As expected, Apple today announced the M4 MacBook Air. Its a spec-bump update, with unchanged design aside from a new color, so its not a compelling upgrade for existing owners of any Apple Silicon model.However, if youve been considering a MacBook Air purchase as either your first model or a replacement for an older Intel one, this is a really good time to press the button The default MacThe MacBook Air has been one of Apples most popular Macs since its launch back in 2008. Indeed, its been the default Mac purchase for most of that time, combining the all-in-one convenience of an iMac with a portable form factor that has seen it dominate coffee shops around the world.The vast majority of computer users spend most of their time doing undemanding tasks like email, web-browsing, writing, and perhaps a little light photo editing. A base model MacBook Air has always been more than good enough for this kind of casual use.Given the irrelevance of processor power and even RAM for this kind of use, Ive always said that an older model is a good bet if your budget doesnt stretch to a new one. Its not unusual for people to continue using the same model for a decade or more. Indeed, until very recently, I had a 2011 model that was still going strong as a secondary machine.The M1 model was a strong upgradeThe M1 MacBook Air did, however, make a reasonably strong argument for upgrading from an Intel model, if only for the vastly improved battery life.The first Apple Silicon model also dramatically closed the difference between the Air and the Pro machines. For the first time, a MacBook Air didnt seem an unreasonable choice even for some tasks where a MacBook Pro would have been the obvious purchase up to and including video editing in Final Cut Pro for anyone other than pros with complex projects.While the M2 and M3 models built on this, the M1 MacBook Air remained a compelling option given the discounted pricing commonly available.The M4 is another step changeBut for anyone who hasnt yet seen the need to upgrade from an Intel model, or has been holding out for their first MacBook Air purchase, the M4 model is a really good buy.Even with the least demanding tasks, youre getting a 50% increase in claimed battery power (up to 18 hours), and the real-world difference will be greater than that.The base model gets you 16GB RAM with Apple Intelligence support for $999. Provided youre mostly using cloud storage (as it still comes with just a 256GB SSD), thats a spec that will likely keep many people going for a decade or more.In addition to longevity, the M4 model is also reasonably future-proof for those whose computing needs may increase over time. It offers two Thunderbolt 4 ports for high-speed data transfer and support for two external 6K monitors. The new 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support also means it could meet the needs of many non-pro YouTubers.If you want a larger screen, the base model 15-inch M4 MacBook Air is stunning value at $1,199.So yep, Im sure the reviews will describe it as a relatively minor update, and thats certainly true when compared to an M1 to M3 model. But if youre coming from an Intel machine, the M4 MacBook Air is a great buy.Highlighted accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel