Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 8.3 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the cheaper option at $1,449. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 15 (M4) leads overall, while the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (Geekbench multi 14,900 vs 13,200).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (18.4h vs 16h web).
- Lighter: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) (1.34 kg vs 1.51 kg).
- Display: IPS (Liquid Retina) (Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4)) vs IPS (PixelSense) (Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)).
- Cheaper: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) (saves about $200 CAD).
MacBook Air 15 (M4) vs Surface Laptop 7 (13.8): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 14,900 against 13,200 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) — roughly 13% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) averaged 38 FPS versus 16 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 16 hours. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is also easier to carry at 1.34 kg versus 1.51 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) uses a 15.3-inch IPS (Liquid Retina) panel (2880 x 1864, 60Hz), while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) has a 13.8-inch IPS (PixelSense) panel (2304 x 1536, 120Hz). The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) measured brighter at 596 nits, and covered 82% of DCI-P3 — relevant for outdoor use and colour work.
Price and value: the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $200 less than the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4). Weighed against our test scores (8.5 vs 8.3 overall), the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) offers the better value for the money, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the stronger laptop outright if budget is not the deciding factor.
For the complete testing data, read our full Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) review and Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the MacBook Air 15 (M4) and the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | MacBook Air 15 (M4) | Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.5 ✓ | 8.3 |
| Price (CAD) | $1,649 | $1,449 ✓ |
| CPU | Apple M4 (10-core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus |
| GPU | Apple M4 GPU (10-core) | Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) |
| RAM | 16GB Unified LPDDR5x | 16GB LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 512GB | 512GB |
| Display | 15.3" IPS (Liquid Retina) | 13.8" IPS (PixelSense) |
| Brightness | 482 nits | 596 nits ✓ |
| Battery (web) | 18.4 h ✓ | 16 h |
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 1.34 kg ✓ |
| Geekbench multi | 14,900 ✓ | 13,200 |
| Gaming (1080p) | 38 fps ✓ | 16 fps |
| OS | macOS | Windows 11 |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) | 1-year limited |
Which Should You Buy?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 8.3 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the cheaper option at $1,449. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 15 (M4) leads overall, while the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the MacBook Air 15 (M4) or the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 8.3 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the cheaper option at $1,449. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 15 (M4) leads overall, while the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Which is better for school?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for school.
Which is better for business?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for business.
Which is better for gaming?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for multimedia.
Which is better for programming?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for programming.
Which is better for travel?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for travel.
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