Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5" vs Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5" 2021, Core i5, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Ice Blue
Microsoft
53 Overall Score
vs
Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 2025, 16GB, 1TB SSD, Starlight
Apple
87 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5" 2021, Core i5, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Ice Blue
No customer feedback yet
Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 2025, 16GB, 1TB SSD, Starlight
92 out of 100 low confidence 8 reviews
The MacBook Air M4 is widely praised for its performance, portability, and improved keyboard. Users upgrading from older models note the faster processor, lighter weight, and excellent battery life. The only recurring complaint is the high cost of internal storage upgrades, with many opting for cheaper external drives instead.
Pros
- Fast M4 processor
- Lightweight and portable
- Excellent battery life
- Improved keyboard feel
- Beautiful display
Cons
- Expensive internal storage upgrades
- Only 2 USB/Thunderbolt ports
- Requires external storage for large files
Performance 5
Portability 4
Battery life 2
Keyboard quality 3
Display quality 3
Storage cost 2
Scores
Compact
Student
Business
Entertainment
Developer
Creator
Ai Llm
Gaming
Specifications
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5" | Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Intel Core i5 1145G7 | Apple M4 ★ |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 4 | 10★ |
| Frequency | 2.6 GHz★ | — |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB★ | — |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Apple (10-Core)★ |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | integrated | integrated |
| VRAM Type | Shared | Unified |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Generation | LPDDR4X | LPDDR5★ |
| Storage 1 | 512 GB | 1 TB★ |
| Storage 1 Type | SSD | NVMe SSD★ |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.5" | 13.6" |
| Resolution | 2256 px | 2560 px★ |
| Panel | LCD | IPS★ |
| Refresh Rate | — | 60 Hz★ |
| Brightness | — | 500 nits★ |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | 1 | 2★ |
| USB Ports | 1★ | 0 |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 4 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E★ |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 5.3★ |
| Ethernet | — | No |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 1.29 kg | 1.24 kg★ |
| Battery | 47 Wh | 54 Wh★ |
| OS | Windows 10 Home | macOS |
Pros & Cons
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5" 2021, Core i5, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Ice Blue
- Strong portability (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong reliability (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Strong screen (79th percentile)
- Below average cpu (31st percentile)
- Below average port selection (31st percentile)
Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 2025, 16GB, 1TB SSD, Starlight
- Strong reliability (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong social proof (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong portability (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Below average affordability (31st percentile)
Verdict
Winner: Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4
Scores 87 overall, wins 8 of 8 usage categories and 17 of 27 specs.