Laptops · Ranked #4 of 43 · Runner-up

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)

Name: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)
Brand: Apple

Highly rated

Average of 7 professional reviews

7 of 7 recommend it · critics agree

Where the 7 reviews landedRange 80–90

5060708010087 avg

Score printed by the outlet Estimated from the verdict

Exact average 86.7 · 2 printed, 5 estimated · printed scores only: 85

Image: Apple

7 professional reviewers tested the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4), and 7 recommend it. Most praised: performance and battery life. Most common complaint: price.

Reviewed by SlashGear, PCMag UK, Laptop Mag and 4 more

The catch: It has only two USB-C ports, and upgrades cost a lot.

5 of these 7 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text, then adjusted the estimates against the ratings outlets actually print (ours ran slightly low). An estimate is never higher than 92.

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What 7 critics said

Highest score first · all converted to 0–100

90
SlashGearHands-on review · 2025
Calls the M4 Air nearly unsurpassable for a thin-and-light laptop thanks to strong performance, efficiency and 16GB RAM at no extra cost.
Read SlashGear review
80
PCMag UKHands-on review · 2025
An Editors' Choice pick that is faster, cheaper and longer-lasting than its predecessor.
Read PCMag UK review
89est.
Laptop MagNo printed score · Hands-on review
An Editor's Choice laptop that combines a lower price with better performance and a standout webcam.
Read Laptop Mag review
89est.
CNN UnderscoredNo printed score · Hands-on review · 2025
Tested the 13- and 15-inch M4 Airs and calls it the best laptop for most people, though a modest update.
Read CNN Underscored review
89est.
The GuardianNo printed score · Hands-on review · 2025
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.
Read The Guardian review
85est.
Just JoshNo printed score · Video review · 2025
The M4 MacBook Air is a highly capable and efficient laptop that offers a significant performance boost over its predecessors, making it an excellent choice for most users.
Read Just Josh review
85est.
Marques BrownleeNo printed score · Video review · 2025
The M4 MacBook Air is a highly capable and well-rounded laptop that offers excellent performance for its price point.
Read Marques Brownlee review

"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates

Watch a video review

Just Josh on YouTube ↗Counted in the score: 85
Marques Brownlee on YouTube ↗Counted in the score: 85

From YouTube channels we vetted by hand. Videos paid for by the brand are never listed.

How it compares

Direct comparisons by professional outlets, exact models only, in our words. Shown as evidence; they never change the critic score.

vs Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)86

9to5Mac (2025): it depends. Choose this one if: you have everyday workloads and want to save money; recommended for most users.
ZDNET (2026): it depends. Choose this one if: you travel often, want the lightest machine and a lower price, and your workloads are moderate.

vs Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition)84

Windows Central (2025) picks the Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition). Still choose this one if: you prioritize the lightest design and the stronger chip and accept a 60Hz screen.
Fstoppers (2025) picks the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4).