Why does the MacBook Air M4 not have a 120Hz display?

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The MacBook Air M4 uses a 60Hz display. The 120Hz ProMotion display remains exclusive to MacBook Pro models. This is a deliberate product differentiation decision.

Why Apple withholds ProMotion:

• Product differentiation: Justifies Pro's $600+ premium over Air with same M4 chip
• Battery optimization: 60Hz extends battery life to 14-15 hours
• Cost management: ProMotion panels are more expensive to manufacture

What the Air's display offers:

• 2560 x 1664 resolution
• 500 nits brightness
• P3 wide color gamut
• True Tone technology

The display is genuinely good. For typical work, 60Hz is smooth and responsive.

Where 120Hz matters:

• Scrolling through long documents
• Video editing timeline scrubbing
• Gaming at high frame rates
• General UI animation fluidity

Will you notice?

If you've never used 120Hz regularly: unlikely to miss it.

If coming from 120Hz phones/tablets: noticeable for a week or two, then you'll adapt.

If using external monitors: many support 120Hz+, so built-in limitation matters less.

The alternative:

MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 includes ProMotion for $1,599 ($600 more than 13-inch Air).

Perspective:

The 60Hz display is a calculated trade-off enabling better battery life and lower pricing. For the vast majority of users, it's an imperceptible limitation rather than a meaningful compromise. Only display-critical professionals (video editors, motion designers) might justify the Pro's premium specifically for ProMotion.