Apple MacBook Air 13-inch
- Chip:
- Apple M4
- RAM:
- 16GB unified memory
- Storage:
- 256GB soldered SSD
- Display:
- 13.6" Liquid Retina 60Hz
- Weight:
- 1.24kg
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Manufacturer: Apple Last updated: 2026-09-21
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4, 16GB, 256GB) Review
The 13-inch MacBook Air with the Apple M4 chip ships with a 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD, all soldered into a fanless 1.24kg chassis.
This is the base memory tier Apple sells, and it's worth understanding what soldered means here: there is no RAM slot, no storage slot, nothing to open. What you order is what you own until you sell the machine. For most web, office and light creative use 16GB is enough; it is not enough headroom for heavy multitasking or professional editing work.
Performance
The M4's 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU run fanless in this chassis, so sustained heavy workloads will throttle before a MacBook Pro with active cooling would. For everyday productivity, browsing and light creative work this is not a practical limitation.
Upgradability
RAM: no. 16GB of unified memory is fabricated on the same package as the chip. Storage: no. The 256GB SSD is soldered directly to the logic board, with no M.2 slot of any kind. Buy the configuration you'll need in three years, not just today.
Battery life
Apple rates the 53.8Wh battery for up to 18 hours of video playback, among the best in this weight class, a direct result of the fanless M4 platform's efficiency.
Display
The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display covers full sRGB at 500 nits typical brightness. It is not a Mini LED or OLED panel, so it lacks the higher peak brightness and HDR contrast of the MacBook Pro line.
Design and ports
At 1.24kg this is one of the lightest 13-inch laptops sold. Ports are limited to two USB4 Thunderbolt-capable ports and a MagSafe 3 connector; there's no dedicated HDMI or SD card slot.
Specifications
Identity and variant
| Brand | Apple |
|---|---|
| Series | MacBook Air |
| Series ID | macbook-air-13-m4 |
| SKU Name | M4 / 16GB / 256GB |
| Region Sold | Global |
Class and platform
| Laptop Class | Thin and Light |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2025 |
| Operating System | macOS |
| Weight | 1.24 kg |
Processor
| CPU Brand | Apple |
|---|---|
| CPU Model | Apple M4 |
| CPU Cores | 10 |
Graphics
| GPU Brand | Apple |
|---|---|
| GPU Model | Apple M4 GPU (8-core) |
| VRAM | 0 GB |
| Graphics Switching | Integrated Only |
Memory
| RAM Capacity | 16 GB |
|---|---|
| RAM Type | Unified Memory |
| Memory Form Factor | On Package Unified |
| Memory Soldered | Yes |
| Max RAM Supported | 32 GB |
Upgradability
| RAM Slots | 0 |
|---|---|
| RAM Slots Free | 0 |
| Storage Slots | 0 |
| Storage Slots Free | 0 |
| Storage Form Factor | Soldered |
| SATA Bay Present | No |
Storage as shipped
| Storage Capacity | 256 GB |
|---|---|
| Storage Type | Soldered NVMe |
Display
| Display Size | 13.6 inches |
|---|---|
| Resolution Width | 2560 px |
| Resolution Height | 1664 px |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Brightness | 500 nits |
| Brightness Condition | SDR Typical |
| sRGB Coverage | 100 % |
| Touchscreen | No |
Battery and ports
| Battery Capacity | 53.8 Wh |
|---|---|
| Thunderbolt Support | USB4 |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6E |
Provenance
| Source URL | https://www.apple.com/macbook-air-13-and-15-m4/specs/ |
|---|
Expert Review
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Best for
- Buyers who want the lightest, quietest MacBook Air
- Web browsing, office work and light creative tasks
- Anyone prioritising battery life over expandability
Not for
- Anyone who might want more storage or RAM later
- Heavy multitasking or professional video and photo editing
- Buyers who need more than two ports without a hub