Apple MacBook Air Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4, Midnight) Review

The MacBook Air M4 is the laptop you grab when you want to disappear into your work. At just 1.24kg, it's ridiculously portable, and the 13.6-inch screen is bright enough to use anywhere. Apple's calling it the 'world's best consumer laptop for AI,' which is a bold claim, but the new M4 chip is built from the ground up for that kind of workload.

This is the ultimate machine for students or anyone who needs a reliable, go-anywhere computer. The 'best for' scores say it all: 100/100 for compactness, and high 90s for student and business use. It's the laptop you throw in your bag without a second thought.

What makes it interesting is that 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. That's a huge amount of headroom for an Air. You're getting Pro-level specs in the classic Air form factor, which changes the game for power users who value portability above all else.

Let's talk about that M4 chip. Its CPU performance lands in the 66th percentile, which is plenty fast for everyday tasks, coding, and even some light video editing. The real story is efficiency. This thing sips power, which is why the battery life feels like magic even with the relatively small 53Wh cell. You can work all day and then some without hunting for an outlet.

Now, the GPU is a different story. It scores in the 18th percentile, which is the Air's one big compromise. It's fine for streaming video, basic photo edits, and driving that lovely high-res display. But if your work involves 3D rendering, serious video production, or you want to play anything more demanding than casual games, you'll hit a wall fast. This is a productivity and creativity machine, not a graphics powerhouse.

Here's the tricky part: at $2199, this isn't the budget-friendly Air anymore. You're paying a premium for that 32GB/2TB configuration and the ultra-portable design. For that price, you're flirting with the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro, which offers more power and a better screen.

The value is all about your priorities. If absolute portability combined with maxed-out RAM and storage is your number one need, this configuration makes sense. If you can live with 16GB of RAM or 1TB of storage, you can save a lot of money and get 90% of the experience. You're paying for the convenience of having it all in the slimmest package.

The most obvious competitor is Apple's own 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip. For a similar price, the Pro gives you a vastly better GPU, a stunning 120Hz mini-LED display, and more ports. The trade-off? It's heavier and thicker. If your work needs serious graphical power, the Pro is the clear choice. If you prize thin-and-light above all else, stick with the Air.

Then there's something like the ASUS Zenbook Duo. It offers wild flexibility with its dual-screen design for creative multitasking, and often at a lower price. But it runs Windows, it's not as polished as macOS, and battery life won't touch the Air's. For Windows users who want a unique, portable workstation, it's a fascinating alternative. The gaming laptops on the list, like the MSI Vector, are in a completely different league for GPU performance but sacrifice all the portability and battery life the Air is famous for.

Buy the MacBook Air M4 (32GB/2TB) if you're a student, frequent traveler, or remote worker who needs a supremely portable, dead-reliable machine with enough RAM and storage to handle everything you throw at it for years. It's the king of the coffee shop and the library.

Think twice, or look at the MacBook Pro, if your work involves video editing, 3D modeling, coding that requires GPU acceleration, or any kind of gaming. The GPU limitation is real. Also, if you're on a tighter budget, remember that a lower-spec Air delivers most of the core experience for less money. This maxed-out model is for those who want the Air experience with zero compromises on memory and storage.