The Best Consumer Laptop Apple Has Ever Made
The MacBook Air M4 is the laptop I recommend to almost everyone. Whether you pick the ultraportable 13-inch or the spacious 15-inch, you’re getting the same M4 chip, the same 16GB of memory, the same all-day battery life, and the same fanless silent operation. The only real question is: how much screen do you want?
Performance
The M4 chip brings a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU to both sizes — a meaningful step up from the M3’s 8-core CPU. With 16GB of unified memory now standard across all configurations, the days of the compromised 8GB base model are over. This machine handles 4K video editing, software development, photo editing, and general multitasking without hesitation. It runs cool and completely silent thanks to the fanless design.
Display and Battery
Both sizes feature Liquid Retina displays with P3 wide color and 500 nits brightness — bright, accurate, and a pleasure to work on. Apple rates both at up to 18 hours of battery life, and real-world usage consistently delivers 10-14 hours depending on workload. The one notable omission: both are still 60Hz. If you’re coming from an iPad Pro or a 120Hz phone, you’ll notice the difference when scrolling.
13-Inch vs 15-Inch: The Key Differences
Performance, battery life, ports, and chip are identical between sizes. Here’s what actually differs:
- Screen: 13.6″ (2560×1664) vs 15.3″ (2880×1864) — the 15-inch provides substantially more workspace for side-by-side windows
- Speakers: 4-speaker vs 6-speaker with force-canceling woofers — the 15-inch sounds noticeably better
- Weight: 2.7 lbs vs 3.3 lbs — both remarkably light for their sizes
- Price: $1,099 vs $1,299 — a $200 premium for the larger model
New This Generation
The M4 Air brings dual external display support for the first time — connect two 6K monitors with the lid closed. The 12MP Center Stage camera automatically keeps you framed during video calls. And Thunderbolt 4 ports replace the previous USB 4, offering faster data transfer speeds.
Key Specs at a Glance
- Chip: Apple M4 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU)
- Memory: 16GB base, up to 32GB
- Storage: 256GB to 2TB SSD
- Battery: Up to 18 hours
- Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, headphone jack
- Weight: 2.7 lbs (13″) / 3.3 lbs (15″)
The Verdict
Pick the 13-inch if portability is your priority — it’s one of the lightest full-featured laptops you can buy. Pick the 15-inch if you want more screen real estate and better speakers — the $200 premium is well worth it for the upgrade. Either way, you’re getting an outstanding laptop with exceptional battery life, silent operation, and enough power for everything short of professional-grade sustained workloads. The 60Hz display and limited port count are the only real compromises.
Rating: 9/10 (13-inch) | 9.5/10 (15-inch) — The 15-inch edges ahead on value thanks to superior speakers and screen space.
Top Competitors
- Dell XPS 13 — The premium Windows ultrabook with a stunning edge-to-edge display. Comparable portability and build quality, with Windows flexibility. Battery life doesn’t quite match the Air.
- Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 — Excellent value Windows alternative with a vibrant OLED display option, solid performance, and strong battery life. Available in 14″ and 16″ sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get the MacBook Air 13-inch or 15-inch?
Get the 13-inch if portability is your priority — it’s one of the lightest full-featured laptops available at 2.7 lbs. Get the 15-inch if you want more screen space for side-by-side windows and noticeably better speakers. Performance and battery are identical between both sizes.
Is the MacBook Air M4 good for video editing?
Yes. The M4 chip handles 4K video editing in Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve without issues. For occasional video editing it’s more than capable. Professional editors working with 8K footage or complex multi-stream timelines should consider the MacBook Pro instead.
Why is the MacBook Air display only 60Hz?
Apple reserves 120Hz ProMotion displays for the MacBook Pro lineup to differentiate the products. The 60Hz display is the main compromise on the Air. If you’re coming from a 120Hz device you’ll notice smoother scrolling is missing, but most users adapt quickly.
Buy the MacBook Air 13″ on Amazon | Buy the MacBook Air 15″ on Amazon