M4 power, up to 18 hours of battery, and a $999 starting price with 16GB of memory. The default laptop pick just got easier.
Product Image: Apple
9.0
KADS SCORE
Quick Take
The M4 MacBook Air is the rare product that is both the best and the best value. The M4 chip is dramatically fast, battery life stretches to 18 hours, and Apple dropped the starting price to $999 while doubling base memory to 16GB. There is simply no better mainstream laptop.
What We Like
- M4 chip is blazing fast for everyday work and then some
- Up to 18 hours of battery life in a 2.7 pound body
- Silent fanless design that never gets hot or loud
- Gorgeous 13.6 inch Liquid Retina display
- Now starts at $999 with 16GB of memory
What We Don’t Like
- Display is still 60Hz when rivals offer 120Hz
- Only two Thunderbolt ports and no HDMI or SD slot
- 256GB of base storage fills up fast
- The notch remains an acquired taste
Product Details
Full Review
Quality
Apple’s aluminum unibody remains the gold standard for laptop build quality: rigid, precise, and impossibly thin at 0.44 inches. The Magic Keyboard is comfortable for long typing sessions, the Force Touch trackpad is still the best in the business, and the new sky blue finish looks fantastic. Everything about it feels considered and durable.
Value
At $999 with 16GB of memory, the M4 Air undercuts most Windows ultrabooks while beating them on performance per watt, battery life, and resale value. Comparable Windows machines with this build quality cost more, and none match the efficiency. It is frequently discounted to $849 during sales, at which point it is not even a debate.
Who Should Buy It
Students, remote workers, writers, developers, and basically anyone who wants a fast, light, long lasting laptop without overthinking it.
Who Should Skip It
Video editors and 3D artists who need sustained GPU power should look at the MacBook Pro, and gamers should stick with Windows.
FINAL VERDICT
The M4 MacBook Air is the best laptop most people can buy, full stop. It is faster, cheaper, and longer lasting than anything near its price, with build quality nobody else matches. If you need a laptop, start here and only look elsewhere if you have a specific reason.
9.0 / 10
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