Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) vs Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 9)
Laptops comparison: specs, VersusAnything Score, key differences and a clear recommendation.
If you are torn between Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) and Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 9), this page lays out every specification that separates them and what each one means in use. The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 is Apple's thinnest and most popular laptop, now starting with 16 GB of memory and a 12 MP Center Stage camera. The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 is a premium 2-in-1 with a rotating soundbar hinge, a 2.8K OLED touchscreen and Intel Core Ultra 7 at a mid-premium price.
Quick verdict
With VersusAnything Scores of 52 and 53, neither laptop has a meaningful overall lead. Decide on the rows you will feel daily: MacBook Air M4 for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop, Lenovo Yoga 9i for people who want a convertible for notes, sketches and films.
VersusAnything Score
Scores are calculated from measurable specifications normalised within the laptops category and weighted by the factors above. Text-only rows (such as chipset or operating system) are explained but not scored. How the score works.
Side-by-side overview
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4)
The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 is Apple's thinnest and most popular laptop, now starting with 16 GB of memory and a 12 MP Center Stage camera.
Best for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop
Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 9)
The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 is a premium 2-in-1 with a rotating soundbar hinge, a 2.8K OLED touchscreen and Intel Core Ultra 7 at a mid-premium price.
Best for people who want a convertible for notes, sketches and films
Key differences
- Screen size: MacBook Air M4 13.6" vs Lenovo Yoga 9i 14" — a preference, not a scored win
- Resolution: MacBook Air M4 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina (IPS) vs Lenovo Yoga 9i 2880 x 1800 OLED touch — a preference, not a scored win
- Processor: MacBook Air M4 Apple M4 (10-core) vs Lenovo Yoga 9i Intel Core Ultra 7 155H — a preference, not a scored win
- Graphics: MacBook Air M4 Integrated 8-core (M4) vs Lenovo Yoga 9i Intel Arc (integrated) — a preference, not a scored win
- Ports: MacBook Air M4 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm vs Lenovo Yoga 9i 2x Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, 3.5 mm — a preference, not a scored win
Specification comparison table
| Specification | MacBook Air M4 | Lenovo Yoga 9i |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6" | 14" |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina (IPS) | 2880 x 1800 OLED touch |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Weight | 1.24 kg | 1.37 kg |
| Processor | Apple M4 (10-core) | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Base SSD | 256 GB | 1,024 GB |
| Graphics | Integrated 8-core (M4) | Intel Arc (integrated) |
| Rated battery life | 18 h | 15 h |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm | 2x Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, 3.5 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 |
| Launch price (USD) | $999 | $1,399 |
Display: MacBook Air M4 vs Lenovo Yoga 9i Score: MacBook Air M4 12 · Lenovo Yoga 9i 59
For screen size, MacBook Air M4 uses 13.6" whereas Lenovo Yoga 9i goes with 14". This is a preference rather than a scored win: a bigger screen helps multitasking but adds bulk to your bag. MacBook Air M4: 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina (IPS). Lenovo Yoga 9i: 2880 x 1800 OLED touch. Neither is scored, but resolution and panel type decide how sharp text looks and how good the colours are for creative work.
Lenovo Yoga 9i offers 120 Hz of refresh rate while MacBook Air M4 stops at 60 Hz; the 60 Hz gap matters because a higher refresh rate makes scrolling and cursor movement feel smoother.
Portability: MacBook Air M4 vs Lenovo Yoga 9i Score: MacBook Air M4 71 · Lenovo Yoga 9i 47
On weight, MacBook Air M4 keeps it to 1.24 kg while Lenovo Yoga 9i lists 1.37 kg. That 0.13 kg edge counts since every hundred grams matters if the laptop lives in a backpack.
Performance: MacBook Air M4 vs Lenovo Yoga 9i Score: MacBook Air M4 27 · Lenovo Yoga 9i 57
MacBook Air M4: Apple M4 (10-core). Lenovo Yoga 9i: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H. Neither is scored, but the processor sets single-core snappiness and multi-core rendering speed. Both list 16 GB for RAM, so nothing separates them here.
