Apple’s new M4 MacBook Air is marketed as a power-efficient portable powerhouse — but how does it compare to the mighty M1 Ultra Mac Studio, Apple’s professional desktop system from 2022? To find out, I ran a real-world video editing speed test, exporting an 8K ProRes 422 file with full Lumetri colour grading in Adobe Premiere Pro. This test wasn’t a synthetic benchmark. It was a creator-focused performance comparison that mirrors what professionals and YouTubers do every day: editing, grading, and exporting demanding footage.
Test setup and workflow
To ensure a fair and repeatable test, both Macs were configured as similarly as possible:
- Video file: 8K ProRes 422 clip (test footage)
- Project: 4K sequence downscaled from 8K at 50%
- Software: Adobe Premiere Pro + Media Encoder
- Colour correction: Lumetri LUT applied (increased exposure, vibrance, +30 sharpening)
- Export settings: H.264, 4K resolution, 300 Mbps, two-pass, variable bit rate
- Storage: Internal SSD on both systems
Both machines were tested side by side — one being the M4 MacBook Air (2025) and the other the M1 Ultra Mac Studio (2022).
Export speed results
As soon as the export started, the performance gap became clear.
- M1 Ultra Mac Studio: Estimated 5 minutes total export time
- M4 MacBook Air: Estimated 13 minutes total export time
After two minutes, the M1 Ultra had already completed its first pass, while the M4 lagged behind and began thermal throttling, a limitation of its fanless design. Despite this, playback during editing on the M4 remained smooth — an impressive feat for a lightweight notebook.
Both machines stayed cool and quiet, showing the efficiency of Apple Silicon. However, the M1 Ultra’s sheer number of performance cores and GPU power gave it a clear advantage when rendering and exporting complex footage.
Analysis: M1 Ultra still reigns supreme for professionals
If you’re a filmmaker, video editor, or motion graphics artist working with 4K or 8K ProRes footage, the M1 Ultra continues to deliver desktop-grade export performance that leaves lighter laptops behind.
The M4 MacBook Air is excellent for editing on the go — you can scrub through timelines, apply grades, and even preview effects with ease — but once it’s time to export, expect longer wait times.
This difference is due to:
- Thermal throttling: The M4 Air’s fanless design limits sustained performance.
- Power envelope: The M4 chip is designed for efficiency, not heavy rendering.
- Core configuration: The M1 Ultra features double the performance and GPU cores, making it ideal for creators handling long exports or batch renders.
eal-world takeaway
For creators deciding between the M4 MacBook Air and the M1 Ultra Mac Studio, here’s the bottom line:
- Choose the M1 Ultra Mac Studio if your work involves frequent video exports, 3D rendering, or multitasking with large files.
- Choose the M4 MacBook Air if you need mobility, battery life, and smooth editing performance for short projects or lighter workflows.
The M4 Air is an incredible travel companion for editors, while the Mac Studio remains a professional’s workhorse.
Verdict: Portability vs Power
| Feature | M4 MacBook Air | M1 Ultra Mac Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Excellent for editing, slower on export | Blazing fast, sustained heavy performance |
| Thermals | Fanless, may throttle | Actively cooled, stable |
| Portability | Ultra-light, on-the-go editing | Desktop-bound |
| Best for | Students, YouTubers, mobile editors | Professionals, studios, filmmakers |
The results prove that even three years later, the M1 Ultra Mac Studio remains one of the best investments Apple ever released for creative professionals. Meanwhile, the M4 MacBook Air demonstrates how far Apple’s efficiency chips have come — delivering nearly desktop-level performance in a device that fits in your backpack.
While the M4 MacBook Air doesn’t dethrone the M1 Ultra Mac Studio in raw power, it’s a reminder that Apple’s silicon evolution continues to close the gap between portability and performance.
If you’re buying a new Mac in 2025, your choice should depend on your workflow:
- Everyday editing and mobility → M4 MacBook Air
- High-end production and export speed → M1 Ultra Mac Studio
Both machines showcase Apple’s mastery of performance per watt — but when deadlines matter, the M1 Ultra still leads the race.
One Response
This is the kind of article that makes you realize your 8K footage exports slower than your morning coffee. The M1 Ultra Mac Studio is like the serious relationship – reliable and gets the job done fast. The M4 MacBook Air, though, is your charming fling – great for quick edits on the go but dont expect it to handle the heavy lifting. Apple Silicon is amazing, but sometimes you just need that extra core to say no to thermal throttling. Now, if youll excuse me, I need to go export my 4K cooking show segment.