Apple is gearing up for an exciting launch of the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models powered by the anticipated M4 chip. Set to make a splash in March, we’ve already had a sneak peek at their performance through recent benchmark results found online. Interestingly, these results show only a slight variation compared to the M4 MacBook Pro, likely because both use the same Apple Silicon technology.
The recent benchmark leak provides fascinating insights into the M4 MacBook Air’s capabilities. The results, gathered from Geekbench 6 Metal tests, give this model a unique designation: Mac16,12. The M4 chip inside features an impressive architecture, with four performance cores and six power-efficiency cores combined with a generous 24GB of unified RAM. This hardware exhibits performance cores that hit a remarkable clock speed of 4.41GHz, the highest recorded for the M4 thus far.
What’s particularly noteworthy is how the M4 MacBook Air stacks up against its M4 MacBook Pro counterpart. Despite both being powered by the same chipset, the Air’s score of 54,806 was just 5 percent shy of the Pro model’s performance. This small gap might be owed to the Pro’s integrated cooling fan, offering a slight edge over the Air’s fanless design in the Metal 6 test results. These benchmarks weren’t designed to push the M4’s GPU to its limits, suggesting the real-world performance may tell a different story when units hit the shelves.
Of course, if you’re eager to get your hands on a powerful, sleek machine without waiting for the M4 MacBook Air, the base model M4 MacBook Pro offers an enticing option. It features a 10-core CPU, 16GB of unified RAM, and a 512GB drive. Currently, it’s available for $1,399 after a $200 discount, providing a compelling choice for those not wanting to delay their purchase. Keep an eye on this unfolding story, as the debut of the M4 MacBook Air line promises to bring more excitement to Apple’s already stellar lineup.
