SlashGear90
Calls the M4 Air nearly unsurpassable for a thin-and-light laptop thanks to strong performance, efficiency and 16GB RAM at no extra cost.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)
6 expert reviews#2 of 6 laptopsChecked 1 Nov 2026
Quick answer
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) has a critic score of 87 out of 100 from 6 professional reviews, including SlashGear, PCMag UK and Laptop Mag. 6 of 6 recommend it, and scores range from 80 (PCMag UK) to 90 (SlashGear). 2 of the scores are printed by the outlets and 4 are our estimates from the review text. Most praised: performance (6 of 6); battery life (5 of 6). Most common complaints: price (3 of 6). It ranks #2 of the 6 laptops we score.
Reviews checked 1 Nov 2026
Photo coming
Best for: Best overall
Our verdict
6 professional reviewers tested the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4), and 6 recommend it. Most praised: performance and battery life. Most common complaint: price.
The catch: It has only two USB-C ports, and upgrades cost a lot.
Critic agreement: High
Scores run from 80 to 902 printed scores, 4 estimated · printed scores only: 85
4 of these 6 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text and corrected for the known tendency of estimates to run high.
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What do critics say about the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)?
PCMag UK80
An Editors' Choice pick that is faster, cheaper and longer-lasting than its predecessor.
Laptop Mag89est.
An Editor's Choice laptop that combines a lower price with better performance and a standout webcam.
The Guardian89est.
Calls the 13-inch M4 Air the consumer laptop to beat, with fast silent performance, very long battery life and a better webcam at a lower price.
CNN Underscored89est.
Tested the 13- and 15-inch M4 Airs and calls it the best laptop for most people, though a modest update.
Marques Brownlee85est.
The M4 MacBook Air is a highly capable and well-rounded laptop that offers excellent performance for its price point.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict. How we score
What critics praise most
Performance6 of 6
Battery life5 of 6
What critics dislike most
Price3 of 6
Alternatives
Not sure about the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)?
Photo coming
Best for creative work
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)88
7 reviews · agreement highPhoto coming
Best budget pick
Apple MacBook Neo86
20 reviews · agreement highPhoto coming
Best for Windows on Arm
Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition)85
5 reviews · agreement lowPhoto coming
Best Intel Windows pick
Dell XPS 14 (2026)82
7 reviews · agreement highCommon questions
Is the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) worth it?
Most critics think so: 6 of 6 recommend it. It has only two USB-C ports, and upgrades cost a lot.
Do critics agree about the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)?
Agreement is high: scores range from 80 (PCMag UK) to 90 (SlashGear), a spread of 10 points across 6 reviews. Reviewers broadly agree.
What do critics dislike about the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)?
Price (3 of 6 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5) (critic score 88), best for creative work.