Lenovo Yoga 9i offers 1,024 GB of base SSD while MacBook Air M4 stops at 256 GB; the 768 GB gap matters because a larger base SSD saves you from paying for an upgrade or carrying an external drive. For graphics, MacBook Air M4 uses Integrated 8-core (M4) whereas Lenovo Yoga 9i goes with Intel Arc (integrated). This is a preference rather than a scored win: graphics decide whether the laptop can handle gaming and GPU-accelerated video editing.
Battery: MacBook Air M4 vs Lenovo Yoga 9i Score: MacBook Air M4 50 · Lenovo Yoga 9i 32
MacBook Air M4 leads on rated battery life with 18 h versus 15 h, a margin of 3 h. In practice the manufacturer's rating is optimistic, but it is still useful for relative comparison.
Ports: MacBook Air M4 vs Lenovo Yoga 9i
The two differ on ports (2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm against 2x Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, 3.5 mm), and port selection decides how many dongles you carry.
Value: MacBook Air M4 vs Lenovo Yoga 9i Score: MacBook Air M4 100 · Lenovo Yoga 9i 62
The two differ on operating system (macOS against Windows 11), and the OS determines software compatibility and how the laptop fits with your phone.
MacBook Air M4 is better on launch price (USD) at $999 against $1,399, a $400 difference; lower is better because launch price is the cleanest baseline for value.
Pros and cons
MacBook Air M4
Pros
- Fanless and silent
- 16 GB memory standard
- Up to 18 hours of battery
- Better weight (1.24 kg)
- Better rated battery life (18 h)
- Better launch price (USD) ($999)
Cons
- Weaker refresh rate (60 Hz)
- Weaker base SSD (256 GB)
Lenovo Yoga 9i
Pros
- Rotating soundbar hinge
- 2.8K OLED touchscreen
- Pen included
- Better weight (1.37 kg)
- Better rated battery life (15 h)
- Better launch price (USD) ($1,399)
Cons
- Weaker refresh rate (120 Hz)
- Weaker base SSD (1,024 GB)
Which one should you buy?
Choose Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) for…
Students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop. It stands out for fanless and silent, 16 gb memory standard, up to 18 hours of battery.
Choose Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 9) for…
People who want a convertible for notes, sketches and films. It stands out for rotating soundbar hinge, 2.8k oled touchscreen, pen included.
Final verdict
With VersusAnything Scores of 52 and 53, neither laptop has a meaningful overall lead. Decide on the rows you will feel daily: MacBook Air M4 for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop, Lenovo Yoga 9i for people who want a convertible for notes, sketches and films. The VersusAnything Score is a transparent starting point, not a command; weight the rows you care about and the right answer for you may differ.
Compare with another laptop
Frequently asked questions
Is MacBook Air M4 better than Lenovo Yoga 9i?
Not overall: they score 52 and 53 on our category weighting, which we treat as level. MacBook Air M4 is the better fit for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop, and Lenovo Yoga 9i for people who want a convertible for notes, sketches and films.
What is the biggest difference between MacBook Air M4 and Lenovo Yoga 9i?
The largest gap is screen size: MacBook Air M4 lists 13.6" while Lenovo Yoga 9i lists 14". A bigger screen helps multitasking but adds bulk to your bag.
Which is cheaper, MacBook Air M4 or Lenovo Yoga 9i?
MacBook Air M4 is cheaper on launch price (USD): $999 against $1,399 for Lenovo Yoga 9i. Street prices vary by country and retailer, so check current offers.
Who should choose Lenovo Yoga 9i over MacBook Air M4?
Lenovo Yoga 9i is the better fit for people who want a convertible for notes, sketches and films. Its strongest points are rotating soundbar hinge, 2.8k oled touchscreen, pen included.
Sources
- MacBook Air M4: Apple product page (manufacturer)
- Lenovo Yoga 9i: Lenovo Yoga page (manufacturer)
Specifications last verified: 2026-10-01. Prices are launch or official list prices in US dollars unless stated. See our sources and data policy.