Which of the two models? M3 with 24GB RAM vs M4 with 16GB RAM

For that choice personally, I would go with the M4 Mac. Macs are very efficient with memory management, and if you know for certain you'll be working with apps/files that typically require more memory (e.g. video editing, high-end gaming), 24 vs. 16 memory of RAM will not make enough of a difference and you should be looking at a MacBook Pro (with at least the M4 Pro chip and 48 GB of memory).

Another consideration if you tend to keep a Mac for a while is that at some point, Apple will stop supporting older hardware. 5 years from when it was last sold (by Apple directly), Apple considers a product 'vintage' and they may not service it (it depends on availability of parts). 7 years from when it was last sold, Apple considers a product 'obsolete' and they will not service it at all. Since the M3 MBAir was officially discontinued in March of this year, getting the M4 will give you more time to have your Mac fixed if something goes wrong. Same story for software support, most likely the M3 will stop running new versions of macOS a year before the M4.

...I’d like to use it for make design and coding with the help of AI tools such as Visual Studio Code, Claude, and similar programs

Then I recommend you consider something with proper cooling fans, the Macbook Pro. Even the base model Macbook Pro has two fans.

Allan Jones wrote:

Then I recommend you consider something with proper cooling fans, the Macbook Pro. Even the base model Macbook Pro has two fans.

Agree on the recommendation for a MacBook Pro (as alluded to in an earlier response). The MacBook Air will end up throttling back the processors to reduce the thermal load and that will make design work go slower. It will still get done, so if budget permits only a MacBook Air then that's reality.

Disagree on the number of fans in the base model MBP, it only has one.

14" M4 MBP:

14" M4 Pro MBP (M4 Max is the same):

Note that the M3 MacBook Air can only drive two external displays when the lid is closed. (It has to reallocate some of the internal hardware resources that normally support the built-in screen to be able to drive that second external display.)

The M4 MacBook Air can drive two external displays at the same time as the built-in screen, a first for any MacBook Air with a plain M-series chip.

The same comment applies to 14" MacBook Pros with plain M3 chips vs. 14" MacBook Pros with plain M4 chips.

Depends on what you're going to be doing with it.

For most people, I'd lean to the M4 with 16 instead of the M3 with 24.

I'm sure others would disagree.

KiltedTim wrote:

Depends on what you're going to be doing with it.

Consider that the newer M4 chip may run hotter when doing CPU extensive tasks (heavy video editing, gaming, etc). Because the MBA is totally fanless and relies on the case to dissipate heat, the CPU temps while doing CPU extensive tasks may rise more quickly, and may cause the CPU to throttle down & run at a lower clock rate to cool it.

The M3 however may possibly run cooler & with less CPU throttling...its hard to say without testing under your real-world use.

Like Tim says, "Depends on what you're going to be doing with it."

Ah. Mine is a Pro. Thanks.