Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) vs Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
Both run the M4 and offer the same all-day battery life; the choice is mostly size and price. The 13-inch Air is lighter and cheaper, while the 15-inch Air has a bigger screen and slightly faster graphics. Choose the 13 for portability and value; choose the 15 for screen space.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (Geekbench multi 14,900 vs 14,800).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (18.4h vs 18h web).
- Lighter: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (1.24 kg vs 1.51 kg).
- Cheaper: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (saves about $300 CAD).
MacBook Air 13 (M4) vs MacBook Air 15 (M4): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 14,900 against 14,800 for the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) — roughly 1% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) averaged 38 FPS versus 34 FPS. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) lasts longer away from a charger, running 18.4 hours in our web-browsing test versus 18 hours. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is also easier to carry at 1.24 kg versus 1.51 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) uses a 13.6-inch IPS (Liquid Retina) panel (2560 x 1664, 60Hz), while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) has a 15.3-inch IPS (Liquid Retina) panel (2880 x 1864, 60Hz). The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) measured brighter at 482 nits, and covered 96% of DCI-P3 — relevant for outdoor use and colour work.
Price and value: the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $300 less than the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4). Weighed against our test scores (8.5 vs 8.5 overall), the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) offers the better value for the money, while the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the stronger laptop outright if budget is not the deciding factor.
For the complete testing data, read our full Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) review and Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the MacBook Air 13 (M4) and the MacBook Air 15 (M4) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | MacBook Air 13 (M4) | MacBook Air 15 (M4) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Price (CAD) | $1,349 ✓ | $1,649 |
| CPU | Apple M4 (10-core) | Apple M4 (10-core) |
| GPU | Apple M4 GPU (8-core) | Apple M4 GPU (10-core) |
| RAM | 16GB Unified LPDDR5x | 16GB Unified LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 256GB | 512GB ✓ |
| Display | 13.6" IPS (Liquid Retina) | 15.3" IPS (Liquid Retina) |
| Brightness | 476 nits | 482 nits ✓ |
| Battery (web) | 18 h | 18.4 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.24 kg ✓ | 1.51 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 14,800 | 14,900 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 34 fps | 38 fps ✓ |
| OS | macOS | macOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) |
Which Should You Buy?
Both run the M4 and offer the same all-day battery life; the choice is mostly size and price. The 13-inch Air is lighter and cheaper, while the 15-inch Air has a bigger screen and slightly faster graphics. Choose the 13 for portability and value; choose the 15 for screen space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the MacBook Air 13 (M4) or the MacBook Air 15 (M4)?
Both run the M4 and offer the same all-day battery life; the choice is mostly size and price. The 13-inch Air is lighter and cheaper, while the 15-inch Air has a bigger screen and slightly faster graphics. Choose the 13 for portability and value; choose the 15 for screen space.
Which is better for portability?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for portability.
Which is better for value?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for value.
Which is better for screen size?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for screen size.
Which is better for performance?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for performance.
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