Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) vs Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4)
Laptops comparison: specs, VersusAnything Score, key differences and a clear recommendation.
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) and Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) are two of the most cross-shopped laptops right now, and the gap between them is narrower in some rows and wider in others than the marketing suggests. 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 15-inch MacBook Air M4 gives you the biggest fanless Apple laptop, with 16 GB of memory, six speakers and up to 18 hours of battery at $1,199.
Quick verdict
MacBook Air M4 scores 52 to MacBook Air 15 M4's 40 on our category weighting, making it the stronger overall pick for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop. MacBook Air 15 M4 remains the right call for people who want a big screen in a silent, thin laptop.
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
Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4)
The 15-inch MacBook Air M4 gives you the biggest fanless Apple laptop, with 16 GB of memory, six speakers and up to 18 hours of battery at $1,199.
Best for people who want a big screen in a silent, thin laptop
Key differences
- Screen size: MacBook Air M4 13.6" vs MacBook Air 15 M4 15.3" — a preference, not a scored win
- Resolution: MacBook Air M4 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina (IPS) vs MacBook Air 15 M4 2880 x 1864 Liquid Retina (IPS) — a preference, not a scored win
- Graphics: MacBook Air M4 Integrated 8-core (M4) vs MacBook Air 15 M4 Integrated 10-core (M4) — a preference, not a scored win
- Weight: MacBook Air M4 1.24 kg vs MacBook Air 15 M4 1.51 kg — MacBook Air M4 is better here
- Launch price (USD): MacBook Air M4 $999 vs MacBook Air 15 M4 $1,199 — MacBook Air M4 is better here
Specification comparison table
| Specification | MacBook Air M4 | MacBook Air 15 M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6" | 15.3" |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina (IPS) | 2880 x 1864 Liquid Retina (IPS) |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Weight | 1.24 kg | 1.51 kg |
| Processor | Apple M4 (10-core) | Apple M4 (10-core) |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Base SSD | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| Graphics | Integrated 8-core (M4) | Integrated 10-core (M4) |
| Rated battery life | 18 h | 18 h |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm | 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Launch price (USD) | $999 | $1,199 |
Display: MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air 15 M4 Score: MacBook Air M4 12 · MacBook Air 15 M4 12
MacBook Air M4: 13.6". MacBook Air 15 M4: 15.3". Neither is scored, but a bigger screen helps multitasking but adds bulk to your bag. For resolution, MacBook Air M4 uses 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina (IPS) whereas MacBook Air 15 M4 goes with 2880 x 1864 Liquid Retina (IPS). This is a preference rather than a scored win: resolution and panel type decide how sharp text looks and how good the colours are for creative work.
On refresh rate the two match exactly (60 Hz).
Portability: MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air 15 M4 Score: MacBook Air M4 71 · MacBook Air 15 M4 29
MacBook Air M4 is better on weight at 1.24 kg against 1.51 kg, a 0.27 kg difference; lower is better because every hundred grams matters if the laptop lives in a backpack.
Performance: MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air 15 M4 Score: MacBook Air M4 27 · MacBook Air 15 M4 27
Both list Apple M4 (10-core) for processor, so nothing separates them here. Both list 16 GB for RAM, so nothing separates them here.
On base SSD the two match exactly (256 GB). For graphics, MacBook Air M4 uses Integrated 8-core (M4) whereas MacBook Air 15 M4 goes with Integrated 10-core (M4). 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 MacBook Air 15 M4 Score: MacBook Air M4 50 · MacBook Air 15 M4 50
Both list 18 h for rated battery life, so nothing separates them here.
Ports: MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air 15 M4
Both list 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm for ports, so nothing separates them here.
Value: MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air 15 M4 Score: MacBook Air M4 100 · MacBook Air 15 M4 79
Operating system is identical at macOS.
On launch price (USD), MacBook Air M4 keeps it to $999 while MacBook Air 15 M4 lists $1,199. That $200 edge counts since 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 launch price (USD) ($999)
Cons
- No scored row lost in this matchup
MacBook Air 15 M4
Pros
- Largest fanless MacBook
- Six-speaker sound system
- 18-hour battery
- Better weight (1.51 kg)
- Better launch price (USD) ($1,199)
Cons
- No scored row lost in this matchup
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 Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) for…
People who want a big screen in a silent, thin laptop. It stands out for largest fanless macbook, six-speaker sound system, 18-hour battery.
Final verdict
On the VersusAnything Score, Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) finishes ahead, 52 to 40. It is the better buy for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop; for people who want a big screen in a silent, thin laptop, MacBook Air 15 M4 still makes more sense. 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 MacBook Air 15 M4?
On the VersusAnything Score, MacBook Air M4 finishes ahead 52 to 40. That makes MacBook Air M4 the better overall pick for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop, while MacBook Air 15 M4 is still the right choice for people who want a big screen in a silent, thin laptop.
What is the biggest difference between MacBook Air M4 and MacBook Air 15 M4?
The largest gap is screen size: MacBook Air M4 lists 13.6" while MacBook Air 15 M4 lists 15.3". A bigger screen helps multitasking but adds bulk to your bag.
Which is cheaper, MacBook Air M4 or MacBook Air 15 M4?
MacBook Air M4 is cheaper on launch price (USD): $999 against $1,199 for MacBook Air 15 M4. Street prices vary by country and retailer, so check current offers.
Who should choose MacBook Air 15 M4 over MacBook Air M4?
MacBook Air 15 M4 is the better fit for people who want a big screen in a silent, thin laptop. Its strongest points are largest fanless macbook, six-speaker sound system, 18-hour battery.
Sources
- MacBook Air M4: Apple product page (manufacturer)
- MacBook Air 15 M4: Apple MacBook Air 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.