Apple Says New MacBook Air Up to 23x Faster Than Intel-Based Model, But Read the Fine Print

Apple has made a bold statement about the performance of its new MacBook Air with the M4 chip. According to Apple, the latest model is “up to 23x faster” than the last Intel-based MacBook Air. But before you get too excited, let’s unpack the details behind this claim.

What’s Behind the 23x Faster Claim?

Apple’s impressive claim comes with some fine print that’s worth diving into. Here’s the breakdown:

Tested Configurations: Apple compared the 2025 MacBook Air, equipped with a 10-core M4 chip and 32GB of RAM, to the 2020 Intel-based MacBook Air. The Intel model featured a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM. Both laptops used a 2TB SSD, representing the highest-end configurations available for each model.
Specific Task: The 23x performance boost was measured using the Super Resolution feature in the Pixelmator Pro app (now owned by Apple). This feature uses machine learning to increase image resolution while maintaining sharpness and detail. The test involved a 4.4MB image, so the claim is tied to a very specific task.

Here’s Apple’s full disclaimer from its fine print:

“Testing conducted by Apple in January 2025 using preproduction 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air systems with Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 32GB of RAM, as well as production 1.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-based MacBook Air systems with Intel Iris Plus Graphics and 16GB of RAM, all configured with 2TB SSD. Tested using Super Resolution with Pixelmator Pro 3.6.14 and a 4.4MB image. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of MacBook Air.”

Realistic Performance Gains for Everyday Tasks

While the 23x figure may be eye-catching, it’s tied to a very specific use case. Apple did provide more relatable performance comparisons for everyday tasks:

Spreadsheet Calculations in Microsoft Excel: Up to 4.7x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air, and 1.6x faster than the M1-based MacBook Air.
Video Editing in iMovie: Up to 8x faster than Intel models, and 2x faster compared to the M1 MacBook Air.
Photo Editing in Adobe Photoshop: Up to 3.6x faster than Intel models, and 2x faster than the M1 MacBook Air.
Web Browsing: Up to 60% faster compared to a PC laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, with more demanding tasks showing up to 2x faster performance.

These comparisons feel much more relevant for most users and provide a clearer picture of what to expect in everyday use.

Should You Upgrade?

Even if the 23x claim feels a bit exaggerated, it’s undeniable that the new MacBook Air with an M4 chip is a significant leap forward compared to Intel-based models. Whether you’re editing photos, calculating spreadsheets, or just browsing the web, the M4-powered MacBook Air is lighter, faster, and overall more capable.

If you’re still using an older Intel-based MacBook Air, now is the perfect time to upgrade. The new MacBook Air is available for pre-order on Apple’s online store, with shipments beginning Wednesday, March 12.