Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) vs Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 8.3 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option at $1,349. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 13 (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 13 (M4) (Geekbench multi 14,800 vs 13,200).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (18h vs 16h web).
- Lighter: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (1.24 kg vs 1.34 kg).
- Display: IPS (PixelSense) (Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)) vs IPS (Liquid Retina) (Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4)).
- Cheaper: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (saves about $100 CAD).
Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) vs MacBook Air 13 (M4): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 14,800 against 13,200 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) — roughly 12% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) averaged 34 FPS versus 16 FPS. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) lasts longer away from a charger, running 18 hours in our web-browsing test versus 16 hours. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is also easier to carry at 1.24 kg versus 1.34 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) uses a 13.8-inch IPS (PixelSense) panel (2304 x 1536, 120Hz), while the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) has a 13.6-inch IPS (Liquid Retina) panel (2560 x 1664, 60Hz). 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 Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $100 less than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8). Weighed against our test scores (8.3 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) review and Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) and the MacBook Air 13 (M4) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) | MacBook Air 13 (M4) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.3 | 8.5 ✓ |
| Price (CAD) | $1,449 | $1,349 ✓ |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus | Apple M4 (10-core) |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) | Apple M4 GPU (8-core) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x | 16GB Unified LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 512GB ✓ | 256GB |
| Display | 13.8" IPS (PixelSense) | 13.6" IPS (Liquid Retina) |
| Brightness | 596 nits ✓ | 476 nits |
| Battery (web) | 16 h | 18 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.34 kg | 1.24 kg ✓ |
| Geekbench multi | 13,200 | 14,800 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 16 fps | 34 fps ✓ |
| OS | Windows 11 | macOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) |
Which Should You Buy?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 8.3 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option at $1,349. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 13 (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 Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) or the MacBook Air 13 (M4)?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 8.3 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option at $1,349. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 13 (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 13 (M4) is the better choice for school.
Which is better for business?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for business.
Which is better for gaming?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for multimedia.
Which is better for programming?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for programming.
Which is better for travel?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for travel.
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