-core)

- ~30% faster multi-core

- ~21% better GPU performance

- Huge jump in Neural Engine performance

- Best for:

* * *

# Display & Design — No Major Changes

All three models share:

- Same thin design

- Same Liquid Retina display

- Same keyboard and trackpad

- Same speaker system

👉 Visually, you cannot tell them apart.

* * *

# Biggest Upgrade: Camera System

### M2 / M3:

- 1080p FaceTime HD camera

- Basic video call quality

### M4:

- 12MP camera system

- Center Stage tracking

- Desk View support

- Better low-light performance

👉 This is a _real-world upgrade_ if you do video calls often.

* * *

# External Display Support

- **M2:** 1 external display only

- **M3:** 2 displays (lid closed)

- **M4:** 2 displays with improved stability

👉 M3 and M4 finally make Air usable for dual-monitor setups.

* * *

# Memory & Future-Proofing

### M2 / M3:

- Up to 24GB RAM

### M4:

- Up to 32GB RAM

- Faster LPDDR5X memory

- 120GB/s bandwidth

👉 This is important for:

- Long-term use

- AI workloads

- Heavy multitasking

* * *

# Battery & Efficiency

- M2: Excellent battery life

- M3: Slight efficiency improvement

- M4: Best efficiency of all three

👉 Real-world difference is small, but M4 lasts longest under heavy load.

* * *

# Should You Upgrade?

## Choose MacBook Air M2 if you:

- Want the cheapest option

- Do basic tasks only

- Can find a good discount

* * *

## Choose MacBook Air M3 if you:

- Want better GPU performance

- Need dual external displays

- Want a balance of price and power

* * *

## Choose MacBook Air M4 if you:

- Want the best performance

- Plan to keep your Mac for 5+ years

- Do video calls, coding, or multitasking heavily

- Want the most future-proof MacBook Air

* * *

# Final Verdict

### Simple breakdown:

- **M2 = budget-friendly entry Air**

- **M3 = balanced modern upgrade**

- **M4 = best overall and most future-proof**

* * *

# Bottom Line

For most buyers in 2025:

- **M3 MacBook Air = best value**

- **M4 MacBook Air = best long-term investment**

- **M2 MacBook Air = only if heavily discounted**

If you want, I can also convert this into:

- SEO blog article (Apple-style)

- YouTube script

- Short comparison carousel version

- or “Which should you buy?” infographic style post