MSI Modern 15.6" B13M-1097US vs Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4

MSI Modern 15.6" B13M-1097US, Core i5-1334U, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Classic Black

MSI Modern 15.6" B13M-1097US, Core i5-1334U, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Classic Black

MSI
41 Overall Score
vs
Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 2025, 24GB, 1TB SSD, Sky Blue

Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 2025, 24GB, 1TB SSD, Sky Blue

Apple
89 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

MSI Modern 15.6" B13M-1097US, Core i5-1334U, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Classic Black

No customer feedback yet

Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 2025, 24GB, 1TB SSD, Sky Blue

88 out of 100 high confidence 36 reviews

The MacBook Air M4 is widely praised for its speed, lightweight design, and excellent battery life, making it a strong upgrade from older models. Users highlight its performance in photo and video editing, quiet operation, and improved keyboard. Some concerns include limited storage options and the high cost of Apple's SSD upgrades, but most find the overall value compelling.

Pros
  • Fast performance for photo and video editing
  • Lightweight and highly portable design
  • Excellent battery life
  • Quiet operation with no fan noise
  • Improved keyboard feel
Cons
  • Limited internal storage options
  • High cost of Apple SSD upgrades
  • Only two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports
  • Sky Blue color barely distinguishable from silver
  • macOS can be user-unfriendly with non-transparent controls
👍 Performance 12
👍 Portability 8
👍 Battery life 5
👎 Storage 4
👍 Keyboard 4
👍 Display quality 4

Scores

Compact
MSI
44
Apple
98
Student
MSI
58
Apple
98
Business
MSI
41
Apple
93
Entertainment
MSI
42
Apple
89
Developer
MSI
42
Apple
83
Creator
MSI
22
Apple
66
Ai Llm
MSI
17
Apple
51
Gaming
MSI
13
Apple
26

Specifications

MSI Modern 15.6" B13M-1097USApple MacBook Air 13.6" M4
Processor
CPU*Intel Core i5 1334UApple M4 ★
CPU Multi-Core Score
12,955
23,565
Cores1010
Frequency1.3 GHz★—
L3 Cache12 MB★—
Graphics
GPU*Intel Iris Xe GraphicsApple (10-Core)★
GPU Benchmark Score
2,593
6,795
Typeintegratedintegrated
VRAM TypeSharedUnified
Memory & Storage
RAM16 GB24 GB★
RAM GenerationDDR4LPDDR5★
Storage 1512 GB1 TB★
Storage 1 TypeSSDNVMe SSD★
Display
Size15.6"13.6"
Resolution1920 px2560 px★
PanelIPSIPS
Refresh Rate60 Hz60 Hz
Brightness—500 nits★
Color Gamut45% NTSC—
Connectivity
USB-C Ports12★
USB Ports3★0
Thunderbolt—Thunderbolt 4
HDMI1 x HDMI—
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6EWi-Fi 6E
BluetoothYesBluetooth 5.3★
Ethernet—No
Physical
Weight1.75 kg1.24 kg★
Battery39 Wh54 Wh★
OSWindows 11 HomemacOS

Pros & Cons

MSI Modern 15.6" B13M-1097US, Core i5-1334U, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Classic Black

  • Strong affordability (71st percentile)
  • Below average social proof (8th percentile)8th %ile

Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 2025, 24GB, 1TB SSD, Sky Blue

  • Strong social proof (99th percentile)99th %ile
  • Strong reliability (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong portability (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Below average affordability (28th percentile)

Verdict

★ Winner: Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4

Scores 89 overall, wins 8 of 8 usage categories and 14 of 29 specs.

Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 Better at:

Ai LlmGamingCompactCreatorStudentBusinessDeveloperEntertainment