Laptops8 min read
MacBook Air M1 vs M4: Time to Upgrade in 2026?
MacBook Air M1 to M4 upgrade analysis — performance gains, battery improvements, and whether 5-year-old MacBook Air owners should upgrade.
By Alex Carter·
MacBook Air M1 to M4 upgrade analysis — performance gains, battery improvements, and whether 5-year-old MacBook Air owners should upgrade.
MacBook Air M1 launched November 2020 — 5+ years ago in 2026. MacBook Air M4 launched 2025. Three generations of Apple Silicon between them. The upgrade case for M1 owners is substantial but not as clear-cut as iPhone upgrades.
Strong upgrade case if: M1 battery degraded, you do creative work, you've maxed RAM/storage limits, you want hardware ray tracing for ML
Hold M1 if: Working well for browsing, documents, video calls. Apple Silicon M1 still feels modern in 2026.
Key insight: M1 MacBook Airs remain remarkably capable 5+ years later. Few laptops have aged as gracefully as M1.
M1: 8-core CPU (4 performance + 4 efficiency)
M4: 10-core CPU (4 performance + 6 efficiency)
Real-world impact:
M1: 7-core or 8-core GPU
M4: 8-core or 10-core GPU with hardware ray tracing
Real-world impact:
M1: 16-core Neural Engine
M4: 16-core Neural Engine (3x faster)
Real-world impact:
M1: 8GB or 16GB unified memory (max)
M4: 16GB, 24GB, or 32GB unified memory
Critical change: M1 maxed at 16GB; M4 supports 32GB. For users hitting M1 memory limits:
M4 with 32GB unified memory is a different class of machine.
M1: SSD bandwidth ~3,500 MB/s
M4: SSD bandwidth ~3,500 MB/s (similar)
Caveat: Apple has been criticized for slower base storage on some M2/M3 models. M4 base configurations have similar SSD speeds to M1.
For users wanting fastest storage: configure to 1TB+ storage which uses 2 NAND chips for better speed.
M1 MacBook Air: ~18 hours web browsing (when new)
M4 MacBook Air: ~18 hours web browsing
Important reality: After 5 years, M1 battery may be at 80-85% capacity. M4 with new battery delivers significantly longer real-world use than degraded M1.
M1: 13.3" 2560×1600 Liquid Retina, 400 nits
M4: 13.6" 2560×1664 Liquid Retina, 500 nits + Nano-texture option
Differences:
M1: 720p webcam, 3-speaker audio
M4: 1080p webcam with Center Stage, improved 4-speaker audio
Real-world impact: 1080p webcam noticeable in video calls. Center Stage keeps you centered. Speaker quality slightly better.
M1: 2× Thunderbolt 3, headphone jack
M4: 2× Thunderbolt 4, headphone jack, MagSafe 3
MagSafe 3: Apple's magnetic charging port (M4 supports). M1 lacked MagSafe — needed USB-C for charging.
Practical impact: M4 has separate charging port (MagSafe) so both USB-C ports remain available for accessories.
1. Battery health below 80%: Apple battery service for MacBook ($129) is reasonable. But if you've already done service, M4 makes sense.
2. RAM-constrained workflows: 8GB M1 is limiting in 2026. Many users wishing they had 16GB or 32GB.
3. Creative/development work: Video editing 4K+, large software compilation, ML model work all benefit dramatically from M4.
4. Webcam quality matters: Frequent video calls = M4's 1080p webcam genuinely better.
5. Apple Intelligence usage: M4 runs Apple Intelligence much faster than M1 (which technically supports it but is slower).
1. M1 still feels new: Genuinely working well for your tasks.
2. Light user: Web browsing, documents, email, video calls.
3. Have 16GB M1: 16GB M1 is still very capable. 8GB M1 is the more constrained version.
4. Budget tight: M4 MacBook Air costs $1,099-1,899. Substantial investment.
For most users: Option B (battery service) is dramatically better value.
For users wanting upgrade but not premium pricing: M2 refurbished is sweet spot.
Upgrade to MacBook Air M4 if:
Stick with MacBook Air M1 + battery service if:
MacBook Air M2 refurbished if:
In 2026, 5 years later, M1 MacBook Airs:
Still excellent at:
Showing age in:
For typical user: M1 MacBook Air remains capable.
MacBook Air M1 to M4 is a substantial upgrade — 3 generations of Apple Silicon improvements deliver measurable performance gains. However, M1 has aged remarkably well; most users find their M1 MacBook Airs remain capable for daily work.
Upgrade if: you've hit memory limits, battery degraded significantly, or you do creative/development work. Hold if: M1 works well for your typical use. Battery service for $129 extends M1 useful life 2-3 years for users not needing performance gains.
For value-focused buyers: refurbished MacBook Air M2 splits the difference — meaningful upgrade at half the M4 price.
Consumer Electronics & Smart Home Editor
Alex Carter has spent over 8 years testing and reviewing consumer electronics, with a focus on smart home gadgets, home appliances, and everyday tech. Before joining VersusMatrix, Alex wrote for sever...