Apple MacBook Air Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4, Sky Blue) Review
The MacBook Air M4 is one of the most portable and reliable laptops you can buy, but its GPU performance holds it back from being a true all-rounder.
Overview
The MacBook Air M4 is a 1.24kg machine that nails the basics. It scores a 98.5 out of 100 for compactness, putting it in the 91st percentile for portability. That's the headline. You're getting 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, which lands in the 70th and 78th percentiles respectively. It's built for students and business users, scoring over 92 in both categories, and its reliability sits in the top 4% of all laptops. But it's not a gaming machine, scoring a flat 20 in that area.
Performance
The M4's 10-core CPU lands in the 66th percentile. That's solid for everyday tasks and professional apps, but it's not a chart-topper. The integrated GPU, however, is the real story here. It's in the 18th percentile, which explains the gaming score. This isn't a machine for rendering or serious gaming. But for what it's designed to do—web, office work, media consumption—it's more than enough. The 53Wh battery is small, but Apple's efficiency usually makes up for it, though you won't be getting Pro-level endurance.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely portable at 1.24kg, scoring in the 91st percentile for compactness. 96th
- Top-tier reliability, sitting in the 96th percentile. 91th
- Excellent 1TB SSD storage, which is in the 78th percentile. 81th
- Great 32GB RAM configuration, landing in the 70th percentile. 78th
- Bright 500-nit screen that scores in the 81st percentile for quality.
Cons
- GPU performance is a major weakness, landing in the 18th percentile. 18th
- Not suitable for gaming, with a category score of just 20 out of 100.
- The 60Hz display feels dated next to higher-refresh competitors.
- Limited port selection, scoring only in the 74th percentile.
- CPU performance is merely good, not great, at the 66th percentile.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Apple M4 |
| Cores | 10 |
Graphics
| GPU | Apple (10-Core) |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| Storage 1 | 1 TB |
| Storage 1 Type | NVMe SSD |
Display
| Size | 13.600000381469727" |
| 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 $1549, you're paying for the portability, build quality, and ecosystem. The specs are good, not amazing, for the price. You can find Windows machines with faster CPUs and dedicated GPUs for similar money, but they won't be this thin and light, or have macOS. It's a premium for a specific experience.
vs Competition
Compared to the 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max, you're trading massive CPU/GPU power and a 120Hz screen for extreme portability and a lower price. The Pro is a workstation; this is an ultraportable. Against something like the ASUS Zenbook Duo, you lose the innovative dual-screen setup but gain Apple's reliability and macOS simplicity. And next to a Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, there's no contest in gaming—the Legion destroys it—but the Air is half the weight and runs silent.
Verdict
If you need the ultimate portable Mac and don't care about gaming or heavy graphics work, this is a fantastic choice. The reliability and portability scores are exceptional. But if your work involves 3D rendering, video editing, or you just want to play games, look at the MacBook Pro or a Windows machine. The data is clear: this is a specialist, not a generalist.