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MacBook Air 15-inch (M4)
Buy the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) only below its $1,199 launch price, because the 15-inch M5 that replaced it adds Wi-Fi 7 and starts at 512GB of storage.
Product images
MacBook Air 15-inch (M4), from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Buy the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) only below its $1,199 launch price, because the 15-inch M5 that replaced it adds Wi-Fi 7 and starts at 512GB of storage. It shares the M5's 15.3-inch, 500-nit screen and has 16GB of memory, a 256GB drive, a 12MP Center Stage camera, six speakers and up to 18 hours of video streaming. If you already own one, there's little reason to upgrade.
Who it is for
- Anyone after a 15-inch Air on a budget. A discounted M4 still has 16GB of memory and a 10-core CPU and GPU.
- Video callers moving up from an older Air. The 12MP Center Stage camera replaces the 1080p camera of the 15-inch M3.
- Two-monitor users. It drives two external displays at up to 6K with the lid open, which the 15-inch M3 can only do with its lid closed.
- 13-inch M4 owners who want more pixels: 2880 × 1864 instead of 2560 × 1664, plus six speakers.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who needs more than 256GB without paying for an upgrade. The 15-inch M5 starts at 512GB and goes to 4TB; the M4 tops out at 2TB.
- Buyers who want Wi-Fi 7. The M4 has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, and the M5 gets Wi-Fi 7 from Apple's N1 chip.
- Anyone who needs Windows-only software, since it runs macOS.
- Anyone who carries a laptop all day. The 13-inch M4 weighs 1.24 kg (2.7 pounds) to this one's 1.51 kg and launched at $999.
What sets it apart
- 16GB of memory in every model, configurable to 24GB or 32GB.
- A 10-core CPU (4 performance and 6 efficiency cores) and a 10-core GPU in every 15-inch M4; the 13-inch M4 starts at 8 GPU cores.
- A 12MP Center Stage camera that records 1080p video.
- Two external displays at up to 6K and 60Hz, alongside the built-in screen.
- Six speakers with force-cancelling woofers, and a 66.5Wh battery rated for up to 18 hours of video streaming.
Caveats
- The 256GB starting drive is half what the M5 starts with, and the memory is soldered, so buy the storage and memory you'll need later, not just today.
- As the previous model, it sells for different prices at different stores; $1,199 was Apple's US launch price, not today's going rate.
Key specs
In the same order on every laptop page, so you can compare models.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chip / processor | M4: 10-core CPU (4 performance, 6 efficiency), 16-core Neural Engine, 120GB/s bandwidth | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs120GB/s is the unified memory bandwidth; the 15-inch M5 reaches 153GB/s. |
| Graphics | 10-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specsOn the base 13-inch M4, the GPU has 8 cores. |
| Memory options | 16GB unified memory standard; configurable to 24GB or 32GB | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specsFixed at purchase; it's soldered. |
| Storage options | 256GB SSD standard; configurable to 512GB, 1TB or 2TB (no 4TB option) | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Display size | 15.3-inch diagonal Liquid Retina (actual viewable area is less; rounded top corners) | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Display type | LED-backlit IPS Liquid Retina; not touch; not mini-LED XDR | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Display resolution | 2880 × 1864 at 224 ppi | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Refresh rate | No ProMotion or 120Hz mode listed | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Color / HDR | 1 billion colors; wide color (P3); True Tone | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Dimensions | 0.45 × 13.40 × 9.35 in (1.15 × 34.04 × 23.76 cm), height × width × depth | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Weight | 3.3 pounds (1.51 kg) | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specsVaries by configuration and manufacturing process, according to Apple. |
| Chassis material | Aluminum unibody (fanless) | Apple Newsroom, 5 March 2025 |
| Finishes | Sky blue; midnight; starlight; silver | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs; Apple Newsroom |
| Battery capacity | 66.5-watt-hour lithium-polymer | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Battery, wireless web | Up to 15 hours of wireless web | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs (battery footnote)Apple tested preproduction 15-inch M4 units (10-core CPU and GPU, 16GB, 256GB) in January 2025, browsing 25 websites with the brightness 8 clicks up from the bottom. |
| Battery, video playback | Up to 18 hours of video streaming | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs (battery footnote) |
| Charging | 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter and USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable (2 m) in the box; fast charging with the optional 70W USB-C Power Adapter | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Ports | MagSafe 3; 3.5 mm headphone jack; two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Webcam | 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View; 1080p HD video recording | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Speakers | Six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers; Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on the built-in speakers | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Microphones | Three-mic array with directional beamforming; Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID; 78 keys (US) or 79 (ISO), including 12 function keys and inverted-T arrows | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Trackpad | Force Touch trackpad | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3 | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specsThe 15-inch M5 moves to Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7. |
