The MacBook Air M4 might be the best laptop buy today for you, despite the Air M5 being so impressive — here’s why
Up in the Air
· TechRadarDeals By Josh Russell published 20 March 2026
Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter
Get the TechRadar Newsletter
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter
If you're in the market for a new MacBook, you may well have fallen head over heels for the new MacBook Air M5. I certainly did. Unfortunately, the course of true love never did run smooth and something has come along that may well draw thine eye in a different direction. And that's the fact you can currently get the MacBook Air M4 13-inch with 512GB SSD from Amazon for $949 (was $1,199) – which is an impressive price drop.
I'll be honest: this is pretty awkward timing. I've literally just gone on the record about how I've finally resolved to make the upgrade to the new MacBook Air M5 13-inch. Then Amazon drops this price reduction, making the M4 seem like a bargain — not just offering the same chunky 512GB SSD as the M5 but for a massive $150 less. So that's got me asking: might the M4 actually be a better buy?
Today's best MacBook Air M4 13-inch deal
Save $250Apple MacBook Air M4 13-Inch: was $1,199 now $949 at Amazon
OK, it might not have the absurdly powerful M5 chip or faster, larger 512GB SSD but, in most other areas, the MacBook Air M4 is every bit as talented as its successor. And with this huge $250 discount, it's even cheaper when compared to the spendy M5, making it a total bargain.
Read moreRead less▼View Deal
In some ways, it's a really close fight. I concur with our MacBook Air M5 review when it says that in terms of design you might have "trouble telling the difference between this new 13-inch MacBook Air M5 and the M4 model". Not only are its looks identical, but so are features like its 12MP Center Stage camera, backlit keyboard, ForceTouch trackpad and Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Instead the big difference between the devices come down to power and storage. On top of the significant power increase offered by the M5 chip, the newer model offers a an SSD with superior read / write speeds as standard. So the previous model naturally can't boast the sheer power and dynamism of the latest one.
However, as our MacBook Air M4 review makes abundantly clear, the M4 still set a very high bar for its successor, with top-notch performance and an epic battery that befits one of the best laptops out there. And while the MacBook Air M5 13-inch has had a $100 price rise to pay for its larger 512GB SSD, this deal offers a model with a similarly capacious 512GB and yet has had its price slashed. It's fallen from $1,199 to just $949, giving you a huge saving.
Honestly, I think the value you get out of either model is pretty awesome. While I think I'm still just about won over by the M5 model's superior power, this deal has definitely evened the score. So whether you go for the most power or the cheapest price, I can assure you you're getting a great deal.
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors