The M4 MacBook Air is exhibiting some unusual behavior that we haven't figured out yet.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Individuals are beginning to receive the new M4 MacBook Air this week, leading to numerous revelations about its performance (and the striking new Sky Blue color). While editing photos in Lightroom Classic, YouTuber Vadim Yuryev observed that the CPU workload was nearly entirely managed by the laptop's six efficiency cores.
Wow!! Apple’s M4 MacBook Air is directing this CPU workload to all six of its Efficiency cores, with the four Performance cores being used minimally. (Left photo)
In contrast, the M3 (right) displays much greater usage of the four Performance cores.
Photo editing in Lightroom Classic pic.twitter.com/y17D8G0ypB
— Vadim Yuryev (@VadimYuryev) March 13, 2025
According to Wccftech, this observation is notable because image editing software is typically very CPU-intensive, leading one to expect a reliance on the performance cores. This was certainly true for the M3 MacBook Air, where Yuryev demonstrates the use of all four performance and all four efficiency cores to complete tasks.
The reason for this change in behavior, its intentionality, or its relationship to Lightroom Classic remains unclear — but the potential benefits could be substantial. Engaging the efficiency cores while minimizing the performance cores' activity could enhance battery life and lower temperatures.
However, Yuryev's post does not clarify how well the software operates under these conditions — we can assume he highlighted it because it runs smoothly, but we can't be certain.
It is also possible that this behavior indicates a bug — after all, the performance cores exist for a reason, and their almost total inactivity while the efficiency cores are heavily engaged is peculiar.
With sources like Wccftech and tech influencers experimenting with this new model, we are likely to discover soon whether this is a mere coincidence or a designed feature of the new MacBook Air.
Willow Roberts has been a Computing Writer at Digital Trends for a year and has a decade of writing experience. She has a…
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The M4 MacBook Air is exhibiting some unusual behavior that we haven't figured out yet.
A YouTuber has observed that his M4 MacBook Air operates Lightroom Classic utilizing only its efficiency cores.