Screens on the MacBook Air M4: One wish fulfilled, another not
Apple takes pity and allows more screens to be connected to the entry-level notebook. However, another hope was disappointed.
MacBook Air M4 with multiple screens: More perspective on the small Mac.
(Image: Apple)
One of the key new features of the MacBook Air M4, which Apple unveiled on Wednesday, is improved support for external displays. Many users had already hoped for this from the previous model. However, another wish concerning the integrated display remained unfulfilled.
Two monitors, Mac stays on
In future, the MacBook Air will be able to address two external screens with up to 6K resolution at 60 Hertz refresh rate, while the internal screen remains active – with full native resolution and full color display. Previously, you could only use two screens on the MacBook Air M3 when the computer was closed, which also required external input devices (keyboard and mouse/trackpad) to control it.
This means that the M4 has even more screen space. "Connect up to two external displays and turn the MacBook Air into the perfect workstation. The extra screen space makes it easy to work with multiple documents or apps," is how Apple advertises the new feature.
For comparison: The MacBook Air M1 and M2 officially only supported one external screen, the M3 then two – but with the aforementioned drawback that the internal display could no longer be used. With the M4, you now have three screens in parallel, whereby it makes sense to match the colors to each other. Previously, it was only possible to connect more screens with tricks. This required a DisplayLink adapter via USB-C, which costs extra money.
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The screen remains glossy
However, Apple has not fulfilled a second customer request: the option to order a matte screen with a nano texture, as we know it from the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro. Neither the 13-inch nor the 15-inch model of the MacBook Air M4 is available with a matt screen. The nanotextured screens are particularly popular with professional users because they have a non-reflective, paper-like surface.
However, Apple is maintaining the distinction that only "Pro" devices will receive the nanotexture. This is because the MacBook Air will continue to be sold as an entry-level model – although you pay at least 1199 euros for the machine, with 15 inches even 1499 euros.
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