Laptop buyers are in a weird spot right now. Windows ultrabooks keep getting pricier without major leaps in performance, and Apples MacBook Pro lineup, while powerful, starts at $1,599. The new M4 MacBook Air lands right in the middle, delivering serious upgrades without the Pros premium price tag. Faster, more efficient, and now capable of supporting dual external displays, this could be the perfect balance of power and portability for most people.Design-wise, the Air keeps its familiar ultra-thin form factor but introduces a new Sky Blue color (joining Midnight, Starlight, and Silver). Its a subtle metallic shade that shifts depending on the lighting. Small touches like color-matched MagSafe charging cables continue to show Apples attention to detail. Even in a crowded field of premium laptops, the Air remains one of the most refined-looking machines out there. But lets be honest: were all here for the M4, arent we?Designer: AppleApples M4 chip is this machines crown jewel. Built on a second-generation 3nm process, it features a 10-core GPU, improved efficiency cores, and an upgraded 16-core Neural Engine capable of 38 trillion operations per second (TOPS) for AI workflows. Real-world tasks feel smoother, whether thats scrubbing through 4K video timelines, batch-editing photos in Lightroom, or working with complex spreadsheets. Compared to the M1 Air, performance is up to twice as fast. For anyone still using an Intel-based Air, the gap is up to 23 times faster in specific tasks like video rendering.Apple claims up to 18 hours of video playback on a charge, translating to ~1516 hours for typical productivity use. The fanless design keeps everything silent, even under load. Whether youre deep into a video editing session or juggling a dozen browser tabs, the laptop stays cool and efficient without any distracting noise.The display remains one of the best in its class. The 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch Liquid Retina screens deliver sharp visuals, up to 500 nits of brightness, and support for a billion colors. Text looks crisp, HDR content pops, and color accuracy makes it great for creative work. Even without mini-LED or ProMotion, its a display that holds its own against higher-end competitors.Previous Air models were limited to a single external monitor, but the M4 version allows two external displays: one 6K (60Hz) via Thunderbolt and one 5K/4K (60Hz/144Hz) via HDMI. For professionals who need a multi-screen setup but dont want to pay for a MacBook Pro, this is a major upgrade. Whether youre coding, video editing, or working in finance, the Air now fits into workflows that previously required pricier hardware.Port selection remains simpletwo Thunderbolt ports, MagSafe for charging, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Its not overloaded with I/O, but for most users, its enough. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 ensure solid wireless performance, whether youre connecting to high-speed internet or syncing peripherals.The 12MP Center Stage camera now supports Desk View, which automatically frames both your face and workspace during calls. Video calls on older MacBooks always felt like an afterthought, but this new camera makes remote work and virtual meetings feel much more polished. Apple seems to be acknowledging that people rely on their laptops for communication as much as for work, and the changes here make a real difference.macOS Sequoia enhances the experience with deeper Apple Intelligence integration. AI-powered features like real-time text summarization, image generation, and enhanced Siri capabilities now run more efficiently, thanks to the M4s upgraded 38 TOPS Neural Engine. Apple is betting big on on-device AI, and this MacBook Air is positioned to take full advantage of future macOS updates that will lean even further into machine learning and automation.For anyone considering a MacBook Pro, the M4 Air raises an interesting questiondo you really need the extra power? With a lower $999 starting price (now with 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD base), long battery life, and now real support for multi-display setups, this Air is creeping into Pro territory. Unless your work requires sustained high-performance computing, the M4 Air might be the smarter buy.At $999, this MacBook Air redefines what a mainstream laptop should be. Its fast, efficient, and capable of handling demanding workloads while maintaining the portability that made the Air famous. Whether youre coming from an older Mac, switching from Windows, or just looking for a reliable everyday laptop, this might be the upgrade worth making.The post This $999 M4 MacBook Air Might Be The Best Reason To Upgrade Your Laptop first appeared on Yanko Design.