M4 MacBook Air nearing production

[Daniel Puchert]

M4 MacBook Air on the way

Apple is nearing production of updated MacBook Airs with M4 chips for release in early 2025, a follow-up to a wave of new Macs that are coming next week, according to people familiar with the matter.

The latest MacBook Air models will look similar to the current design, launched in 2022, but will include the new M4 chip generation, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the products haven’t been announced.

 

[GhostSixFour]

Didn't they just release the M3? Or did I lose a year or two?

 

[RedViking]

Didn't they just release the M3? Or did I lose a year or two?

South Africans can only afford old macbooks. You are up to date.

 

[bwana]

I went through the upgrade dilemma in July when I broke the screen of my M1 air. Decided in the end to spend the $700 getting that replaced rather than upgrading. Maybe the M4 will compel me?

 

[Bernoldus Niemand]

Didn't they just release the M3? Or did I lose a year or two?

In March already and who cares?

 

[Sapphiron]

I went through the upgrade dilemma in July when I broke the screen of my M1 air. Decided in the end to spend the $700 getting that replaced rather than upgrading. Maybe the M4 will compel me?

jikes, $700 for a screen?

They sell a full M1 macbook air for that price.

 

[bwana]

jikes, $700 for a screen?

They sell a full M1 macbook air for that price.

I (willingly) paid extra to have a same day fix.

 

[GhostSixFour]

In March already and who cares?

Who cares about the fact that they just released the previous version? It's 7 months ago.
I can't be the only one that is fed up with these constant release cycles that adds nothing of real value and just leads to a bunch of tech waste being created.

 

[epah]

Already obsolete like @Dolby 's Iphone.

 

[Bernoldus Niemand]

Who cares about the fact that they just released the previous version? It's 7 months ago.
I can't be the only one that is fed up with these constant release cycles that adds nothing of real value and just leads to a bunch of tech waste being created.

They still support Intel Macs and the M1 Air will be supported for much longer with 10 years since they moved to an in house SOC. This outrage is much ado about nothing.

 

[quovadis]

Didn't they just release the M3? Or did I lose a year or two?

M3 has issues with its fabrication process and yield when manufacturing the chips which was solved by a newer fab process and M4 design which may explain it being expedited sooner than the typical 2 year cycle.

 

[GhostSixFour]

They still support Intel Macs and the M1 Air will be supported for much longer with 10 years since they moved to an in house SOC. This outrage is much ado about nothing.

What outrage? Annoyance is a much better description.

 

[GhostSixFour]

M3 has issues with its fabrication process and yield when manufacturing the chips which was solved by a newer fab process and M4 design which may explain it being expedited sooner than the typical 2 year cycle.

Ahhhh. That makes more sense. Thanks!

 

[Bernoldus Niemand]

M3 has issues with its fabrication process and yield when manufacturing the chips which was solved by a newer fab process and M4 design which may explain it being expedited sooner than the typical 2 year cycle.

Funny then the new iPad Mini comes with a A17 Pro based on the M3 SOC.

 

[Dolby]

Already obsolete like @Dolby 's Iphone.

And @Bernoldus Niemand

I feel more sorry for him as it was mere weeks after he bought a brand new phone

 

[quovadis]

Funny then the new iPad Mini comes with a A17 Pro based on the M3 SOC.

Not really. Same as M2's going into iPad Airs. They'll match products based on availability and demand. Remember they still are committed to certain volumes with TSMC.

 

[Dolby]

I wonder if the unpatchable hardware vulnerability found in the earlier M series chips is found in this M4?

 

[FiestaST]

Err...pretty impossible to say considering the M4 has not even been announce, let alone released?

 

[konfab]

I wonder if the unpatchable hardware vulnerability found in the earlier M series chips is found in this M4?

They have released a work-around for the M3 and later:

Patchless Apple M-Chip Vulnerability Allows Cryptography Bypass

The available options for addressing the flaw are limited, leaving many Macs vulnerable to a "GoFetch" attack that steals keys — even quantum-resistant ones.

www.darkreading.com

 

[Bernoldus Niemand]

And @Bernoldus Niemand

I feel more sorry for him as it was mere weeks after he bought a brand new phone

I use it to stream hi res lossless to my late dad's NAD and Mission speakers now.