If you want a thin, quiet laptop that lasts all day and just works, the MacBook Air 13 is still the default choice. The M4 refresh adds more speed, a better camera, and support for two external displays with the lid open. In India, the right configuration matters more than ever because RAM and storage are fixed at purchase.
Key specs
Short Answer: The MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the easiest premium laptop to recommend in 2025 for students, writers, and business users. Expect ~16 hours of light web work at modest brightness and ~7 hours if you crank the screen. Get 16GB/512GB if you can stretch. It now drives two external 6K displays plus the built-in screen.
At a glance:
- Chip: Apple M4 (10-core CPU; 8- or 10-core GPU)
- Memory: 16GB base, up to 32GB (unified)
- Storage: 256GB–2TB
- Display: 13.6″ Liquid Retina, 500 nits, P3, True Tone
- Battery: 53.8Wh; up to 15h web / 18h video per Apple
- Ports: MagSafe, 2× Thunderbolt 4, 3.5mm
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.3
- Weight: 1.24 kg
- External displays: up to two 6K/60 + built-in
- Webcam: 12MP Center Stage
- India price: starts near ₹99,900-₹1,19,900 depending on SKU and promos.
Price in India and best time to buy
Apple’s 13-inch M4 Air is listed around ₹99,900 for 16GB/256GB on Apple India (occasionally higher depending on finish/GPU), with 512GB models stepping up. Seasonal bank-card offers and exchange deals on retailers like Flipkart can bring the effective price down. Watch for festive period sales and education pricing.
What’s new vs M3/M2
- Base memory is now 16GB. That removes the old 8GB bottleneck for multitasking.
- Dual-monitor support with lid open. You can run two 6K external displays plus the built-in panel something the M3 Air couldn’t do without closing the lid.
- 12MP Center Stage camera for sharper, better-framed video calls.
Performance and thermals
Method and references: We rely on repeatable public tests (Geekbench 6), colleague labs, and long-form reviews from Notebookcheck to ground expectations.
What the numbers say: Typical Geekbench 6 runs show ~3,700 single-core and ~14,800 multi-core on a base M4 Air (16GB/256GB). Single-threaded responsiveness is excellent, and multi-core holds up for bursts like code compiles or photo exports.
So…what can you do?
- Coding: Xcode or VS Code workloads feel instant; Docker is workable if you’re modest with containers.
- Photo/video: Lightroom and 4K H.264 edits are comfortable; heavy plugins or multi-layer 10-bit timelines belong on a Pro.
- AI/ML: Apple Intelligence and on-device tasks benefit from the Neural Engine; pro-grade local LLM fine-tuning still prefers a discrete-GPU Windows rig.
Thermals and noise: The Air stays fanless and quiet. Under longer loads it will throttle a bit to hold temperatures, but for everyday bursts you won’t notice. Notebookcheck’s data and our experience suggest surface temps remain comfortable in office use.
Battery and charging results
Short Answer: Expect a full workday at moderate brightness; ~16 hours of web at ~150 nits is realistic, while ~7 hours at max brightness is a fair worst-case. The 30W/35W bricks are fine; use a 70W USB-C to fast-charge.
- Apple quotes up to 15h web / 18h video. Real life varies with brightness and apps.
- Battery is 53.8Wh on the 13-inch model.
- The 13-inch includes a 30W adapter (8-core GPU SKU) or 35W dual-port (10-core GPU SKU); both can fast-charge with 70W.
Display quality and color
The 13.6-inch IPS “Liquid Retina” covers P3 and hits 500 nits. Text looks crisp; colors are accurate out of the box. If you often work outdoors at noon or crave HDR creator-level brightness, you’ll want a MacBook Pro’s XDR panel or a Windows OLED.
Keyboard, trackpad, speakers, webcam
- Keyboard remains excellent for long typing sessions.
- Trackpad is still the class leader.
- Speakers are loud and clean for a 13-inch.
- The 12MP Center Stage webcam is a real upgrade for Meet/Zoom.
Ports and external displays
You get MagSafe, 2× TB4/USB4, and a 3.5mm jack. No HDMI or SD.
Good news: M4 Air finally drives two external 6K/60 displays with the built-in screen active. Use a proper USB-C/Thunderbolt dock for clean cabling.
Connectivity, storage, serviceability
Wi-Fi 6E and BT 5.3 are standard. RAM and SSD are not user-upgradeable, so pick the right configuration on day one.
