Apple MacBook Air Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4, Midnight) Review
The MacBook Air M4 with 32GB RAM is the most powerful Air ever, turning it into a legit creative workstation. But its weak GPU and high price mean it's not for everyone.
The 30-Second Version
The MacBook Air M4 with 32GB RAM is a portable powerhouse for creatives, but skip it if you need serious graphics performance. It's the best Air ever, but it's not a Pro.
Overview
This MacBook Air M4 is a fantastic laptop, but it's not the one you think it is. The headline here is that this 13-inch Air is now a legitimate creative workstation, thanks to the M4 chip and a generous 32GB of RAM. It's not just a student machine anymore. It's fast, incredibly portable, and has a screen that punches well above its weight. The one thing you need to know? It's the most powerful Air ever, but that power comes with a price tag that starts to blur the line between Air and Pro.
Performance
The M4 chip is a beast, and in our testing, this configuration handled creative apps like Photoshop and Lightroom with ease. The surprise wasn't the CPU performance, which is strong, but how the whole package feels. With 32GB of RAM, multitasking is smooth, and the 1TB SSD means you're not constantly managing storage. The real letdown, as expected, is the GPU. It's fine for everyday tasks and some light editing, but it's a weak spot for anything demanding like 3D work or serious gaming. This is a CPU-focused machine.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong social proof (98th percentile) 98th
- Strong reliability (93th percentile) 93th
- Strong compact (88th percentile) 88th
- Strong screen (81th percentile) 81th
Cons
- Below average gpu (18th percentile) 18th
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Apple M4 |
| Cores | 10 |
Graphics
| GPU | Apple (10-Core) |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| Storage | 1 TB |
| Storage Type | NVMe SSD |
Display
| Size | 13.6" |
| Resolution | 2560 (QHD) |
| Panel | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Brightness | 500 nits |
Connectivity
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6E |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 |
Physical
| Weight | 1.2 kg / 2.7 lbs |
| Battery | 53 Wh |
| OS | macOS |
Value & Pricing
At $1799, this is a pricey Air. It's worth it if your workflow is CPU-heavy and you prize portability above all else. You're paying for that Apple build quality, seamless macOS experience, and the peace of mind that comes with top-tier reliability. If you need raw GPU power or more ports, it's not worth it. This is a premium purchase for a specific user.
Price History
vs Competition
The obvious competitor is the 14-inch MacBook Pro. For similar money, you get a better screen (ProMotion), more ports, and a much more powerful GPU. If you do any GPU-intensive work, the Pro is the better choice. On the Windows side, something like the ASUS ProArt PX13 offers a stunning OLED touchscreen, a dedicated RTX 4050 GPU, and more ports for creative work, but you lose the macOS ecosystem and Apple's legendary battery life. The Air wins for pure portability and macOS loyalty.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4, Midnight) | Apple MacBook Pro Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M5, Silver) | ASUS ROG Flow ASUS 13.4" Republic of Gamers Flow Z13 2-in-1 | Lenovo Legion Lenovo 16" Legion Pro 7i Gaming Laptop | MSI Stealth MSI Stealth A16 - 16.0" OLED 240 Hz - GeForce RTX | Microsoft Surface Laptop Microsoft 13.8" Surface Laptop Copilot+ PC (7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Apple M4 | Apple M5 | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 |
| RAM (GB) | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 1024 | 4096 | 1024 | 2048 | 2048 | 1024 |
| Screen | 13.6" 2560x1664 | 14.2" 3024x1964 | 13.4" 2560x1600 | 16" 2560x1600 | 16" 2560x1600 | 13.8" 2304x1536 |
| GPU | Apple (10-Core) | Apple (10-Core) | AMD Radeon 8060 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | Qualcomm X1 |
| OS | macOS | macOS | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home |
| Weight (kg) | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 1.3 |
| Battery (Wh) | 53 | 72 | 70 | 99 | - | 54 |
Common Questions
Q: Can this handle Lightroom and Photoshop?
Absolutely. The M4 chip and 32GB of RAM make this a smooth experience for both apps. It's a great combo for photographers.
Q: Can I charge it through the Thunderbolt ports?
Yes, you can charge it with any compatible USB-C or Thunderbolt charger. It's super convenient.
Q: Does it work well with an external monitor?
It works fine, but remember you only have two ports. If you connect a monitor and a charger, that's all your ports used up.
Who Should Skip This
If you're a gamer or a 3D artist, this isn't it. The GPU is a real letdown for those tasks. Go get a MacBook Pro or a Windows gaming laptop like the Lenovo Legion instead. Also, if you need lots of ports for peripherals, the two-port limit on the Air will frustrate you. Look at the Pro or a Windows machine with more connectivity.
Verdict
We recommend this MacBook Air M4 for creative professionals, students, and business users who need a fast, reliable, and incredibly portable machine for CPU-centric tasks. If your work lives in Photoshop, Lightroom, coding, or writing, and you're always moving, this is a brilliant choice. If you need to do 3D rendering, video editing, or gaming, step up to a MacBook Pro or a Windows laptop with a dedicated GPU.