| Operating system | macOS Sequoia at launch, with Apple Intelligence | Apple Newsroom, 5 March 2025; Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| External display support | Two external displays at up to 6K@60, alongside the built-in display | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Security / biometrics | Touch ID in the keyboard | Apple 15-inch M4 tech specs |
| Cooling | Fanless | Apple Newsroom, 5 March 2025 |
| US launch price | $1,199 (education $1,099); the 13-inch M4 started at $999 ($899 education) | Apple Newsroom, 5 March 2025 |
| Price band | Large ultraportable ($1,100–$1,400 at US launch) | Based on Apple's $1,199 starting price |
| Announced | 5 March 2025 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Pre-orders from 5 March 2025; in stores from Wednesday, 12 March 2025; the previous model by 2026 | Apple Newsroom |
MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| 13-inch M4 | MacBook Air 13-inch (M4): 8-core GPU to start, 2560 × 1664 screen, 53.8Wh battery, 1.24 kg | Apple 13-inch M4 tech specs |
| 15-inch M5 (current model) | MacBook Air 15-inch (M5): 512GB to start, up to 4TB, 153GB/s memory bandwidth, Apple N1 wireless chip, 40W Dynamic Power Adapter | Apple 15-inch M5 tech specs |
The 15-inch M4 went on sale on 12 March 2025, a week after Apple announced it at $1,199, and added sky blue to the midnight, starlight and silver finishes. The 15-inch M5 has since replaced it, so the question now is whether the newer model’s changes are worth paying for.
What the M5 changed
| Spec | MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) | MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 256GB to start, up to 2TB | 512GB to start, up to 4TB |
| Memory bandwidth | 120GB/s | 153GB/s |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Apple N1 with Wi-Fi 7 |
| Adapter in the box | 35W Dual USB-C Compact | 40W Dynamic, 60W Max |
| Screen | 15.3-inch, 2880 × 1864, 500 nits | Same |
The screen and the overall design carry over, and memory bandwidth rises from 120GB/s to 153GB/s. If you own an M4, upgrade only when 256GB or Wi-Fi 6E is holding you back. If you’re buying, the M5’s 512GB starting drive is the main reason to choose it over a discounted M4. The MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) guide has the details.
What the M4 added over the 15-inch M3
The M4 made 16GB the standard memory; the 15-inch M3 was sold with 8 or 16GB. It replaced the 1080p camera with a 12MP Center Stage camera, and it runs two external displays at up to 6K with the lid open, where the M3 needs its lid closed for a second one. If you’re choosing between a used M3 and a used M4, those three changes are the difference.
Battery, charging and ports
The 66.5Wh battery is good for up to 18 hours of streamed video or 15 hours of web browsing by Apple’s count, measured in January 2025 on preproduction 16GB, 256GB units. The 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter comes in the box with a 2-meter USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable, and the 70W USB-C Power Adapter was the option for fast charging.
Ports are MagSafe 3, two Thunderbolt 4 and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The Center Stage camera supports Desk View and records 1080p video, three beamforming microphones handle Voice Isolation, and six speakers with force-cancelling woofers play Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.
Software and price
The 15-inch M4 launched with macOS Sequoia and supports Apple Intelligence. It went on sale in the US at $1,199, or $1,099 for education buyers. Since the M5 replaced it, look for it discounted, refurbished or through education stores, and compare a few prices before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Apple Newsroom — MacBook Air with M4 and sky blue — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — MacBook Air (15-inch, M4, 2025) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy the 15-inch M4 or the 15-inch M5?
The M5, unless the M4 is clearly cheaper. The M5 starts with 512GB of storage instead of 256GB, goes to 4TB instead of 2TB and adds Wi-Fi 7 through Apple's N1 chip. The 15.3-inch, 500-nit screen is the same on both.
Will the 15-inch M4 drive two monitors with the lid open?
Yes. It runs two external displays at up to 6K and 60Hz with its own screen still on. The 15-inch M3 before it needed the lid closed to use a second one.
Does the 15-inch M4 come with a fast charger?
No. It ships with the 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter and a 2-meter USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable. Fast charging needs the 70W USB-C Power Adapter, which was an option when you ordered.
How does it compare with the 13-inch M4?
The 15-inch has the bigger 2880 × 1864 screen, a 10-core GPU in every model and six speakers. The 13-inch starts with an 8-core GPU, a 2560 × 1664 screen and a 53.8Wh battery, weighs 1.24 kg (2.7 pounds) against 1.51 kg, and launched at $999 ($899 education) instead of $1,199.
Official product page: MacBook Air 15-inch (M4). Tech specs: MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) specs.