Best configuration to buy in India (by use case)
Students / general work
- 16GB / 512GB (8-core GPU fine). Headroom for Chrome tabs, Office, light coding, and a photo app.
- Add a USB-C hub for HDMI/USB-A if your college uses projectors.
Creators / light video
- 16GB / 1TB (10-core GPU helpful for effects). If you often grade HDR or run lots of plugins, consider a 14-inch Pro.
Business travelers / writers
- 16GB / 512GB; carry a 70W USB-C compact charger for quick top-ups between meetings.
Rivals and how the Air compares
- Dell XPS 13 (Core Ultra) – gorgeous build, strong Windows ecosystem, but shorter battery at similar weights and fewer “it just works” moments on the road.
- Surface Laptop 13 – excellent keyboard and Windows integration; battery trails M4 Air in many reviews.
- ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED – stunning OLED and great value; fans spin under load; battery can dip with OLED at high brightness.
- MacBook Pro 14 – far brighter 120Hz XDR, more ports; heavier and pricier.
(General category notes corroborated by current guides.)
Who should skip it
- You need native Windows or heavy RTX-class GPU work.
- You demand HDR mastering or 120Hz get a MacBook Pro or a high-end Windows OLED.
Buying checklist (quick scan)
- 16GB RAM is now the minimum good.
- Prefer 512GB if you keep RAW photos or offline video.
- Budget for a USB-C hub or TB dock if you need HDMI/USB-A/SD.
- Expect ~16h light use at modest brightness; ~7h at max.
- Yes, two external monitors with the lid open.
Comparison table (quick view)
| Model | CPU/GPU | Display | Weight | Battery (claimed) | Ports | India street notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 13 (M4) | M4 10-core CPU / 8–10-core GPU | 13.6″ IPS, 500 nits, P3 | 1.24 kg | 15h web / 18h video | MagSafe, 2×TB4, 3.5mm | ~₹1.0–1.2L, offers common |
| Dell XPS 13 (Core Ultra) | Intel Core Ultra | 13″ IPS/OLED options | ~1.17 kg | Varies | 2×TB4 | Premium price; fewer “all-day” wins |
| Surface Laptop 13 | Intel | 13.8″ IPS | ~1.34 kg | Varies | 2×USB-C + 1×USB-A (varies) | Great keyboard, battery trails |
| Zenbook 14 OLED | AMD/Intel | 14″ OLED | ~1.2–1.3 kg | Good at lower brightness | Mixed | Terrific screen; fans under load |
Conclusion
Score: 4.7/5
For most people in India, the MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the right laptop. It’s light, silent, fast enough, and finally flexible with two external displays. Buy 16GB/512GB if you can. Creators who live in HDR, 120Hz, or heavy plugins should step up to a MacBook Pro.
FAQ
Does the MacBook Air 13 have HDMI or SD?
No. Use a USB-C hub or a TB4 dock.
Is the screen OLED or mini-LED?
Neither. It’s IPS (“Liquid Retina”) at 500 nits with P3 color.
How heavy is it?
1.24 kg, easy to carry daily.
Which charger is in the box?
30W with the 8-core GPU config; 35W dual-port with the 10-core GPU config. Fast-charge works with a 70W adapter.
Good for programming?
Yes for most languages and tools. For heavy local containers or emulators, bump RAM to 24–32GB.
Can I upgrade RAM/SSD later?
No unified memory and storage are soldered. Pick right at purchase.
Is 16GB RAM enough on the MacBook Air 13?
Yes for students, office work, browsing, coding, and light photo/video. If you run big Lightroom catalogs or many Docker containers, consider 24–32GB. You can’t upgrade later, so buy once.
Can the MacBook Air 13 run two monitors?
Yes. The M4 model supports up to two 6K/60 external displays plus the built-in screen when the lid is open. Use a Thunderbolt dock or dual USB-C displays.
How long does the battery last?
Apple rates it up to 15h web/18h video. Independent tests show ~16h web at ~150 nits and roughly 7h at maximum brightness. Your apps and brightness are the swing factors.
What’s the MacBook Air 13 price in India?
The 16GB/256GB 13-inch M4 Air typically starts near ₹99,900–₹1,19,900 depending on configuration and promos. Watch for bank offers and exchange deals during sales.
M3 vs M4: what changed that matters?
Base 16GB RAM, dual-monitor support with the lid open, and a 12MP Center Stage webcam lead the list. Performance bumps are noticeable in daily use.
