2025-03-07 05:46:42
Apple has a staggering marketing claim for the new MacBook Air with the M4 chip.
Specifically, Apple says the new MacBook Air is up to 23x faster than the last Intel-based model. However, there are some details in the fine print to be aware of.
First, Apple said it compared a new 2025 MacBook Air with a 10-core M4 chip and 32GB of RAM to a 2020 MacBook Air with a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM. Both of the MacBook Air models were configured with a 2TB SSD. These are the best specifications that are or were available for each of these MacBook Air models.
So, Apple compared the new model to the fastest-ever Intel-based MacBook Air. That's fair.
Second, Apple said its test consisted of using the Super Resolution feature on a 4.4MB image in image editing app Pixelmator Pro — which it now owns. The feature uses machine learning to increase the resolution of images, while preserving sharpness and details.
So, the up to 23x faster performance claim is tied to quite a specific task.
Here is what Apple's fine print says in full:
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.What about other tasks? Apple provided some more comparisons:
- Spreadsheet calculation performance in Microsoft Excel is up to 4.7x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air, and up to 1.6x faster than the 13-inch MacBook Air with M1.Those claims seem more realistic for most users.
- Video editing in iMovie is up to 8x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air, and up to 2x faster than the 13-inch MacBook Air with M1.
- Photo editing in Adobe Photoshop is up to 3.6x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air, and up to 2x faster than the 13-inch MacBook Air with M1.
- Web browsing is up to 60 percent faster when compared to a PC laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, and more demanding tasks get up to 2x faster performance.
2025-03-07 01:47:04
Popular password management app 1Password today announced a new feature that allows you to view logins, passwords, alarm codes, PINs, and more based on your location.
You can now assign locations to items stored in your vault, and those items will show up in the 1Password app for iPhone when you're near those physical locations.
So, for example, if you have work-related passwords in the app, you can set it up so those passwords will be surfaced first when you're at work. Or, if you're at the Starbucks, you can have it surface your Starbucks Rewards number. Or your medical record number if you're at the doctor's office.
Locations can be assigned to a 1Password item by editing the item and choosing the new Add a Location option. 1Password says that like everything kept in the app, location information is not shared, stored, or tracked. Location information is checked locally, so current location coordinates are kept on-device at all times.
1Password is priced at $2.99 per month for an individual plan, or $4.99 per month for a family plan (price requires purchasing a 12-month subscription). There are also business plans available.
2025-03-06 23:41:02
Following discounts on the M3 iPad Air, Amazon is now offering pre-order discounts on the 11th generation iPad. You can get the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad for $329.00 in Silver and Blue, down from $349.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Although this is just a $20 discount, it is the first markdown that we've tracked on the brand new 11-inch iPad with the A16 chip. All models of this iPad can be pre-ordered now, ahead of the official March 12 launch day.
2025-03-06 23:10:27
We are eagerly awaiting benchmarks for Apple's fastest-ever M3 Ultra chip in the Mac Studio, but we will have to settle with the first results for the new iPad Air for now.
The first Geekbench 6 results for the new iPad Air with the M3 chip are entirely unsurprising, but sometimes no news is good news. Given there were already Macs with the M3 chip, we know that it is around 20% faster than the M2 chip in terms of multi-core CPU performance, and the new iPad Air has similar gains as expected.
There are currently three Geekbench 6 results for the new iPad Air, and the device has achieved an average multi-core CPU score of 11,605 so far. The previous-generation iPad Air with the M2 chip has an average multi-core CPU score of 9,817, so the M3 chip is around 18% faster than the M2 chip in the iPad Air based on these early results.
This is all good confirmation to have, but as mentioned, it will be more interesting to find out how much faster the M3 Ultra chip is compared to the M4 Max chip. Those benchmarks should surface in the coming days, so stay tuned for that.
2025-03-06 23:02:26
Amazon is discounting the 128GB Wi-Fi 13-inch M3 iPad Air to $749.00 in three colors, down from $799.00. This matches the price that Best Buy is offering, but it doesn't require any membership to gain access to the deal.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Colors available at this price include Starlight, Space Gray, and Purple. This is a pre-order deal on the new iPad Air, and it will officially launch on March 12. As of writing, this is the only M3 iPad Air with a discount on Amazon.
2025-03-06 22:06:30
In a blog post today about Apple's foldable iPhone plans, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the rumored iPhone 17 Air will have a "high-density" battery.
Specifically, he said that Apple's first foldable iPhone model "will use the same high-density battery cells as the ultra-thin iPhone 17."
Kuo did not share any precise Wh/mAh battery capacity figures.
While there have been some concerns that the iPhone 17 Air's ultra-thin design would result in limited battery life, due to size constraints, the device might end up beating expectations in this regard. There are now three rumored features for the iPhone 17 Air that should contribute to the device having longer battery life than some might have expected, including the high-density battery calls, Apple's power-efficient C1 modem, and the lack of an Ultra Wide camera providing more internal space for a larger battery.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 Air in September. Kuo previously said the device will measure just 5.5mm at its thinnest point.
